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Sept/Oct 2019
Cover image: Festival of Light, Aylesbury 19th October, 2019: 1pm-8pm www.holycowhome.co.uk/festival-of-lights See page 20 and P28 for details. Pic: www.derekpellingphotography.co.uk
Inside:
Infinity and beyond
New Head aims to future-proof pupils
Perfect 10
Festival celebrates with bumper year
A unique occasion
See our website at: www.vale-life.co.uk
Celebrant Dave will make your day Plus our columnists: Naomi, Polly, Amanda, Cathy, Lynnette, Nicola, Fran, Sandra, Shaun, Nigel, Rob, Alan, Virginie, Sherry and much, much more...
Free local listings for events and businesses
We can’t help with the decorating... ...but our local knowledge can help you avoid property pitfalls. We’re much more than a conveyancing service.
Call Karen today to discuss your situation and receive a no-obligation quotation 01296 506071 or email kwhite@kiddrapinet.co.uk 2
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Join the flush windows & doors revolution! Visit our Long Crendon showroom & see our selection of stunning, premium quality Residence flush windows & doors • Superior flush casement windows and doors • Premium grade finish • Stylish design • Built to last • Energy efficient • Enhanced security • Looks like timber • Low maintenance • Easy to clean • Choice of colours, glazing options and hardware • Intelligent, 7 chamber design for high levels of durability and performance • Traditional straight joins or welded
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Omega Homestyle has over 25 years’ experience of designing and fitting premium doors, windows and conservatories. We firmly believe that by keeping the entire process as stress free as possible, we are adding to your enjoyment of your new windows, doors and conservatories. For an individually tailored service and to find out exactly what we can do for you, please contact us or come and visit our newly refurbished showroom. Omega Homestyle, Woodway Farm Industrial Estate, Bicester Road, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 9EP Tel: 01844 201888, email: info@omegahomestyle.co.uk or visit:
www.omegahomestyle.co.uk
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
3
Rated as
GOOD by CQC
Individual Care in Beautiful Surroundings Outstanding care in the heart of Buckinghamshire
A place of care for over 50 years, our focus is to tailor your stay with us to your agenda and your needs. If you are in need of recovery after an operation, a break whilst family are away or maybe you are looking for specialist respite care, we would be happy to help in all cases.
First-class rehabilitation
Delicious, nutritious meals
Relaxing environments
“My stay at Chilton House was outstanding in every aspect, staff were amazingly helpful with positive attitudes, the food was excellent, and the physios worked closely with me allowing me to reach my recovery goal.� Mr A, Berkshire
Chilton House, Chilton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9LR www.chiltonhouse.co.uk | 01844 265 200 | enquiries@chiltonhouse.co.uk
4
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
&ADVICE
TRAINED & INSURED
5
SERVICE
Let us put a spring in your step
QUOTES
QUALITY
FREE
RATINGS
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you love s g g you more time for the thin n i v i g .
NEW SERVICE WOODEN FLOOR SANDING & REFINISHING
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
HARD FLOOR CLEANING & RESTORATION
OVEN CLEANING
WINDOW CLEANING
I Mop Clean offers a professional and specialist cleaning and restoration service, operating throughout Aylesbury Vale and the surrounding counties, towns and villages for both domestic and commercial customers. We offer a high quality, friendly and professional service with excellent customer care and impressive results for:
• Oven cleaning • Window cleaning • Carpet & upholstery cleaning • Hard floor cleaning, polishing and sealing • Wooden floor sanding and refinishing Tel: 01296
399450
Email: clean@imopclean.com
www.imopclean.co.uk
imopclean clean it green
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
5
Local landowners, it’s time to stay ahead of the curve. MILTON KEYNES BUCKINGHAM
Thornborough
Woburn Newton Longville
Great Horwood
Padbury
Great Brickhill Mursley
Steeple Claydon
Winslow
Winslow
LEIGHTON BUZZARD
Stewkley Botolph Claydon Granborough
Calvert
BICESTER
AYLESBURY
A possible route for the Oxford–Milton Keynes–Cambridge Expressway
PETERBOROUGH
BIRMINGHAM KETTERING
ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA
NORTHAMPTON
CAMBRIDGE BEDFORD
BANBURY
MILTON KEYNES BUCKINGHAM BICESTER
OXFORD
With the ‘hi-tec arc’ connecting Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford our area is set to become the UK’s Silicon Valley – but only with an integrated strategy to deliver new homes, connectivity and job opportunities can it release its full potential.
LUTON LEIGHTON STEVENAGE BUZZARD HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
With all these changes including new roads, schools, health & leisure facilities and employment there is so much to take in and to know. The Wilkinson Partnership are at the forefront, knowing what plans are being discussed, understanding the strategies being considered, considering the governance and implementation concepts that will combine to deliver the potential growth of one million new homes across the region by 2050. If you own land and want to know more about what’s going on, then talk to us today. We’re acting on 1,000’s of acres of land across the region, with a brilliant track record of success.
BISHOP’S STORTFORD
AYLESBURY THAME
WILKINSON – traditional values, modern approach
HIGH WYCOMBE
WILKINSON OPPORTUNITIES
2018 Winner ‘Build’ Magazine Best Land and New Homes Agent – South
Wilkinson opportunities across the ‘hi-tec arc’ LONDON
If you would like to discuss the opportunities within the ‘hi-tec arc’, please call 01525 382065 or email us at land@qualityhomes.co.uk
www.qualityhomes.co.uk 6
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
land & new homes
Welcome to Coco Tamarind Fine Indian restaurant & takeaway at Askett, Princes Risborough
Coco Tamarind serves the finest modern and traditional Indian cuisine, in stylish, comfortable surroundings. The relaxed ambience and efficient service, plus our well stocked bar, will ensure your time with us is a most enjoyable experience, whatever the occasion.
Michael Bublé tribute with Michael Lee Tue, 26th November from 7pm 5 course meal with entertainment only £29.95 Book today to avoid disappointment!
l
l 10% discount on collected takeaways l Free home delivery within 5 mile radius (min order £15) Become a Coco Tamarind Member and enjoy discounts and special offers l Please book ahead, we are busy all week!
Order your takeaway or reserve a table online at www.cocotamarindHP27.co.uk or call: 01844 343111 / 01844 346100 Coco Tamarind, Aylesbury Road, Askett, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9LY
Flexible Fully-furnished All-inclusive office space Contracts from as little as 4 months On site business support Superb meeting room facility
follow us twitter.com/sanderumcentre
find the right space for your business 01844 211080 www.sanderumcentre.co.uk hello@sanderumcentre.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
7
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2020 Holidays available NOW on our website! local pick-up points
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BRAND ‘LOVE LUXEMBOURG’ NEW FOR Book aENTERTAINMENT festive breakBREAK now – before it’s too late! We have SPECIAL 2019! a fantastic selection of destinations for Markets, Christmas and New Year - check them out today on our website! BRISTOL > RINGASKIDDY (County Cork) > ST MARY’S (Isles of Scilly) > CARDIFF
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• Marco Polo Cruise as stated for 3 nights full board • Afternoon tea and late
This superb early bird getaway weekend, full of fabulous night snacks *Based on two people sharing a fun, marvellous music and divine dining, stays at the ever • Self-service tea & coffee Category 1 Standard Twin Inside Cabin; popular, family-run 3* Grand in pretty Vianden (06.00 – midnight) 4 day travel insurance £25Hotel per person; in the Luxembourg Ardennes. Centrally located in this £250 per person non-refundable • On board entertainment deposit medieval required. town complete with fairytale atmospheric, Black Forest Christmas Market & daytime activities Full hotel payment due 3 months castle, the has long been abefore favourite with Crusader • Porterage of luggage (port departure. customers. Your hosts, the Peverelli family, will ensure you to cabin) Cruise T&Cs apply. have a relaxing and enjoyable Highlights include two All include dinnerstay. and Note:breakfast, Some ports, passengers will land • Port taxes evenings live entertainment, two sparkling breakfasts Christmas lunch on 25th December by of launch or tender. with local fizz, two included excursions and a drink each Tyrolean Christmas £669 night with dinner. Enjoy this fabulous, value for money Costa Brava Santa Susanna £629DEPARTING getaway break to–one of Europe’s ‘secret’ corners! 5 DAYS 19TH APRIL 2019
8 Day Holidays departing on December 21st, 2019
New Year Breaks Once Christmas is over treat yourself to a break to welcome in 2020! 4 Day Breaks departing on December 30th 2019
Luxembourg £429 From £599* per person Monschau £449 Swiss Winter Wonderland £969 ENTERTAINMENT £459the picturesque Dutch The perfect way to see the Rudesheim best of Holland from TyroleanDUTCH Christmas in Landeck BULBFIELD CRUISE On Saturday night, resident singer, Lisa, will entertain waterways. Enjoy all the comforts of the attractive Weymouth £389 3* river cruise ship, MV York Christmas Market with a great mix of popular songs and we have booked a Esmeralda, as you admire the ever changing scenery Bournemouth £399floating by. Visiting fantasticPRICE live band for the Sunday night – old timer Marcell the dazzling rainbow displays of tulips in the Spring has always been a London Thames RiverBulbfields Cruise MARKETS firm favourite of Crusader but why not+try this very special Trioen and hisFOR Little Red Rooster Band – always CHRISTMAS a big hit HELD holiday and take to the water for Easter! No overnight sailing. £299 with their2019 superb repertoire of 60s and 70s favourites. 2019: UK & CONTINENTAL Cornwall £379 Cross the Channel and board at Zaandam Breaks - 3 &DAY 4 1DAYS INCLUDED EXCURSIONS DAY 2 Optional visit to Zaanse Hogmanay £489 PRICE INCLUDES Luxembourg City FROM £219 Schans (open air museum Warners with Norton Grange £439 A full day excursion to Luxembourg City, the charming windmills) – cruise to Amsterdam. • Return coach transfers from Manchester/ little capital with its UNESCO listed Old Town inChatsworth, an DAY 3 Full day included excursion local pick-up points plus Sheffield, Lincoln, Bath, York, attractive setting. through the glorious bulbfields Channel crossing plus a visit to Keukenhof Gardens. Cornwall, Edinburgh, Cardiff, • MV Esmeralda Cruise as Moselle & Scenic Little Switzerland 5 DayRiver Holidays departing Re-join the boat in Hoorn (no stated for 3 nights full board & Trier, A local guide will show you the very best of thisValkenburg, Luxembourg included lunch today). on December 23rd 2019 (no lunch Day 3) picturesque area including Remich, the ‘Pearl of the Amsterdam, Bruges, Amiens, DAY 4 Full day cruising around HIGHLIGHTS • Afternoon tea on 2 days All include breakfast, dinner & traditional Moselle’ and scenic Mullerthal, known as the Little the IJsselmeer and onto Alkmaar. Cologne & Bonn, Liege, • Late night snacks Christmas Day lunch on 25th December Captain’s Farewell Dinner. • Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner Switzerland of Luxembourg. Black Forest, Rudesheim, • Captain’s Farewell Dinner DAY 5with Early disembarkation • A drink dinner each nightfor (local beer, wine or soft drink) Monschau £519 (set menu) ACCOMMODATION Rhine & Moselle the journey back home. • 2 Sparkling breakfasts with free flow local bubbly Bournemouth • On board entertainment for GRAND HOTEL DE£569 VIANDEN *Based on two people sharing a • Live musical entertainment on Saturday and Sunday nights 2 nights Cosy Cotswolds £579 The ever popular, family run 3* Grand Hotel de Vianden Lower Cabin; 5 day travel insurance is centrally located in the town and its facilities include • Porterage & welcome drink on arrival • Tour of Bulbfields & £36 per person; £100 per person Royal Cambridge £529 Keukenhof entrance non-refundable deposit required bar, restaurant, lounge and lift. All rooms are en-suite • Two included excursions as stated above Torquay £599 Full payment due 2 months before • Porterage with TV. Please note that single rooms are small. New Year’s Eve, Cornwall Snowdonia £529 departure. Cruise T&Cs apply.
• Port taxes
AllDAYS above| prices do15 not SingleFrom Supplements (if available). TH include Travel Insurance 4 FRIDAY – MONDAY 18TH MARCHor2019 £299 per person No single supplement* Travel Insurance £34
01296 33 66 66 (Aylesbury)
*limited (Double room for sole occupancy £45)
01255 425 453 (Clacton)
www.crusader-holidays.co.uk
Visit us: Crusader Holidays 4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2LD
01296 33 66 66 (Aylesbury) 01255 425 453 (Clacton) www.crusader-holidays.co.uk Crusader Holidays Crusader Business Park, Stephenson Road West, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 4HP 8
Visit us: Crusader Holidays info@crusader-holidays.co.uk 4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, BucksFacebook.com/CrusaderHolidays HP20 2LD
Crusader Holidays Crusader Business Park, Stephenson Road West, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 4HP
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Contents 10
Trend alert!
36
Beer, food and fun!
14
Glass half full
38
Plump up the volume
Too old to learn a language?
39
Losing never felt so good
Infinity and beyond!
40
Aesthetic experts
What’s in a name?
41
Welcome to my Shala
Where old meets new
43
But I don’t play tennis
Autumn art show
44
Good v bad fats
The person within
45
Early detection saves lives
A unique occasion
46
But are you really ‘fine’
30 Don’t stop the music
50
Country cool
32
Autumn antics
56
It’s a beautiful time
Join the pumpkin celebration
58
Brand new beginnings
Seasonal table
64
Landmark Lotus
15 16 18 21 25 26 29
33 34
New season, new styles Fancy a wee dram?
Why starting late is good for your brain New Head aims to future-proof pupils Inbetweener’s loving life in new role Art and antiques in Longwick Bucks Society is cream of the crop Studio shoot will set you free Celebrant Dave will make your day 50 years of Friars
Fran just loves mists and mellowness It’s all happening at Sandy Lane
Virginie’s Blackberry and Apple delight
Breaking the code
S
eptember marks the 80th anniversary of the start of World War Two and the point that the Government Code and Cypher School (GC & CS) took up residence at Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes. The former top-secret home of Britain’s WWII Codebreakers, is now a vibrant museum, with a packed calendar of interactive exhibitions and events that tell the story of this historic site. Bletchley Park is free for under-12s and at half term popular artist Emily Tracy is hosting drop-in sessions for children. Activities include creating 1940s origami uniforms, secret sketching, flip books, patterns, coded messages and
invisible ink! Unique family tours are also available to discover more about the people behind the machines that helped break the Enigma cipher. Guests will learn some surprising new facts, explore everyday life at Bletchley Park in 1941 and might even take part in some secret war work. If you like you can venture behind the scenes of secret
Hospice festival is quite a party Warding off Winter’s touch
Fitness agility is in the frame
Clinic upgrades treatment offer ‘Yoga’s coming home’, says Rebecca What to do when you get the elbow Nutritional tips to keep you healthy One in 8 ladies prone to Breast Cancer Addressing mental health at work Cotsworld chic mixes old and new Marie’s feathering her nest for Winter Naomi’s keen to get planting Marque to produce special 100,000th car
messaging and sign up for a popular one-day course - Past, Present, Future: Codes and Ciphers to learn how a selection of codes and ciphers work, from those used in ancient fields of battle to important cryptographic algorithms which form the basis of many of today’s secure communications systems. You can also get to grips with a WW2 Enigma machine before exploring what might happen in the future. Recently named as one of the UK’s top travel experiences, Bletchley Park’s programme of exhibitions offers lots to see and do throughout the year. New for this year is a permanent exhibition coinciding with the 75th anniversary of D-Day, ‘D-Day: Interception, Intelligence,
Invasion’, presenting the vital impact intelligence produced at Bletchley Park had on the invasion plans. Bletchley Park’s popular 1940s vintage weekend takes place on the 28th/29th September and there’s an annual Remembrance Parade on Sunday 10th November. Visitors only need pay for entry once to enjoy a free annual pass allowing them to return again and again to enjoy free onsite activities, one-day events and changing displays. Visit the Bletchley Park website: www.bletchleypark.org. uk for more info, but remember, mum’s the word! Happy reading,
Charlie
Editor, Vale Life Magazine
To advertise in Vale Life Magazine call Charlie on: 07702 006218 Vale Life Magazine is designed and published by Vale Life Magazine, 23 Glenham Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3WD Telephone: 01844 261579 Mobile: 07702 006218 Website: www.vale-life.co.uk Email: editor@vale-life.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of Vale Life. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions or late changes. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
9
with Lynnette Jackson
Personal stylist and image consultant Lynnette passes on tips and tricks for looking your fashionable best, plus the latest news on the high street trends...
AW19 trend alert!
O
ooh I do love Autumn - it’s by far my favourite season. The colours, the conkers, the chance to light the fire and to snuggle into the soft knits of the season. So what does Autumn / Winter 2019/20 have in store for us from a style perspective? Here’s some highlights for you:
braided pattern on the front adds a subtle and tactile feel to the look.
JL Gestuz Zia Chunky Jumper, Black £130
Chunky knitwear Well it is autumn after all! So embrace the cooler temperatures, and grab yourself a warm and chunky knit. This jumper, right, from Gestuz (available in John Lewis) is particularly cosy, and the
Golf knits are also trending for AW’19, so get yourself an argyle pattern like this one left, from Next Style tips for chunky knits: • Team a chunky knit with a narrow legged trouser to avoid too much volume all over • For a more feminine look, wear with a lightweight midi skirt Tweeds and checks There are checks and tweeds galore this season! This gorgeous peacoat from M&S, is equally bold in its print but timeless enough to be an investment purchase, which you will get wear out 10
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Next Argyle jumper £28
of year after year. If you already have a winter coat, but would like a seasonal update, then add a scarf like this one from Mulberry (opposite page). Style tips for tweeds and checks: • Checks sit best on a straight body shape (as the straight lines of the check stay straight). If you are curvy, then opt for a check on a diagonal, or wear as an accessory • If you are opting for a checked scarf, then make sure it’s in one of your best colours – as it is right next to your face Floral dresses The more feminine and romantic dressers will love this seasons floral dresses (think wallpaper designs!) They come in every shade, and tend to be a bold floral statement like this pretty dress from Monsoon (opposite page). Style tips for floral dresses: • This seasons floral patterns can be big and bold, so make sure that the scale of the pattern doesn’t overwhelm your own personal scale • Dresses have a big impact, and therefore the colour choice is really important - make sure that your dress is in one of your best colours,
M&S Peacoat £119
Monsoon dress £80
HoF Mulberry scarf £125 and ensure that you shine as much as your dress does! Ruffles and statement sleeves The feminine style vibe continues in AW’19, with lots of ruffles and statement sleeves this season. These can add softness
to your outfit, and extra detailed interest, like this blouse from Wallis (see pic page 12). Whilst this dress from Whistles has a subtle nod to the statement sleeves trend with frilled cuffs (see pic page 12).
Adams Travel Your Local Independent Travel Agent
11 Market Square, Aylesbury Tel. 01296 873017 aylesbury.adamstravel@gmail.com www.adamstravelaylesbury.co.uk
Helen Grace
Hats and Fascinators to match your outfit available to buy or hire HG
Bespoke pieces can be designed to perfection HG
Enjoy a one-to-one at our studio in Shabbington To book an appointment
T: 01844 201017 E: helen@helengracehats.co.uk W: helengracehats.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
11
Style tips for ruffles and statement sleeves: • Use ruffles on areas of your body that you wish to accentuate. For example, if you have a small bust then then Wallis blouse would be best, and if you have narrow hips then the Whistles dress will work better to balance out your hips vs your shoulders
Whistles Sonia Frill Cuff Dress, Blue £119
Wallis Ruffle Blouse £28
My top advice this season: • Be you! • Know what works for you – both for your personal colouring and body shape, so you will look healthier and slimmer with every outfit you wear • Know what makes you tick from a style perspective – not all the trends detailed here will be ‘right’ for you. Know what you like and what you don’t like by understanding your Style Personality – it is truly the key to feeling confident in what you are wearing • Shop your own wardrobe first - and see what treasures might be lurking there which tick the new seasons trends – you might be surprised what you already have! If you would like more detail on this seasons trends, and importantly how to best wear them for you personally then contact me to book in for an AW’19 Style Update session (group and 1:1 sessions available).
f o ot f o c u s
l Lynnette Jackson is an awardwinning Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. She can help you look good whatever your size, shape, age or budget!
