Vale Life Magazine August 2011 by Charlie Trott

Vale Life

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Your free magazine for Aylesbury, Thame and the surrounding area

Take me home

FREE MAGAZINE

Aug/Sept 2011

Bathing Belles stiltwalkers at AylesburyOn-Sea event, Kingsbury Square Photograph taken by Danny Higgins: www.dannyhigginsphotography.co.uk See inside, page 28

Inside:

Fairford Leys: a Grand Design Artful Dent-istry in Stoke Mandeville Fancy a Bow-wow Pow-wow? What became of the Dinton Hermit? Matt, Penny, Ruby, Naomi and much, much more... w chilterns craft show tickets w Stripey hammocks w Whipsnade tickets w w Dinner bed and breakfast at the Spread eagle w Beautiful Bride book w

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Great rates Amazing results To advertise in Vale Life Magazine Call Charlie on 07702 006218

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Spread the word across The Vale: see: www.vale-life.co.uk for details

Grand Design

Win Win situation!

Destination Africa

It’s Good to Talk

Out to Munch!

Hush Puppies

10 Service with a Smile

Best of Bucks

11 Farmyard Focus

Now You see It, Now You Don’t

Glass Act

Homes Cookin’

Family Fun

First Time Lucky

On the Beach

All About Eating

All that Glitters

Food & Drink Guide

Diamonds are Forever

All Things to All Men

Win Beautiful Bride

The food section

Fighting Fit

Off With His Head!

Growth Spurt

The Real Thing

Naomi MacKay

It’s Towersey Time

Fairford Leys - design for life Salon girls rise to challenge Spice up your life at village café Ladies know the drill

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Mixing it up in Fleet Marston The art of staining windows Win tickets to The Chilterns Craft Show Alisha Johnson’s bare essentials Precious things at The White Hart Studio Was Edward really the King of Bling!? It’s a wedding book, silly! A balanced approach to staying in shape Paving the way for expansion All’s quiet in the kinder-garden

Summertime news

ongratulations to the following June/July edition competition winners! Hopefully your prizes will have arrived by now, let us know if not. Commiserations to those who weren’t so lucky - read on though for more competitions inside this edition, including

Does your doggy need to pow-wow? Volunteer and help Hearing Dogs Photo competition to tempt in tourists Irritating dents erased from your vehicle What’s on the menu at Windmill Place? Shared ownership puts first rung within reach Matt Brown, Boycott Farm and Ruby McLee Win an overnight stay at Spread Eagle Hotel Modern approach to old fashioned values Best of the area’s food and drink venues The Hermit’s tale

‘Ale drink to that!’ says Charlie Trott Bank Holiday fun at your local Festival

an awful lot of ways you may be parted from your money once inside

the compound! The Bucks Show will be with us on September 1st. That has sadly been a complete mudbath over the last couple of years but we paddle on in hope... In Thame there’s the excellent Food Festival coming up on Saturday, September 24, when the town centre will be alive with local produce, cookery demonstrations and all manner of foodie delights and it’s free! Before then though there’s plenty

the chance to win: dinner, bed and breakfast for two at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Thame; a family ticket to Whipsnade Zoo; a Beautiful Bride book; tickets to the Chilterns Craft Show and a stripey hammock! Last issue’s prizewinners were:

Lush Little Green Bag: Molly Jones, Stokenchurch; Sarah Bunce, Aylesbury, Harley Timberlake, Chearsley. Meal for two at The Peacock Inn: John Hutchins, Princes Risborough. Canal Walks DVD: Alison Wallington, Tring; M. Kelly, Thame, Di Goodchild, Great Kimble.

he weather behaved again this year for the Thame and Oxfordshire County Show. It was a great success with an impressive list of entertainment and things to do on top of the colourful sights, sounds and smells you would expect to find in fields full of animals, and marquees groaning with food and drink! It’s not bad value either if you make a day of it, although there are

Win a hammock or family ticket to Whipsnade

Final parade Thame Show

of fun to be had at Towersey Festival (See page 46). A day ticket allows you to wander round the quirky stalls and enjoy displays of music, dance, circus skills and general eccentricity, and there’s plenty of good live music on show in the evenings. Don’t forget our What’s On Guide at: www.vale-life.co.uk Have a great Summer and happy reading

Charlie

Charlie Trott: Editor

Horse of the Year Show Tickets: Sam Gill, Wendover; Helen Coleman, Stone; Liz Ashley, Oakley. Larmer Tree Festival pass: Sue Greenleaves, Bishopstone; Hope for Heroes Pants: Leigh Reed, Haddenham; Jude Awdrey, Speen; Steve Barry, Aylesbury

Front cover picture: Photograph of Bathing Belles stiltwalkers at ‘Aylesbury-On-Sea’ taken by Danny Higgins (www.dannyhigginsonphotography.co.uk). Turn to page 28 to read about the Summer of fun planned for Aylesbury town centre. Vale Life Magazine is designed and published by House of Mouse, 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 : Aug / Sept 2011

Fairford Leys

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

John Simpson

There has been a settlement at Fairford Leys since Saxon times - the ancient burial mounds are still evident in the grounds of the school. But the parish of Coldharbour has been redeveloped in recent years and is now a stylish role model for contemporary urban living...

ost of us Vale dwellers have heard of Fairford Leys. Some of us live there, while others will have driven through parts of it, possibly without realising, while on the way into or out of Aylesbury. Follow the signs to the village centre however and you’ll discover a lively modern development cleverly designed to resemble the charming Georgian and Victorian town centres of old with its elegant terraces, mews areas and townhouses. Architect John Simpson, top right, who also remodelled the area around St Paul’s in London and The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, is the man responsible for the design. John is not keen on modernist architecture and employs classical styling in his work, largely from Georgian sources. Planning for the village began in the 1980s and the first residents moved into their new homes in 1998. Fairford Leys is in the parish of Coldharbour - the parish council is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and now encompasses some 2,200 homes to the west of Aylesbury. The estate is built on land belonging to The Ernest Cook Trust — a national charitable foundation with interests in conservation, architecture and community development. The village centre is set around a square with a number of traditionally fronted

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Hampden Square on Fair in the Square day: Photograph by Tony Whittaker

shops, a Co-op supermarket, restaurants and takeaways, a nursery, a dentist, an ecumenical church and a community centre. Nearby the old Coldharbour Farmhouse is now a listed building and home to the residing church minister. Just outside the centre is a health club with swimming pool which opened in October 2003, a pub, The Honey Bee, the local branch of the Hampden Veterinary Clinic and a chemist. The centre of the village is surrounded by the ‘city wall’, inspired by mediaeval city walls, such as York. It consists of three and four storey townhouses with the main entrance to the centre marked by two towers, loosely modelled on medieval gate towers. The architecture is inspired by traditional Aylesbury housing styles while the Victorian style lampposts and railings add a Dickensian glamour. The layout of the development was organised to create a series of mixed use neighbourhoods, each with facilities in the centre within a public place. The neighbourhoods are of limited size so as to be just five minute walk from the main village centre at Hampden Square, thus life is not totally dependant on the motor car. The Fairford Leys Centre, which opened

in 2003, is the hub of village activity, a lively community centre owned and managed by Coldharbour Parish Council. It is fully staffed at all times and houses the council office plus two good sized halls, a meeting room and an airy reception area where you can relax with a coffee. A vast selection of classes and activities take place at the centre from exercise to weight loss, dance, pre-school and networking. See www.fairfordleyscentre.co.uk for details. Over the next few pages we have highlighted a few of the small businesses currently flourishing in Fairford Leys. Some such as Escape Wellbeing Therapies, right, moved in to brand new units seven or eight years ago. Others, like, Fairford Leys Smile Centre dentists and Munchies have only recently replaced outgoing ventures. Utopia tiles and gifts, left, is tucked away down Wedgewood Street, just off Hampden Square and stocks exclusive tiles and a delightful selection of unique gifts and homeware, while Destiny Hair Design is one of the area’s most popular salons drawing a clientelle from as far as Thame and Waddesdon. It probably wasn’t part of Mr Simpson’s grand design but, with free parking readily available, it’s no surprise that this village centre is not used just by local residents.

Fairford Leys

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Animal instincts

airford Leys Veterinary Surgery opened in 2000. It is one of four branch surgeries run by Aylesbury’s Hampden Veterinary Hospital which has been established for over 75 years and is one of only two veterinary hospitals approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the whole of Buckinghamshire. The two-year-old purpose-built hospital is on Anchor Lane near Aylesbury High Street. The practice, which also runs well respected farm and equine divisions, believes that the highest standards of care can be offered through its branch surgeries which boast two dedicated vets and two receptionists who get to know their clients and their pets and provide continuity of care. At Fairford Leys the vets are Robin Ireland, a partner in the practice who joined in 1983 and Leonie Pulford, who joined in 2001. The Facial with Sam

ocated on Hampden Square, Escape Wellbeing Therapies is described as ‘a space dedicated to people’s uniqueness and wellbeing’. The beauty salon has a calming, relaxed atmosphere and is decorated in muted tones with spa-like Romanesque tiling in the treatment rooms, candles and Buddhas all adding to the ambience. A comprehensive range of health, beauty and holistic treatments are on offer to rejuvenate or help soothe away the stresses and strains of everyday life including: facials (Dermalogica and Crystal Clear Oxygen), manicures, Bio Sculpture nail treatments, pedicures, waxing, eyelash tints, perms and extensions, eyebrow wax and tints, make-up (makeover, bridal or semi-permanent with Jemma Upton), body treatments (salt scrubs,

Leonie Pulford BVSc MRCVS receptionists are Lynda and Anne. “The local surgeries work well,” says Robin. “Our clients don’t generally wish to travel too far with an animal, especially if it’s unwell and people like to see the same vet. You build trust and get to know the pets. We hold three surgeries a day and can cope with routine issues but if it’s something serious the hospital is just up the road with nurses on-site 24 hours a day and vets on call.” The surgery has free parking to the rear and is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to

Robin Ireland BVSc MRCVS Friday with surgeries from 9-11am, 2-3pm and 4-6.30pm. The branch also sells high quality pet foods and accessories. l Fairford Leys Surgery, 1 Ashley Court, 65 Kingsgate, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, HP19 8WB. Tel: 01296 745371. Out of hours: 01296 423666. Email: smallanimal@hampdenvets.co.uk Website: www.hampdenvets.co.uk

Great escape

mudpacks, massage, cellulite therapy), holistic therapies (acupuncture, lava shell massage, reflexology, Indian head massage, aromatherapy, Hopi ear candles, massage, synchronised massage) and St Tropez tanning. All treatments are carried out by fully qualified, insured and experienced therapists under the watchful eyes of salon owner Kerry Winfield and manageress Sam Ross. Kerry is from Aylesbury, but worked in Thame before opening Escape in 2004. Sam joined later that year on a part-time basis while studying beauty therapy at Aylesbury College. She has been manageress for two years. The salon now has five staff plus a couple of specialist therapists who are available by appointment: acupuncturist Beth Bennett (www.bethbennettacupuncture.co.uk) and medical aesthetician Jemma Upton (www. jemma-upton.co.uk). “Our clients come from as far afield as Thame and Tring,” says Sam. “There’s free parking right outside, so it’s very easy to drop in, while our Fairford Leys customers will often walk here. “We have three treatment rooms and a St Tropez spray-tan room. “Our Crystal Clear facials are very popular,

and can breathe new life into dull, wrinkled skin. A pressure jet of oxygen penetrates the skin through a special hydrating serum and you get a visible plumping of lines and wrinkles. The results are immediate and continue to work after the treatment stimulating cell regeneration. “We also do an amazing synchronised massage with two therapists working in unison. It’s especially good if you want a deep massage. And for those on a lunchbreak we have a selection of special 30 minute ‘express treatments’. “It’s a friendly place to work and to visit and being here on the square, in the heart of the village it is something of a haven away from the bustle of the main town. It really is an escape!”

l Escape Wellbeing Therapies, 5 Hampden Square, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 7HT. Tel: 01296 426666. Website: www.escapewellbeingtherapies.com

Hot Lava Shell massage

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Fairford Leys

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Building funds for orphans The girls of Destiny Hair Design like a challenge and now their year long Destination Africa project to raise funds for materials and travel to Ubombo to extend an orphanage is well underway...

estiny Hair Design is an award-winning salon on Hampden Square in Fairford Leys. Opened in 2004 it enjoys a reputation for a friendly professional atmosphere and the highest standards of client service. Owner of Destiny Hair Design Tracey Gascoin has always been keen to involve the salon in community events and charitable activities and this year eight of her stylists: Steph, Natalie, Alexa, Kirsty, Lucie, Ali, Jess and Tracey are involved in the salon’s biggest project yet - Destination Africa.

The girls are to help improve an orphanage, currently home to 19 children, at Ubombo in a very remote part of South Africa. The team will travel to Africa next May and need to raise at least £17,600 by then for building materials to construct a community centre on the orphanage site. Fundraising efforts to date have included a launch party at China Brasserie, a GHD demonstration night, a tea party, a sponsored walk and a race night in July which raised an amazing £2,700! Coming up are a half marathon and a grand ball (Saturday, November 26 at The Spread Eagle, Thame - tickets on sale in the salon now). Another local business, Salon Success Ltd (sole UK distribu-

Donate to Destination Africa for a FREE Cut and Style for new clients

Ed Purdew, 19, of Coco’s Foundation with Thabiso, 11, an orphan who has sadly since died of AIDS tor of Paul Mitchell Luxury Hair Care) has jumped in to help with a magnificent £1,000 donation. The company is based just across town near Tesco in Broadwater. “We are delighted to be able to help Destiny raise funds for Destination Africa,” says Jennie Baldwin, Salon Success Director of Corporate Sales. “We love Tracey and her brilliant team at Destiny Hair and truly admire their commitment to this worthy cause. We wish them every success in reaching their fundraising target and of course for their life-changing visit to Africa in May.” Destiny Hair Design owner Tracey was bowled over by the donation saying: “This is fantastic! We’re thrilled Salon Success has so generously donated to Destination Africa. We’ve now raised a total of £6,200 and with many exciting fundraising events still to come, I am confident we will reach our overall target of £17,600. I want to thank everyone so much for their help and kindness. At our race night

Destiny Hair Design is offering 50 lucky new clients a fabulous Cut and Style absolutely FREE. Simply quote “VALE10” when booking then make a £10 donation to Destination Africa when you come into the salon.

For appointments call 01296 337555 *Appointments will be accepted on a first come first served basis allowing the first 50 applicants to take advantage of the offer. We will ask you to make a £10 donation to Destination Africa when you attend the appointment. Offer expires 30th April 2012. Offer is only available to new clients of Destiny Hair Design. Offer not available in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Offer available with all stylists subject to availability.

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Youngsters at the orphanage

Linda from Tramps Hair Designers made a donation of £500 which is just amazing too, we’re all very grateful for such fantastic support.” If you’d like to help Tracey and her team there are several ways to donate to Destination Africa: · Via the dedicated ‘Just Giving’ web page at: www.justgiving.com/ destiny-hair-design0 · By attending or supporting a fundraising event. See: www. destinyhairdesign.co.uk/destinationafrica/fundraising-events.html · By donating old clothes (Destination Africa receives £350 for every ton that’s collected - just bag and take to salon. · With a FREE cut and style - the first 50 new clients to make a £10 donation to Destination Africa will receive a Cut and Style at Destiny Hair Design free of charge (usual price at least £28). See ad left. l Destiny Hair Design, 7 Hampden Square, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 7HT Telephone: 01296 337555 Web: www.destinyhairdesign.co.uk

Fairford Leys

Munchies is a new café and Indian restaurant offering stylish surroundings in which to enjoy a coffee and pastry or full Indian banquet...

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Out to munch!

Nelema Habib

Naser Habib

hen Nelema and Naser Habib first met they were both working in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, a long way from the relative calm and tranquillity of Fairford Leys! Nelema grew up in Thame, her father is successful restauranteur Ana Choudhury who owns the House of Spice chain. She went to Ashfold School and Aylesbury High School and then studied law at London University before joining the Foreign Office. She was posted to Bangladesh, where her family originally came from and there, working in Dhaka for the British High Commission, she met her husband Naser, who had grown up in the city and was working for the Danish Embassy. The couple married and had two children, but after five years Nelema was missing her family back in England and the two decided to return here. “I’ve got restaurants in my blood,” laughs Nelema. “We moved back to England and Naser worked in several of my father’s restaurants to gain experience in the business. We also had a share in The Cinnamon Tree which sadly closed earlier this year after seemingly unsolvable problems with a leak in the plumbing system.” “We love Fairford Leys though and know lots of people here who enjoy a good curry, so we thought we’d start our own

Chefs Said and Jewel restaurant.” “It took nearly a year to organise change of use for the premises from retail to restaurant but we’re open now. We’ve called it Munchies because we wanted a more modern image than a traditional Indian restaurant and we’ve decorated with a light, modern feel, somewhere between a restaurant and a brasserie. We’ve tried to make Munchies comfortable, contemporary and stylish. “Foodwise we describe ourselves as Indian with an English twist, we serve traditional dishes, authentic Indian cuisine from different regions of India and we have a couple of excellent chefs who have created a range of special dishes too. You don’t have to have spiced food, you can have a piece of grilled chicken or prawns cooked in the tandoor oven without the marinade and spice if you like. “ In the daytime we have a coffee shop menu with baguettes, sandwiches, pastries and muffins.”

Here at Vale Life we’ve already heard good reports of the food at Munchies and the menu certainly had our mouths watering! Dishes are rated with one, two or three chillies to denote spiceyness, or a green dot for relatively mild offerings like Korma, Pasanda or Tikka. Nelema tells us that the chef ’s recommended dishes have been proving popular: Rejala, a chicken or lamb dish cooked with rosemary, onions, fresh mint leaf and traditional Bangladeshi spices is a spicey delight, while Malchiriani is sauced with mango, yoghurt and mint for a deliciously mild treat. Munchies offers a free delivery service for takeaway orders over £10 within the Fairford Leys area, or within a 5 mile radius for orders over £20. A £3 charge is added in other cases. lMunchies Café and Indian Restaurant, 9 Hampden Square, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 7HT. Tel: 01296 487893 / 484089. Website: www.munchiesaylesbury.co.uk Open seven days a week and bank holidays Sunday-Thursday : 5pm to 10.30pm Friday and Saturday : 5pm to 11pm Lunchtimes : 10.30am to 2.30pm Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Fairford Leys

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

When you’re smiling...

‘Sisters are doing it for themselves,’ sang Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin in 1985 and that’s still the case in Fairford Leys where an all-girl team has set up the Fairford Leys Smile Centre...

ractice manager Dianne Lee, dental hygienist Lois O’Reilly and dental nurse Hannah Smart all worked for the same Aylesbury dental practice and became firm friends. Dianne had been there for 21 years and knew many of the patients very well having seen some of them grow up and in turn bring their own children in for treatment. When Dianne and Lois were made redundant, Hannah resigned in support and the three decided to start their own practice. “We made a really good team,” says Dianne, “it was a shame we’d been split up and I thought there must be a way we could work together again. We talked it over and got a business plan together with help from Lois’s husband.” The plan looked viable and Hannah, who had meanwhile been working in another Aylesbury dentists, had met Dr Selma Shujaat BDS who’d come in temporarily as a locum at the practice: “I was really impressed with their plans,” says Selma, “and I was looking to work in Aylesbury so I was happy to get involved.” Dianne, Lois and Hannah are now partners and have set up a modern dentistry practice using the latest technology, such as low dose digital radiography and intra oral cameras, which allow the patient to see their problem areas. The practice has three surgeries, a sterilisation room and a spacious reception and waiting room. It has a stylish, modern feel

Dentist Dr Selma Shujaat, left and Dental Nurse Hannah Smart

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Practice manager Dianne Lee (top) Hygienist Lois O’Reilly (above) with comfortable sofas in the waiting area, fresh flowers on display and a relaxed friendly feel to proceedings. “We’ve done some advertising and leafleting,” says Dianne, “word of mouth has spread and some of our previous patients have followed us here, so we’re already building business. “We’re a private practice but we have Denplan which means you make a monthly payment, about £20 on average and it covers most things. It’s a really good way for families to budget. It even covers you for emergency treatment when you’re away from home too. “Children cost less and it’s lovely to have the peace of mind that if you wake up with a problem you can get it checked out straight away without worrying about the cost. “Putting off a trip to the dentist is a false economy” says Dr. Shujaat. “Regular visits to the dentist means problems can be spotted before they cause pain or need costly treatment. Getting your children used to regular check-ups is terribly important. Understanding how to look after their teeth from an early age is invaluable which is why we also offer Denplans for children and families.” Selma comes from Newcastle and qualified in dentistry at Sheffield University in 2005. She’s smiley and friendly and has the slightest hint of Cheryl Cole in her accent which is very trendy! “I tried pharmacy when I first left school,” she says, “but didn’t really enjoy it. Luckily I met a dentist who persuaded me to give it a try and I’m really glad I did. I

feel I am really helping people. It’s especially rewarding on big cases where I’ve worked on a patient’s teeth over a period of time and they are really pleased with the results, or when someone comes in and they are a little nervous but leave feeling much better saying ‘it was really good, thank you!’” Dental nurse Hannah Smart qualified in 2003: “My aim is to make the dreaded visit to the dentist as stress free as possible,” she says. Hannah grew up Bury St Edmunds but has lived in Fairford Leys for four years now: “It’s really nice here,” she says “there’s a very friendly atmosphere. I enjoy my job because I love meeting people and it’s nice helping them feel at ease.” Hygienist Lois O’Reilly RDH qualified at RAF Halton in 1991 and loved the area so much she decided to stay. She now lives Winslow: “We’re a family practice, really” says Lois, “we’re trying to offer good quality dentistry at reasonable prices. We’re all friendly people and we aim to offer a more personal service than you’ll get in a lot of practices.” l Fairford Leys Smile Centre, 8 Hampden Square, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 7HT. Telephone: 01296 398180 Web: www.fairfordleyssmilecentre.co.uk

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Fleet Marston

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

The medieval village of Mersetune may be a ghost town but there’s nothing spooky about Fleet Marston Farm’s small business community, except perhaps the fleeting spectre of success...

n medieval times Fleet Marston was a bustling village recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 records under the name Mersetune. The name Marston is derived from the Old English for ‘marsh farm’, while ‘Fleet’ refers to a stream in the parish and was added to distinguish the village from nearby North Marston. All that remains today is a few houses and Fleet Marston Farm which is just off the A41 between Aylesbury and Waddesdon. The farm is owned by Willie and Anne Hunter, and managed by their son Andrew, with the help of his wife Elaine and other family members. They have diversified, as have many farmers in recent years, from a mixed farm to an arable farm with a farm shop and rural units which are let out to businesses. “We’ve been farming here for 47 years,” says Anne Hunter. “We started the farm shop in 1984, selling eggs and potatoes at the farmhouse door. Then Jeannie our eldest daughter left catering college and started making cakes and pies and it grew from there. “We renovated the barns and gradually expanded our farm shop. Our range of products includes: cakes, pies, biscuits, jams, chutneys, eggs, local honey and English wines. We also sell cards, clothing, children’s toys and gifts and lots more. We try to sell a wide variety of British goods, locally sourced where possible. “We’re a family business, Willie and Andrew run the farm and rural units, while my other daughter Caroline cooks delicious dishes for the farm shop using many fresh local ingredi-

This picture and below: Hunters Farm & Country Shop

Dennis’s Saddlery & Brambles Country Stores

ents. Other close family members, including our grandchildren, are involved too, helping out on the farm and in the farm shop. “Luckily, being on the A41, we have a good customer base with passing trade in addition to our regular customers.” The Hunters started converting farm units to

let about 20 years ago and now, in addition to the farm shop, the Fleet Marston community includes an acupuncturist, a BMW specialist, a saddlery, a country store, a stained glass window specialist, a caravan repair company and a van hire firm. Read on to find out more...

P & A Self Drive Van Hire

P & A Accident Repairs

Unit 14, Fleet Marston Farm, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP18 0PZ

w Small and large transit vans w Competitive rates w Daily or weekly hire w Fully insured w Unlimited mileage w Free parking on site Tel: 01296 658853 Email: paul.roberts01@btconnect.com Website: www.pandavehicleservices.com 12

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Tel: 01296 658853 Email: paul.roberts01@btconnect.com Website: www.pandavehicleservices.com Specialists in caravan and motorhome body repair and paintwork. Insurance and private repair work undertaken

Fleet Marston

In the saddle...

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

ost horse owners will have heard of Dennis’s Saddlery and Riding Wear Ltd. Originally founded by Mr Dennis Snr in Aylesbury’s Kingsbury Square, around 1900, the store was taken on by his son Ron, who was joined in 1966 by Derek Joy, a master saddler who had honed his trade in the Household Cavalry. The business moved to Aylesbury High Street where it flourished for 34 years and in February 2000 relocated to Fleet Marston Farm. Ron’s son Martin was by this time running a separate branch in Tring which is now specialising in sports clothes, school uniforms and countrywear. The larger premises and country location at Fleet Marston meant easier access, free parking outside and a bigger range of stock on offer, plus Derek got a roomier workshop! The business is currently run by ex farmer and farmshop retailer Joe Cobb and his assistant Sam who is a keen and accomplished horsewoman. “We’re very lucky,” says Joe, “we have

Joe Cobb a good customer base here with two local hunts: The Bicester and The Kimblewick, and there’s quite a few local livery yards and riding stables - we’re in a very horsey area.” Derek fits and alters the saddles and can make any other bits of bridlery or tack required. An expert working with leather, he’s in several days a week making to order and is apparently working on some leather boot straps for a vintage Bugatti racing car at the moment! “We can supply any type of saddle,” says Joe, “leather or synthetic and in the store we display a good quality, value for money range.