Web: www.mycolourandstyle.com Facebook.com/mycolourandstyle Tel: 07971 198047
with Jenney Klose of Feet First,Thame
Do you need a wider fit?
A
s Podiatrists my team and I at Feet First in Thame specialise in assessing, diagnosing and treating conditions of the foot and lower limb. We can also give advice about foot care, gait analysis and on the best footwear for you and your family. We have a small, wider fit shoe shop, on site, where we offer a professional fitting service for our customers (best done in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest) and can show you our range of wider fitting styles. If you need a wider fit shoe because you happen to have wide feet or a problem such as a bunion it will do more harm than good trying to squeeze your foot into a shoe that is too narrow,
12
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
or buying a size bigger than you need, which doesn’t fit properly and won’t provide support in the right places. We’ve listened to our customers and the new ranges will reflect their suggestions. In particular we stock more ‘ath-leisure’, or stylish, modern, casual, leisure footwear now. We have expanded our range to include a much wider collection of styles, for both women and men, including selections from Fidelio, Joya, Semler, Finn, Legero and DB. We have styles by Finn Comfort, which have an anatomical footbed they call them ‘bionic’! They are not a wider fit but are great if you need extra support. We also have some Fidelio Pro Hallux shoes, designed for those with bunions, which have a stretchable insert to accommodate your bunion more comfortably.
Jenney Klose Podiatrist
Come and see us to discuss your footwear needs. The shoe shop is open Mon/Tue/Wed & Fri from 9.30am-1pm & 2-4.30pm. Closed for lunch 1-2pm. l Feet First, 13a Upper High Street,
Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3ER Tel: 01844 261023 Email: enquiries@feet-first.org Web: www.feet-first.org
by Cathy Soughton
Hughendon Manor
H
ughenden Manor is an imposing red brick mansion best known as being the country house of Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. Now owned by the National Trust it’s an interesting place to explore and holds fascinating wartime secrets, only discovered relatively recently. During the Second World War, Hughenden Manor was occupied by the Air Ministry and was used as a secret intelligence base, codenamed “Hillside”. It was ideally located between the intelligence services at RAF Medmenham and Bomber Command HQ at Naphill. German map production was deliberately stopped in 1930, so when war broke out in 1939 there were no up-to-date maps of Germany which made planning military operations extremely difficult. A new mapmaking operation was commissioned as a result to draw maps from aerial photographs delivered by the RAF’s reconnaissance missions. These were subsequently used for bombing
The drawing room at ‘Hillside’ missions, including the ‘Dambusters’ raid and for targeting Hitler’s mountain retreat Eagle’s Nest. Around 100 personnel, both men and women, military and civilian, were based at Hughenden. The map-makers were recruited for their skills as cartographers, architects, designers, artists and even cartoonists, chosen for their drawing abilities, along with printing professionals. They produced more than 3,500 hand drawn maps at Hughenden. Hillside became one of Hitler’s top targets but the Germans never managed to find out where it was located. The operation was kept secret for more than 60 years by the people involved and the National
Trust only became fully aware of the story when a volunteer room guide overheard a visitor telling his grandson that he was stationed at Hughenden during the war. Previously there had been a small display in the cellars showing the life and work of the mapmakers but over the last year the National Trust with the help of local groups including the RAF and a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been renovating rooms that were used during the war as drawing offices and the new exhibition has now opened, revealing more about the work that took place during the war. Years of painstaking work from Hughenden’s team of expert
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
volunteer researchers has been instrumental in uncovering and shaping the full story. The exhibition features archive material, interactive exhibits and personal accounts from the map-makers whose work was so crucial to the war effort. Also open to the public is the old Victorian ice house which was requisitioned as a dark room to process the aerial photographs taken. Apparently new recruits were invited into the icehouse to have a photo taken and got a surprise ice bath in the process; positioned under an icy water outlet in the brick ceiling, someone pulled a lever at the exact moment the camera snapped – the original ice bucket challenge?! Information on visiting Hughenden Manor, including the wartime exhibit, the gardens and woodland are detailed on the National Trust’s website: www. nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden/ visitor-information l Cathy Soughton is a local professional genealogist and house historian providing family history and house history research: www.bucksresearch.co.uk, www.benchmarkhousehistories.com E: soughton@bucksresearch.co.uk
We’ve got to
Moo-ve it! Moo-ve it! Huge clearance sale Everything must go! Sale runs Sept 23rd to Oct 31st
Holy Cow Home 6 Cambridge Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1RS 01296 485158
Eye-catching, different, handmade, Fairtrade, reclaimed, recycled... beautiful items for you and your home gifts, homeware, clothing, jewellery, furniture, bags, accessories, buddhas, gemstones, crystals, home fragrance and much more...
www.holycowhome.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
13
C u r i o u s Wo r l d
by Nicky Gregory
Glass half full!
T
he purpose of deceptive Georgian drinking glasses was to decrease the amount of alcohol imbibed, whilst keeping the size of glass similar to that of other diners, giving the appearance that one was enjoying the proceedings to the full, maintaining a semblance of control whilst others fell prey to inebriation. For this very reason it was used by the Toastmaster. Otherwise known as ‘sham dram’ they were made of thickened glass to the base and sides and tended to be fairly simple and sturdy. The glasses were functional rather than decorative, usually plain, sometimes with simple facet cuts and more rarely knopped or baluster stems. Occasionally air twist or opaque twist stems can be found in hand blown pieces. The Italians brought ice cream to Victorian England in the mid-19th century and with it came the ‘Penny Lick’. Usually plain pressed-
Curious world
Do you know what the mystery object below is? Email your answer to: editor@vale-life.co.uk and you could win a voucher for Antiques at Wendover.
Penny Licks moulded glass, in shape similar to drinking glasses, the bowl is nearly solid with a shallow depression. Street vendors would sell the contents of the glass for one penny. The customer would lick clean the glass and return it to the vendor, who would reuse it. The thickness of the glass was deceptive and made the ice cream appear more than it was, often disappointing the customer. Glasses were commonly broken or stolen. Italian children would run through the streets shouting ‘Uno Poco’ – ‘buy a small one’. In New
Pardon my English! A local dialect ‘Call My Bluff’ by Jacot de Boinod Can you guess the right definitions of the following words? 1) Aux (Berkshire dialect)
3) Collywest (Herts dialect)
A) a single ear of corn B) a spur attached to the heel of a fighting cock C) to cut a slit at the back of a hare or rabbits’ leg
A) diagonally across from something else B) awry; in the wrong direction C) sprayed in all directions
2) Reasy or Reasty
4) Bandy (Berkshire dialect)
(Herts dialect) A) short-tempered, highly-strung B) overcooked, burnt C) rancid, usually bacon, butter or dripping
Nicky Gregory
A) a variety of club-foot in which the foot is turned outwards B) hockey or hurling C) the leather strap to bind a hawk’s wing
Georgian Dram Glass Zealand there is a flavour called ‘Hokey Pokey’, the evolution of ‘Uno Poco’ The penny lick was banned in London in 1898 due to concerns about the spread of disease, particularly cholera and tuberculosis, as the glasses were seldom washed between customers! In 1896 Italo Marchiony introduced a pastry cup in New York which he patented in 1903 as the waffle ice cream cone displacing the ‘Penny Lick’. August’s Mystery Object was a wooden coin tray.
,
l Nicky Gregory is the owner of Antiques@Wendover, The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU T: 01296 625335 E: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Web: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk
Mystery object
ANTIQUES AT… WENDOVER A Dateline ANTIQUES CENTRE Est. 1987 A QUALITY ANTIQUES CENTRE offering town and country antiques in a Tudor, brick and timber house, with wall paintings and inglenook fireplaces. Park in the Courtyard at the rear, where you will find Garden Antiques, a Tea Room, the Barn Courtyard Shops and an Artist’s Studio. We are open every day from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
l Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the
television series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World, published by Penguin Books. Having researched our rural dialect, he is setting a fun ‘Call-My-Bluff Quiz for Vale Life readers - mind your language now... ANSWERS: 1C) to cut a slit at the back of a hare or rabbits’ leg (in order that the other leg may thereby pass through it, and a number of them be carried on a pole by a keeper) 2C) rancid, usually bacon, butter or dripping 3B) awry; in the wrong direction 4B) hockey or hurling
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Unusual, early 19thC, English Oak Coaching Trunk, £390. The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 625335 Email: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Website: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk
Too old to learn a language!?
S
tudies have shown that learning another language is good for the brain and can protect against Alzheimer’s. It is a challenge, which is what makes it effective and while some people may wonder: “Am I too old to learn a new language?” what they should really be asking themselves is: “Do I have the time, energy and commitment?” as it will require regular study and practice, although this should be fun and give a sense of achievement. It is fascinating to see how quickly children learn - their brains are like sponges but as an adult, your brain still has the power to process
Inspiring students to reach their full potential
Malika
information and we are clearly more focused and determined than children because we find it easier to be self-disciplined - so ‘pas de problème!’ If you are an adult looking to learn a foreign language, it is still possible - you can do it! Here are a few ideas to help you become fluent in another language in order to be a true inspiration to your friends and family and then hopefully to have fun speaking the second language whilst abroad. A language tutor can be a valuable help, give structure to your learning and help with pronounciation. They will guide you through the process of language acquisition, giving you direct feedback on your learning so you can see how you are progressing. A good tutor will make this an enjoyable experience - you will be on an exciting learning journey together, sharing your goals and struggles and your tutor will not only provide support but is also your connection to the country’s language. They provide
Could you be an English or Maths Tutor? Open Learning provides free 1:1 Maths and English GCSE tuition to students who could not otherwise access it, enabling them to reach their full potential and restoring their confidence and attitude to learning. As a new charity in the Aylesbury Vale area, we have a panel of tutors that we draw on to work with students identified by local secondary schools.
keeping your brain healthy at the same time!
l Malika Goodwin is originally from
Malika encouragement and of course, will celebrate your success along the way. One last tip to increase your chances of fluency - spend half an hour practising your chosen language every day! Having a daily routine and knowing that no one forced you into it, will help you stay focused. Some say that English people are no good at languages! It is time to change this old prejudice and show it is totally unfounded while
Domont, just North of Paris and studied languages at La Sorbonne, before coming to England on a university exchange scheme and working as an assistant French teacher at Waddesdon School. She trained to be a teacher at Aylesbury High School and has also worked at Berkhamsted Collegiate School and at Amersham College. Malika has produced her own You Speak French Programme to pass on her language passion and expertise to people of all ages and abilities, who are interested in French. Malika also offers translation services for private or business matters. See her website for further details or to book classes. l Malika Goodwin, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5DQ Tel: 01296-337291 Email: info@youspeakfrench.co.uk Web: www.youspeakfrench.co.uk
Nina’s Escape to Art Art classes in Aylesbury
Learn professional techniques to create your own beautiful art!
Could you join our panel? You will be someone who has a real empathy with young people and a passion for making a difference to their lives. Ideally you will be qualified as a teacher of Maths or English, possibly recently retired. Alternatively you may have a degree in English, Maths or Science. If you would like to work a few hours a week in the late afternoon during school term time then contact:
Registered charity number 1183209
Nick Andrews 07583 550676 office@openlearningeducation.org.uk www.openlearningeducation.org.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Infinity and beyond Swanbourne House School, the only co-educational Prep School in Buckinghamshire offering a full boarding option, is to celebrate its centenary in 2020. Much has changed over the last 100 years and the school’s new head has been busy reshaping the education of pupils at Swanbourne to unlock their talents, engage, inspire, empower and prepare them in every way, for a very different future...
B
uzz Lightyear did not have the benefit of a Swanbourne House education, as his comical catchphrase ‘Infinity and beyond’ indicates. However his boundless enthusiasm and adventurous spirit would fit right in at a school which strives to unlock each child’s individual talents and passions and imbue them with confidence, energy and creativity. Mrs Jane Thorpe MA (Cantab) took over as Head at Swanbourne in September 2018 and has vigorously refreshed and updated the school’s philosophy and delivery with an innovative and contemporary approach that not only embraces their pupils’ academic and core knowledge requirements, but also prioritises the kind of qualities needed to thrive in the fast-paced, hi-tech, ever-changing and uncertain world of the future; qualities such as initiative, leadership, communication, collaboration, determination and reflection. “Progress in the digital and AI world is being made at such a pace,” says Jane, “that developing skills which are uniquely human is now as important as increasing knowledge. To be sought after in the workplace our pupils will need to have skills which cannot be replicated by technology. “At Swanbourne we are moving away from the outdated education model which
Tree climbing is optional
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New head Jane Thorpe in the Science Lab measured ‘success’ almost entirely on the results of narrow, written memory tests. Instead we focus on the whole child and their wide-ranging capabilities and aim to unlock passion, self-confidence, lateral thinking and creativity.” To this end Swanbourne House, which caters for pupils from 3 to 13 years, both day and boarding (from 7 years), has introduced an innovative assessment framework - the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) which tests developing skills as well as knowledge-based learning, in many different ways. It is taken by years 7 and 8 and assesses a balance of knowledge and skills over two years, instead of by sitting the Common Entrance exam. The PSB includes some written examinations but oral presentations, projects and independent research, can also be submitted, so those who don’t show their best in a timed, written exam can demonstrate their knowledge and skills in different ways. When pupils leave Swanbourne aged 13 with their PSB diploma they don’t just get results but a full 360 degree view of what they have achieved with much for all pupils to feel good about. “For years industry and commerce has been crying out for graduates who don’t just know how to revise and pass exams but are inspired, energetic, innovative youngsters with ideas,
confidence and creativity,” says Jane. “We aim to start this process by teaching children how to think, rather than what to think, so they can develop these skills as early as possible. Swanbourne pupils are bold and not afraid to take risks.” The school also runs an optional Enrichment Programme for pupils, on Saturday mornings, instead of the traditional academic lessons. Pupils attend in casual clothes rather than school uniform and can take part in a host of clubs and activities such as: learning a new language, or workshop projects as diverse as Engineering and Design, CSI Investigation, Go Kart Construction, Car Design, Marketing and Communications, Fencing, Musical Theatre, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Music Tech and Bushcraft. Originally from Yorkshire, Swanbourne’s new head read Law at Cambridge and upon graduation was awarded the Queen Mother’s Scholarship by the Middle Temple to study at the Inns of Court School of Law in London. Following a successful career as a Barrister, Jane became the youngest full-time District Judge in the country. Her expertise in family law, and her detailed understanding of the welfare and needs of children gained from five years working as a Child Protection Judge, plus perhaps her own experiences as a mother of three, have led her to want to do more
of our Saturday Enrichment Programme. We aim to make pupils aware of the skills they are developing too; qualities such as resilience and perseverance and the idea that to make a mistake is not failure but sometimes a necessary step on the route to success, as any great scientist or inventor will tell you. “Traditionally schools have been where children go to get an academic education but this is a only a small part of what we should be doing today. For instance Mental Health is The Mansion House very much in the spotlight as children feel the pressure to succeed and get stressed if they for children and seek this hands on role in don’t understand that failure is part of life education. it’s not human to be perfect and they won’t Jane has a keen interest in sports, having succeed at absolutely everything they do. It’s played for the Twickenham Ladies’ Cricket about how they can pick themselves up, learn 1st XI and coached at Stony Stratford Cricket from it, try a different approach and eventually Club. She was her school hockey captain, going succeed. on to play for Yorkshire, and played Blues’ “Whatever our children achieve here, I Rugby at Cambridge. Jane enjoys supporting would like them to leave with a sense of self, children in their sporting endeavours and is a sense of their strengths and weaknesses, keen to encourage the further development of self-confidence and self-esteem. A person girls’ sports. can have great potential or ability but without “I boarded at Prep School myself,” she says, confidence may never fulfil their promise.” “and I truly believe it provides the best start Set within 55 acres of stunning in life. It gave me my grit and determination. Buckinghamshire countryside, Swanbourne I had some inspirational teachers and a very House School is a Prep School with a good Head. There was always so much to do difference and one parents are encouraged to and try, it was a world of opportunity, which experience before making the crucial decision is what we are offering at Swanbourne. I as to where their young child should be gained a love of sport and all it can teach you educated. - teamwork, perserverence, resiliance - but also In 1920, when Lionel and Margaret Evans other activities such as drama, debating and brought 43 boys to Swanbourne House from rifle shooting, all different ways of developing Bradfield College and founded the school, skills and confidence. I was very lucky to have all classes were held in the Mansion House those opportunities which gave me a great (originally built in the 1860s by William start in life. I want children who come to Swanbourne similarly to benefit and later look back with fondness and think how it all started here. “It’s about energising children and giving them a sense of what they are capable of. I want our pupils to be full of confidence and have the mindset, as well as the skillset, to face whatever the world throws at them once they leave education. Technology is moving so fast that traditional professions are fading and new ones being created at such speed that we don’t know what the opportunities will be in a few years’ time. Pupils need to be excited by change, open to new challenges, confident in the knowledge and skills they have built up and ready and able to adapt and apply them. “We have restructured the School so Engaging and inspiring young minds subjects are not taught in isolation. We now have faculties which work across the curriculum, with teachers collaborating Burn for Sir Thomas Fremantle the 1st Lord on topics and projects that bring subjects Cottesloe as a family home) but now there are together. It shows children the relevance of five main teaching areas – the Main House, what they are learning and how it’s going to the Fremantle Technology Building, the Evans be applied and we inject creativity wherever Block, the Walker Building and the Manor possible - it doesn’t have to be reserved for art House for 3s – 6s. The grounds are lovely and or drama but works equally well in maths and give the children an outdoor adventureland to science! explore, tree climbing is encouraged! “I love seeing how excited and engaged the The school caters for pupils from all over children are when working on projects as part the world and can have up to 80 boarding at
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Swanbourne House School Open Day 12th October, 2019 at 9.30am
Register at: www.swanbourne.org/ Open-Mornings or call Gill on: 01296 720264 any one time (of some 350 children in total). There is flexi-boarding too which allows more local pupils to board one or two nights a week. “It is hugely exciting that we have pupils here from all over the world as well as from the local area,” says Jane. “The majority of our pupils will go on to work in a globalised world and although some might say we are embracing diversity, it is actually normality and great that our pupils understand different cultures, backgrounds and language skills. “We are a very down to earth, friendly school, there is no arrogance or elitism; we have many families who are new to independent education and enjoy being a part of the welcoming community here. “I am very fortunate to have the team I lead, we take the greatest care to find the right people and they are very talented, very dedicated and energised and I am proud to say that following a full ISI inspection last December Swanbourne has been rated excellent in all areas.” Under Jane’s leadership Swanbourne House has entered a new era, with a new forward-
thinking, innovative, rounded approach to education that will not only enable pupils to make the best of life’s opportunities in the years to come but to enjoy fabulous schooldays being inspired, energised and educated at Swanbourne. l Swanbourne House School, Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0HZ Email: office@swanbourne.org Web: www.swanbourne.org Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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What’s on Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
What’s in a name?! Inbetweeners fans will be excited to see actor Joe Thomas in a very different role at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre this October. What’s in a Name is a witty, razor-sharp production hilariously centred around a particularly awkward family dinner party, during which an argument spirals out of control exposing egos, childish resentment and unspoken feelings for the very first time...
Rehearsals for What’s In A Name - from left: Laura Patch, Bo Poraj, Alex Gaumond, Summer Strallen and Joe Thomas: Aylesbury Waterside 22nd to 26th October Pic by Piers Foley for Target Live.
I
t’s the comedy that took Paris by storm, was made into a smash-hit film and received rave reviews when its Englishlanguage adaptation premiered in Birmingham two years ago. So it’s no wonder that Joe Thomas of Inbetweeners’ fame didn’t hesitate to say yes to starring in the first-ever UK tour of What’s In A Name? appearing at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th October. “It’s such a great script,” says the actor best known for The Inbetweeners and Fresh Meat. “I read it really quickly, which is always a good sign. It’s so light on its feet and you think it’s going to be about class and education and the battles we fight over culture, but it moves
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really laterally and then it turns a corner.” Vincent is a father-to-be who, along with his partner Anna (Summer Strallen), is invited to dinner at his sister Elizabeth and her husband Peter’s Peckham flat, where childhood friend Carl is also in attendance. Then Vincent drops a bombshell about the name he’s chosen for his offspring and, as the siblings and their significant others begin to pick at old sores and long-held resentments, Carl has his own bombshell to drop. At times they’re a very un-PC bunch as they bitch and bicker, artfully straddling the line between what’s funny and what’s offensive. After three Inbetweeners seasons and
Joe Thomas as Vincent
What’s on Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Rehearsals for What’s In A Name - from left: Laura Patch, Alex Gaumond and Summer Strallen: Aylesbury Waterside 22nd to 26th October. Pic by Piers Foley for Target Live.