“We stock bridles, reins, girths, bits, Horseware rugs, grooming equipment, body protectors, crash hats, jodhpurs, Joules, Musto and Toggi clothing, Ariat boots, Hunter Wellies, Dublin River Boots... it’s a mix of riding clothing, tack and accessories, and country clothing and accessories, and we cater for children and adults. It’s a bit of an Aladdin’s cave really!” l Dennis’s Saddlery and Riding Wear Ltd, Unit 21, Fleet Marston Farm , Bicester Road, Fleet Marston, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0PZ. Tel: 01296 658660 Email: info@dennissaddlery.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am - 5pm

Feeding time

Martin Blackburn

artin Blackburn opened Brambles Country Stores in May 2008. He’d previously worked in the motor trade running Landrover dealerships but was ready for a change of career. Martin’s wife, niece of Willie Hunter, owner of Fleet Marston Farm, knew there was a unit available on her uncle’s farm. Martin used to be a keen rider and with Dennis’s Saddlery next door and knowing a fair few local landrover-driving horseriders, the idea of setting up a country store and animal feed suppliers seemed an interesting opportunity. “We started with feed,” says Martin “and then expanded into shooting clothing. We’re

also doing some hardware and widening the range of feedstuffs and animals catered for. We’re very keenly priced. We’ve got a pony nut promotion on at the moment - they are normally £6 for 20k but we’re doing them for £4.95, we’re the cheapest in Buckinghamshire! We’re doing tubtrugs from £3.99 and manure scoops at £14.50, all these items are dearer elsewhere but we buy in bulk so we can keep the prices down and pass on savings to our customers. We email our regular customers with offers each month to keep them informed. We’re keen to offer good value. “We’ve a whole room for horse supplements, dietary and herbal remedies, rubs, joint-care, hoof-mender, salt licks and hay nets and stock top brands such as Equine America, Naf and Equimins. “We cater for most other animals too, from chickens and wild birds to cats, rabbits and even ostriches and we can get specialist feeds in to order if required. “We do local deliveries to studs and yards and are happy to offer the service on orders over a minimum size.

“We have a website with a small amount of our stock displayed - it’s amazing how many enquiries and orders we get via email and text these days! “If we don’t have what you want in stock, we can usually get it in by the next day, as we have daily deliveries from our suppliers.” Brambles stocks Seeland sporting footwear and sells a lot of boots. There’s also a range of clothing, from Alan Paine classic tweed and luxury knitwear, to Bonart of Olney’s tweed shirts, jackets, hats, caps and shooting suits and Jack Orton quality tweed and countryside wear. “We’re not just a feed supplier,” says Martin, “We’re a country store and as such can supply anything from lawnmowers and harrows to birdfeed and fatballs. Just ask and we’ll see what we can do. It’s all part of the service.”

l Brambles Country Stores, Fleet Marston Farm, Fleet Marston, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0PZ Tel: 01296 655111 Email: hello@bramblescountrystores.co.uk Website: www.bramblescountrystores.co.uk Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Fleet Marston

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

It’s a glass act...

Stained glass specialists Stewart and Stephen Bowman have moved their workshop to Fleet Marston Farm. The extra space is handy and there’s room to display some of Stewart’s paintings...

layton and Bell was one of the top English stained glass workshops during the latter half of the 19th century. The company, founded in 1855, was, in more recent times, run by Haddenham based artist Michael Farrar-Bell and his father Reginald, who afterwards set up their own studio back in Haddenham, which continued until Michael’s death in 1993. Michael (1911–1993), also painted pub signs and designed postage stamps and can be seen online in a Pathé News film of 1956 working at his Haddenham home (www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=595). Haddenham lad, Stewart Bowman, trained as an apprentice and worked for Michael before establishing his own stained glass business in the village in the early 80s. The two collaborated on a stained glass window for St Mary’s at Haddenham which was designed by Michael and painted by Stewart. Stewart has been joined by his son Stephen “We do quite a bit of restoration work, and Bowman’s Glass has been responsible for which often, as with the main window at many beautiful works including new windows Chesham Church, will mean taking out the at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Thame, a leaded lights, cleaning the glass, sandblasting Millennium window complete with windmill the stonework and zinc powdercoating any at All Saints Church in Brill, and a stained metalwork to prevent corrosion, then releadglass window in memory of the victims of ing and reinstalling the glass.” the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster at St Bowman’s don’t just do repair work though. Mary’s Dover. A new stained glass window They design and make windows from scratch representing the Ascension at St Mary’s whether stained glass or not including sealed church in Oakley (pictured right) was installed double glazed units. When Vale Life called, in 2001, see picture right, and a window deSteve was cutting down an existing stained picting the creation at St Mary’s glass panel, so it could be releaded in Radnage the same year. and fitted into a sealed unit to be Stephen and Stewart have reinstated, double-glazed, in the now moved their workshop original opening. to Fleet Marston Farm where When making a new stained they have more room and glass window the design is paintbetter vehicular access. ed onto the glass and then the “We’ve just finished a two panes are fired in a kiln before year contract working with One of Stewart’s paintings being leaded and installed. English Heritage and Clancy Developments to When not busy designing windows Steve’s renovate Breakspear House at Harefield,” says father Stewart is a keen artist and has develStephen. “It’s a Grade I listed building. The oped a distinctive style, influenced no doubt Breakspear family took on the estate in the by his years designing in stained glass. 13th century. At the end of the 19th century Some of his work is now on display in the WS Gilbert, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, Bowman’s Glass workshop at Fleet Marston. lived there, and in 1956 the house became an l Bowman’s Stained Glass, Studio 4, Fleet old people’s home but closed in 1987 becomMarston Farm, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP18 0PZ ing run down and vandalised with pretty Tel: 01296 651777 well all the windows broken. We had a lot of Mob: 07703 536931 leaded lights to refit, about 2,000 panes in all Email: bowmansglass@btconnect.com and in many cases the leading and frames too! Web: www.bowmansstainedglass.biz 14

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Steve Bowman

Stewart and Steve installing the window at St Mary’s, Oakley Millennium window, Brill

Fleet Marston

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

King of the road

ohn Warren Cars has been trading successfully since 1979. The firm is a specialist, independent, BMW dealer with centres at Codicote in Hertfordshire and at Fleet Marston Farm, where John’s brother Bill opened up in 1995. The brothers grew up in Hertfordshire and while Bill trained as an engineer at Rycote Wood College in Thame, John started selling cars from his neighbour’s double garage, eventually taking premises on a farm himself. Bill left engineering in the 90s and after a spell in car sales at a Risborough garage went into business with his brother, who having worked for Willie Hunter, knew of his units at Fleet Marston and thought they would make a good location for a second base. John became a BMW specialist in the early 80s when it was a niche market and has built up good contacts for supplies of quality stock.

“We’ve ridden the wave of BMWs success really,” says Bill. “When we started BMW were selling around 9,000 new cars a year in the UK, now it’s more like 140,000! “They are a top quality car and they are very nice to drive. It’s a prestige brand which many aspire to and we try and stock the higher specification cars here with leather interiors and all the extras. “We don’t deal with large numbers of cars so we can hand pick particularly nice ones which have been looked after and have a good service history. We take care to prepare them properly for sale too and back them with a good warranty. “We can arrange finance and may also take part exchanges, depending on the car! “We stock about 35 cars across our two sites but if you see something you like on our website we can always bring it over to Fleet

Win tickets to the Chilterns Craft Show

he Chilterns Craft Show at Stonor Park near Henley-onThames from August 26th-29th showcases some of the finest handmade gifts and treats, plus interactive craft demonstrations, traditional rural craft techniques, live music, displays and a stunning show garden. Up to 250 crafts people from all over the UK will bring you the best of British handcrafts from ceramics to glass and jewellery to paintings.

The Good Food Live area is a must for foodies with lots of goodies plus an exciting Live Cookery Demonstration Theatre, where you can get inspiration from the professionals whipping up mouth watering feasts and then match the perfect wine to your meal at the Tutored Wine Tasting. You can also take the opportunity to visit Stonor Park House & Gardens on the Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning one of 10 pairs of tickets to the Craft Show and Stonor Park House & Gardens, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which river is Henley on? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on August 19th. For info and tickets see: www.ichf.co.uk or phone the ticket hotline: 01425 277988

Bill Warren Marston if more convenient. “We are competitively priced - you have to be these days as it’s so easy to compare what’s available on the internet. But we are a small operation so we can keep our overheads down and offer good value. l John Warren Cars, Unit 17 Fleet Marston Farm, Fleet Marston, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0PZ Tel: 01296 651040 Mob: 07836 699530 Email: bill@independentbmw.co.uk Website: www.independentbmw.co.uk

Telephone: 01844 208401 Mobile: 07732 329118 Email: info@landmarkgardendesign.com Website: www.landmarkgardendesign.com

The professional design and build service for residential and commercial property From fence panels and back door steps, to complete garden redesigns with paving, turfing, excavations, retaining walls and planting, driveways, patios, decking, water features, ponds...

Job vacancies! Hard landscaper wanted. Also Labourers with skills eg bricklaying, paving, plumbing, carpentry etc. Call Rodney on: 07732 329118 Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

l Column: Alisha Johnson

Amalfi Bikini by Nardis Beach Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Portofino one piece by Nardis Beach

With the summer sun just around the corner, Vale Life’s Alisha Johnson dips her toe in a sea of high street swimwear

ll woman, probably even supermodels, worry how they’ll look on holiday. Stripping off in public when you haven’t quite stuck to that strict ‘no carbs’ diet is a daunting prospect for us all. But don’t be afraid there’s perfect swimwear to suit all shapes… Athletic: If you’re not blessed with the sensual curves of more buxom women, that doesn’t mean you can’t look irresistible in a two-piece. Most would kill for long lean legs and washboard abs, so highlight your best bits with detailing that will create curves - a ruffled bikini top or something with a Amalfi Bikini by bow on the front. Whilst bottoms that tie at the Nardis Beach

side or hold a bold print will add definition to your waist. Being lean means your figure can handle the bold prints and bright colours that this season adores. Curvy: Beyonce, Christina Hendricks and Jennifer Lopez – all look utterly fabulous on the beach and none claim to get by on an apple a day! Curves are back in fashion, with womanly figures bursting onto the catwalks, and fashion houses such as H&M creating ranges for the curvier woman. So when packing your bag for the beach, don’t hide your curves in sarongs and bland Speedo swimsuits, instead celebrate your curvaceous nature and opt for a bikini with ruched detail. Or if you’re more comfortable in a one piece then go for a slimming suit with tummy control, just make sure it’s in a

Amalfi Bikini by Nardis Beach

bright colour to help you stand out! Petite: Many petite woman love their small figures, but some worry that they will look dumpy and dull by the poolside. A petite figure can be a blessing though when dressed in the right shades and prints. Try opting for something highlegged or stripy. If you still think you’re lacking in any womanly curves, then go for a moulded bikini top to boost you up top. If you’re still feeling short add in a pair of wedges and you’ll be on top of the world! Fretting over a spare tyre or lumpy thighs - cover up problem areas with a bold print or ruching detail. Alternatively, an embellished maxi dress and wedges will ensure that you feel beautiful and look

Jewellery brand of the year 2010 and 2011 Now available exclusively at Harrisons in Aylesbury Harrisons Jewellers, Unit 4A, Hale Leys Shopping Centre, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1ST Tel: 01296 436499 www.harrisonsjewellers.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

glamorous! After all, holiday’s are there to be enjoyed, not to fill you with dread! Beachwear pictured is available from Bandeau beach dress by Mya www.MyaBlue BlueBeach Beach.com and www.nardisbeach. com (also from www.independentboutique.com)

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

ll that is gold does not glitter and all that glitters is not gold ‘So True!’ you may cry, for clever people such as Kate HamiltonHunter can fashion fabulous jewellery from an old biscuit tin! She’s moved on now of course and is not averse to working her magic on brass, aluminium and even silver. You’ll find her delightful creations at the White Hart Studio along with sparkley temptations from Bluebird Boutique, a stunning range of 24ct gold-plated jewellery handmade in Devon and sprinkled with semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals. But should you follow your heart to Haddenham in search of such delights? It did Gollum no good in Tolkein’s Lord of The Rings ‘My precious, my precious’ whined the unhappy creature ‘I wantz it, I needz it. I can haz teh precious?’ but he was lost seduced by the power of the ring...

l White Hart Studio, 15 Churchway, Haddenham, HP17 8AB Telephone: 01844 292308 Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm Sundays: 11am-4pm

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Created almost 80 million years ago, by huge pressures deep within the earth’s crust, diamonds take their name from the Greek word for ‘invincible’ - adamus. Although revered for centuries their true beauty has only been revealed relatively recently after cutting was introduced in the 17th century...

hat is it about diamonds that fascinate us so? They sparkle and shine, that’s for sure, they are ‘invincible’, ‘indestructible’, the hardest mineral known to man and of course breathtakingly beautiful. ‘Fragments of stars’ or ‘tears of the gods’, to the ancient Greeks they symbolised the inextinguishable flame of love and were thought to protect the wearer from evil, particularly if worn on the left-hand side. They were seen by leaders as symbols of supreme strength and thought to have magical powers as many seem to glow in the dark. Shirley Bassey and Marilyn Monroe sang about them, Elizabeth Taylor often wore the 33 carat Krupp Diamond, set in a ring, and

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

sold Richard Burton’s 40th birthday present - the 69 carat, pear-shaped Taylor-Burton Diamond - for $5m in 1978, using the funds to build a hospital in Botswana! The largest diamonds have often ended up in the hands of royalty and the biggest of all can be found at the Tower of London among the Crown Jewels. The Cullinan Diamond at 3,106 carats is the biggest rough diamond ever discovered, and was handed to King Edward VII after being mined in South Africa in 1905. It was then cut into three pieces: the largest section, named Cullinan 1, or the Great Star of Africa, is mounted in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross. The second largest piece, the Lesser Star of Africa, forms part of the Imperial State Crown. Only about 20% of diamonds

mined are suitable for gemstones, and during the cutting process most lose more than half their weight. These gem quality diamonds are all precious, but it is those possessing the highest quality of cut, colour, clarity and carat weight (the 4 Cs) are the rarest and most valuable. Although mostly colourless, diamonds can be found in any number of delicate shades from pink to orange, blue, yellow, green and even black. The way a diamond is cut affects the life and sparkle of the stone. A perfect round cut will arrange and proportion some 58 facets all reflecting the light to create a display of brilliance. At www.biagiothejewellers.com you can interactively choose your own diamond by shape, carat weight

and cost and view a 3D image of how it will look in a variety of rings. You effectively design your own unique piece of jewellery and can compare the cost of different combinations as you create your own dream diamond ring. A fine diamond specialist, Biagio’s ‘diamond price promise’ means you can buy with confidence. Many of Biagio’s stones come with grading reports from either the Gemological Institute of America or SureCert Diamond Certification. Choose well, after all - diamonds are forever!

l Biagio The Jewellers, 2 Greyhound Walk, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3DY Tel: 01844 217001 Web: www.biagiothejewellers.com

Win a copy of Beautiful

Body & Soul

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Bride

t’s Your Day!Look radiant and feel confident with ‘be-beautiful-from-everyangle’ advice from three highly respected wedding pros an award-winning wedding planner, an accomplished stylist, and an internationally acclaimed photographer. This stunning hardback volume of Beautiful Bride is full of gorgeous images and interesting articles that make it an attractive proposition for any coffee table. If you are organising a wedding though, it contains essential tips and inspiring imagery to take your celebration from great to sensational! From the Planner: Design your wedding your way; Get the most from your wedding budget; Be calm, gracious, and breathtaking on your wedding day... From the Stylist: Go with Style or Stay Home; Discover and mani-

59 Westmorland Avenue Aylesbury HP21 7HS 01296 434216

Anti Ageing Super Duo

fest your natural beauty; Bring your whole idea - gown, makeup, and hair - together on your wedding day... From the Photographer: Tips on how to be the model bride; Project confidence in every photograph; Partner with your photographer to capture your ideal images. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a hardback copy of Beautiful Bride, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Who recently became Prince William’s bride? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on August 31st. Copies of the book are available from all good book stores price £33.50 (published by AtlasBooks: Zingiber Publishing)

Buy the 100ml Pro-collagen Marine Cream for only £99 and get the Skin Bliss Capsules absolutely FREE (worth £60)

TREATMENT OF THE MONTH

SPECIAL OFFERS Creative Nail Design only £13

• If you have a DermaCo Microdermabrasion demo you can purchase the course at an extra discount of BUY 6 FOR THE PRICE OF 5... PLUS you will receive a voucher for 20% off any Elemis products* purchased during your course.

Buy a 7.3ml solar oil and a Hydrating Almond Lotion for only £13 (normally £17.90)

Buy a CND Sticky base coat, Super Shiney top coat & polish for only £20 (normally £25.50)

• Book either Back and Neck Massage and receive the Modern Skin Facial for half price £22.50 (normal cost £45).

only £20

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For more treatment and product special offers please see our website:

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Relaxation w Health w Peace of Mind

Gotty Parichat

Traditional Thai Massage, Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy, Foot, Head & Back massage

Dare Hairdressing, 3 Railway Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1QX. Tel: 01296 427074

Welcome Jo!

We are delighted our new senior stylist Jo, has joined us at Dare Hairdressing! To celebrate we are offering 20% off all colour services booked with Jo during August! With over 26 years experience Jo is fully qualified in all aspects of hairdressing and is a wonderful addition to our fantastic team.

Summer Special Offer

4 x 1 hour massages £100 4 x 30 minute back massages £50 A two hour total relaxation massage £50 At Reflexions Health and Leisure Tel: 01296 330311 Mobile: 07587 172659 Buckingham Road, Watermead, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 DFY Email: lucy.walton@reflexionsaylesbury.co.uk

New barbershop - Walter’s Ash Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9.30am to 5pm Saturdays: 7.30am to 4pm

Please bring this advert with you to claim your 20% discount.

(NB new clients require a sensitivity test 48 hours prior to appointment).

Shear Madness, 245 Main Road, Walter’s Ash, Bucks, HP14 4HT. Tel: 07742 361711

Open: Mon-Wed: 8.30am-5.30pm, Thur: 9.30am-8pm, Fri: 8.30am-6pm, Sat: 8.30am-5pm

Email: s.madness@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/shear.madness1 Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

If keeping in shape is a bit of a battle why not engage the services of a British champion? Chris Fensom is a personal fitness instructor with a unique approach rooted in martial arts...

itness instructor Chris Fensom doesn’t look like a violent man! He is polite and softly spoken but becomes more animated when the subject of martial arts crops up. As a lad at Wheatley School he enjoyed a game of chess but afterwards discovered Karate and became completely obsessed! Chris puts “I did one class and decided it was what I Julie Goldsmith wanted to do for the rest of my life,” laughs through her paces Chris, “Something just clicked.” fighting disciplines Chris realised that He started training six times a week at the all round fitness and tone required Oxford Karate Academy, while working for combat was far healthier than a gym part-time and achieved his black belt within routine, which might single out a record two and half years (it usually takes individual muscles and five). “I probably did the same could lead to imbalance amount of hours,” says Chris and even injury. modestly, “I just packed in “I devise my personal twice as many training sessions fitness routines around the a week!” kind of training an athlete He became a black belt in would employ,” says Chris, Goju-ryu Karate and then Bu“using lots of different muscles jinkai Karate before mastering and big compound movements Kickboxing, Boxing (he has had so you will burn a lot of fat and three fights), Cage Fighting (12 get very fit but in a balanced way. fights and counting) and last Chris Fensom “I tailor the training to what year he won the British the client wants so it may cater Jiu Jitsu title! for specific weight loss or muscle building tar“I worked in a hotel in the mornings, The gets and as I’m competing myself I’m always Old Parsonage in Oxford and had to wear keeping up to date with the latest research and make-up to hide the bruises while at work!” techniques. I’m always looking for the best he chuckles. Chris started teaching Karate at Fighting Fit and most efficient new ways to keep in shape. “I’m very used to losing weight as I often in Stratford and studied for a Level 3 Diploma have to cut some before competing or bulk in Personal Training and Sports Coaching at up, so I understand the best ways to combine Oxford College. It took evening classes and exercise and nutrition to achieve a desired home study but has given him a thorough target weight. knowledge of topics such as: anatomy, “I like to mix in some Boxercise, a little pad physiology, nutrition, weight management, work and technique so you are exercising and fluid management, exercise and training learning a skill at the same time. It is good for programmes. confidence which builds on the confidence Training for a variety of martial arts and 20

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

you get from being more toned and losing a bit of weight. “A lot of people spend money on going to a gym but they are not really pushing themselves. I can motivate them to achieve more, even if only working out once or twice a week. I am happy to go to people’s homes or meet outdoors, whatever the client prefers, anytime from early morning to late at night. “It’s good to balance exercise and nutrition and I like my clients to keep a food diary so we can look at what they consume and what is right and what isn’t. Even if you are trying to put on muscle you can’t eat just anything and I can advise on a healthy diet, with the correct calorie intake, something realistic that suits their lifestyle.” Chris charges £35 for a one-off session or a block of ten can be booked for £300. He is happy to instruct couExercising ples or small groups with a for the same charge. Russian In addition to Kettle Bell personal fitness training Chris currently runs Karate classes in Thame with his fiancée Julia Goldsmith, left, who is a keen student of martial arts as well. She is also a nurse and trainee midwife at Oxford Brooks University. The couple aim to move to Thame when they get married in October. Chris is currently competing in Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighting. “It’s got the minimum amount of rules,” says Chris, “which I like and it incorporates all disciplines.” He is World United Martial Arts Association middleweight champion, having won the title in Brighton six months ago. If you google his name, there are several clips of Chris competing on YouTube. He can’t of course guarantee to turn you into a lean, mean fighting machine but his athletic and balanced approach to training will be tailored to your personal fitness levels and ambitions and when it comes to achieving your fitness goals you’ll have a real fighting chance! l Contact Chris Fensom at CF Personal Training on Tel: 07527 213291 Website: www.cfpersonaltraining.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

You’d expect there to be growing going on at a garden centre but in Haddenham even the paving is expanding...

ince Vale Life last visited Haddenham Garden Centre, there’s been quite a bit of growing going on. Not surprising you might think, were we referring to the fabulous selection of plants and shrubs stocked - but slightly more unusual when it’s their main outdoor plant display yard that’s putting on the inches! The stylishly paved area has increased in size by almost half and now provides a huge display space for all manner of vegetation: from bedding plants to ornamental trees, shrubs, conifers, perennials, alpines. heathers, herbs, roses, climbing plants, grasses, planted tubs, hanging baskets, fruit trees and vegetable plants, plus there’s space for a tempting variety of pots and planters. The Hawkins family are understandably proud and were pleased with the chance to show off their new displays at a recent family fun day. It was a great success with young and old alike enjoying the barbecue, facepainting and animal pens with sheep, ducks, rabbits, goats and alpacas. “The extra space has made a big difference,” says sales manager, Steve Pullin. Our director Stephen and a couple of the lads have worked really hard and made a great job of the paving. “We’ve much more space now and we’ve already stocked up with extra goodies for August. “Our plant of the month is the Japanese Anemone. It’s a perennial which can send up a succession of flowers from August until late October and looks really elegant at every stage, whether tightly budded, in full flower or even afterwards, as it has a neatly spherical seed head. “You can plant them out now and they’ll flower for weeks until they die back for the

Winter and then come back up again in the Spring. “We’ve got plenty of colour in the cottage garden section at the moment too, which is now laid out in colour themes and looks quite stunning.” Steve advises that Agapanthus and Leucanthemum (a daisy-like member of sunflower family) are looking good at the moment as are Rudbeckia, Delphiniums, Penstemons, Salvia and hardy Lobelia (a lesser-known relation of the trailing basket plant which is a hardy perennial producing straight stems clothed in bright tubular flowers in late summer). “Spring bulbs will be coming in during August,” says Steve, “and can be planted anytime ready for Spring colour next year. “And don’t forget if you’d like to grow your own potatoes for Christmas dinner, better put them in now! “There’s a lot of colour here at the moment and then towards the end of August into September we’ll be moving from bedding to autumn colour with plants like dogwoods (a shrub with brilliant red stems) and skimmias, a small evergreen with pretty red flower buds." Skimmia is a dioecious shrub which means that you need a male and female plant to get them producing red berry fruits. It depends on the variety whether you have a male or a female, for example Skimmia ‘Rubella’ is a male variety and Skimmia Japonica ‘Nymans’ is a female variety - but don’t worry, Steve will be on hand to sex your Skimmia for you if need be! If you can find him in amongst all those plants that is... l Haddenham Garden Centre, Stanbridge Road, Haddenham, Nr Aylesbury, Bucks, HP17 8HN Tel: 01844 290395 Email: hgcenquiries@btconnect.com Website: www.haddenhamgardencentre.co.uk Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

l Column: Naomi MacKay - Welcome to kindergarden!

he long summer holidays are upon us and anyone with children is probably wondering how they’re going to fill six whole weeks! The good news is that there’s plenty to entertain them just outside the back door, because the garden is full of ideas and opportunities for projects, crafts and even experiments, most of it at little or no cost. As well as special projects, younger children will enjoy spending time with you on your usual garden tasks - digging (always a favourite), weeding, watering and harvesting vegetables (the older ones might just see through this though, you have been warned!) Seed collecting As long as your children are old enough to understand they mustn’t eat any collected seeds, get them doing a job for you. They can wander round the borders looking for plants with seed heads. Show them that the seed heads should be big and fat and brown (demonstrate how poppy heads rattle when they’re ready). They can then pick the heads and put them in an

Youngsters love helping in the garden envelope. They can practice writing by putting the flower name on the envelope, and even draw a picture of the flower if they like. Once the seeds have been put in a warm place to dry, they can sort the seeds from the seedheads and keep them carefully in a dry place ready for sowing in the spring.

mark out their name – great practice for smaller ones just learning to write! Sprinkle quick-grow seeds such as cress on top of the letters (remember to sow quite thickly). Very very gently cover with soil or compost and water well. The letters should begin to appear in a few days.