Strictly fever strikes!
Louis Smith in Rip It Up: Tuesday, 24th September
Some ‘Strictly’ familiar names will be strutting their stuff at the Waterside over the coming months. Champion from yesteryear, Louis Smith is appearing in Rip It Up the 70s, dance siblings Kevin and Joanne Clifton bring their new tour Burn the Floor, Aljaz and Janette are in Remembering the Oscars and Anton and Erin complete the line-up to Dance Those Magical Movies.
two feature films Thomas is no stranger to straddling the same line himself, saying: “It’s an incredibly precise act of judgement that’s required but this play is an exploration of what PC actually is and I think that’s interesting territory.” There is a strong female element in the play, something that drew Summer Strallen to the role of Anna, who has a high-powered job in the fashion industry. “That was very interesting to me,” says Summer, “plus Anna doesn’t back down in an argument, she stands up for herself.” The multiple Olivier Award nominee feels the play’s inclusion of strong female characters will especially resonate with women today, saying: “I’ve been working since I was 16 years old and wouldn’t ever have a man come in and tell me how to live my life, but when I was a kid it was all about finding a husband and him looking after you. I think it’s interesting having this conversation now.” Are you ready for 90 minutes of escapism and laughter? Book now by calling 0844 871 7607 (calls cost up to 7p per min plus you’re phone company’s access charge) or visit: www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury (bkg fee). l Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG Telephone Booking: 0844 871 7607 Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury
Coming up at Aylesbury Waterside Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on at Waterside... Think Floyd Respect – The Aretha Franklin Songbook James Bond Concert Spectacular One Night of Elvis The Carpenters Story
Burn The Floor: Thursday, 14th May, 2020.
Anything for Love – The Meatloaf Story An Evening with Armistead Maupin The Story of Guitar Heroes
Thur 26th Sept Sat 28th Sept Sun 29th Sept Thur 10th Oct Fri 11th Oct Tue 15th Oct Fri 18th Oct Sun 27th Oct
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What’s on
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s h ow t i m e
with Shaun Nolan
A plethora of plays
I
can’t take up space chatting this issue as there is just so much on and so many genres to cover... there really is something for everyone in the Vale this Autumn. At Queen’s Park’s Limelight Theatre, in-house theatre company Unbound are celebrating their fiveyear anniversary with two special performances, featuring scenes from shows gone by, (Oct 4th & 5th www.qpc.org). If you’ve been to see one of their shows in the past five years, then this is a celebration not to be missed – a great way to congratulate a fantastic local theatre company on a brilliant run of work. Unbound will also be appearing at the Court Theatre in Tring (September 20th) - on their comedy sketchbook tour, so be sure to catch them there as well. Speaking of the Court Theatre, they have a lot to offer, too. If you’re looking to see a great play, why not try Berhamstead Theatre Company’s production of Jessica
Shaun Nolan Showtime!
Unbound celebrate five years with a special show in Aylesbury Swale’s Blue Stockings (9th - 12th October), a moving, comical and eye-opening story of four young women fighting for education against the backdrop of women’s suffrage. Or, if you’re looking for more of a comic thriller, why not try Tring Theatre Company’s production of Jez Butterworth’s Parlour Song (22nd - 25th October)? Swale and Butterworth are both favourite playwrights of mine and these companies are terrific, so not to be missed. At Aylesbury Waterside this
Festival of Lights
O
n the 19th October, Aylesbury will host its third Festival of Lights event. The universal symbol of Light as the source of goodness represents the spiritual and divine; understanding over ignorance; new beginnings and the vitality of life. The town centre will be buzzing with excitement and activity as we bring together local businesses and people to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali, with the combined aim of raising cultural awareness and connecting the many diverse communities within our town, regardless of individual faith. Celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in India, the significance of Diwali is in its core values of peace and respect for one another. An inclusive celebration - anybody is welcome to join in the fun! The festival will be held in Bucks County Museum and throughout Kingsbury Square from 1pm until 8pm. Aylesbury will come alive through cultural dance performances, theatre groups and health and wellbeing activities such as yoga, meditation and relaxation 20
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
workshops, with all encouraged to take part in the Light themed parade around the square. There will also be a variety of unique and beautiful craft stalls, indian street food vendors, henna art and more! We will be holding a number of fundraising events in the lead up to the festival. The first of these is a Bollywood-themed Dinner & Dance on Friday 27th, September, from 7pm at the Holiday Inn, Weston Turville. Tickets £35, from: 01296 485158. We will also be hosting two Diwali-inspired Lantern making workshops, on Saturday 12th October, a week in advance of the Light Parade. Book via: festivaloflightsaylesbury@gmail.com How to Book: Details of activities can be found on social media @folaylesbury or website: www. holycowhome.co.uk/festival-of-lights To support the event contact: festivaloflightsaylesbury@gmail.com Sponsorship opportunities are still available or make a crowdfunding donation via: www.spacehive.com/ festival-of-lights-2019
month are two shows I’m already booked in for: the musical adaptation of Dreamworks’ hit animated film Madagascar (19th - 22nd September) and a stage adaptation of the French film What’s In A Name? starring Joe Thomas of Inbetweeners fame and two of my favourite stage actors, Alex Gaumond and Summer Strallen (22nd - 26th October). As for the lights of London, let me suggest two musicals and two plays: one of my favourite musicals of all-time Falsettos, which is making
its UK première at The Other Palace (until November 23rd), and the musical adaptation of the Tom Hanks film Big at the Dominion Theatre, starring Jay McGuiness (now until November 2nd); and for plays, Caryl Churchill’s new night of short plays at the Royal Court called Glass, Kill, Bluebeard, Imp (18th September - 12th October), and Groan Ups, the new play from the people behind The Play That Goes Wrong, at the Vaudeville Theatre from September 20th. l Shaun Nolan is a freelance writer
and producer who also writes his own fictional stories and scripts. You can find him at @shaunycat on Twitter and if you want your show mentioned in this column, tweet him and let him know!
classical lass
What’s on
with Nicola Lisle
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Get the festival fever
I
t’s festival time in the Vale this October with two major festivals to enjoy. First up is the Little Missenden Festival, which runs from 4th-13th October. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the festival was founded by Pat Harrison and cellist Rohan de Saram to bring worldclass musicians and emerging young talent to this lovely Buckinghamshire village. The opening concert celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of Clara Schumann, wife of Robert Schumann and herself a muchadmired composer, performer and teacher. In Clara – A Life in Music, pianist Lucy Parham and actress Harriet Walter explore Clara’s life through her music, letters and diaries. Another unmissable event features legendary bass Sir John Tomlinson and mezzo-soprano Rozanna Madylus in a double bill
Sacconi Quartet that turns the spotlight on Alma Mahler, wife of composer Gustav. Kokoschka’s Doll focuses on Alma’s love affair with painter Oskar Kokoschka, while The Art of Love explores her life with music and readings. Other highlights include recitals by pianist Katya Apekisheva, harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, early music consort The Gesualdo Six and the award-winning Sacconi Quartet. Four days later comes the Thame Arts and Literature Festival, which runs from 17th-20th October. The line-up includes the wonderfully innovative Opera Anywhere in The Perils of Love and Arrogance, an
operatic extravaganza with arias and ensembles by Mozart, Handel, Saint-Saens, Bizet, Puccini and Dove. Also featured is Thame Chamber Choir, whose Poetry in Motion concert includes the world premiere of the winning entry in the choir’s 20th anniversary composition competition, in which entrants were asked to write a setting for a poem by former Thame resident WB Yeats. Other musical treats coming up include Aylesbury Opera’s concert version of Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict, sung in French with English narration. Catch it at Holy Cross and St Mary Church, Quainton, on 5th October, or St Mary’s Church, Princes Risborough, on 12th October. Baroque specialists Fiori Musicali are at Stowe House on 26th September with music from the court of Frederick II, including works by CPE Bach and JS
o u r c r e at i v e va l e
Nicola Lisle
Classical Lass Bach, and on 18th October with a celebration of Monteverdi. There’s also plenty of choice for chamber music enthusiasts. Tring Chamber Music presents Last of the Summer on 21st and 22nd September with music by Purcell, Hummel, Sullivan and Elgar. The Amersham Concert Club presents the Piatti Quartet on 21st September and The English Piano Trio and Friends on 26th October, and the Aylesbury Lunchtime Music series continues with Monday concerts throughout September and October. l Nicola Lisle is a freelance writer and author specialising in classical music, genealogy and social history. Follow her on Twitter @NicolaLisle1 and send her a tweet if you would like your event mentioned in this column.
with Sandra Smith
Where old meets new
C
hildhood experiences are formative influences, aren’t they, shaping attitudes to the point of impacting upon our lives, even career choices? For Rebecca Rason Flor Ferreira, an early interest in sketching ran parallel with her mother’s hobby. So it’s rather appropriate that now, decades later, her Longwick studio is not only an exhibition space for animal portraits, but also doubles as a mini emporium of household vintage items. ‘I was filling sketchbooks by the age of 7,’ says Rebecca, ‘and my mum used to take my sister and I to antique shops and flea markets. I was like a sponge; I learned a lot.’ In fact she absorbed so much knowledge that following a degree in Fine Art, the antiques trade beckoned before Rebecca set up on her own. Then she met the man who was to become her husband and they relocated to his home town north of Lisbon. Although the
Rebecca Rason Flor Ferreira antiques business continued online, a sense of isolation prompted Rebecca to focus on art. Until, that is, the couple returned to the UK in 2014. Rebecca recalls this period as ‘starting from scratch again,’ yet
her creativity continues to evolve. ‘My animal portraits came about in Portugal when I tried to train a street dog,’ she says while working on a donkey portrait. And her chosen medium? ‘Charcoal is a three dimensional experience, a bit like making a sculpture. You put it on, rub it away. You have to preserve light areas from the beginning so you think in reverse. I like the way charcoal moves around. It has different qualities – soft and crumbly like pastels; also compressed so dark, deep marks are hard to shift.’ Rebecca may strive for likeness, but she’s also conscious of creating images which are beyond the sort of one dimensional aspect captured by photographs. ‘It’s trying to learn about the animal from the owner and the information you’re given.’ Visitors to the 43 year old’s studio – to view art or all things vintage – are encouraged but you can also see her equine work in a group show at nearby Obsidian
Creative Vale
Sandra Smith Art (14th September – 27th October) following which Rebecca is taking part in Thame Art Crawl (17th-19th October). Do go along. You’re sure to be impressed with this artist’s knack of capturing character and might even be tempted to commission a portrait of your own pet. www.rfrstudio.com www.vintiquesandart.wordpress. com l Find out more about Sandra
Smith’s work as a freelance writer by following her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visiting her website: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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What’s on
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A perfect 10!
Thame Arts and Literature Festival is celebrating 10 years of fun, frolics, culture and celebrity, music, art, writing, poetry, performance and more and is aiming to once again smash previous box office records as an even bigger and more spectacular line up awaits your pleasure this October...
V
isit the historic town of Thame this October (17th to 20th) and you can join in all the fun as the ever-popular Thame Arts & Literature Festival (TAL Festival) celebrates a decade of inspiring books, art and music. In the decade since it’s inauguration in 2010 TAL Festival has grown so popular it now attracts award-winning authors, artists, actors, playwrights, historians, comedians and musicians. Over four packed days you can listen to fascinating stories, take in a play, learn a new skill, go to a concert and generally soak it all up at a variety of venues across the town. And there are plenty of surprises in store for this year’s 10th anniversary. Festival-eve special To get your feet tapping the superb Moonrakers from Oxford, a much-toured four-piece band who bring traditional and contemporary folk music to the south of
Alice Roberts: Spread Eagle, Saturday, 5.30pm
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Penelope Lively
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Alison Weir
Moonrakers, The Stables, James Figg: 7.30pm, Wed, Oct 16th. England, kick off TAL Festival with a special evening performance of their beautiful harmonies and expert musicianship. Meet top authors, artists and performers Since the online box office opened in June, tickets have been flying out again this year and it’s not surprising! There’s a chance to listen to some fascinating tales from a host of wellknown authors and famous names, including award-winning novelist and children’s author Penelope Lively; hilarious doctor-turnedcomedian, Adam Kay; one of Britain’s topselling historians, Alison Weir; best-selling novelists Anna Pasternak, Michael Rosen, Victoria Hislop and Virginia Nicholson, plus charismatic art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon and Britain’s leading forensic scientist, Angela Gallop. Popular talks in the amazing line-up of events also include Alice Roberts,
Anna Pasternak
Michael Rosen
Adam Kay: Spread Eagle, Sunday, 7pm
Victoria Hislop
Virginia Nicholson
What’s on
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Opera Anywhere: Barns Centre, Friday 18th, 8pm BBC presenter, author, doctor, historian, anthropologist and biologist, well-known for presenting popular television series Coast and Digging for Britain. Other talented guests joining TAL Festival this year include world famous conductor, musical director and broadcaster Jane Glover, a regular at the BBC Proms; standup comedian and author Natalie Haynes; Steph Booth, wife of actor Tony Booth, talking about his Alzheimer’s and how they coped with it, and an unusual double-act from popular historian Dominic Sandbrook and author and inimitable journalist Simon Heffer.
Sculpture Workshop with James Ort
Max Hastings (Pic: Toby Madden)
Learn a new skill You can surprise yourself and discover a new passion at one of TAL Festival’s Creative Workshops. From sculpture to calligraphy to plotting the structure of a novel, the experts are on hand to guide you.
Yvonne Maxwell
“We like to be a broad-brush, offering something for everyone,” says TAL Festival Founder and Director Yvonne Maxwell, who received the A very special speaker 2019 Thame Town Award for This year’s Founder’s Lecture, hosted by The Book House, Thame, is by prize-winning Creative Arts Achievement. “It’s wonderful to have started historian, broadcaster and former editorsomething special and to have in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, Sir Max seen it grow both in size and Hastings. His latest book CHASTISE: The Dam Busters Story 1943, is a dramatic retake stature. Our feast of literature and the arts has always proved on one of the most extraordinary military an inspiring few days with escapades in British history. more than a little bit of fun thrown in.” TALKids weekend workshops From a wizard wand and a dancing butterfly Participate, enjoy and feel inspired to a winged creature to take home, younger A lively discussion on the trials and readers can take part in fun, interactive tribulations of modern motherhood... a spineworkshops with lots of creative, painty tingling Ghost Walk… a tea concert… a entertainment!
Andrew Graham Dixon
Angela Gallop
Jane Glover (Pic John Batten)
Natalie Haynes
literary quiz… TAL Festival’s own operatic Glyndebarn with Opera Anywhere… an art crawl… a musical… a play… a film and a talk sure to delight fans of Radio 4’s longrunning drama series The Archers. It’s a feast of amazing talks, ideas, laughter and music which will spark your imagination and fill you with joy! Come to this friendly festival in the beautiful town of Thame and find out for yourself! Thame Arts & Literature Festival runs from 17th-20th October, 2019. For full details and to book online visit: www.talfestival.org. TAL Festival Box Office: 0788 548 4406. l Thame Arts and Literature Festival, 17th-20th October, 2019. Various venues across Thame. Info and tickets: www.talfestival.org or telephone 07885 484406. Buy tickets in person from Thame Town Hall on Tuesdays from 9.30am to 4pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 1pm.
Steph Booth
Dominic Sandbrook
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The ink said
Ink Paintings and Micro Stories by Gabrielle Turner
The opposite of everything
W
hat’s the opposite of Tuesday?” Roland asked, drawing lines in the steam of his breath on the car window. Stewart paused. Well, this was a new one. One thing was certain: there could be no greater difference between the dread of a Monday morning and the feeling of opening the front door on a Friday night. Come to think of it, the weekend was pretty much the opposite of the week. But that was only how he felt after a couple of weeks of doing the school run. They were all just days after all. Maybe the opposite of today was yesterday. What about tomorrow – could that be the opposite of it too? Did that mean yesterday was 24
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
the same as tomorrow? No, he was thinking about it all wrong. The opposite of Tuesday was Tuesnight. Of course. Before he could respond, Roland was already halfway through another question. “What’s the opposite of the sun?” Stewart hesitated again. Roland added, in an unusually grown up voice: “I know this one, so you’d better think about it very carefully.” Slightly taken aback, Stewart wondered where he had learnt this phrase. Nevertheless, he was grateful that they might, at last, arrive at an answer. “It’s a tricky one,” Stewart thought out loud. “The sun’s very hot, so would it be something very cold?” He glanced up at Roland’s
solemn freckled face in the rear view mirror, turned resolutely towards the pavement. “Something like… the freezer section at ALDI?” Roland shot a withering gaze back at him. “That’s a silly guess. Should I give you a clue?” “No thanks. I’ll keep guessing, Gabrielle Turner Ro.” The ink said “Look outside. All the people walking.” l Gabrielle Turner is a writer Stewart looked out at the and artist at the Phoenix Studio commuters shuffling hurriedly near Thame. As @theinksaid towards the station, their pale, dry on Instagram she writes daily faces wrinkled in the sharp morning micro-stories inspired by her sunlight. “The sun’s very bright, isn’t abstract ink paintings. Also at www.theinksaid.com and it? When we can see the sun, we’re www.gabrielleturner.co.uk normally awake. So is the answer night time? “Nope.” Stewart stared blankly at the “Jupiter? The underground? car bumper in the traffic ahead. Clouds?” This was going to be the longest “You’ll never get it. It’s shadows.” journey yet.
What’s on Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Autumn art show
Buckinghamshire Art Society (BAS) has around 100 members, all elected to the Society on the basis of their artistic skills. The annual BAS Autumn exhibition is taking place in Buckingham this October with another fabulous display of work in a wide variety of styles and media and entry is free...
T
he best of Buckinghamshire’s artists will be holding their annual Autumn exhibition at the Buckingham Community Centre, Cornwalls Meadow, Buckingham, from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th October 2019. The exhibition will feature work from BAS members as well as work from local schools, as part of the Young Artists’ Award, a county wide initiative supported by the Society to promote art in schools. Last year’s winners of the award were: 1st Prize - Rosie Wood of Royal Latin School. 2nd Prize (Selina di Girolamo Award, awarded by Romeo) - Adam Pickard of Misbourne School. 3rd Prize - Matt Empringham of John Hampden Grammar. The Young Artists’ Awards Reception this year will be held on Saturday 26th October from 1pm-3pm with presentations at 1.30pm and drinks and snacks available from 12-2pm. The awards will be presented by Cav. Romeo di Girolamo. Buckinghamshire Art Society was founded in 1920 and plays an active role in Buckinghamshire visual arts, organising exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops and various social events, the majority of which Graham Lester paper sculpture ‘Love Bananas’ are open to the public. The society also maintains close links with the County Museum in Aylesbury. Most BAS members are professional and semi-professional artists and the Society strives to maintain a rigorous selection process for entry to ensure that their exhibitions reflect the very best art Buckinghamshire has to offer. “With such a wide range of talent and diverse variety of styles and media on display, there really is something for everyone at our shows,” says Antonia Glynne Jones, Joint Chair of BAS. “Take member artist Graham Lester. Graham has worked with paper as a medium for many years Rosie Wood’s winning picture and has been commissioned to likes the clear crisp graphic effect that can be produce paper sculptures for various achieved with paper. promotions. He now focuses on using the Graham also produces turned art using a medium to express his own creative ideas, and
Decorative bowls by Graham Lester
variety of recycled materials including paper, acrylics and Corian bonded together and then turned on the lathe into decorative bowls and pots. He finds it satisfying to create something beautiful from discarded materials.” For more on Graham Lester see his website at: www.grahamlester.co.uk l Buckinghamshire Art Society Spring Exhibition, Buckingham Community Centre, Cornwalls Meadow, Buckingham MK18 1RP Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th, October, 2019 10am-6pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. www.bucksart.co.uk For more information contact Antonia Glynne Jones on: 07770 878497 or email: a.glynnejones@btinternet.com Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
The person within We’re living in a world full of photography, yet few people print photographs and have professional shots taken. Phone snaps and selfies are fun, but a professional photo shoot is an experience to enjoy at the time and then, with high quality prints, for years and maybe even generations to come...