Sow your name in seeds If you’ve got an empty area of soil – maybe where you’ve pulled up some crops, get your children to sow their name in seeds. If you have no room, you can use a trough container – or even a large baking tray! Get the soil ready for seed sowing by digging and raking it over, then use chalk or flour to

Make a butterfly feeder Encourage butterflies into the garden with an easy-to-make feeder. Take a paper plate and thread four pieces of string through the edges, tying a knot underneath. Gather the four pieces of string together, make a loop and hang your feeder from a hook or tree. Place mashed up, overripe fruit on the feeder and

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wait! Children can try experimenting with different fruit (banana is a favourite). They could also see whether a coloured plate works better than a plain one. If they enjoy photography, try setting up a camera on a tripod and seeing if they can get a good butterfly closeup. This idea is from the excellent Woodland Trust site, which has a huge number of ideas and projects, downloads and competitions on its Nature Detective section to keep children amused throughout the holidays and beyond. I’ve already printed off a load of activities ready for the holidays! Log on to www.naturedetectives.org.uk for more information. Naomi MacKay is a freelance writer and editor who has worked on Garden Answers, Garden News and Garden Trade News and writes about her Buckinghamshire garden at http://diggingthedirt.wordpress. com. She also helps businesses to create or improve their websites, run social media campaigns, and produce business publications. Naomi is offering a 10% discount to Vale Life readers who quote the code VLAUG. Call 07802 426594, email naomimackay@gmail.com or log on to www.naomimackay.co.uk

Simon says ‘Divide and conquer!’

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Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

ith the warmth of the summer in the ground, September is a good time for planting,” says Simon Murfitt, The Oxfordshire Gardener (see ad left). “Young plants can grow and establish, with the help of moisture, before winter and this gets them off to a super start come the Spring. “Now is also the time to divide and conquer perennials. Replant with well rotted organic matter to give an initial push. “Pick your favourite bulbs and embrace some new varieties, order bulbs in plenty of time and store in

a cool, dry place. Garden centres like the one at Haddenham usually stock up with bulbs towards the end of August. “Lawns are ready for a good workout and it’s time to plan any renovations or improvements for autumn. There are many different treatments depending on the condition of the lawn, from scarifying to remove thatch, aerating and top dressing.” l For more help and information call The Oxfordshire Gardener on: 07771 813558 or visit the website at: www.theoxfordshire gardener.co.uk.

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Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

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any families love a camping trip - it can be the highlight of the summer holidays, here Ali Torkington, founder of The Glam Camping Company, has some useful tips for keeping everyone happy when out under canvas. “My children, Amber, Archie and Finn range in age from 14 to ten. We often team up with friends for forays under canvas, creating an even more disparate age range and the key to maintaining harmony is to create an environment that everyone enjoys. “The fire is a complete winner everyone loves it, from the young to the teenagers - and adults too. I get the fire going as soon as we get up, even if the sun is shining brightly. It’s rarely so hot that the flames fail to be a draw. And if the weather proves to be a bit of a downer, the fire is a welcome focal point, and keeps everyone cheerful. “We all love cooking on the fire too, so I’ve put together some simple

recipes such as damper bread - cooked over the flames very easily. “Not all campsites welcome open fires because of damage to the grass, but if it’s contained within a firepit, that’s generally accepted. Just make sure the firepit’s legs are long enough to prevent the turf being scorched. “Another must-have is a large bell tent that allows youngsters to congregate in comfort. We have a big, striped bell tent, like a small circus big top, and our extended family likes to gather in it and loll about. I put lots of cushions and sheepskin rugs on the floor so that the whole area is comfortable for lounging. Other happy family camping essentials are: Games: Simple ones such as rounders and cricket where everyone can have a hit at the ball and run around after it. Bikes: kids love to ride around the campsite and are happy to pedal to the shop to get a pint of milk or some

Win ticket to Whipsnade

bread when the cool box runs short. Surf boards or boogie boards: essential for a coastal camp. A dog: always good value everybody loves the dog, even when they don’t love each other! Rugs and throws: warm people are happy people, take plenty of kit for people to snuggle into. Marshmallows: for toasting on the fire - the perfect mood enhancer. Hammocks: the ideal escape when you need a little time out. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a colourful Glam Camping hammock, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk What is the main circus tent called? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on August 31st. More fun camping ideas and supplies from The Glam Camping Company www.theglamcampingcompany.com Tel: 0845 869 8960

hipsnade Zoo is marking 80 years of conserving the world’s animals at its hilltop Chilterns home. Europe’s first open zoo and the UK’s biggest, opened in May 1931 at Hall Farm, Whipsnade, Beds. Today visitors can see more than 3,000 different animals and enjoy shows and interactive talks, the Sealion Splash and Birds of the World, as well as newer exhibits such as In With The Lemurs and the popular Elephantastic! To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children), simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk What is a Dromedary? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on August 31st. Check the website to find out more about Whipsnade: www.zsl.org

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Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

A bow-wow pow-wow is a great way for your furry friend to socialise with like-minded canines and if he or she is prone to bouts of anti-social behaviour it could be particularly beneficial...

hen you turn off Kingsey Road, near Thame for the Bow-Wow Pow-Wow centre you will no doubt think you have taken the wrong entrance. Opened last November by Dog Behaviourist Ella Jones, 28, the doggie day care and behavioural centre is housed in an old barn which from the road looks overgrown and almost derelict! Round the back however is a yard split into play areas, a small meadow area and some basic accommodation. It is by no means glamorous but when you’re a dog nice wallpaper is not generally a concern! Ella grew up in Monks Risborough and went to Aylesbury High School then to Westminster University to study Psychology. She was aiming to work in the prison service but found it difficult to get a job without experience. She’d always loved animals and decided to take a Canine Psychology Diploma. She was living in Aylesbury and gained experience along the way dog walking, dog minding and helping with dog behavioural problems where she could: “The Canine Diploma was a course designed for vets,” says Ella, “and I’m really glad I’d done a psychology degree as some of the biological psychology was quite complex. “In America there are lots of doggy day care centres. They are often big warehouse operations and great if you don’t want your dog left on his own all day. “Our name means Bow-Wow (dog) and Pow-Wow which is an American Indian word for meeting. I am offering day care on a smaller, more personal level, training and behavioural therapy if required. We have a secure, private compound where dogs can be rehabilitated. I’ve treated several aggressive dogs and they can quickly learn how to be more pleasant. “The day care is good value, as if there are little things that need tweaking, like recall, I’ll spend time with the dog working on that. “We prefer dogs to be left all day - dropped off between 8am and 10am and collected after 4pm, otherwise it’s disrupting having people coming and going throughout the day. “We have a structured day, it’s not all play. 24

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Ella, Chilli and well-behaved friends at Bow-wow Pow-wow

Often the dog needs to learn how to be in a pack again, how to be polite to other dogs. If a dog is not used to mixing with other dogs it may be fearful. I need to understand what the problem is. “When a dog first comes in I give them time to settle and read their behaviour - they have to pass a basic socialisation test. When they are ready I introduce my own dog, Chilli and he will help the new dog to trust me. “They arrive full of energy so we have a good hour or so of monitored free play. We’ll find something they enjoy like a ball game. We’ve a sheltered area with individual crates where they sleep during rest periods. We have a treadmill for very energetic dogs and we have play sand for digging and a soft grass area for flyball and agility. We also have a swimming pool for the summer which is good for exercise and rehabilitation of injuries. “A lot of it is confidence building. Nervous dogs often try to take control and dominate and we can teach them to be confident but in a non-aggressive way. “Dogs can be booked in for a single day or for a series of days. If you buy ten sessions you get 10% off, 20 days 20% off and the basic day care rate is £20 per dog per day (50%

off for a second dog). “We have a dog walking club and we’re doing some evening courses: problem solving (jumping up, excessive barking), fun agility, growl class (for nervous, snappy dogs). “Hopefully as the business grows we’ll be able to offer a pick-up service too. “In helping the dog we are often helping the owner too and we can give an insight into why the dog behaves as it does - we haven’t had a dog we couldn’t help yet!” Ella also offers behavioural and training sessions in your own home on a one-to-one or small group basis. See her website: www. bowwowpowwow.co.uk for more details. l Bow-Wow Pow-Wow, Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxon. Tel: 07966 682 835 Email: ella.jones@gmail.com Website: www.bowwowpowwow.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Dogs have long been ‘man’s best friend’ but if you are deaf your faithful pet could be a lifesaver too, alerting you to important sounds and danger signals in the home, work place and public buildings...

much needed funds. See the website at: www. hearingdogs.org.uk for ideas and inspiration. Guided tours of the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s headquarters at The Grange in Saunderton are available for booking on a Thursday afternoon. l Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9NS Tel: 01844 348100 (voice and minicom). Fax: 01844 348101 Email: info@hearingdogs.org.uk Website: www.hearingdogs.org.uk

Meet Barney... … who’ll introduce you to Mrs Smith from down the road. And Dave, the neighbour you’ve not managed to speak to yet.

Photo: Millie Smith

to train a young dog in social skills?”, says Lucy, “Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more.” During ‘hearing’ training, the dogs live in kennels and it is here that the second stage volunteers step into the picture. These are the ‘Bed and Breakfasters’, people who collect a dog each weekday night at 5pm take the dog home for the night and return it at 9am the next morning. This is a win-win-win situation for the dog, the charity and for someone who enjoys the companionship of a dog but due to work commitments can’t have a dog full time. Can YOU provide a loving B&B for a trainee hearing dog? If so Lucy would love to hear from you. As well as volunteering to help in the training programme, Hearing Dogs is seeking volunteer Brood Bitch Fosterers to help with their puppy breeding programme. Here, a volunteer takes a bitch into their home and helps with the breeding and whelping process. Do YOU have the time and patience to do this? If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information contact Lucy Dacre on 01759 322299 or email: lucy.dacre@hearingdogs.org.uk “Remember,” says Lucy, “no matter how much, or how little time you can spare, you will be helping to enhance a deaf person’s quality of life.” If being a puppy socialiser volunteer doesn’t suit you there are still lots of other ways you can help this important charity raise

And Jenny who’s been doing this for three years. Become a puppy socialiser volunteer. To find out more contact us on:

Registered charity number 293358 (England) Registered as a charity in Scotland No SC040486

any people will be aware of the work done by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. The organisation has a base in Saunderton where dogs of all sizes are trained to become the ‘ears’ of a deaf person, hugely enhancing that person’s quality of life. Imagine a world of silence in which you are totally unaware of the everyday sounds most of us take for granted. Many, even in your home, are there to alert you: the door bell, the telephone, your alarm clock or heaven forbid, the smoke alarm. A trained hearing dog will alert its owner to different sounds in different ways, making the owner aware that it is the phone ringing, as opposed to the oven timer going off, or the doorbell sounding. It takes around 16 months of training to turn a puppy into a fully trained hearing dog and during that time much of the dogs education relies on an army of willing volunteers at every stage. “Essentially, there are two stages of training for one of our dogs,” says Lucy Dacre, Hearing Dogs Volunteer Co-ordinator. “For the first twelve months the puppy is taught basic social skills. Then, once the socialising training is complete, we begin their advanced training which lasts about another four months. They should then be ready to qualify as a hearing dog.” The first stage volunteers are Puppy Socialisers. These people take a young puppy of eight to ten weeks old into their homes full time for twelve months. With full support and backup from the charity, the dog is trained in a broad range of social skills both around the house and in the wider world. Skills such as mixing with people, mixing with other dogs and travelling by public transport are all vital parts of the training. At the end of the training period, the dog is handed back to the charity to begin training as a hearing dog. At this stage many Puppy Socialisers will start the whole process over again with a new puppy. “Do YOU have the time and patience

T 01844 348129 E puppy@hearingdogs.org.uk W hearingdogs.org.uk

The Grange, Wycombe Rd, Princes Risborough HP27 9NS

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

trek Join us for our 30th Anniversary Trek to India!

help give something back

Make a difference here and abroad 28th September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9th October 2012

This once in a life time opportunity not only takes you on a trek starting at Dharamasala, home of the Dalai Lama, and through rural India but allows you to give something back to the local people by working on a community project. You will have a trip to remember while raising vital funds for Helen & Douglas House.