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iriam Smith has always been interested in photography. She was brought up not far from Milan, near Lake Maggiore in Italy, so there was plenty to photograph but although she had been on courses and enjoyed macro-photography - taking close up s of nature; flowers and insects - it was just a hobby until her daughter Elizabeth was born. “I met my husband in Italy through work,” says Miriam, “and we lived there for several years but then came to the UK in 2014. When my daughter came along I started taking pictures of her and realised I really enjoyed portrait photography. I studied and improved and also learnt how to run a business. “I specialise in taking portraits of women in a way that is designed to empower them and capture their inner spirit, while being a really enjoyable experience. My style is artistic, emotive, soft, warm and romantic, I strive to create images that tell stories of individual connections, warmth and love. “Many women, young and old, shy away from having photographs taken, feeling insecure about the way they look and lacking confidence in their own beauty, as there is a misconception that we should all look a certain way. We all have something special though and it is the skill of the photographer to bring this out and capture it! You don’t have to be photogenic, or to know what to do, or how to pose, that is my job, I will guide you through the shoot, tell you how to sit and how to hold yourself, so it looks great on the camera.” A Miriam Smith photo shoot does not just involve having your picture taken.
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Portrait photography by Miriam Smith Miriam likes to meet with clients first for a consultation, to find out a little about them, who they are, what they are hoping for, why they are doing the shoot, what style, colours and atmosphere, makeup and clothing they would like and what it is about them she can
bring out in the studio, to enable them to really shine. On the day a hair stylist and make up artist will be on hand to ensure you are studio ready and additional clothing and accessories supplied, if required, to aid the creative
process and add a little drama. “We can do a magazine style shoot with different outfits and an element of fantasy,” says Miriam, “which is a lot of fun and clients really enjoy. It makes them feel good when they see their full potential coming out! “I also do portrait photography that is more about making memories,” says Miriam. “This may be a pregnancy, a new baby, a family photograph or a much loved pet. “I supply mounted photographic prints in beautiful boxes or in albums or photobooks or even as Miriam Smith wall art. They are lovely to look at and can be safely kept. So often we don’t bother printing photographs these days, they are left on social media or on a memory stick and may be lost if the account isn’t maintained or your hard drive goes down.” Miriam’s products are high quality and the photographs are printed on museum grade paper which is guaranteed for 100 years. That seems a long time but we all enjoy looking at old pictures of our grandparents or great grandparents, so it is nice to know these images will survive for generations. Miriam charges £99 for a photo shoot and this includes a consultation, hair and make-up and time in her studio. It usually takes around three hours and then, a few days later, you will be able see the images and decide which ones
you would like to buy, what format you would like and how many copies etc. “If you don’t like them you don’t have to buy them,” says Miriam. “I like listening to people. People have stories, people have something to say. Sometimes they just need some space, where they can be themselves and I can capture that. The process, the makeup and the clothing all helps; it helps them feel alive, excited and then something just clicks within. I can tell my clients are genuinely enjoying the session, it makes them happy and it comes out in the photographs. There’s a lot more to it than just taking technically good photographs, it is what’s inside and how I relate to my clients. Everyone can be photogenic, with the right lights and the right pose. “I photograph men as well. They are usually more relaxed as women are too hard on themselves, too critical! I photograph families,
Photobox with mounted prints
children, babies and pets too.” Find out more about Miriam on her website or give her a call and arrange a visit to see her stylish garden studio and have a free consultation to discuss your requirements. l Miriam Smith Photography. Shabbington, Bucks, HP18 9HD T: 07476 408208 E: miriamsmithphoto@hotmail.com W: www.miriamsmithphotography.co.uk Insta: /miriamsmithphoto Facebook.com/MiriamSmithPhotography
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Festival of Lights Celebrations 19 October 2019 13:00—20:00 Cultural & Bollywood dance Flavours of India Craft stalls Kids activities Story telling Henna den Face painting Music Light parade
holycowhome.co.uk/festival-of-lights/ Kingsbury Square and Bucks County Museum Aylesbury, HP20 2JA
William HardingĘźs Charity 28
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
A unique occasion Whether you are planning a wedding, having a Naming Ceremony for your baby, thinking of Renewing your Vows or sadly, have a Funeral Service to arrange, a Civil Celebrant can help and guide you along the way and officiate at your important occasion...
Trina and Shamus
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ave Foster has been a qualified celebrant for nearly two years now but has spent much longer unwittingly preparing for the role, having a background in radio and television presentation and as a mobile and club DJ. He’s friendly, likeable, calm, kind and organised and a great communicator, used to speaking in front of an audience and officiating at special events and social occasions, having worked as a Master of Ceremonies and an event compere as well as in a variety of roles in the commercial sector. Dave’s own father sadly passed away some four years ago and when arranging the funeral, it was suggested that, as his father was not a religious man, Dave engage the services of a celebrant or a humanist to take the service. Whereas a humanist doesn’t include any religious content in the service, a civil celebrant is happy to accommodate whatever elements you might wish. So if you wanted a prayer or hymn as part of the ceremony it would be fine. Dave and his mother engaged a celebrant for his father’s funeral and having seen what was involved, Dave realised it was a job that he was suited for and would like to do. “You need to be good with people, able to stand up and speak to a room of anything from five to 150 or more guests,” says Dave, “and in the case of a funeral, to be able to write a good story to provide a fitting tribute. It’s not just about the content of a service but how it’s organised and presented. I work throughout Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and have conducted more than 200 funerals. I take a lot of care and so far I’ve had great feedback.” When it comes to weddings, the ceremony is by far the most important part of any couple’s wedding day. You no longer have to get married in a church and although you have
to register the marriage to make it official so will need to go to the registrary office at some point with a couple of witnesses, (no rings, suits or vows needed at this stage) or have registrars attend on the day (if you are being married in licenced premises) - your actual ceremony can be anywhere you wish, if overseen by a celebrant. “A celebrant led wedding can be totally unique, personalised and tailored to suit your wishes,” says Dave. “It could be in a restaurant or pub, in your garden, in a favourite place, anywhere that’s willing to host it and you can have whatever theme and detail you fancy. I can provide a PA system as part of my package, which will ensure that all of your guests can hear what’s happening. I can also assist with your music choices. “I usually meet with the couple, anything up to a year in advance, (as most are planning ahead) and get to know them and what they want, so I can help plan the ceremony itself and discuss the vows and extra details within the ceremony they might like, such as Unity Candles or a Sand Ceremony to signify the joining of two families or a Ring Warming Ceremony. It’s the little differences that make it a ceremony to remember. “I love being a celebrant, it’s a privelege being invited to lead a Wedding Ceremony
Dave Foster, Civil Celebrant or Funeral Service, knowing I can make a difference and be of help at these really important times in people’s lives. I get lovely feedback and a lot of job satisfaction from doing it. If anyone is interested in finding out more I am happy to have a chat, find out what they need and explain how I could help. It’s all about them and making the day a unique and special event tailored to their preferences.” Dave is currently running a Facebook competition to WIN a free Dave Foster Celebrant-led Ceremony of your choice for your special occasion. Just go to www. facebook.com/davefostercelebrant and like and tag his post to enter. “I am here to make your ceremony as unique as you are,” says Dave. “Whether it’s for a Wedding, Renewal of Vows, or a Child Naming, I will work with you to produce a ceremony that truly reflects who you are and what you believe in.” l Dave Foster Celebrant Tel: 07971 889265 Email: hello@davefostercelebrant.co.uk Web: www.davefostercelebrant.co.uk www.facebook.com/davefostercelebrant
‘Dave produced a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony that had us in tears, laughter ‘Dave took the time to fully understand what we wanted from the occasion and, and amazement in equal measure. He was on-hand from start to finish, helping, from start to finish provided us with a first-class service - our Renewal of Vows guiding and supporting us along the way. He kept us fully informed and nothing ceremony was perfect. Dave encouraged our children to take an active part and seemed to be too much trouble for him. By the time the wedding day arrived some of our close friends read poems and tributes for us. The whole event was we both felt as though we had not only gained a celebrant, but also a friend.’ - very moving and way beyond my expectations. We would recommend Dave to anyone considering using a Civil Celebrant.’ - Sandra & Ian Kirsty & Adrian Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Don’t stop the music In June this year Friars Aylesbury, the town’s world renowned live music club, celebrated an amazing 50 years of presenting the best in contemporary music to a loyal and enthusiastic local audience...
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t all started in the spring of 1969 when local schoolteacher Robin Pike, suggested to his friend, 21-year-old David Stopps, that they start a music club in Aylesbury. Stopps was sceptical: “High Wycombe maybe, but Aylesbury...” Robin talked him round and with fellow Aylesbury music enthusiasts Adrian Roach, Jerry Slater, Terry Harms and John Fowler, Friars Aylesbury was born on Monday 2nd June, 1969, with a gig by blues artist Mike Cooper and psychedelic band Mandrake Paddle Steamer, at the now demolished New Friarage Hall on Walton Street. Throughout 1969 and 1970 hippies from all over Buckinghamshire descended on this small 400 capacity venue every Monday night to see bands that included: Pretty Things, Free, Blodwyn Pig, Edgar Broughton, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, Hawkwind, Mott the Hoople, Van Der Graaf Generator, Groundhogs and Genesis. “That first summer of Friars was magical,” says David Stopps. “We all had long hair and wore beads and headbands! Girls had long flowing dresses or miniskirts and guys sported bell-bottoms and tie-dye T-Shirts. It was the dawning of a new age in culture and music. Here comes the sun… it’s all right!” Friars was so popular that the organisers repeated the formula in other local towns - Bedford, Dunstable, High Wycombe, Watford and even Princes Risborough - the most memorable gig being Pink Floyd at the Queensway Hall in Dunstable just after the release of their Ummagumma album in
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November 1969. In August 1970 though, Friars was effectively closed down, being no longer welcome at the New Friarage Hall and there were no gigs in Aylesbury until April 1971, nine months later, when the team managed to book Aylesbury’s Borough Assembly Hall in Market Square. The place was packed, Friars was back, and gathered strength from there. The Club switched from Mondays to Saturdays and throughout the rest of 1971 continued to present some incredible acts: Fleetwood Mac, Mott the Hoople, Genesis, Arthur Brown, The Velvet Underground, Barclay James Harvest and Al Kooper among many others. The most significant show of ‘71 turned out to be on Saturday 25th, September, when Friars presented a relatively new artist - David Bowie. Bowie’s live gigs had not been going well, he was still finding his voice and honing his craft - his ambition at the time was to write musicals but he thought he would try one more live gig to see if he could crack it. He chose Friars on the recommendation of Al Kooper who said that the Friars audience was one of the best he’d ever played to. Bowie performed the world premiere of his Hunky Dory album at Friars that night and all the stars aligned! The Friars audience took David Bowie to their hearts, and gave him a standing ovation following his encore performance of the Velvet Underground’s ‘Waiting for the Man’. After the gig David Stopps was with him in the tiny Friars dressing room and witnessed
Friars’ founding fathers (1969) from left: John Fowler, Adrian Roach, Terry Harms and David Stopps
David Bowie a little piece of rock’n’roll history as Bowie turned to his musicians for the evening: Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey and said: “This was great tonight... let’s form a band and go out and do it properly.” And the Spiders from Mars were born! “Four months later, on 29th January, 1972, Bowie was booked to play Friars again,” says Stopps, “and we were all expecting to hear Hunky Dory, which had been released in November 1971 and gone to No 1 in the local album chart, despite failing to break into the top 50 nationally. He did a few songs from Hunky Dory but most of his set that night was totally new - a stunning suite of songs which turned out to be the world premiere of his next album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” In July 1972 Bowie returned with his Ziggy character fully developed. He loved Friars and flew in 50 top American music journalists for the Friars gig. Friars was now on the world map and became an essential date for any major UK tour. From ‘72 to ‘75 Friars continued to present Saturday nights at the Borough
What’s on
@50
1969 TO 2019
PLAYING TRACKS FROM HIS 1970’S ALBUMS GREEN, L, FISH RISING AND MOTIVATION RADIO
Playing the entire Abbey Road album on the 50th Anniversary of its release, and many more classic tracks.
NEW ALBUM ‘THE UNIVERSE ALSO COLLAPSES’
THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER
WATERSIDE THEATRE AYLESBURY
www.atgtickets.com
Assembly Hall. It was a golden era: Focus, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Capability Brown, Steve Hillage, Camel, Queen, Can, Steve Harley, Ronnie Lane, Dr Feelgood, Genesis, Mott the Hoople... In 1975 the 700 capacity Borough Assembly Hall closed and was demolished but Friars moved seamlessly into Aylesbury’s new Civic Centre, with a larger capacity of 1250. From ‘75 to ‘76 Friars presented pretty much all the best touring bands including: Tangerine Dream, Captain Beefheart, Procol Harum, Commander Cody, Manfred Mann’s Earthband, The Flamin Groovies & Eddie & The Hot Rods and many more. Then in December 1976 Friars presented The Stranglers, which kicked off a whole new punk phase for the club. After that came Iggy Pop (with Bowie on keyboards), The Ramones, The Clash, The Jam, Motorhead, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Blondie, Talking Heads, Buzzcocks, The Slits, XTC, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Stiff Little Fingers amongst many others. There were also non-punk acts such as: Dire Straits, Human League, Squeeze, Slade, The Police, The Kinks,
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
0844 871 7607
www.seetickets.com
www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk
Eurythmics and local superstars website,” says Stopps. “It’s like a John Otway, Howard Jones and world reference for the evolution of Marillion, as well as reggae bands music since 1969.” including Jamaica’s Gregory Isaacs, The 40th Anniversary gig took Dennis Brown and Toots and The place on 1st June, 2009, with Pretty Maytals. Things, Edgar Broughton and By the end of 1984 Friars was The Groundhogs. It was a huge struggling to attract the big bands success and led the way to three as its 1250 capacity more Friars gigs at the was deemed too Civic Centre, Stiff Little small. Also David Fingers, Kid Creole & Stopps had a new The Coconuts and finally international career Paul Weller in June 2010, as manager of which was the final show Marillion and later at the dear old Civic. It too Howard Jones. was demolished making “We decided to call way for Aylesbury’s new it a day,” says Stopps. Waterside Theatre, which “I’d hoped that opened in October 2010 someone else would Robert Fripp, King Crimson with Friars Aylesbury carry on presenting presenting Buzzcocks, bands in Aylesbury but it never Eddie & The Hot Rods and 999. happened.” One local paper called it This is Friars Aylesbury’s fourth ‘The Day the Music Died’ and it was home and remains so to this day. to be 24 years from 1985 to 2009 In 2014 in recognition of his before a flicker of life returned, service to the community David when Friars fan Mike O’Connor Stopps was made an Honorary approached David Stopps to see if Freeman of Aylesbury. it would be OK to create a Friars Friars presents concerts less Aylesbury website. And as June 2009 frequently now than in the early would be the 40th Anniversary of days, but Waterside Friars gigs are Friars, why not do one more gig to just as popular and have included: mark the occasion? Hawkwind, Wilko Johnson, “Mike has created an astonishing The Specials, Steve Hackett,
Marillion, King Crimson, Erasure, Holy Holy and Camel. With over 90,000 members Friars Aylesbury is the largest music club in Europe. It is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, which started in January with an exceptional gig by The Vaccines and continued in April with Nick Mason’s (from Pink Floyd) Saucerful of Secrets - Nick’s first Friars gig since the legendary Floyd gig of November 1969. A short break between gigs of just 49.5 years! Friars Aylesbury’s 50th Birthday Party gig followed with Stiff Little Fingers and Eddie & The Hot Rods in May - “One of the best shows Friars has ever presented,” says Stopps. The 50th year continues on September 26th with Aylesbury’s Dung Beatles playing the Abbey Road album, in its entirety, on the exact day 50 years after the album was first released. Following this Friars presents Steve Hackett on 13th November (Sold Out) and the legendary Steve Hillage and Gong on 15th November. l Friars Aylesbury www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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What’s on
Can I be Frank?
by Frances Momen
Autumnal antics! I
f you adore the anticipation of springtime or revel in summer sunshine, you may feel less drawn to October and November, when days begin to shorten, Xmas expenses loom and you’re forced to turn on the central heating… Enough of the gloom; let me persuade you to embrace Autumn whole-heartedly. Keats isn’t the only advocate of “seasons of mists…” I’m no poet, but who can fail to appreciate a misty morning with the rising sun peeping over the hedgerows, or weakening, autumnal rays disappearing over the horizon, leaving a nip in the air and a call to the pub fireside at the end of an invigorating walk? Remember the lengthening shadows of beechwoods and the rustle of russet leaves beneath your boots..? Are you feeling nostalgic yet? Luckily for us the Chilterns, on our doorsteps, offer sunset views from the Ridgeway, ancient beechwoods and heaps of leaves to rustle through and from 5th to 20th October the Chilterns AONB
A walk in the beechwoods? Autumn Walking Festival takes place. The programme features lots of guided walks, which take in a variety of landscapes, historical themes, and learning experiences and cater for all abilities. I quite fancy the tour around Wilstone Reservoir Nature Reserve, beginning and ending at Puddingstone Distillery with a tour and gin tasting! And to avoid accusations of indulgence, I’ll also be signing up for a free taster session in Nordic walking. (Equipment is provided but I already have some little used sticks of my own - bought 18 months ago to fend off bears in Newfoundland.) More conventional, but no less thrilling, are guided walks that reveal the diverse magic of areas such as Coombe Hill, Ashridge,
Russell’s Water Common and The Grand Union Canal. For more details about the walks or to book see: www.visitchilterns.co.uk/ walkingfest.html For some, embracing Autumn is about celebrating harvest time. So, if you’re an enthusiastic foodie, how about whetting your appetite at Waterperry’s Apple Weekend (5th/6th October: www. waterperrygardens.co.uk) or a Fungi Foray at Hughenden Estate on 10th October (www. nationaltrust.org.uk). Traditionally harvest festival in France has celebrated “vendange” - the grape harvest and happily we can now join in. If you’ve never caught a whiff of fermenting grapes, plan a tour round one of the local vineyards during the grape picking season in October. At Brightwell Vineyard near Wallingford, there is the opportunity to join in with the harvesting and witness the whole process. Contact them if you would like to be involved or book a tour at the weekend if you prefer a
Fran Momen Can I be Frank? more relaxed approach (www. brightwellvineyard.co.uk). Chiltern Valley Winery has lots of tours available in October and November, and have accommodation available, if you are an enthusiastic taster! (www. chilternvalley.co.uk/tours). A little closer at Radnage, Daws Hill Vineyard has an evening tour on October 11th (www. dawshillvineyard.co.uk). To be frank there’s just no room for gloom! All of these experiences are available in the local area. So approach Autumn with vigour and verve, plan some new walks and visits and enjoy our changing seasons. l Fran Momen is a copywriter
and journalist. If you need help or advice on creating copy, please get in touch via email: momen.fran@ yahoo.com or www.linkedin.com/in/ fran-momen-copywriting
Helping older people in Bucks
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ge UK Buckinghamshire have been helping older people across the county for nearly 75 years, since their inception in 1945. A local independent charity, Age UK Bucks make it their mission to help lonely and vulnerable older people, serving their interests with a range of services designed to help them achieve and maintain independence and wellbeing.
Befriending: The Befriending scheme aims to improve clients’ quality of life and to reduce loneliness. Trained volunteers with shared interests and experience are matched to older people who have limited social contact. Age UK Bucks are currently looking for new befrienders, so please get in touch if you can spare an hour a week to visit a lonely older person in your area. Welfare Benefits: Information and advice about benefit entitlement is given to people aged 60+ over the phone. Trained 32
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Befriending combats loneliness service provides free, up-todate, independent information, advice and support on all issues of concern to older people, their families, friends and carers. This service is mainly provided via the telephone. welfare benefits volunteers also carry out home visits to give advice and to fill in benefit application forms on behalf of clients and help them get the welfare benefits they are entitled to. Information and Advice: The Information and Advice
Age UK Buckinghamshire also offer chargeable services such as: Help in the Home, Hairdressing at home, Gardening, Handyperson, Computer training and Toenail cutting. The funds from these services help support the free core services.
Bernadette Ashcroft, CEO of Age UK Buckinghamshire says: “We provide so many great services to help support older people in Buckinghamshire. This work could not be done without the help of volunteers and donations from the public, fundraising events and philanthropic giving. “Please get in touch if you are inspired by our work and would be interested in supporting us so that we can continue to help Buck’s older people. “Please contact us to discuss ideas including volunteering, fundraising and philanthropic giving or to receive further information about any of our services. Let’s help older people in Buckinghamshire, together.” l Age UK Buckinghamshire, 145 Meadowcroft, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 9HH T: 01296 431911 E: age@ageukbucks.org.uk W: www.ageukbucks.org.uk Follow Age UK Bucks on Twitter/Facebook: @ageukbucks
s l ow c h i lt e r n s
What’s on by Neil Matthews
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Creatures great and small
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here are several local opportunities to get up close and personal with some feathered and furry friends this autumn… Two miles north of Quainton lies the Green Dragon Rare Breeds Farm & Eco Centre (01296 670444, www. greendragonecofarm.co.uk, open daily from 10am exc 25-26 Dec & 1 Jan). It runs animal encounters with ponies, barn owls and donkeys among others, and the resident rare breeds include Jacob sheep and Oxford sandy and black pigs. A five-acre wildlife park features birds of prey, red fox, red squirrel and pine martens. The farm’s Eco Centre and walled garden run on sustainable technology, including solar panels and a solar water pump. There’s also a pedal cart area, two play barns and two cafés serving farm produce.
Make new friends at the Green Dragon Rare Breeds Farm On selected Saturdays and Sundays at the small family-run Abbotts View Farm just outside Aston Abbotts (07989 063595, www.abbottsviewalpacas.co.uk), join owners Jo and James Dell for a walk round the farm in the company of two dozen Huacaya alpacas. Unlike their llama cousins, alpacas don’t spit, nor do they kick (unless you provoke them) or bite. After the walk – and a chance to meet the other animals – delicious homemade cake awaits.
Animals and art are neighbours on the road to Stoke Mandeville, at the Bucks Goat Centre (01296 612983, www.thebucksgoatcentre. website, 10am-4.30pm Tue–Sun plus Mon Bank Hols and Mons in Bucks schools holidays). Meet goats, alpacas, llamas, ferrets, hens and rabbits, before popping next door to Obsidian Art (01296 612150, www.obsidianart. co.uk, 10am–5pm Mon–Sat, noon–4pm Sun & Bank Holidays). The gallery hosts a rolling programme of exhibitions and solo shows, accompanied by an ongoing display of jewellery, ceramics, glassware and more and features some of our best local artists. Finally, there’s Tiggywinkles (01844 292292, www. tiggywinkles.com, 10am–4pm daily, Oct–Easter weekdays only), the world’s leading wildlife hospital, based in Haddenham and named after Beatrix Potter’s Mrs
Neil Matthews
Slow Chilterns
Tiggywinkle. There are over 1,000 inmates on a typical day including buzzards, otters, hares, deer and ducks and, of course, hedgehogs. Facilities include a red kite education centre, an aviary and a hide for observing muntjac and several species of deer. Staff give regular talks and you can view feeding time for baby hedgehogs and other animals and birds. l Slow Travel: the Chilterns and the Thames Valley, by Helen and Neil Matthews is available now via: www.bradtguides.com www.slowchilterns.com
Join the pumpkin celebrations!
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andy Lane Farm is a traditional, family-run, organic farm, some 5 miles from Thame, just off the Oxford Road at Tiddington. Charles Bennett and his family have been dedicated to growing organic vegetables there for nearly 30 years (Soil Association registered) and run a produce market in their lovely old barn every Thursday from 11am to 6.30pm and on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. There you can buy Sandy Lane Farm’s own super fresh, freerange, organic eggs and free-range, traditional breed pork and lamb, as well as their amazing selection of super tasty, fresh-from-thefield organic vegetables and their fantastic range of squash plus other delicious local produce such as Shands Cakes, Tiddly Pommes’ apple juice, Moo’s granary bread, chutneys and jams, Natural Bread Company sourdough, organic, non-homogenised milk, yoghurt and cream in returnable glass bottles/jars, and ice cream, from North Aston Dairy and cheese from Norton & Yarrow, Bix
Collecting the fresh farm eggs and Nettlebed Creamery. The farm hosts ‘pop-up’ seasonal suppers showcasing their delicious produce (next one 11th and 12th October, see: www.sandylanefarm. net for details), and a super Pumpkin Celebration on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October from 10am to 3pm. They can also deliver fresh produce to your door via: www. tenmilemenu.co.uk l Sandy Lane Farm, Sandy Lane, Tiddington, Oxfordshire, OX9 2LA
E: enquiries@sandylanefarm.net T: 01844 279 269 W: www.sandylanefarm.net FB, Insta, Twitter @sandylanefarm
Some of the amazing squashes and pumpkins grown at Sandy Lane
Farm Shop open Thursdays 11am-6.30pm & Saturdays 10am-2pm Fresh organic veg, slow-reared free-range meat & more... Events throughout the year & ‘pop-up’ Seasonal Suppers Visit: www.sandylanefarm.net for more information Find us in Tiddington (between Thame & Wheatley) OX9 2LA Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Food & Drink
The Seasonal Table
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Blackberry & Apple Compote Slices
his simple recipe is perfectly seasonal and pretty easy to do. I have used mini individual muffin tins, but this would also work for a 25cm round cake tin, if you prefer. My advice would be to make a batch to freeze for you, your family and friend to enjoy throughout the year.
Ingredients Slice Mix: 160 g Spelt flour 65 g Ground almonds 2 Tsp. Baking powder 1 Tsp. Ground cinnamon Finely grated zest of half a lemon Large pinch of fine salt 2 Tsp. Vanilla extract 120 g Unsalted butter, melted and cooled plus a little more for greasing the tins. 2 Free range eggs, lightly beaten 180 ml Warm milk 160 g Blackberries 50 g Flaked almonds 34
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
by Virginie Bonvalet
Apple compote: 2 Cooking apples 1 Tbsp. of maple syrup Method 1. Preheat your oven at 180C. 2. Peel, core and dice the apples, add the maple syrup and cook for 25 minutes on a medium heat or until you get a purée-like consistency. 3. Whether you choose mini cake tins, muffin tins or even a standard cake tin, grease the tins well with butter. 4. Place the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, cinnamon, lemon zest and salt in a bowl and mix well. 5. In another bowl, mix together the vanilla extract, melted butter, beaten eggs and 180 ml of warm milk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon, then add the apple and gently stir to combine. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, filling each case to 3/4 full. 6. Place the blackberries on top of each muffin, then sprinkle with the flaked almonds
and a little dusting on each of brown sugar. Bake for 25/30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean. I like to serve each slice with a spoon of yogurt, cream or crème fraîche and a few fresh blackberries scattered on the top! Happy harvesting, embrace the new season that is to come and … Bon appétit! All photographs, recipes & words ©Virginie Check out my new website: www.virginiebonvalet.com Email: bonjour@virginiebonvalet.com Social: @virginie_bonvalet
Virginie’s new eBook; A Seasonal Table | Spring. Is available from the Amazon Store – Or head to her website or Instagram for a link - FREE with Kindle unlimited.
l
Column: Nick Coffer ‘In the kitchen’
Pineapple Teriyaki Grains with Crispy Mushrooms
I
n the ten years since I started hosting the Weekend Kitchen on BBC Three Counties Radio, the rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan dishes has been phenomenal. We’ve come a long way from the days where guests would say “it tastes good for a vegan dish!” Chefs are now creating fantastic vegan dishes that can compete with any food. One such very creative young chef is Greg Owen, who runs the funky Monstera Canteen in Luton. His food is fabulous, and this lovely vegan dish was a big hit on my show. Don’t be concerned by the list of ingredients. You can sub in and out any grains you have, and just use any vegetables which you have to hand too. Ingredients Grains 100g brown rice; 100g pearl barley; 100g freekeh; 80g wild rice; 80g oats Sauce 4 tbsp soy sauce 1 can pineapple slices or chunks 2 tbsp Mirin
Coriander leaves (optional) Sesame seeds (optional) For the Crispy Mushrooms 4 large flat mushrooms Plain flour Panko breadcrumbs Unsweetened soya milk (or any similar milk) 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp garlic 2 tbsp brown sugar (or maple syrup) 1 tsp ginger (optional) 1 tsp garlic powder (optional) 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (optional) Vegetables 50g edamame beans 50g carrot, chopped 50g courgette, chopped 1 small Leek, sliced 1 Red onion, chopped 1/4 chilli (optional) Handful of Rocket (optional)
Method: Cook all the grains as per the packet instructions. You can cook them all in the same pan, or, better still, in a pressure cooker. Chuck all the sauce ingredients in a blender, blitz and set aside. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a smallish bowl of milk and whisk with a fork for a few seconds. The acidity will naturally thicken the milk into a butter milk style. Prepare a bowl of plain flour and a separate bowl of breadcrumbs. Remove the stalk and slice the jumbo mushrooms horizontally into two discs. Dust in flour, then dip in the milk, then into breadcrumbs to coat. You
In the kitchen Nick Coffer
can shallow fry them, deep fry them, or spray with oil and bake in the oven too. Sauté all the veg until they are cooked but still with a nice bite. Mix in the sauce, then add the cooked grains, stir for another 2 minutes and plate up! You can garnish the top of this dish with rocket, chopped chillis, coriander and sesame seeds. Finally slice the cooked crispy breaded mushrooms and arrange on top to serve. l Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick weekday afternoons at midday for music plus local guests with great stories.
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High Quality Dining in our Historic 5 5 0 - y e a r ‘ O l d L i b r a ry ’ B u i l d i n g
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ORDER FOOD/RESERVE ONLINE www.radhunihp27.co.uk B o o k i n g s t a k e n fo r X m a s a n d N e w Ye a r The Old Library, Church Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9AA
Lunch Every day 12-2pm Dinner Monday to Saturday 6pm till 11pm Sunday 6pm till 10pm
FIND
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Experience the Authentic taste of India Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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supported by
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Supporting total Hospice care for local families affected by life-limiting illness
www.fnhospice.org.uk
01296 429975
This is a charity event raising funds for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, Registered Charity Number: 1119499
Beer, food & fun! Last year’s Aylesbury Beer Festival was a record-breaking event, raising an incredible £10,000 for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity to fund care for the terminally ill and those at the end of their lives in Buckinghamshire. It’s time to raise your glasses for this great cause once again...
Enjoying the food and drink at last year’s festival
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n 2018 Aylesbury Beer Festival-goers bought a record-breaking 1,765 pints of the 35 beers and ciders on offer – two of which were exclusive to the Festival. 140 pints of Hillfire Brewing’s brand new NightingAle were consumed, alongside a world exclusive of Chiltern Brewery’s Imperial Stout in a cask. The 2019 Aylesbury Beer Festival will be held on Friday 1st November (6pm-11pm) and Saturday 2nd November (12pm-11pm) and will see the return of the successful Local Gin Showcase, plus a new Craft Beer Bar. Aylesbury Premier Building Services (APBS) are sponsoring the Beer Festival for the second year as Headline Sponsor, and there are many other businesses and groups involved in sponsoring the beer barrels, such as local IT experts Crash-2000.com Ltd, based in Bishopstone. “It’s a wonderful day out,” says Mark Bale
of Crash-2000.com Ltd. “There are not many places to go where you can help a charity, help your business and raise a glass! Our company has been a sponsor of this event for many years. We are proud to support Florence Nightingale. A great organisation. A great event and great beer!” The range of real ales will include old favourites and seasonal novelties, such as coffee or chocolate-flavoured ales (surprisingly, absolutely delicious!) Festivalgoers can suggest favourites they would like to see at the Festival by commenting in the event on the Charity’s Facebook page. The Festival also features gourmet sausages from regular supporters Kings Farm, Wendover in the Saturday Sausage Sizzle which has been kindly sponsored by Dell Motors, while caterer Alena Winters’ delicious homemade classics at just £5 per person will be on offer on Saturday evening – and can be
booked in advance online this year. The move to the Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School has proven extremely successful. There is plenty of free parking and bus services stop right outside. It’s just a short walk from Aylesbury Train Station, Bus Station or town centre too, making it an ideal location. Tickets are just £6 in advance or £8 on the door and include a souvenir Festival pint glass and programme. To book, and for more information go to www.fnhospice.org.uk/ beer-festival or call 01296 429 975. l Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) Unit 2 Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7QY T: 01296 429975 W: www.fnhospice.org.uk Twitter: @fnhospice Facebook: /florencenightingalehospice Registered Charity 1119499
A special thank you to the Sponsors 2019 Headline Sponsor Aylesbury Premier Building Services (APBS), providers of domestic and commercial building maintenance and repair services, are sponsoring the Beer Festival for the second year. “We like to support Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity each year as it’s a local charity which helps so many families,” said Tony Davitt, one of the Directors of APBS. 36
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Aylesbury Beer Festival Souvenir Glass Sponsor 2019 PRF Wireless are sponsoring the 2019 souvenir pint glasses which every guest will receive free with their entry ticket and programme. “We are delighted to be sponsoring the glasses at this year’s Beer Festival. We have a personal connection with the Hospice, who were there when we needed them, so we are delighted to be able to support them.” says Tank (Stuart) Stevens.
Saturday Sausage Sizzle Sponsor We are delighted to welcome back last year’s Festival Glass Sponsor, Dell Motors; this year as the sponsor of the Sausage Sizzle. Dell Motors are a local independent garage, based in Stocklake in Aylesbury, and offering servicing and repairs to all makes and models of car, and owner Clive Dell is a big fan of the Aylesbury Beer Festival and a generous supporter of the Hospice.
out and about
Food & Drink
with Heather Jan Brunt
Prize winning family farm
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here’s something about dairy produce - butter, cheese, cream, ice cream - it’s just so deliciously scrumptious! As a great believer in a full fat - fat keeps us fuller for longer and most low fat products contain an awful lot of sugar - I was delighted to visit the Lacey Family Farm at Lane End and sample some of their products. Seven generations of the family have farmed at Bolter End Farm since 1884 and they have bred Guernsey cows for over 80 years. The breed is famous for its rich milk which is high in fat and protein and has a golden-yellow tinge due to its high β-Carotene content. This makes for flavoursome products and the Laceys very popular milk and cream is sold throughout Oxfordshire, Bucks and Berks in more than 60 farm shops, cafés, retailers and restaurants. Brothers Daniel and Gideon, together with Daniel’s twin sons Ed and Will, run an impressive business enterprise with 130 pedigree
Will, Gideon, Ed and Daniel
Guernsey cows plus heifers, beef and young stock and a pedigree bull. In addition to running the farm, they have a processing plant, four bright red delivery vans and a farm shop that brings in 1200 customers a week. Their herd has won numerous awards, including best tasting dairy product in the UK, for their single cream, at the British Dairying Awards last year. The two sets of brothers employ 24 people including a butcher and an apprentice butcher, several shop assistants and farmworkers plus employees who help with bottling
Award winning small batch gins distilled in Tring
and deliveries. The family were bottling and processing their own milk and selling it through an honesty shop on site, when the chance came Out and about to expand the retail side of the Heather Jan Brunt business: “We were retailing our eggs and adding more things to the honesty shop: vegetables, logs, jams, Ed looks after the rest of the farm sausages...” says Ed, “when the lady doing tractor work, arable, buildings running the butchers shop in the and maintenance. village told us she was retiring and Ed said: “Most of the time we so we bought all her equipment.” see eye to eye and we are all Within four months the pulling in one direction. Our aim is enterprising Laceys had the first to build the shop, it’s a bit tight for part of their new shop open after space.” converting an old milking shed. In addition to milk and cream, “That was on top of doing the the shop stocks ice cream, rose veal, everyday work on the farm as Guernsey beef, cheese, fudge, pies, well,” smiled Ed, “it’s all part of the bread, vegetables, biscuits, cakes, farmer mentality to just get on and cards and there is a coffee machine Grown do things.” Grown in in the the Chilterns so Chilterns that workers popping in for a It helps that the foursome get snack A rich source of E A rich sourcelunchtime of Vitamin Vitamin E can get a drink too. on so well and have their own Ed concluded: “The natural 10x more more Omega Omega 3 3 than than Olive Olive Oil Oil areas of expertise.10x Father Daniel progression is to open a café one GM Free, artificial or GMand Free, No artificial flavourings flavourings or colourings colourings runs the office theNo deliveries; day, it’s a little way off, but that is Fat in Uncle Only Gideon6.5% runs Saturated the dairy cows the way itto heading.” Only 6.5% Saturated Fat compared compared tois 14% 14% in Olive Olive Oil Oil and does the milking each day at l Follow Heather Jan Brunt on 6am and 4pm; Will manages the Twitter @HJBjournalist shop and is the relief butcher; and
Grown in the Chilterns A rich source of Vitamin E 10x more Omega 3 than Olive Oil GM Free, No artificial flavourings or colourings Only 6.5% Saturated Fat compared to 14% in Olive Oil Grown in the Chilterns A rich source of Vitamin E Grown in the Chilterns 10x more Omega A rich source of Vitamin E 3 than Olive Oil GM Free, No artificial flavourings or colourings 10x more Omega 3 than Olive Oil 6.5% Saturated GM Free,Only No artificial flavouringsFat or compared colourings to 14% in Olive Oil Only 6.5% Saturated Fat compared to 14% in Olive Oil
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Head over to our distillery shop on Friday or Saturday to discover more.
PUDDINGSTONE DISTILLERY
Wilstone, Tring, Herts HP23 4NT puddingstonedistillery.com
PE Mead & Sons Farm Shop and tea rooms
Large selection of fruit and vegetables, home produced and locally sourced products from lamb and beef, to cheese, pickles, jams, chutneys, cakes, biscuits and more... extensive frozen selection plus top brand pet foods and Our award winning Rapeseed Oil with 10 infusions Ouranimal awardfeeds, winning Oil with 10 infusions logs,Rapeseed kindling, calor gas, charcoal...
PE Mead & Sons Farm Shop Wilstone, Nr Tring, HP23 4NT T: 01442 828478 W: www.pemeadandsons.co.uk Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
37
Health & Beauty Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
B e au t y s p ot
by Amanda Trott
Plump up the volume My hands hate the Winter and begin to resemble those of a wizened old woman once the cooler months arrive, despite slathering them in expensive potions and protecting them with gloves. So just what is happening and can anyone help...
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o matter how good I am at protecting my healthy, soft hands with gloves and all manner of expensive lotions and potions, nothing seems to help once the cooler months arrive. So this year I was determined to discover if there is anything we can do to boost hydration and improve the look and feel of witchy hands? I decided to ask the professionals at Karma House Clinic in Stone if they could help. Aesthetic nurse, Kay, explained that levels of collagen, elastin and Hyaluronic Acid in the skin rapidly drop as we age, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles and lacklustre skin. She suggested Profhilo, an injectable treatment. She went on to explain that Profhilo is made from pure hyaluronic acid and works by engaging the body’s receptors to induce the stimulation of collagen, which is the protein that strengthens our skin. Profhilo improves skin tone, texture, hydration and overall radiance. It can help to increase firmness and elasticity and promote healthier and softer-looking skin too. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide; sugar to you and I, and is naturally occurring in the connective tissue throughout our bodies, with 50% of it found in our skin. It has an important role in retaining moisture with one molecule alone, holding up to 1000 times its own weight in water! However, as we age, our body’s natural production of hyaluronic acid slows down. Kay explained: “hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge holding vast amounts of water in the skin, plumping it out, therefore reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improving hydration and texture.” So how is it done? Using a very small needle, aesthetic nurse, Adrian, injected the liquid into five areas on the back of each hand. It wasn’t painful - at the most, there was a momentary sting, but nothing more than a pin prick sensation. Little lumps instantly appeared where the Profhilo was placed but subsided within a few hours as it dispersed. HA draws and holds water from your body, so Profhilo acts as a hydrator rather than a filler, which makes it fantastic for those with tired, dull-looking skin, transforming it into firm and luminous skin. This effect takes place
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Amanda Trott
Beauty Spot
Witchy Winter hands!