For more information go to www.helenanddouglas.org.uk or contact Fiona at fevans@helenanddouglas.org.uk or call 01865 799150 Registered Charity Number: 1085951

Visit Buckinghamshire Photographic Competition

Polish your lenses and keep those eyes peeled, The Best of Buckinghamshire Photo Competition has been officially declared open and the judges are keen to examine your entries...

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Trina and Shamus

ocal photographers are invited to take part in an exciting competition. The Visit Buckinghamshire Partnership is running the contest to find a new image for the cover of Buckinghamshire’s 2012 Visitor Guide, helping to promote Buckinghamshire as a fantastic tourist destination and to encourage new visitors to the area. Any images that capture the essence and character of the county are welcome: landscapes, colourful local events, people enjoying a family day out, anything with Buckinghamshire written all over it - not literally though of course! The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16. Only digital entries can be accepted and the images must be in colour. The winning photo will be printed on

120,000 visitor guides and distributed all over the UK.

The successful photographer will also be given an A2 print of their photograph provided by Snappy Snaps in Aylesbury and a voucher towards a photography course supplied by PhotoExperiences. Two runners-up will also each receive an A2 print provided by Snappy Snaps. “The visitor guide acts as a one-stop shop for visitors to the county,” says Phil Black, chairman of Visit Buckinghamshire. “It provides information on attractions, accredited accommodation, events, dining out, night life and fun, family activities. “It helps to bring in thousands of visitors each year and is a handy and essential guide

for people planning their holiday. “It is therefore essential that we ensure the guide showcases the best of the county and we are looking forward to receiving entries.” The competition opened on Monday, August 1, and the closing date for entries is Friday, September 30. For further details and an application form, please visit www.visitbuckinghamshire.org, www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or email: bucksphotos@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk If you think you can capture the world on your doorstep, then get out, get exploring and get snapping!

www.visitbuckinghamshire.org Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Looking for something to do this Summer? Aylesbury town centre has a programme of fun, free events for all ages, from Harry Potter and Colonel Custard to the Blues Blah Brothers...

he sun cream was out, hats were on and buckets and spades were at the ready for this year’s annual free Aylesbury-on-Sea event. Organised by Aylesbury Town Council the day attracted more than 4,000 people to enjoy seaside attractions such as donkey rides, candy floss, Punch and Judy and the chance to relax in a deckchair and soak up some sun. The sandpits were popular with children of all ages, who also enjoyed some great entertainment from the ‘Bathing Belles’ stiltwalkers, pictured on our front cover and some incredible balloon models from Miss Ballooniverse, while the smiley train didn’t have an empty seat all day. The Hook-an-Aylesbury-Duck game, run by Aylesbury Town Council, sold over 1,300 tickets and prizes claimed included Aylesbury Rock in two flavours! Through the year there are more than 100 free events in Aylesbury, for which listings can be found on the Aylesbury Town Council website: www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk. With the school summer holidays in full swing Thursday could be the day to head for Aylesbury town centre and keep the children entertained without breaking the bank. Every Thursday through the Summer from 11am until 3pm there is a free event for children and something for all ages. Thursday, August 4: The countryside comes to Market Square as children have the chance to feed and stroke small farmyard animals, including woolly lambs, rabbits and ducks. There is also a bouncy castle to enjoy, and free face painting in Hale Leys. Thursday, August 11: An eight lane Scaletrix race track comes to Kingsbury. Race your friends around the track and try

Punch and Judy and balloon modelling at Aylesbury on Sea

the mini motorbike simulators. Also free jewellery making. And free balloon modelling in the Hale Leys centre Thursday, August 18: The return of the Hogwarts Experience day with Harry Potter and Dumbeldore lookalikes, a chance to wear the sorting hat and learn about science and spells. You can also take home some of the magic as there’s free pottery painting and face painting. There will also be a walkabout magician in Hale Leys. Thursday, August 25: Make a splash in Market Square with free surf, kayak and jet ski inflatable simulators. These are for all ages, with the surf simulator for four years and over, the jet ski for six years plus, and the kayak for the for over 12s. There will also be face painting in the Hale Leys centre. Thursday, September 1: Roll up, roll up as Colonel Custard takes to the stage

for the finale of the summer holiday events programme. Sit back and enjoy magic tricks and illusions and free balloon models after the shows. There will be even more magic in Hale Leys with a walkabout magician. Why not combine one of these free events with a visit to the Bucks County Museum to see the Samurai Warriors exhibition, the Roald Dahl Museum, bowling alley, cinema or theatre? With over 30 coffee shops and restaurants on hand you can make a day of it this summer in Aylesbury town centre.

Summer Sunday Music August 7: Blues Blah Brothers plus Olivia Jane (11.30am - 2pm, Market Square) August 14: Red Hot 80’s Show plus My Holiday Romance (11.30am-2pm, Kingsbury) August 21: Young Pop Star Competition (11.30am-2pm, Market Square): Hopefuls compete for a £100 cash prize. Entry by application only, phone 07751 310983. August 28: Song & Dance (11.30am-2pm, Kingsbury) with Female duo Lippy. Farmers Market on Tuesday, August 23 with free pottery painting and face painting for children as a Summer holiday treat. Saturday, September 24 (11am-3pm): Wear It Pink Day - volunteers wanted to help decorate the High Street pink and raise money for Cancer Research UK. Contact Diana Fawcett or Emma Eyles on 01296 585880.

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

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London Theatre Matinées

September 15 choice of: Ghost the Musical £60 Billy Elliot £50 Dreamboats & Petticoats £86 September 29 choice of: Million Dollar Quartet £50 Betty Blue Eyes £60 Billy Elliot £45 If the show you would like to see is not mentioned please ask as we may be able to obtain tickets for you.

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Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Don’t panic! That little bump may not mean an expensive insurance claim. If your car’s paintwork is still intact the technicians at Excel-Dents can massage away your problems...

ll drivers dread the moment - the little bump, dink or dent that ruins the pristine paintwork of their pride and joy! It is even more irritating when you return to your parked vehicle and discover someone else has caught your car with a supermarket trolley or opened their car door into your’s! It’s bad enough on an older car but when it happens to one that’s relatively new, or was in excellent condition, the mark is all the more annoying. It can of course affect the resale value of the vehicle and these ‘accidents’ have a habit of occurring at the most inopportune moments. And worse still, what if it happens while you are in charge of somebody else’s car!? A hire or loan car, or a company vehicle which may have a hefty insurance excess attached? Fortunately Excel-Dents is a local specialist automotive dent repair company that utilises highly skilled techniques to remove dents and creases from your vehicle, if the paint is still intact. Paintless dent removal (PDR) is rapidly becoming the preferred way to deal with those unwanted cosmetic eyesores. It retains the car’s original finish and provides a cheaper alternative to traditional bodyshop repairs. The dents are not ‘sucked out’ but gently massaged away in a highly skilled manual process which requires comprehensive training, expertise and experience. Using specially designed tools the Excel-Dent technician will access the rear of the damaged panel and work the metal back to its original shape. The company has a workshop in Stoke Mandeville but offers a mobile service and will travel to your home or workplace if preferred. No electricity, parts, filler or paints are required, so the environmental impact is minimal, although the occasional cup of tea does not go unappreciated! “Paintless dent removal is very specialist, it’s a very hard thing to do and takes years of training,” says Excel-Dents owner and master technician Rob Beesley, “It’s the ideal way to remove a dent though, if the integrity of the paint hasn’t been breached. “We have a selection of tools that we’ve 30

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Rob Beesley, front, with some of his Excel-Dents technicians, from left: Christopher Munsey, Steve Kimber, Rob, Tony Law and Steve Barnes made and designed specifically for our purposes and our technicians are highly skilled. “A lot of people still don’t know about the service we offer, although it could potentially save them a lot of money. We are quite happy to visit and assess a vehicle to see if we can be of help, or if it’s a fleet, or trade situation to discuss an ongoing service. “We cover quite a large geographical area, but our technicians are self-contained, some living in the regions they service. We work hard to maintain a quick response time and uniformly high quality of work. “We aim to restore the dented panel to its original condition. If there is paint damage it will need attending to afterwards but at least the dents will have been removed. Sometimes a polish may suffice at other times spraying will be needed. Our focus is dent removal but we can advise on all aspects of bodywork. “We do a lot of work repairing fleet, leased and hire vehicles, before they are returned, so the customer is not liable for the costs involved with an insurance claim or expensive reconditioning costs.” Rob grew up in Botley, near Oxford, and went to Matthew Arnold School. His father

worked for Austin-Rover at Cowley and his mother for JD Barclays a Fiat dealer on the Botley Road, so it is perhaps no surprise that Rob developed an interest in cars. “I’ve always liked cars,” says Rob, “I guess I grew up amid talk of cars and I used to tinker around with them as a teenager. “A friend told me about a job going at Dentmaster - they brought paintless dent removal into the country, which was a new concept here and I trained with them and worked my way up gradually from apprentice to technician, senior technician, advanced technician, and master technician and then worked in training and development.” Working for Dentmaster Rob spent a fair bit of time in France where the damage caused by hail was quite spectacular. Car manufacturers such as Citroen would find themselves with parking lots full of brand new vehicles covered in marks. “I worked at the Citroen Factory in Rennes and carried out my Master Technician training in Lyon,” says Rob. “There was a lot of hail

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Far Left, this damaged off side front wing from a Nissan Micra needed the Excel-Dents treatment: “One of our corporate clients had this vehicle returned from lease with this nasty dent in the front wing,” says Rob. “The dent was quickly removed, left, by one of our skilled technicians, allowing the customer to sell the vehicle at auction for a better price and without any delay.”

damage there, dents all over the cars. It certainly helped me get my skill-set together. When you’ve 150-200 dents on a roof and the same on a bonnet and you’ve got a day, or a day and a half to make it like new, you do get better at what you do, much quicker and more efficient!” Taking a day and half to remove hail damage is a big job and relatively expensive, but for the customer, it’s a big saving on what an insurance company would charge to respray the whole car. “I moved to Aylesbury in 2002, left Dentmaster and started my own firm, Excel-Dents in 2003 working from home,” says Rob. “My office manager Clare was helping and the next year Chris Munsey joined us as a technician. “In 2006 we expanded into Oxfordshire and I took on an additional couple of technicians and opened our workshop in Stoke Mandeville. “The name ‘Excel-Dents’ is a spin on ‘excellence’. ‘Taking away life’s little knocks’ is our

motto and we can certainly help do that in all kinds of situations. We’ve had ladies who have been using their husband’s car while he was away, bring the car in to have a small knock removed before he returned, which I’m sure has saved some marital strife and maybe even some marriages! “We’ve also been asked to remove dents in other items, such as stainless steel sinks and bins and strangest of all, a stainless steel coffin!” Excel-Dents offers a six-day-a-week service and has a dent clinic at the workshop in Stoke Mandeville on Saturdays, for vehicle owners who aren’t available during the week for a visit. Customers can book in and wait while their car is repaired or leave it and return later. “A small knock usually takes an hour or less to fix,” says Rob, “but more extensive damage could take half a day or more. “We can’t always help, but we try to see a vehicle within a day or so of an enquiry, to assess the damage and repair if possible.” Rob is still hands-on and enjoys getting to grips with a good dent himself. “I really enjoy my work,” says Rob, “I’ve found my niche. I realise I’m very lucky to be

in a career that I have a passion for. I never take it for granted though. I love what I do and enjoy the different aspects and challenges involved. It drives me on to keep pushing the firm forward and make sure our customers get the best service. “If someone needs something doing I will move mountains to get it done. I never want a customer to feel let down. “I’ve got a great team here and I think we all feel the same and enjoy being part of a successful business.” Here at Vale Life we can testify to the quality of the Excel-Dents service having had a ‘ding’ removed from one of our vehicles only recently. The small circular dent was probably made by the corner of another car’s door pushing into our panel. It was invisibly removed in about 30 minutes by one of Rob’s specialists - very impressive. Excel-Dents have technicians covering parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Their paintless dent removal technique can be used on all types of cars and commercial vehicles, with steel or aluminium bodies, to remove car body dents, dings, bumps and all too common damage by shopping trolleys. The company is a fully accredited member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen and holds a coveted Certificate of Quality and Service which means they work to ‘approved standards of professional expertise, skill and integrity, to provide the highest-quality service and value for money in the removal of car dents.’ l Excel-Dents Ltd, Unit 9 Weston Way, Lower Road, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks, HP22 5XB. Tel: 0800 977 5347, 01296 614447 Email: info@exceldents.co.uk Website: www.exceldents.co.uk Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

l Column: Penny Harper - thoughts of a small town girl

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Penny Harper

grew up in a house with two teachers as parents which meant two things: that everything I ever wrote would get covered in red pen, and that we always spent the entire summer holidays together. It took an average of two weeks into the break before they started behaving (reasonably) normally again and about the same amount of time for us to eat our way through all of Mum’s gifts from her students. Being a primary school teacher, all the pupils adored her. Dad was a secondary school biology teacher so gifts for him tended to be slim pickings. I used to say to him ‘it could be worse; you could teach maths’. Being a family of five meant that camping featured heavily in our summer holidays and I had to share a tent with The Smellies, also known as my brothers, James and Tom. I was walking through Thame the other day and saw one of the twinning signs for Montesson. It reminded me of our summer

hols in France. Mum had a pen-pal from when she was a teenager and we’d go and visit Catherine, George and their four boys and one girl (known collectively as the French Boys, sorry Isabelle!) in Annecy, near the Alps. They lived in a beautiful flat, guarded by a half-deaf, half-bonkers dog called ‘Toby’. With 5 of us and 300 of them (numbers are approximate), mealtimes meant survival of the quickest. If you hadn’t learnt the French word for your favourite flavour of yoghurt then you were going to get lumbered with the plain one. We quickly worked out ‘please pass the bread’ and ‘that cheese smells like feet’ and all the other essentials for French living. It was also my first introduction to red wine but unfortunately it came diluted with water so just tasted like mouldy Ribena. We learnt to swim in Annecy Lake. I had an inflatable swan that glided elegantly across the lake. Meanwhile James pretended to go

into death rolls with his inflatable croc. It was pretty funny, until he had a near-drowning experience and had to be rescued by a large French man with small trunks who shouted at him. At the beach, the French Boys all ran headlong into the water while we were caught by the back of our swimsuits; Mum always wanting to slather us in ‘factor paranoid’ sun cream. Dad drank diddy little bottles of beer and walked around with his shirt off and Mum read a lot and brushed up on her French with Catherine. And it seemed endless. I mean, really, like time was infinite. That was, until Dad took a photo of us standing under the billboard advertising exercise books and school uniforms for September. Now that’s what I call five UNHAPPY campers with an instant bout of the back-to-school-blues. When we got home, the garden had become a jungle. The grass was at least ten foot tall (or so it seemed) and our own cats would

Small Town

Girl

jump all over us like long-lost friends. I suppose we should really have arranged for someone to feed them. I’m kidding! Yes, the summer holidays, when you’re forced to spend time with The Smellies and The Parentals. There are massive arguments, sunburn, tummy aches, holiday romances, late nights and new adventures. Six weeks is a long time when you’re little, and yet somehow still not quite long enough when you’re a teacher!

Speen Festival: Sept 8-18 Speen Festival celebrates local talent and creativity in the Heart of the Chilterns. Full details of events taking place this year are available from: www.speenfestival.org The Dreaming (Thurs 8, Fri 9 and Sat 10, Sept), a musical, based on Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Set just before the First World War, in a small hilltop village surrounded by ancient and mysterious woodland - a place not unlike Speen! The Elysian Singers ‘Your Song Will Live In My Heart’: Speen Chapel, Monday, Sept 12, 8pm. Tickets: £10 (glass of wine and nibbles inc)

Science Matters: Thursday, Sept 15, Festival Marquee 7.30pm: A thought-provoking debate with experts on topical science issues compered by Professor Barry Stickings CBE. Doors open at 7pm. Email questions by Sept 8 to: director@speenfestival.org Tickets: £5 adults, £2 students. Refreshments available. Food Festival Sunday: Sept 11 Festival Marquee/Playing Field 11am-4pm: Everything for the fine food lover, including cookery demonstrations and beer and wine tastings. Tickets: £3 adults, under 16s free Licensed bar and refreshments available.

Chinnor Beer Festival

The annual Chinnor Beer Festival takes place on Saturday, August 27 at Chinnor Playing Fields, Chinnor, OX39 4PN. 20 local ales including award-winning brews from the Vale Brewery, Chiltern Brewery and Tring Brewery (see page 41). Also Ciders, Perrys, Pimms and soft drinks, a barbecue and selection of Indian Cuisine. More info from: www.chinnorbeerfest.org.uk Bands confirmed for this year are: The Bravados, MFU, French Connection, Bootlegger and Muttz Knuttz. The Chinnor Silver Band will kick off proceedings. Free children’s entertainment area and a bouncy castle. The festival has so far raised over £8,000 for the youth of Chinnor. 32

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Come Rain or Shine, Zoomania is the place to be this summer! Chill with a milkshake in our new, outdoor, garden area, or sink into a sofa with a frothy coffee and slice of delicious, homemade cake it’s Zoomania for ever, whatever the weather! But remember no socks no play! New additions to our menu include Kids Pick‘n’Mix and adult sharing platters. Zoomania, 3 Kempson Place, Gatehouse Way, Aylesbury, HP19 8UQ Tel: 01296 481555 www.zoomania.co.uk

w w w. n o r t h m i l l st o v e s . c o . u k

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E: info@northmillstoves.co.uk North Mill Road, Bledlow, Bucks HP27 9QP Advert - Vale Life Jul11:130 x 180 14/07/2011 21:36 Page 1

BER KH A MS TE D PREP

GIRLS

BOYS

SIXTH

Open Days 2011 Thursday 29th September Sixth Form 5.00 pm - 7.00 pm

Friday 30th September Prep 10.00 am - 12.00 noon Senior Girls 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm Senior Boys 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm If you are interested in attending an Open Day session, please call 01442 358001 or email: admissions@berkhamstedschool.org www.berkhamstedschool.org

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Nowadays building homes is about more than bricks and mortar. Construction companies are keen to engage with local communities and developments like Windmill Place in Thame will often include considerable social benefits for the local area... “

hen we build new homes within existing communities, we have a responsibility to become involved with the issues that are important to local people,” says Paul Moran, right, Sales Director of David Wilson Homes (DWH) Southern. His company, in partnership with Wates Developments, is currently developing Windmill Place, Thame, the site of the old Thame United football ground. They are building 59 two, three and four bedroom homes for private sale alongside a cutting-edge care facility - 40 apartments for the elderly, to be provided on the site by SOHA. On the south side of Thame, in an established residential area, the development is conveniently placed with easy access to the town centre and the Phoenix Trail, a popular footpath and cycle route that runs from Thame to Princes Risborough along an old railway route. “Our relationship with Thame residents began well before the building started,” says Paul. “Initial plans for the site were reassessed and changed after consultations with those living around the site.” The company has continued its involvement too: DWH were lead sponsors of The Hutchins

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Above: Thame Food Festival launch at Windmill Place with, from left, Alison Isherwood (Festival Co-ordinator, Lotte Duncan (Celebrity chef and Festival patron), Paul Moran (David Wilson Homes) and Sally Dorling (Marketing Foods). Below: Showhome style.

Thame’s Christmas lights switch on last year, they provided a Christmas tree for the residents of Pearce Court Housing Association and have been sponsoring Thame Cricket Club. John Hampden School pupils have been designing Windmill Place’s show home gardens in return for an upgrade of the pond area at their school and last November the firm donated 500 high visibility vests to local primary schools as part of a walk to school initiative. DWH has paid £1.7million in sport contributions to support the construction of Thame United’s new ground and is going to contribute £50,000 to community facilities and a further £417, 200 to county facilities such as education, libraries, museum resources, social and health, and waste management and is making a contribution of £211,200 towards highways, infrastructure, public transport and public right of ways.

Recently, in anticipation of this year’s Thame Food Festival which the company is sponsoring, DWH threw open three of their show homes and treated a select group of organisers and media representatives to a launch event, complete with scrumptious meal prepared, using local produce, by Thame delicatessen What’s Cooking. The food was delicious and not only gave a taste of what’s in store for festival-goers, (it takes place on Saturday, September 24), but also a chance to see what is on the menu at Windmill Place! Each of the three courses was served in a different show home and Paul Moran announced details of a generous prize DWH will be donating as part of the festival proceedings: “David Wilson Homes is proud to be a sponsor at the 4th Thame Food Festival,” said Paul, “Our prize of a luxury meal for eight, cooked by a top local chef at Windmill Place will be a real treat for any food lover and I look forward to presenting it to the

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

House Styles Holden from £564,995

A traditional four-bedroom detached house. Entrance hall, study, light and airy living room with bay window. Spacious open-plan kitchen/dining area with French windows to the garden. The kitchen features attractive, fitted contemporary units and leads to a utility room. Attractive bathroom and master bedroom with en suite.

Existing Properties

Pearce Court 35

41 42 43

34 32

39 35

Hadley from £349,995 The Wincham The Hadley is a three-bedroom home Special 2 bedroom flat P230 SPD5 comprising: hallway, downstairs WC, The Wincham spacious sitting room, kitchen/dining 2 bedroom flat P230 TBE5/TBI5 room with fitted contemporary units The Winton and French doors to the garden, giving 2 bedroom house S206 TBE5/TBI5/TBH5 a light and airy feel. Upstairs: master bedroom with en suite, two Theadditional Hutchins bedrooms and an attractive bathroom. 2 bedroom house S285 TBE5/TBH5/TBI5

38 38 39

32 Public Open Space

Existing Properties

46 47

46 47 7

The Kirkwood

27 26

25 24

52 54 53

59 12

11 55

12 6

56 59

Existing Properties

20 17

51 51 50

50 25

56 57

The Cornell

4 bedroom detached house

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A contemporary three-bedroom town The Hadley house. Spacious living/dining roomhouse S341 TBD5/TBE5 3 bedroom with French windows to the Therear Fairway garden. Kitchen with attractive, fitted 3 bedroom semi detached house R332 TR-5 units. Ground floor WC. First The floor: Hinton One double and one single3 bedroom bedroom town house P338 TGE5/TGI5/TBE5/TBI5 and attractive bathroom. Second The Cadeby Floor: Main bedroom with4 bedroom en suitedetached town house R406 TB-5 and fitted wardrobe. Double glazing The Kingsley and energy efficient heating through4 bedroom detached house R452 TB-5/TR-5 out.

3 bedroom town house Kirkwood from £314,995

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winner at the festival in September.” The showhomes are very stylishly turned out and accommodated the guests with ease, demonstrating the fantastic amount of space there is for entertaining within the new designs. The layouts are very much in keeping with modern lifestyles all possessing a good-sized kitchen-with-dining-room at the heart of the home. There is currently a range of two, three and four bed properties available with prices from £239,995. Paul Stachura, manager of Connell’s Estate Agents in Thame said: “Windmill Place has certainly created a bit of a buzz around the town, it’s a very impressive development and I’m not surprised how quickly the homes are being snapped up.” For those who don’t know the town, Thame is a delightful old market town, charming and picturesque, with a traditional high street mixing well known retail chains

S433 TB-5

The Chalford

A traditional 2/3 bedroom4 terrace bedroom detached house house. Entrance hall with downstairs The Holden WC. Living room and open-plan 4 bedroom detached house kitchen/dining area with French windows to rear garden. Kitchen Extrafeatures Care Facility attractive, fitted contemporary units. Upstairs: main bedroom with enArt suite, Public second double bedroom, study and attractive bathroom.

R431 TBH5/TRH5 S469 TR-5/TB-5

Winton from £249,995 with independent shops and the Upper High Street is only 500 metres walk from the new homes. The town centre offers three supermarkets, an array of shops, bars and restaurants. a post office, doctors surgery, schools, dentists, banks and a new library. For further information about Windmill Place contact local agent Connells or David Wilson Homes as below. l David Wilson Homes, Windmill Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 2DR. Tel: 01844 260606 Website: www.dwh.co.uk Open daily from 10am-5pm. l Connells, 103 High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3DZ. Tel: 01844 260000 Email: thame@connells.co.uk Website: www.connells.co.uk

A two-bedroom house with spacious living/dining room featuring French windows to the rear garden. Kitchen includes attractive, fitted contemporary units. Upstairs: two double bedrooms with the main bedroom benefitting from a fitted wardrobe. Attractive bathroom. Additional ownstairs WC.

Wincham from £239,995

An attractive two-bedroom coach house. Living/dining room and kitchen, two double bedrooms and attractive, colour-coordinated bathroom all on first floor. All homes come with a 10 year NHBC warranty and additional 5 year David Wilson warranty. Double glazing and energy efficient heating are also included. Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Computer generated image of Eden@Berryﬁelds

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A stunning collection of stylish and spacious 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3, & 4 bedroom houses.

3.3 MILES TO WADDESDON

Eden@Berryﬁelds is a thriving new community making this a desirable place to live in. Once complete, accessibility to primary and secondary education, including a state of the art academy, open spaces and parks make this a great place for young families.

ROAD

A418

A41

A413

To register your interest or for more information call 0845 601 7729 email newbuild@chg.org.uk or visit www.edenberryﬁelds.co.uk

*Represents a 35% share in a one bed property valued at £125,000. Property prices are correct at time of print and subject to change. Priority will be given to those who live or work in the Aylesbury Vale District Council area. A discounted monthly rent is payable on the portion of the property that is not purchased. A monthly service charge is also applicable. Terms and conditions apply. Catalyst Housing Group is a charitable housing association.