Injecting the Profhilo
Immediately after the injections, my hands look distinctly lumpy!
A few weeks later - plump, smooth, hydrated hands
within three to five days of treatment. Over the next six weeks or so, collagen and elastin production increases, producing a secondary effect of skin tightening with the maximum effect usually seen around two months after the second treatment. One month later, I returned to Karma House Clinic for a follow up treatment. After the initial treatment, a top up is recommended every six months. A week after my second treatment and my hands look noticeably different, plumper, and more hydrated with a finer texture to the skin and I can’t wait to see the continuing improvement over the coming weeks.
results are long-lasting but in order to prevent new spots and blemishes appearing, you will need to protect your hands from sun damage.
If you are suffering from excess pigmentation on your hands, a course of Intensive Pulsed Light (IPL) can help to remove age spots or sun spots. Laser light is pulsed through the skin’s surface, targeting areas of pigment in the underlying tissue. The pigment breaks down into smaller particles, before rising up to the surface to flake away as part of the body’s natural healing process. You’ll feel a slight sensation during the treatment, but the laser pulses are brief. The
In the UK, we do not yet have legislation to prevent non-medical professionals from delivering injectable cosmetic treatments, which in essence means that practically anyone can offer these services, sometimes with devastating effects. Reputable clinics such as Karma House Clinic only employ medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and dentists as they learn how to safely administer injections as part of their medical training. Medical professionals are taught how to use needles and cannulas safely, and are also taught how to deal with problems that may arise from allergic reactions, infection, or complications. Before considering any type of injectable procedure, please ensure you go to a reputable clinic with fully trained medical professionals administering the treatments, it really isn’t a risk worth taking. l To contact Amanda please email:
amandaetrott@gmail.com
Amanda is a Tropic Skincare Ambassador, see: www.tropicskincare.com/amandatrott_1
Health & Fitness
Peak fitness
with Ali Galbraith
Losing never felt so good!
W
e all know that exercise is good for us and if you can find an activity that you really enjoy, you are more likely to be motivated to do it regularly Peak Fitness Agility is a new fitness club in Thame which combines fast and furious footwork with explosive, high energy strength and conditioning training. It is the perfect workout to build speed and stamina and improve co-ordination and is a brilliant workout for weight loss. The class is based around a piece of fitness equipment called a ‘penalty box’, which is essentially a 4-boxed grid that lays flat on the floor but can also be raised to create a small hurdle. You are then guided by your class coach to place your feet, or sometimes hands, into the box, improving agility, toning muscles and improving aerobic fitness. Dance tunes help get a rhythm going and keep the tempo up.
Ali Galbraith Fitness Coach
You can work at your own pace, as you’ve got your own piece of equipment, so there’s no pressure to keep up with anyone else. “Peak Fitness Agility is beneficial to anyone and everyone,” says Head Coach Ali Galbraith, who has more than 19 years’ experience in agility training; and also 14 years’ experience as a Personal Trainer. “We have people who use the workout for sports-specific training, as it’s great for sports that require changes of direction. And we have people who want to improve their cardiovascular fitness and burn fat,
which it is also excellent for. “There is no minimum fitness level to attend, so whether you are new to exercise, or are a professional, this class will suit your needs. It’s up to you how hard you push yourself. “We do an aerobic style ‘circuit’ but you don’t have to move anywhere to change your exercise. We can go from speed, to strength, to core work in exactly the same place just by changing the box around. “It’s a fun, workout in a friendly and supportive environment, which I’d urge anyone to come and try.
Out tagline is ‘Losing never felt so good’ because you’ll be dropping inches and numbers on the scale whilst having the time of your life! “Whatever your age or ability at Peak Fitness we will make sure you thoroughly enjoy achieving your personal fitness goals. l Peak Fitness Agility classes are held at Lord Williams’s Upper School gym on Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm. Book your first class for FREE by going to: www. peakfitnessagility.com/book. There is a special discount of £5 off the monthly membership cost for Vale Life Magazine readers! Quote ‘Vale Life’ when we see you! T: 07824 471047 E: coachaligalbraith@gmail.com Facebook.com/peakfitnessagility
Maria Bray
Nutritional Therapy
The Science of Health and Vitality l
Eat Well l Live Well l Feel Well
l
New Saturday morning Teen Clinic: £30 for 1 hour session Take charge of your health - I can assist you to achieve your desired health improvements with a mutually agreed and appropriate stepped programme of dietary and lifestyle changes. Diagnostic testing for: l Food intolerances / poor digestion l Vitamin D skin prick - overall health; bones, depression; skin; immunity l Homocysteine testing - heart health; brain health
Call for free half hour consultation
Tel: Maria on 0771 5414719 / 01296 581561
www.mariabraynutritionaltherapy.com
ANTONIA BARNES MCFHP MAFHP FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER
Corns, calluses, cracked heels, II CAN CANTREAT TREAT corns, calluses, cracked heels, nail problems, thickened nails and can treat nail problems, thickened people who have diabetes.nails and can treat people who have diabetes. I CAN OFFER Visits in the comfort of your own Ihome, CAN aOFFER visits attitude, in the comfort your warm caring generaloffoot care own home or at my treatment room, including regular nail Thame cutting and filing and a foot massage the end of your treatment. a warm caringatattitude, general foot care including regular nail cutting and filing and a foot massageAatVISIT the end of your treatment. TO ARRANGE OR FOR MORE
INFORMATION CONTACT BARNES TO ARRANGE A VISIT ORANTONIA FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT ANTONIA BARNES 01844 261766 or 07795 692464 01844 261766 or 07795 692464 www.feetforlifethame.com
Helping to keep your feet in a healthy condition Based in Thame, I am also a fully qualified massage therapist offering holistic massage and reflexology REGISTERED MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
Hypnotherapy can and has helped many people in many ways
For all your beauty needs £10 OFF ALL PAYOT FACIALS THROUGHOUT OCTOBER
please contact me for more details 07771 330366 hiddenbeautyaylesbury08@gmail.com
www.hiddenbeautyaylesbury.co.uk
A FREE initial chat, in total confidence, in a comfortable environment, with no obligation to undertake therapy, is the best way to find out how it might help you.
Angie Elbourn
DHP. MNRAH. Dip PCAH. CNHC.
Tel: 077756 77796 (CNHC are the only registering body for this therapy that is recognised by the Dept of Health)
For more info: www.hypnohelp.co Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
39
Advertising feature
Health & Beauty
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Aesthetics experts Did you know there are now treatments to suit all budgets at Cosmetic Courses new Skin Clinic, based locally, in the heart of Princes Risborough...
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stablished in 2002 by internationally-recognised Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr Adrian Richards, Cosmetic Courses has trained more than 6,000 medical professionals, such as Doctors, Dentists and Nurses, in a wide range of non-surgical injectable and skin rejuvenation treatments, helping them to set up their own successful aesthetic clinics. Until recently, Cosmetic Courses patients have been treated in a training environment, under the supervision of their expert trainers, but now, due to increasing demand, the company is delighted to announce an expansion of their Princes Risborough clinic, which will be offering treatments, for private patients, administered by their highly qualified, skilled and sought-after practitioners, as well.
Cosmetic Courses treatments To help treat your concerns Cosmetic Courses offers a wide range of anti-aging treatments, including: l Anti-Wrinkle Injections Dr Fiona Durban l Lip, Cheek, Jaw and Chin Fillers to help you feel refreshed, l Leg Thread Vein Removal revitalised and rejuvenated. l Excessive Sweating l Non-surgical nose job Dr Fiona Durban l Skin treatments including ageing spots, Dr Durban began her acne & pigmentation using IPL, Chemical medical career in 2000 when she qualified Peels, Microdermabrasion and Micro as a doctor from St Mary’s Hospital Medical Needling School in London. She went on to become a l Laser Hair removal Partner in general practice. Dr Durban has been working in aesthetics Practitioners since 2013 and is now aesthetics doctor within Cosmetic Courses practitioners have many Cosmetic Courses new clinic. years of experience and are available to talk Dr Durban specialises in anti-wrinkle through your skin and ageing concerns. They injections, dermal fillers, thread lifts and will sit down with you, discuss your concerns Rederm treatments. and create a bespoke treatment journey
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Advertising feature Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Simona Jotkeviciute Simona is the clinic’s new skin therapist. Simona graduated from the London College of Beauty Therapy in 2014 and has been working as a fully trained Aesthetic Therapist ever since. Simona will be offering Advanced Chemical peels, Microdermabrasion and Micro Needling Simona Jotkeviciute as well as the clinic’s newest treatments of Laser Hair Removal and IPL for skin rejuvenation. The expert team at Cosmetic Courses new clinic are ready to help and advise on the best possible treatment journey to suit all budgets and needs! You can contact them as below. l Cosmetic Courses, Summerleys Road, Unit E3 Regent Park, Princes Estate, Princes Risborough, HP27 9LE Tel: 01844 318341 W: www.cosmeticcourses.co.uk
B e e Yo g a
Health & Fitness
by Rebecca Hunter
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Welcome to my Shala
A
dream came true for me this Summer when I opened my own Bee Yoga Shala in Aylesbury. Shala is a Sanskrit word that means house or home, in this context a house of yoga; a place where yoga is practised in a nurturing and supportive environment. My Shala is a small unit on the Space Business Centre in Fairford Leys. From the outside it looks like any of the other 42 units but it is a calm, private place, quite different to a noisy gym or impersonal village hall. Whatever your age or ability, regular yoga practice can build strength, increase flexibility, and calm and focus the mind. My classes are small; seven yogis (practitioners of yoga) at most. Some of my yogis are experienced and we have fun learning from each other but many are new to yoga. Seeing people relaxing, enjoying themselves and making progress is one of the joys of being Bee Yoga. Small classes mean I can take
Rebecca Hunter
Bee Yoga
Crescent pose
The new Shala
individual needs into account when leading the session. I can also make gentle “adjustments” to help all yogis get the most from each asana (or pose). I’m still developing my timetable. Evening classes are always popular but I also offer morning classes (after the school run, maybe), short, focused lunchtime sessions, and oneto-one classes on request. Away from the Shala, I teach Golden Yoga in care homes and
dementia centres and workplace yoga in local businesses. One of my ambitions is to use the Shala for special events in keeping with the holistic, nurturing philosophy of yoga. The first of these took place early in September; a mediative Gong Bath Immersion, led by Chrissie from Wild & Peace, to be repeated soon. I’d love other people to use the Shala, too; the open ground floor for yoga, pilates or similar activities
For all your Family’s Ear and Hearing Concerns
and/or the cosy mezzanine area for therapy sessions or meetings. Call me if you are a practitioner looking for studio or work space. There are toilet and kitchen facilities near by, plus adequate parking. I look forward to welcoming you to the Shala and sharing your yoga journey. Please contact me by phone or via Facebook if you’d like to know more - or visit my website to enrol for a class. I look forward to seeing you “on the mat” soon. l Bee Yoga, Unit 38, Space Business Centre, Smeaton Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FJ T: 07931 419933 E: becca@beeyogaclasses.uk W: www.beeyogaclasses.uk FB: /BeeYogaUK
Free Monthly Drop-In Family Hearing Events FREE ADVICE & HEARING TESTS . REFRESHMENTS . DROP-IN VENUES AROUND THE COUNTY
Dates for your Diary Wednesday 25th September The Oxfordshire Golf Club, Thame Wednesday 30th October 2019 Princes Risborough Golf Club
The Last Wednesday of every Month see events calendar for details www.astonhearing.co.uk - 01494 733840
Boutique Audiology, Hearing Technology, Professional Ear and Hearing Care for all the family
Amersham . Princes Risborough . Thame www.astonhearing.co.uk 01494 733840
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Health & Beauty Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
G o o d h e a lt h
with Sandra Smith
We all need to sleep
I
magine not exercising for 24 hours. Wouldn’t be too difficult would it? How about going without food for a similar amount of time? Well, trickier, definitely, though hardly impossible. But can you get your head around being deprived of sleep for the same period? No, I can’t bear to think about it, either, which is why this hypothetical scenario highlights the importance of regular sleep without which we couldn’t function normally during our waking hours. According to The Sleep Council, a good night’s rest is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Interrupted or lack of sleep, on the other hand, may negatively impact upon behaviour, attitudes and performance at work. If you have already nailed a routine that works, then stick with it. For anyone who struggles to either get to sleep in the
Do you get enough sleep?
first place, or remain peacefully slumbering, here are some tips. Try not to nod off until the end. Most adults, say the NHS, need between 6-9 hours of sleep every night. Regular sleeping hours are helpful, as is a regular bedtime routine which should focus on winding down. Relaxation exercises or light yoga stretches
are beneficial as are gentle radio programmes or reading. Vigorous exercise and loud, stimulating music on the other hand are to be avoided. Stress and anxiety are doubly toxic, causing an increased heart rate and a mind too stimulated to switch off. If you’re conscious of a busy day ahead of you, try writing a ‘to do’ list in order to organise your thoughts and clear your mind of distractions. At the same time, bar electronic gadgets, including phones and TVs, from the bedroom which should be a dark, quiet and cool (16-18C / 60-65F) space. Of course, a comfortable and supportive mattress is as crucial as adequate pillows and bed clothes but if you’re still bothered by disturbed sleep then try keeping a sleep diary. This may reveal habits or activities which adversely affect your sleep. Finally, resorting to day time cat
Good Health
Sandra Smith naps may seem a sensible solution when you’re tired but are likely to have a detrimental effect on your night’s sleep, no matter your age. And remember to avoid stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol, keep your bedroom free from distractions and invest in black out blinds or earplugs if light or noise disturb you. Now, quietly does it. Goodnight! l Sandra Smith is a freelance
writer, follow her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visit her website: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk
01844 261754 | info@racquets-fitness-centre.com 42
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
H e a lt h f o c u s
Health & Fitness
with Andy McCrea
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
But I don’t play tennis! T
ennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a debilitating condition that happens when tendons in the elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the arm and wrist. Despite its name, tennis players aren’t the only people who develop tennis elbow. Many recreational and occupational activities have been implicated such as gardening, golf, typing, painting and manual work.
Treatment Physiotherapy can be very helpful in the management of tennis elbow. Initially, symptoms can be reduced with ice, rest , NSAIDS (antiinflammatories) and bracing. If the condition becomes chronic we would increase strengthening exercises to include eccentric loading. There is ample evidence that controlled rehabilitative regimes will actually strengthen and repair tendons. Steroid injections used to be a popular treatment however the evidence of long-term benefits is poor. In severe cases we may arrange an injection as the initial pain relief allows us a window to commence strengthening activities.
Symptoms Tennis elbow develops slowly, usually the pain begins as mild and gradually worsens over weeks and months without a specific injury. Clinical examination will reveal pain on the outside of your elbow, weak grip strength and pain on resisted wrist and finger extension. Risk factors Age 40 – 60 (but not exclusive) Repetitive activities Poor mechanics during activities Poor physical conditioning Smoking Do I need a scan / injection ?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Our clinical tests for tennis elbow are very accurate so a trip to your GP to request a scan is not necessary unless your symptoms do not respond to treatment.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy We get excellent results with shockwave treatment. This adjunct effectively delivers a shockwave into the injured tissue which causes mechanical stimulation, an increase in cellular activity and increased blood flow all of which enhances the body’s natural tissue repair
Andy McCrea Elite Physiotherapist responses. It is a quick and safe treatment which usually takes approximately four sessions. Good news... self management!! You don’t need to put up with it, neither do you need multiple sessions of massage or manual therapy. Our physiotherapists in the first instance will prescribe a selfhelp and graduated strengthening programme for you to follow and therefore take control of your condition. Contact Elite Physical Medicine for further information. l Elite Physical Medicine. Clinics
in Aylesbury, Haddenham and Tring T: 01296 437717 E: enquiries@elitephysicalmedicine.co.uk W: www.elitephysicalmedicine.co.uk Facebook Instagram Twitter Check out our Google Reviews
Thame Therapy Clinic Complementary Health Therapies from Experienced Practitioners 23 Upper High Street, Thame, OX9 3EX Tel: 01844 215555
www.thametherapyclinic.co.uk
SMALL, SUPPORTIVE YOGA CLASSES IN A PEACEFUL NEW SHALA LOCATED IN AYLESBURY Individual sessions, workplace yoga & golden yoga available. Suitable for all mixed abilities; beginners always welcome.
CONTACT REBECCA
07931 419 933
becca@beeyogaclasses.uk
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
43
Health & Wellbeing
A h e a lt h y a p p e t i t e
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
by Conor Cross
Good vs Bad fats
Y
ou may be aware of the Eatwell Guide Plate developed by the NHS. It recommends that fats should take up roughly 5-10% of your diet. This may sound simple and easy to manage, however there is more than just one type of fat in food. Some of these fats are healthy and possess health benefits, whereas others can be, potentially, very harmful to your heart health and circulation, causing high blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels and even organ function problems. With a balanced and healthy diet, fats can be responsible for providing benefits such as: energy storage, breakdown of fat-soluble vitamins and phytonutrients, and hormone synthesis. The main function of fats in the body is to provide energy: By supplying energy, fats save proteins from being used for energy and
unprocessed peanut butter contains all the nutrients of the nuts without the added sugar and harmful oils that some products use. • Oils - oils such as olive oil and other vegetable oils contain less saturated fats • Fish - unlike other animal meat sources, fish has surprisingly higher levels of healthy fats. Salmon is probably the best choice! • Avocado - according to the American Heart Association, allow them to perform their more avocados contain mostly important role of building and monounsaturated fats repairing tissues. • Raw nuts - nuts contain high Fats are also used in the body levels of unsaturated fats as well as as structural components in cell membranes and as the backbone for very high protein levels, a perfect hormone-like compounds known as snack! The fats to avoid are saturated prostaglandins. and trans fats - often found in So let’s start off with the good processed and fatty foods like fats, which are unsaturated fats. These include polyunsaturated fatty fast food and anything cooked or fried in oil. Some foods to eat in acids and monounsaturated fats. moderation to reduce the risk of Some foods high in unsaturated developing heart problems include: fats are: Cheese, whole milk, butter, baked • Peanut butter - raw and
Before
Conor Cross
Whiteway Fitness
goods, fried goods and margarine. There are fats you should be consuming, fats to eat on the odd occasion and some to eradicate entirely! So now you can proportionally balance your protein carbs and fat (macronutrient) intake. l Conor studied Sport Science at university and is currently a qualified personal trainer at Whiteway Fitness, Henton which specialises in: one-to-one personal training sessions, partner sessions, group exercise classes, nutrition plans, postural analysis and sports massage. T: 07769 233933 E: enquiries@whitewayfitness.com W: www.whitewayfitness.com
After
Our clinical dental technician, Roy, is a master craftsman who creates the ultimate in aesthetics for removable dentures. The ‘True to Life’ technique incorporates tissue colour mapping using digital photography and individual tooth and gum characterisation. l
Fast and reliable service
l
Easy parking on site
Call Oakview Dentures directly on: 01494 569466 to arrange an appointment
T: 01494 569466
Oakview Dentures, Units 1 & 2 Ministry Wharf, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4HW
www.oakviewdentures.co.uk 44
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
A d ro p o f s h e r ry
Health & Fitness by Sherry Hostler
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Early detection saves lives
I
was pretty young when I lost my mum to breast cancer, and since then statistics have shown that despite us all ploughing our money and tears into research, the numbers of reported cases are at a record high. The good news though is that according to Cancer Research UK there’s now a reported 78% survival rate thanks to the work that’s being done, and 23% of cases are preventable if they’re caught soon enough. Surely that’s good enough reason for us ladies to pay as much attention to our boobs as men do? Sadly, my mum decided that denial was the path that she was going to take with cancer, which meant that it ended on a one way street. I do understand... sometimes. After all, we all know that it can be easier to pretend something scary isn’t happening and just hope it goes away. The denial gene obviously runs in the family too, as I’ve managed to put it to the back of my mind for
Sherry Hostler
A drop of Sherry
as many years as possible. It’s only recently when discussing the subject that it dawned on me that, bearing in mind my family history, I should maybe get checked out too. So, with October heralding Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it gave me the impetus to do something about it. I did a bit of Googling and found lots of information on what visual signs to look for, none of which triggered any alarm bells.
Next I had to feel for any lumps and bumps that might be of interest. I followed the instructions, and tried pressing, prodding and making circular movements. I did all the positions recommended, lying down, sitting up and standing with my arm in the air, and discovered mainly that I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing! So undeterred, and armed with my lack of knowledge I went to see my local GP instead.
And do you know what? It really wasn’t that bad. Yes, it’s weird stripping off in front of a total stranger, and putting an arm behind your head while they feel your boobs. But they’ve done it a thousand times before, and the words ‘you’re fine’ are like music. Even if they find something you’d rather they hadn’t, it means that unlike my mum, you could be one of those 78% who have a chance. Just make sure they warm their hands up first! l Sherry Hostler is a freelance
writer and blogger. She loves dogs, red wine and snowboarding, but not all at the same time. You can find her at www.adropofsherry.com
waitrose.com/thame
Community Matters Every month we give our time and money to local communities. We donate £1000 to be shared by three good causes that you choose.
Waitrose Thame Supporting the community Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
45
Business
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
d ow n to b u s i n e s s
with Philippa Batting
But are you really “fine”?
H
ow much time do you spend each day talking with your employees or colleagues? How much of that time is spent talking about work, or what you got up to at the weekend? How much of it is spent talking about how you, your employees and your colleagues are feeling? And I mean, really feeling? It feels like people are finally starting to take mental health as seriously as they do physical health, and businesses are uniquely placed to help increase awareness of mental health challenges and provide support networks to help people cope with whatever issues they may be facing. Businesses can benefit from ensuring the welfare of their people. A resilient workforce means a resilient company. Management need not just be about helping staff up-skill or improve on a
professional level, it can also be about helping people move through their lives in a happy, healthy and fulfilled way. If nothing is done, the impact on businesses, let alone the individuals concerned, is stark, with mental ill-health the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK. Poor mental health was estimated by the government in 2017 to cost
employers £42 billion a year. Mental health should be an everyday thought but World Mental Health Day takes place on October 10th each year and so this time of year may be a good motivation for employers to assess how much support is possible within their team. Ask yourself if you think your employees would feel comfortable approaching you with a mental health-related issue. If not, think what you can do to change that. Have you considered appointing a mental health ‘workplace champion’ to take the lead on initiatives, or a mental health first aider alongside a traditional physical first aider? Time To Change is an organisation that aims to end mental health discrimination and provide support for those in need. Visit www.time-to-change.org.uk for more details on their employer pledge, action plans for employers and further resources, including
Philippa Batting Down to business
for its ‘Ask Twice’ campaign encouraging people to make sure their friends, family members and colleagues really are “fine” when they ‘auto-reply’ with that phrase whenever asked. If you have introduced any mental health initiatives in your workplace, I would love to hear about them. We can help to spread the word so that all employers can utilise your great ideas. Email me at: Philippa@bbf.uk.com. l Philippa Batting is MD of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), working to support and facilitate success within the business community. Membership is free - visit: www.bbf.uk.com
For the unexpected. We make sure you and your business are covered. We look after local businesses here in Thame. We are always there in person when you need an insurance expert on your side. For a personal approach to insurance call 01494 450 450
jbennett.co.uk J Bennett & Son (Insurance Brokers) Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Branding: behind the scenes
Business
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
by Nadia Awad
Why blue is new gold
E
ver wonder what goes into choosing a brand’s colour palette? Whether by accident, inheritance or design, your business’s colours tell a lot more about you than you might think. So, take the time to make sure you get it right – and that you like what your colours are saying.
Nadia Awad
fiveo’clockcreative
Most importantly, make sure you actually like your colours – blue or otherwise. Because not only will everyone associate them with you, but you’ll be looking at them on everything you put out there – hopefully for a very long time!
When it comes to using colour psychology to win the trust of would-be customers, it doesn’t get much better than blue. Think about it: the sky is blue. The sea is blue. These are things that are constant and universal and, crucially, can always be counted on. Blue says, “We’ll always be here. You can depend on us.” And, especially in an uncertain economic landscape, that message is pure gold.
rate. And the ones that have stood the test of time? Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Skype. All blue. In fact, my daughter recently did me the dubious favour of grouping my iPhone apps into separate folders based on the colours of their icons. The folder with the most apps? Blue.
Don’t believe it? Just look at the world of tech firms. Now there’s an arena where brands really do appear and vanish at an alarming
Another reason blue is so popular for branding is that it’s, well, just so popular in general. According to a survey by Dulux, blue is the
world’s favourite colour.* And when 42% of men and 30% of women all agree on something, you’d be forgiven for using it to your advantage. Of course, within ‘blue’ there’s a world of hues to choose from, each with its own complementary tone on the colour wheel that can serve as an accent. But you can easily go wrong, so be careful and make sure you get several opinions before finalising your brand palette.
l Nadia Awad is the Editorial Director at 5 O’Clock Creative, a branding and content agency based in Aylesbury. If you’d like advice on creating, refreshing or marketing your brand, email her at: nadia@5oclockcreative.co.uk. For more details, check out the agency’s website: www.5oclockcreative.co.uk *The Most Popular Color in the World by Rachael Grad: www. apartmenttherapy.com/the-mostpopular-color-in-the-157991
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
47
Homes & Gardens
safe as houses
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
with Nigel Grace
As good as done!
A
s you read this our latest project is now complete. I have taken possession of the keys and just need to get the flooring laid, curtains, blinds fixed and minor snagging works completed and then we can find a new tenant. It hasn’t been easy – as I have written in previous articles, but when I look at where we started and where we are now, I have to be pleased. And for any project that is all that you can ask. What we have now is a new house in an old building. Our original intent was to take a house that hadn’t been lived in for over forty years and make it suitable for 21st century living. It wasn’t our intention to sell it, so we were not driven by profit. As a longterm asset, we wanted to make sure that we addressed any issues that could affect us both short and medium term. We have not done the financial calculations yet or had a final valuation, but I am sure that
although we won’t be making a significant profit, we will have a property that should not cause us any issues over the coming years. This is for me a key learning point. When doing any project if you find any issues or defects then it makes sense, certainly financially, to deal with them then and there. If you procrastinate and say, we will do it later then the chances are that the problem will get worse and cost you more to put right. Too often clients don’t seem to allow enough money for these kind of things. If you watch Grand Designs, Building The Dream or other similar programmes the hosts, in almost every episode, ask the building owners ‘what sum have you allowed for contingency?’ I listen for the response and then almost every time I say to myself ‘that is not enough’! Unless you are incredibly fortunate, or your project is very simple there are always issues that crop up that you have not foreseen, and you have to deal with them. A
contingency is there for exactly that – unforeseen items. The older the building, normally the bigger contingency you will need. Our previous projects have thrown up things like existing timber floors just resting on the soil below, windows manufactured and delivered the wrong size, even workers becoming seriously ill rendering them unable to work! On this one we had to hack off all the existing plaster and re-plaster the whole house – but it was worth it as the finish is so much cleaner and sharper. It is true that, particularly on older buildings you may have to compromise as sometimes there are issues or constraints that don’t allow you to achieve the look that you desire with the budget that you have. I have written about this previously, but it is worth mentioning again the importance of undertaking surveys and inspections at the beginning of your project. This not only helps with your design but also your budget.
Nigel Grace
Safe as houses
Recently I have had a number of client projects where they have been surprised at the potential costs of their planned works and in the next issue of Vale Life I will be looking in more detail at how you should prepare a budget for a project. As I explain to them, you don’t go into a car showroom looking to buy a new car without an idea of what you are looking for and what you are expecting to spend - the two have to align! l Nigel Grace MRICS is an experienced chartered quantity surveyor, who has built and redeveloped many houses himself. If you need help or advice on your building project contact him on: nigel@nigelgracelimited.co.uk
bespoke doors & windows in timber, aluminium & alu-clad
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01487 740044 info@kloeber.co.uk
48
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
www.kloeber.co.uk
The Old Dairy, Lawn Farm Business Centre, Grendon Underwood, Bicester, Buckinghamshire HP18 0QX
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VISITS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to book call our Head Office on 01487 740044 Open Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 2pm Closed Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays
Commercial Property
INDUSTRIAL It’s two in a row for property expert! PROPERTY SALES A REACH A NEW HIGH lan Chandler, Director of Chandler Garvey is pleased to announce that, for the second consecutive year, he has been awarded the EGi Dealmaker for Buckinghamshire Award. This is a prestigious Award presented to the Agency that has carried out the most commercial transactions in Buckinghamshire over the year. Alan and his team in Aylesbury are extremely proud
to let
and honoured to receive this Award for the second year and are hoping that 2020 will prove to be just as successful. Chandler Garvey specialise in all types of Commercial Property, including offices, retail, warehousing, commercial development land and commercial property investments. Our aim is to provide owners
Rabans Lane, Aylesbury Office Suites 1,500 – 12,250 sq ft)
and occupiers of commercial property with a high level of personal service and to build lasting business relationships. The firm was established in 1979 as Stupples and traded in this style until 2011 when the name evolved to Stupples Chandler Garvey. This name change was designed as a stepping stone to a full rebrand in 2015.
To Let / For sale
5 Midshires Business Park, Aylesbury Newly Refurbished Modern Office Space 2,490 sq ft
Prominent office accommodation over ground and 2nd floors within the Cinram Novum building The ground floor benefits from attractive reception, breakout and meeting rooms and security access. The 2nd floor is mainly open plan plus individual offices with excellent natural light, kitchen and breakout areas. There is an on-site cafeteria and excellent parking. Rental: £12/sq ft
Located just outside the town centre, close to Fairford Leys, with 9 onsite car parking spaces. The office benefits from Air Conditioning/ comfort cooling, 2 kitchen facilities/ breakout area, board room with glass partitioning and meeting rooms. Rental: £38,000 per annum
Aylesbury. Last remaining Grade A Offices 5,550 sq ft
FOR SALE FREEHOLD
For sale: £425,000
INDUSTRIAL/WAREHOUSE VALUES ACHIEVE (Long Leasehold). RECORD HIGH ON A RATE PER SQ FT The Firs, High Street, Whitchurch To Let to LET/ Building 2, Bear Brook Office Park, Located on the ground floor of this iconic building, formerly known as “The Blue Leanie,” close to Aylesbury town centre. Benefits from a manned reception, on-site café and showers. High specification refurbished office space, open plan, fully carpeted, suspended ceilings
Offices 7,108 sq ft
Sales of industrial and warehouse properties in south/mid Bucks area, and indeed beyond, are reaching staggering heights. In the general South/Mid Bucks/Oxon area they have doubled in value over the last 3-4 years.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL. Offices to let, or development
manufacturing during the
research, development and
excess of £1.2 million.
If you would like a market appraisal, please contact Second World War. Nicknamed opportunity for sale freehold. Churchill’s Toyshop”. Elegant country mansion Alan Chandler on 01296 398383 or 01494“Winston 723999 with recessed lighting. Onsite Rental: £12 per sq ft. with historical interest being orparking ac@chandlergarvey.com car at ratio of 1:307 sq Freehold Price: Offers in the HQ of secret weapons ft. Rental: £20 per sq ft.
Call our Aylesbury Team - Alan Chandler and Terri Clarke on: 01296 398383 Lettings | Acquisitions | Investments | Valuations | Property Management Rent Reviews and Lease Renewals | Development / Planning Advice | Business Rates
Amersham
Aylesbury
01494 723999
01296 398383
High Wycombe
Marlow
A new perspective on property 01494 446612 01628 902488
Slough 01753 725700
www.chandlergarvey.com www.chandlergarvey.com Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
49
Homes & Gardens
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Step inside
by Polly Gibbs
Country Cool Grab your wellies and a chunky knit, we’re off to the country
50
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Highland Cow by Tessa Campbell Fraser for Pippa Paton
Step inside
Homes & Gardens
by Polly Gibbs
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
One of today’s most visionary designers in country cool has to be Pippa Paton. Breathing new life into Cotswold homes once stagnated with antique furniture, potpourri and heavy curtains has become her signature style and one I truly admire...
W
hilst her vision respects each building’s history, Pippa embraces Scandinavian, industrial and contemporary influences to create country homes fit for modern times with all the demands this entails, from smart tech and home cinemas, to yoga studios. Yet the integrity of the country aesthetic is maintained. Pippa’s approach highlights the fabric of the buildings she works within. Original character is punctuated by new ideas rather than overwhelmed or concealed by them - as was the habit of our seventies and eighties forbearers whose tendency was to clad, plaster over, or rip out. This stunning 19th century barn conversion is a case in point, providing the opportunity to truly
Industrial Chic by Pippa Paton
showcase beautiful characteristics once hidden by pine and Victorian details completely at odds with the building’s true narrative. But that’s only part of the story. Part of the design brief included a request from the owners that anything ‘new’ should be a nod to the agricultural
ancestry of the building. Pippa replaced knotty pine with iron, steel and glass - materials usually reserved for industrial loft living in London or New York, not immediately typical of the English countryside. Yet, if you think about it, they are exactly the right materials to sympathetically merge old with new and allow in natural light, whilst retaining an agricultural feel. The pressed steel staircase contrasts against a crisp white wall and is simultaneously sturdy yet slight due to it’s perforated treads and minimal design. The chandelier was designed by Pippa using wooden skittles that once belonged to photographer Man Ray, forged together in iron by a blacksmith. The darkness of the iron is echoed in the stairs, grid
Polly Gibbs Step inside Polly Gibbs, Creative Director at Coco Design, shares her down to earth approach to interiors, from design secrets to trends and everything in between. mirror and original inky blue slate floor, all flanked by the double height timber barn doors. From slate, linen, wool, faux fur, steel and wood, to rustic finds during the building work, the result is a natural patina that’s timeless, authentic and Continued on page 52
High quality bespoke kitchens and furniture, handmade by skilled craftsmen in Buckinghamshire Complete Kitchens | Bedrooms | Wardrobes | Cupboards | Shelving | Storage Solutions | Furniture | Desks | Offices
‘Mark’s attention to details, such as the plate rack and bespoke drawer dividers, make everything a pleasure to look at and use.’ Unit 23, Kemps Farm, Chapel Road, Ford, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8XG Tel: 01296 706030 Email: mark@markwilliamsonfurniture.com Website: www.markwilliamsonfurniture.com Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
51
Homes & Gardens
Step inside
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
by Polly Gibbs
Charles Huntington Flooring Charles Huntington Flooring
•Expert Advice •Professional Fitting •Very Competitive for Residential and glass walls, the bathroom appears workdriven by the Saatchi & Saatchi Commercial to float, suspended on a mezzanine mantra ‘nothing is impossible’. In •Carpets suit alldesign this is a particularly necessary above the master bedroom, to reached Budgets attitude. via a white coated steel staircase. •Free Quotes Their home, two barns originally Moving on to Pippa’s own home, •Noconversion, Obligation built in 1867 and now connected naturally it’s a barn created with her•Free husband Scott who by a contemporary glass building, Parking
•Expert Advice Elegant simplicity by Pippa Paton •Professional Fitting except to the boot room/back Continued from page 51 Competitive kitchen•Very that cleverly hides dinner for Residential party excess away from theand main, understated. And this is just the Commercial open plan industrial-chicwork kitchen. entrance. Grey resin floors, lime-washed •Carpets to suit all walls and exposed stone form the basis Crafted and vintage pieces, worn Budgets of the colour palette throughout, as and weathered by touch are cleverly •Free Quotes seen here in the lounge, allowing the reimagined throughout Pippa’s building and Obligation art to take centre stage. projects. Here an old stable door brings Pippa’s designs to life as their provides a unique space that •No company MD, personally overseeing demonstrates how eclectic art can is now a shower privacy screen, Parking be right at home in the country. The The•Free showstopper is a stunning each construction. As a former providing a textural contrast to the CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS barns were opened up by removing bronze-cast Highland Cow by Tessa William Holland copper bath and Global Business Director in the SAFETY FLOORING •world WOOD • BINDING TAPES all internal walls and existing doors, Campbell Fraser (main image page of advertising, Scott remains white resin floor. Surrounded by •Expert CARPETS • VINYLSAdvice • SISAL • STAIR RODS Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES •Professional Fitting Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment
Floating Bathroom by Pippa Paton
Charles Huntington Flooring
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
comforts
tern Directories
ARTICULARLY PHONE NUMBERS AND OUR EMAIL ADDRESS Step inside
ITED
web. www.chiltern Homes & Gardens
by Polly Gibbs
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
tel. 0771281 LEASE CHECK THIS PROOF CAREFULLY, Rabbit Bedroom at The Wild Rabbit Bunny Cottage at The Wild Rabbit tel. 075000482 ARTICULARLY PHONE NUMBERS AND wood, chalky ceramics, linen and 50) who has also sculpted Her interiors such a success. modern country is The Wild Majesty The Queen’s corgis. Rabbit at Kingham. Owned and wool all reflecting the surrounding web. www.chiltern OUR EMAIL ADDRESS I highly recommend taking a look lovingly refurbished back in 2013 natural landscape and traditional
NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Mounted on a glass balcony, designed specifically to take the sculpture’s weight and bolted through the glass, this is a design master stroke. Such design ideas are not accidental, they are very deliberate and considered. It is this synergy between Sintelligent, IRELESartisan imaginative skills and FREE Wdesign, ITCHmakes Pippa’s can-do attitude ALL SWthat
R W Y ROLLE R E V E H WIT DOOR GARAGE
at further projects on her website or in her book, Twenty-First Century Cotswolds, which is inspiring. (Get the look: resin floors by Senso, sofa by George Smith, walls painted in silver flat emulsion from Zoffany, suede chairs by Pippa Paton Design).
by the Bamfords of Daylesford fame, the pub also includes rooms and cottages in an elegantly subtle Cotswold style. Whilst every room is different, each has luxuriously tactile and natural elements that mingle contentedly with the creamy cotswold stone, adorned with illustrations by Hugo Guinness. Notable textures include pared back
craftsmanship.
The neutral palette also works well with accents in burnt orange as shown on page 54 in the Boar room, as well as yellow ochre, petal pink, or dramatic rich darks like merlot, foliage green, plum and bitter chocolate. Continued on page 54
Operate your garage door from anywhere the houseRoofs Electric Awnings &inGlass
Another interpretation of
Visit our showroom at: 6 Swan Walk, Thame, BIG BRAND Oxfordshire, OX9 3HN T: 01844 212152 E: info@shutterspecsecurity.co.uk NAMESW: www.shutterspecsecurity.co.uk
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53 Based in Thame, Oxfordshire wePHONE supply and installNUMBERS a range of garage doors. AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRE ARTICULARLY Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
ARTICULARLY PHONE NUMBERS AND OUR EMAIL ADDRESS Homes & Gardens
tern Directories Step inside
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
web. www.chiltern
by Polly Gibbs
ITED
Pippa Paton 0771281 LEASE CHECK THIS PROOF CAREFULLY, Reading nook bytel. Lastly, proving grand spaces don’t tel. 075000482 ARTICULARLY PHONE NUMBERS AND have to be on a grand scale, at the opposite end of the size spectrum web. www.chiltern is The Shepherds Hut. Created, OUR EMAIL ADDRESS
NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN designed and built by Richard Becher at Nettlebeds Farm Studios, Hampshire.
The Boar Room at The Wild Rabbit Continued from page 53 It’s important to locate furniture SS to maximise their impact; IRELEfunctional FREinE aWlight a chair and airy nook, a H C
IT WALL SW ROLLER ERY WITH EV E DOOR GARAG
breakfast table in the morning sun, or a shower in the afternoon glow for example. This laid-back harmony inspires a restful ambience that’s perfect for a weekend escape.
But why wait to escape when you can wake up to this style every morning? Create this look with products from Daylesford, Nkuku, Neptune and Design Vintage.
This little gem may be compact and bijoux, yet it still packs a design punch. Not only is it super cute, it’s been styled with my favourite pattern, Honey Bees by Vanessa Barneby. The dark charcoal and gold
Operate your garage door from anywhere the houseexpert Your local garageindoor Visit our showroom at: 6 Swan Walk, Thame, BIG BRAND Oxfordshire, OX9 3HN T: 01844 212152 E: info@shutterspecsecurity.co.uk NAMESW: www.shutterspecsecurity.co.uk
NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Based in Thame, Oxfordshire we supply and and install a range From our base in Thame, we supply install a rangeofofgarage garagedoors. doors for residential, commercial and industrial premises. Whether Whether it’s a space Garage a Sectional Garage Door for Door for extra insulation, or a new Up and Over Garage Door, it’s saving a spaceRoller saving RollerDoor, Garage Door, a Sectional Garage extra insulation or a new Upourandproducts Over Garage our products of come the in a wide choice of colours and materials. are ofDoor the highest qualityare and highest quality with a wide choice of colours and materials.
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Step inside bee panel is a really effective feature against which the red chairs just pop. But it gets better - the panel drops down to reveal a double bed - clever. I also like the way chicken wire is incorporated within the kitchen cabinet doors, echoing the farm location. Antique mirror panels on the door add a teeny hint of glam and hide a little ensuite complete with shower. Charmingly simple, fuss free and available
to rent via Airbnb. (Honey Bees Wallpaper, £87 per roll, fabric £63 per metre. Barneby Gates).
by Polly Gibbs
Homes & Gardens Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
What each of these projects demonstrates in there own unique way is the importance of materials and context in creating a modern interpretation of country living. Textural elements are key, so look
The Shepherds Hut by Richard Becher that pack a punch.
The Shepherds Hut by Richard Becher for textures in everything you chose, but the real element of a successful cool country vibe is surprise. It’s the unexpected details
The Shepherds Hut by Richard Becher
For more inspiration browse the Curious Coco dedicated ‘Cool Country’ Pinterest board and follow @thecuriouscoco on instagram for a kaleidoscope of design inspiration.
l Polly is an award-winning designer, Decorex100 interiors influencer & Amara Interiors Blog Award Finalist. If you’ve got a rockin’ interior or design dilemma, message her and it could feature in the next issue. E: polly@curious-coco.com W: www.curious-coco.com Insta, Twitter, FB: @TheCuriousCoco
om r ro be ew w N ho tem r s ep rio g S te in enin
op
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Homes & Gardens Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
homestyling
by Marie Westerman Roberts
It’s a beautiful time If like me Autumn brings out the nesting instinct, a desire to cosy up the home ready for the colder months ahead, it’s actually a great time to add some homely touches that are quite natural and won’t cost a fortune...
I
t’s September and even though I do get a bit sad that summer has now officially ended and darker times are ahead I can’t help but LOVE both September and October. Nature is so beautiful at this time of year, the air is fresh, and people are rested and full of energy. We are starting up at the gyms, taking on new courses like knitting, flower binding and fly fishing, and trying all sorts of other hobbies we’ve been having an urge to do. We are doing clear outs, starting to nest and make our homes cosy for those winter months that are approaching. Also, I love seeing all the new trends in the magazines at this time of year, there’s something very comforting about the autumn trends (hubby is not so happy when I get all excited and suggest changing some of the furniture, but that’s a different story) it’s all so warm and homely and really speaks to our human nesting nature. Does it make you, like me, want to change 56
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
to warm colour schemes, make casseroles and put your woolly socks on (in the seasons trendy colours of course)? Usually it ends up with small changes that are not so expensive, and really, we have so much beautiful produce out there at this time of year, such as flowers, berries and vegetables, that we can bring in to decorate our homes, it’s not hard to fulfil that nesting urge. That’s often all it takes - bring some nature in - it’s pretty, its sustainable and its plastic free! Green plants, flowers and twigs in a beautiful vase give the home life but can be interior details that are forgotten or maybe avoided, due to the time and energy that you may feel is required to take care of them. But, even if you don’t have green fingers, there are many plants that don’t require very much nursing which can fit in your home. In addition, twigs and dried flowers are trending as interior favourites, Instagram is full of pampas grass, which hardly requires any care
Marie Westerman Roberts
at all (maybe a little dusting now and then). Vegetables are a lovely thing to use as decorations too, for example artichokes and corn on the cob - sacrifice a few and put in a nice bowl as decorations (they will dry out) and you instantly have a really lovely little seasonal vignette. You can of course do this all year round, but this is the best time to buy them (or if you’re really lucky pick them in your own garden). So, enjoy the season, go visit your garden centres, we have so many lovely ones in this area, get yourself to the local markets and look for what you may have in your own garden. And get those woolly socks ready!! l Marie Westerman Roberts is an experienced home stager and the owner of Scandihome Home Staging Services. For more information visit: www.scandihome.co.uk E: marie@scandihome.co.uk T: 01844 390017 Instagram @scandihomeuk
G o o d to g i v e
Community
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
by Katie Higginson
Are you a good neighbour?
G
They undertake small maintenance ood neighbours play an tasks and odd jobs, like putting up important part in our shelves, changing a lightbulb or community and in our lives - chats over the fence, moving a piece of furniture. feeding your cat whilst you’re away, These contributions seem small, but they could make all the keeping a friendly eye out for any difference and allow someone to unwanted visitors or collecting a remain living independently in their package from the postman whilst own home that bit longer. you’re out... Nowadays grown-up children Handy Helper Steve says “If I lived closer to my parents, I would often live some distance from their parents, so popping round to check be doing this for them so it is nice to on their welfare, having a cup of tea be able to help other people in the and a natter, is often not possible. same situation. I also like being able A good neighbour can give that to use the skills I no longer use at work. The difference a simple task sense of reassurement and support can make to someone’s quality of to those who may be more isolated, life is heart-warming.” elderly or vulnerable. Or as Mr B says: “When I retired The District Councils (Aylesbury many years ago, I helped in my Vale, Wycombe, Chiltern and South village as a volunteer driver. I know Bucks) together with Community I made a difference to the people Impact Bucks have launched a that I ferried around. I am on the fantastic new scheme called Handy other end of it now and I appreciate Helpers to run through the county. the assistance that I have had from DBS-checked volunteers give PROFESSIONAL TREE SURGEONS the volunteers: I called because I support to people in their homes, wanted leaves cleared from just like any good neighbour would. • Treethe Felling
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Good to give
A chance to offer a helping hand is also available through other schemes, such as the Good Neighbours Network and Street Associations, through which local residents give invaluable support to others in their local community. So, if you can spare an hour or so of your time and are interested in volunteering, get involved and find out if there is an initiative already running in your area by contacting www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk/ handyhelpers, goodneighbours.org. uk and streetassociations.org
Handy Helper Steve puts up some pictures for a neighbour my path but I got so much more than that.”
l Katie Higginson is CEO of
Community Impact Bucks: Tel: 0300 111 1250 www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk
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Homes & Gardens Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
In the garden
Brand new As we say goodbye to summer, Naomi MacKay has that new term feeling – and is keen to get on with autumn plantings...
S
ummer is finally over – the children are back at school and the mornings are taking on a distinct autumnal feel. I just love these misty mornings – reminds me of fresh starts, first day of term and a chance for a new beginning. And the same is true in the garden. Summer has, to be honest been a bit of a washout, with a few weeks of fabulous sunshine – and for once we timed it right and enjoyed a scorching week camping by the Suffolk coast. So I have been quite keen to say goodbye to summer bedding
A giant courgette!
and look to the next season. Our hanging baskets did really well, but they suffered while we went on a variety of holidays, so I popped to the garden centre to fill them up with ornamental cabbages and pansies. Simple but effective. Their autumnal colours really got me in the mood for the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Talking of fruitfulness, I made the classic error of not checking up on the courgette plants properly before we went away for the long weekend. We came home to a monster marrow, which has since been sliced, stuffed with savoury mince and baked in the
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Everything You Need In Stone
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with Naomi MacKay
In the garden
with Naomi MacKay
Homes & Gardens Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
beginnings
A good year for the tomatoes oven – actually it was so good I might leave a few more courgettes to grow to mammoth proportions! It’s also been a great year for tomatoes – following last year’s success, the plants
go straight into the veg patch – I don’t bother with growbags – and the tomatoes are thanking us for it! Surprisingly, as we SO1113 - Wayne don’t seem to have had much sunshine, the Wiseman Business Card FINAL ART.pdf tomatoes have actually ripened earlier and Blur cherry tomatoes Continued on page 60
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Homes & Gardens Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Continued from page 59 we have been harvesting them since July – a quick picking in late August yielded 3.5lbs of tomatoes from just one cherry tomato plant – I was still waiting for the bigger tomatoes to become completely ripe as this magazine went to print at the beginning of September. Looking ahead, I planted some pumpkin seeds earlier in the summer, and they have grown well – but with all our holidays, I forgot to transplant them into the ground until now, so doubt they will give us any pumpkins to carve in time for Hallowe’en. One year I will get the
Looking forward to Irish spuds
In the garden
with Naomi MacKay
Autumn jobs in the garden Sow vegetable seeds: Salad mixes and hardy lettuces Broad beans Cauliflower Plant bulbs: Spring bulbs daffodils, alliums, tulips Plant spring bedding: Bellis, primulas, wallflowers timings right! Speaking of which, I really must plan ahead better – between work, sport and family commitments, it’s easy to forget when to plant what. The RHS site is brilliant for giving you all the jobs to do and when, and of course I include them in this column too – I think my ‘fresh start’ will be to have a planner up on the kitchen, where I can tick off what needs planting when and tick them off as I go.
I’ve neglected our pumpkins this year, so sadly they won’t look like this! The vegetable garden has been busy this year. At Easter we brought back some Irish potatoes from my father-in-law’s garden which are all growing away in bags at the bottom of the garden; growing them in compost means they don’t rot – our soil is very heavy – and we have had
some great salad potatoes and are just getting ready to dig up the first of the lates. Anyone with Irish family will tell you that nothing tastes as good as Irish spuds – I’ll let you know if they taste as good grown in Buckinghamshire soil!
l Naomi MacKay is a Bucks-based freelance writer and editor who specialises in gardens. She also helps small businesses get their message to
potential clients using websites, blogs, social media and more traditional printed products. Email: naomimackay@gmail.com
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
‘The Art of Wood Burning’
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The most comprehensive showroom in Oxfordshire Over 75 stoves and 15 under fire on display Kiln dried and Eco logs
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01865 361505 www.manorhousestoves.co.uk Featured stoves from JØtul Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Motoring Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Roa d to t h e f u t u r e
with Alan Candy
Electrifying! Eee by gum, the Beetle is here to stay
Y
ou may have thought that the original Beetle was dead and buried – but the faithful bug just won’t lie down and die. In fact, it is poised to take the new electric motoring era by storm. Volkswagen and its partner eClassics are paving the way for the subsequent electrification of the historic Volkswagen Beetle. The electric drive, the onespeed gearbox and battery system are based on the new VW e-up! city car. Its premiere is being celebrated with a near-production version of the e-Beetle at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany. Thomas Schmall, member of the board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components said: “The electrified Beetle combines the charm of our classic car with the mobility of the future. “Innovative e-components from Volkswagen Group Components are under the bonnet – we work with them to electrify historically important vehicles, in what is an emotional process. “We are also providing Beetle owners with a professional
1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk1
Alan Candy conversion solution, using production parts of the highest quality.” The higher performance and increased weight due to the extent of electrification require the adaptation and reinforcement of the chassis and the brakes. Despite the new total weight of 1,280 kg, the e-Beetle accelerates to 50 km/h in just under four seconds and to 80 km in just over eight seconds. The range of the e-Beetle, which reaches top speeds of up to 150 km/h, is 200 km – a comfortable distance for a relaxing day out in an electrified classic car. In the event that the e-Beetle runs out of electricity during the trip, the built-in series-produced components allow for fast charging via a combined charging system. As a result, the e-Beetle can store enough energy for a journey of over 150 km after charging for around an hour. The concept can be transferred to other historic vehicles.
Wash & Dry: Cars £5 / MPV & 4X4 £7
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Online classic car auction platform, The Market, achieved a sales rate of 89% with total sales of over £418,000 during the month of August via its state-of-the-art online bidding platform and app. Successfully selling 24 out of 27 classic cars offered, the online-only auction platform saw multiple cars sell over their pre-sale estimates, with a 1937 Rover P2 20hp Sports Saloon (£22,000) and period correct 1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk1 (£36,575, pictured) among highlights. Of the modern classics offered, a 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti with a 5.7-litre V12 engine and semi-automatic ‘F1’ gearbox sold above its auction estimate for £57,000. Reading just 49,000 miles, the car was presented in nigh-on showroom-condition. See: www.themarket.co.uk or download the free app from Apple Store or Google Play. Britain’s most and least reliable new and used cars have been revealed, with hybrids among the most dependable and Land Rover and Renaults the least reliable cars. The 2019 Reliability Survey from What Car? used feedback from more than 18,000 readers and found that hybrids from Japanese brands topped the reliability charts, with the Lexus CT (2011 – present) and Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2011 – present) receiving a 100% reliability rating from owners, (no faults over the previous 12 months). The only other car to match this achievement was the Kia Soul (2014 – 2019).
Although electric vehicles and hybrids have the best average reliability rating (96.1%) not all of them are dependable. The Renault Zoe (2013 – present) scored a lowly 82.3%, with 44% of owners saying their car had suffered a fault. The worst vehicle class for reliability was Luxury SUVs at 86.5%, with the Range Rover (2013 – present) and Range Rover Velar (2017 – present) proving the least bulletproof. Almost half of Velar owners (48%) said their car experienced a fault in the past 12 months, while 35% of Range Rover owners had needed to visit a garage.
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Great savings for YOU! @ RCP Service Centre MOTs £44.85
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Servicing | Repairs | Diagnostics Tyres & Wheel Alignment Collection/Delivery and loan vehicles available
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workshop@rcpservices.co.uk RCP Service Centre Ltd, Unit 15, Camp Industrial Estate, Milton Common, Nr Thame, OX9 2NP Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
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Motoring
o n t h e roa d
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
with Rob Auchterlonie
Landmark Lotus Lotus Evora GT410 Sport
S
OMEONE, somewhere is going to be the lucky owner of a very exclusive car this summer. What is officially the 100,000th Lotus car to be produced has a very special link with the late, great Jim Clark, the Scottish farmer who took the Formula One world by storm in the 1960s. The trust that runs the museum that bears his name in the sleepy Scottish border town of Duns has been given a Lotus Evora GT410 Sport in ‘Clark’ colours – red with a silver roof and tartan seats to match the Elan he drove in the 60s – to help fund the new museum that opened at the end of August. And it’s been signed by all 20 F1 drivers from this season. The Evora is currently the top of the range model from the Norfolk
Rob Auchterlonie
ON The Road manufacturer, with an £85,900 price tag. And exclusivity is a major part of the package. Lotus currently only build 1,500 cars a year at their Hethel factory in Norfolk – the place where those legendary grand prix winning cars of the past were hand crafted, and the test track next to the factory was home to Formula One legends Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna
Lotus Evora GT410 Sport and Nigel Mansell. Production now is split equally between Evora, Elise and Exige. And while it might be a relatively small sports car, there’s still plenty of room inside an Evora. I had to move the seat forward a bit to find the best driving position and I’m six feet four (or 1.92 metres if you like). You can’t see much out of the back because of the finned engine
cover. You can just about make out things coming up behind if you peer through them, but the door mirrors are more of a must here than on other mere mortal cars. Not that you’re likely to be worrying about what’s behind. There’s a truly awesome noise when you floor the throttle and revs rise about 4500rpm. It speaks of phenomenal performance and is hugely impressive.
Telephone:
01844 353388
40 Oakley Road, Chinnor, Oxfordshire, OX394ES (to rear of Claremont Automatics) Email: johnnixey@btconnect.com
Telephone: 01844 353388 l Bosch Car Service Centre l MOTs including Class VII (3.5 tonnes) l Servicing, repairs, tyres, exhausts and air
conditioning for cars and light commercials l Diagnostics: we have the most up to date work
shops and equipment in the area
l High ceilings and long ramps enable us to service
long wheelbase vans, campers and trucks
Independent specialists for Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda Servicing, repairs, diagnostic testing, MoTs, tyres, air-con specialising in Audi R8, RS & S models. 5A HIGH STREET • WHITCHURCH • BUCKS • HP22 4JU T 01296 641 429 WWW.VASS-TECH.CO.UK
64
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
o n t h e roa d The view through the door mirrors gives you a good look at the huge haunches that envelop the rear tyres and the vents that gulp air in to cool the engine sitting just behind your head. The ride is on the firm side to say the least although there’s a decent amount of comfort for the occupants, and the steering is quite light – certainly a lot lighter than you’ll find on an Elise or Exige, because on the Evora it’s power assisted. It helps to make the process of everyday driving a bit more relaxing, but it’s never a car that doesn’t demand your full respect and concentration. The pedals are quite close together deep down in that footwell so precision when switching from one to another is a must to avoid embarrassment. And you’ll notice a certain degree of mechanical sounds from the drivetrain. It’s a bit raw, a bit edgy – everything you’d expect in a car with the racing pedigree DNA that is inbuilt into every Lotus. Like every Lotus before it, the Evora benefits from a unique
with Rob Auchterlonie
Lotus Evora GT410 Sport
approach to driving dynamics. It’s a car for devoted drivers who enjoy race car responses but also want some refinement and practicality for the open road. Expertise eked out from seven decades in motorsport has been applied to develop a sports car with equal ability on both road and track. The state-of-the-art chassis is unique to the Evora. Constructed using bonded aluminium extrusions, it’s extremely light yet incredibly stiff with a central tub forming the driver’s cockpit and safety cell - a
process widely used in modern racing car construction. While it’s first and foremost a pure driver’s car for the road, Evora proves that the value of motorsport engineering extends far beyond the race track. Its functional aerodynamics, bonded aluminium chassis, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs, forged aluminium wishbones and AP Racing brakes are all motorsport grade, intelligently applied for road use. Whatever conditions the road throws at you the Evora has a
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
mastery over them all. Re-styled with advanced aerodynamic elements taken straight from the limited production Evora GT430, the GT410 Sport generates much more downforce than its predecessor without any increase in drag. So much so, it is now the most aerodynamically efficient Lotus of all. Available with a choice of 6-speed manual or paddleshift automatic transmissions, a wide range of options allows you to customise your car either for comfort or greater track focus. Quality carbon fibre panels feature as standard, and the flagship Lotus is now faster, sharper and more appealing than ever. Lotus Evora GT410 Sport Price: £85,900 Engine: 3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, supercharged Power: 416ps Torque: 410Nm Transmission: six speed manual Top speed: 186mph 0-60mph: 4 seconds Economy: 26.6mpg CO2 emissions: 239g/km
Independent Truck, Van & Car Repairer
Servicing l Inspections l MOT preparation l all makes & models l mercedes specialists l Breakdowns l Recovery service l Class 4/7 MOTs l courtesy vehicles l Mobile on-site servicing l
KM Commercials, Unit D8, Brunel Gate, Telford Close, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 8AR Tel: 01296 488898 / 07720 706918 Open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and Saturdays 8am to 1pm
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
65
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Telephone: 01844 279519 Freephone: 0800 7837194 Email: windmill2@btinternet.com Website: www.windmill-services.co.uk 66
Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2019
Find the best motor finance deal for you www.tracerfinance.co.uk
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Why not check you are getting the best deal? For No obligation help and advice call Lesley on: 01296 415950 / 07557 123926 or email: lesley@tracerfinance.co.uk
KW Plastering
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Kevin Wooldridge Plasterer 01296 392511 07725 184727 kevin.wooldridge1@ntlworld.com
K Collins Roofing Ltd Roofing Specialist
Local business, Roofmaster approved, Established 1969
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Flat, felt and rubber roofing We also do slate and tiling repairs, PVC fascia boarding and chimney repointing
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Sark Carpentry Gas, plumbing & heating
Aylesbury, Tring, Thame & The Surrounding Areas Your service Yourfriendly friendly&&reliable reliable local local plumbing plumbing service Gemma Lawrence: 01296 425969 / 07769 330983 Gemma Lawrence-Davis gemma@theplumbersgem.co.uk T:E:01296 425969 M: 07769 330983 www.theplumbersgem.co.uk E: gemma@theplumbersgem.co.uk www.theplumbersgem.co.uk
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Your Your local local Aylesbury Plumber Aylesbury Plumber
General plumbing Maintenance Bathroom refurbishment Drain unblocking General plumbing Maintenance Radiator Installation Bathroom refurbishment Guttering repairs Drain unblocking Toilet and sink unblocking Tap repairs Radiator Installation Guttering repairs Burst pipe repairs Toilet repairs Toilet and sink unblocking Cistern repairs Outside tapsTap repairs
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