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

With home prices still buoyant across the area and mortgages hard to come by, many of the Vale’s would-be first time buyers are struggling to get finance for their first property purchase. Happily a new ownership scheme may provide the answer...

irst time buyers living or working in the Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) area have a fantastic opportunity to get onto the property ladder following the launch of some stylish new homes with an ownership scheme aimed specifically at those trying to buy their first property. Eden@Berryfields is an outstanding collection of one and two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom houses. The homes are all available to purchase on a flexible shared ownership scheme and with prices starting from £43,750 for a 35% share in a one bedroom property they will be within financial reach of many previously unable to obtain finance to buy their own home outright. This scheme provides a wonderful opportunity for individuals and families to become

Eden@Berryfields apartments

homeowners. Purchasers buy a share of the property and pay a discounted monthly rent for the proportion that they do not own. They then have the opportunity to purchase more of the property as their circumstances allow. The organisation behind Eden@Berryfields is Catalyst Housing Group, one of the leading housing associations in London and the South East. Working closely with Aylesbury Vale District Council, Catalyst is ensuring that priority for these new homes goes to people living or working in the AVDC area exciting news for the region’s first time buyers who have been as yet unable to purchase their own home in the town they live, work or grew up in. Councillor Pam Pearce, Cabinet Member for Community Matters at Aylesbury Vale District Council, says: “Catalyst Housing are

offering fantastic opportunities for first time buyers to get onto the property ladder in Aylesbury Vale through the shared ownership scheme. These properties at Eden@Berry fields are much needed and it’s particularly welcome for people living or working in the Aylesbury Vale area because they get priority choice of the homes available.” The Eden homes offer fantastic features: from modern fitted kitchens with stainless steel oven, hob and extractor, low voltage lighting and Karndean flooring; stylish white bathroom suites, double glazing, super-fast broadband connectivity and carpeted living areas. Once complete, accessibility to primary and secondary education, including a state of the art Academy, open spaces and parks will make this a great place for young families. The area also has excellent transport links. The nearby M40 and A41 provide great connections to London and the midlands – and the newly built Aylesbury Vale Parkway railway station is only a short distance from the site. Buses, cycle paths and bridleways will all form a key part of an integrated transport network for the area. A three bedroom showhome demonstrating the creative design and high end specification of the Eden properties is now open to view from Thursday to Monday, 10am-4pm. For more information, visit: www.eden berryfields.co.uk or to register an interest in the development call Catalyst Housing on 0845 437 9704 (Show Home) or 0845 601 7729 or email: newbuild@chg.org.uk Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

l Column: Ruby McLee

Aylesbury’s own American foodie

Our farm diary from Richard and Rosemary Hilsdon who run Boycott Farm, near Stowe, with its popular farm shop and restaurant. Helena and Florentine

t has been a little quieter on the farm since the middle of June, when our 6000 chickens left us for pastures (or chicken sheds) new. The arduous task of cleaning and preparing the shed took Richard and some helpers, nearly three weeks! Unfortunately, it didn’t stay spotless for long as in the dead of night in mid July, a lorry arrived with our new recruits. They were gently unloaded into ‘Cluckingham Palace’, our purpose-built chicken shed, and have remained inside for the last few weeks to give them time to get used to their new surroundings and complete their egg laying training! Soon they will be free to roam, and once again Boycott Farm will come alive with the sound of clucking! Here at Boycott, we love to celebrate local food. In September, we are holding our popular Own and Local Food Tasting Day. There will be plenty for you to sample from our own farm kitchen and some of our local suppliers will be joining us too. Our butcher, Adrian, will also be demonstrating his skills and will be available to answer your questions throughout the day. Our other new guests are two gorgeous Alpacas who belong to one of our customers. Helena aged seven and Florentine aged one, are being kept to breed, so hopefully we will hear the patter of tiny hooves very soon! On the 1st September we will have a stand at Bucks County Show. We did this for the first time last year and for those of you who went, you will remember, it was an absolute mud bath! Saying that, we took huge amounts of sausages and we had sold out by lunchtime! Hopefully the weather will be a little kinder this year and we plan to take a whole refrigerated trailer of sausages, so come along and visit us in the food tent and have a taste of our legendary Boycott Bangers. The Own and Local Food Tasting Day is on Saturday, September 10th, and The Farm Shop and The Hayloft Restaurant and Tearoom will be open as usual as well. l Boycott Farm, Welsh Lane, Stowe, Buckinghamshire, MK18 5DJ. Telephone: 01280 821286. Email: shop@ boycottfarm.co.uk Website: www.boycottfarm.co.uk 38

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

chool holidays upon us, I’m madly trying to gather everything we’ll need for our upcoming road trip to the south of France. Swimsuits? Tick. Tent? Tick. Ackees? Now you might be wondering what ackees are and why I’d need to pack them. Ackees are a starchy Caribbean fruit, and half of the Jamaican national dish Ackees and Saltfish. And I need them because the friends we’re visiting in Provence are ackee addicts but can’t find them there. Olivier was an exchange student in Jamaica in the late 1980s. When he returned home to France, he infected his family and friends with a passion for reggae, ackees and film. Film? Yes. He happened to be there while ‘Cocktail’ with Tom Cruise was being filmed. If you look closely, you can see Olivier, tall with long hair and shades, standing at the bar in the first ‘Jamaican beach’ sequence. He is now a filmmaker himself. And I’m an ackee runner. Funny how things turn out.

Ackees and Saltfish (Serves 4) What You Need: 250g saltfish (dried, salted cod) 1 Tbsp butter 1 medium onion, diced 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 small Scotch Bonnet or other hot chili pepper, seeded and diced (optional)

1 tomato, chopped 1 tin ackees, drained 1 sprig fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried) Pinch black pepper

What You Do: 1. Cover the saltfish in water and soak in the fridge overnight, changing the water frequently. 2. Poach fish in boiling water for 20 minutes or until tender. Set aside. 3. When cool, remove skin and bones, then flake the fish. 4. Fry the onion, peppers and thyme in the butter for a few minutes until soft. 5. Add tomato and fish and cook on low for 10 minutes. 6. Gently stir in the ackees to warm through, about 3 minutes, remove from heat and serve. Notes: 1. I left out the Scotch Bonnet because my kids wouldn’t eat it, and served this with sweet chili sauce on the side instead. It was gorgeous. 2. As an accompaniment, I fried up sliced plantains in a little butter. No seasonings needed, just fry until golden brown, then flip and do the other side. 3. All of the ingredients (and plantains too) can be found in Aylesbury at either Fruity Tooty Greengrocers & Fruitsellers, Pebble Lane, HP20 2JH (off Kingsbury Square) or Jojema African Store, Duck Court, HP20 2SQ.

l Ruby McLee is a local writer, photographer and author of popular food blog Tomayto Tomaaahto, which you can read online at www.tomaytotomaaahto.com

l Column: Matt Brown - One Hungry Man

n the current climate I feel that I should address a few outstanding issues. This column has never hacked into anyone’s answerphone messages or paid private detectives to obtain information on its behalf. The One Hungry Man opinion remains unsullied by bribery or misconduct and any recommendations you read in this esteemed organ have most definitely not been bought. I would like to add though that this is only because nobody has tried to buy me. To be honest, I’d be totally up for a bit of bribery so feel free to chance your arm. This month has seen the family Brown take a holiday but whilst my body and soul might need a recharge, my love of food never takes a break. This month we decamped to France for a week and spent seven glorious days eating, drinking, eating, drinking, drinking, eating and eating. Thankfully while we were away it seems to have rained non-stop

Matt Brown

ONE Hungry Man

l Listen to Matt Brown on Heart Breakfast With Matt and Michelle (weekdays 6-9am 102.6FM). Tweet Matt at twitter.com/frazzleddaddy

in the Vale so our veg patch was overflowing. This is the first year we have planted a patch and the results have been wonderful. We put in beans, courgettes, a crop of second early potatoes and some hardy herbs. As I write we are about to enjoy our first crop of delicious, waxy Nadines. If you’ve never grown your own spuds before then you must try. I don’t think there is a

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

vegetable that gives you more for oven for about an hour and a half. doing less. If I can be bothered then while You don’t even need a garden the meat is resting I’ll make a to do them as you can grow them Salsa Verde. in bags. The flavour of your own Take a couple of peeled garlic potatoes is about as divine a food cloves, about 6 anchovy fillets, a experience as is possible to have. tablespoon of capers, a tableMay I suggest simply boiling spoon of Dijon mustard, a couple them and tossing in some melted of handfuls of flat leaf parsley, a butter, perhaps handful each of with a twist or basil and mint two of salt? and some salt We still have and pepper. a leg from Blitz this lot in the lamb that a food processor we raised and (or chop them slaughtered earall with a knife) lier in the year and add enough so here’s what extra virgin olive I’m thinking... The Browns’ glorious vegetable patch oil to loosen into I’ll take a coua sauce. ple of leeks and slice them into This is absolutely my kind of chunks about an inch and a half cooking. It’s simple, delicious, thick. Then take enough spuds to great to have with friends and cover the bottom of a roasting tin family and most of it will have and slice them into thirds. Place come from my own toil. the leeks and potatoes in the tin, In your face world and happy sprinkle some thyme leaves over summer eating. them and pour in some stock. l Hear the latest story from Then just season the lamb, pop it The Creepy Valley here...http:// on top of the veg and bung in the thecreepyvalley.com/podcasts

FINEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

Princes Risborough Housed in the 550-year-old ‘Old Library’ building, Radhuni is a fine dining restaurant with 90 covers and a separate bar area. Takeaway and free home delivery Outside catering available l Live entertainment l l

The Old Library, Church Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9AA Tel: 01844 273741 or 273412 Reserve a table or order online at: www.radhunirestaurant.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Food & Drink Your guide to the best local venues

To feature your pub or restaurant call the editor on 01844 261579 email: editor@vale-life.co.uk Listings from £15 per issue The Akeman, Akeman Street, Tring Herts HP23 6AA. 01442 826027 www.theakeman.co.uk The Angel, 47 Bicester Road, Long Crendon, Bucks HP17 9EE. 01844 208268. www.angelrestaurant.co.uk The Bell, The Green, Chearsley Bucks HP18 0DJ. 01844 208077 www.thebellchearsley.co.uk The Chequers, 35 Church Lane, Weston Turville, Bucks HP22 5SJ. 01296 613298 www.thechequers-westonturville.co.uk The Crown, Aylesbury Rd, Cuddington Bucks HP18 0BB. 01844 292222 www.thecrowncuddington.co.uk The Crown, Sydenham, Oxon OX39 4NB 01844 351634 www.crownsydenham.co.uk The Farmers Bar, Kings Head Passage Market Square, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 2RW. 01296 718812 www.farmersbar.co.uk Five Elms, Stockaway, Weedon Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 4NL 01296 641439. www.fiveelmsweedon.com

The George and Dragon The Green, Quainton Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 4AR 01296 655436 www.georgeanddragonquainton.co.uk The Dinton Hermit, Water Lane, Ford Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8XH 01296 747473. www.dintonhermit.co.uk The Hop Pole, 83 Bicester Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP19 9AZ 01296 482129. www.hop-pole.co.uk Le Bistro, 4 Pound Street, Wendover Bucks HP22 6EJ. 01296 622092 www.lebistrowendover.co.uk Lions of Bledlow, Church End, Bledlow Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 9PE 01844 343345. www.lionsofbledlow.co.uk

Olive Limes, 60 High Street, Tring, Herts HP23 5AG . 01442 828444 www.olivelimes.co.uk

Shoulder of Mutton, 20 Pound St, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6 EJ. 01296 623223

The Peacock Country Inn, Henton, Oxon OX39 4AH. 01844 353519 www.peacockcountryinn.co.uk

Spice Cottage, 57 Tring Road, Wendover Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 6NU. 01296 625202 www.spicecottagerestaurant.co.uk

The Pheasant Inn, 39 Windmill Street Brill, Bucks HP18 9TG. 01844 239370 www.thepheasant.co.uk

The Thatch, 29-30 Lower High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 2AA. 01844 214346 www.thethatchthame.co.uk

The Red Lion Hotel, 9 High Street, Wendover, Bucks HP22 6DU. 01296 622266 www.redlionhotelwendover.co.uk

The Six Bells, 43-44 High Street, Thame , Oxon, OX9 2AD. 01844 212088 www.fullers.co.uk

The Rockwood, 32 Kingsbury, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2JE. 01296 423849 www.rockwoodpub.co.uk

Mia Capri, 87 High Street, Thame Oxon OX9 3EH. 01844 213016 www.miacapri.co.uk

Rose and Crown, 2 Oxford Road, Stone, Bucks HP17 8PB 01296 748388 www.roseandcrownstone.co.uk

The Millwrights, 83 Walton Street Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 7SN 01296 393711

Rose and Thistle, 6 Station Road, Haddenham, Bucks HP17 8AJ. 01844 291451

Mole and Chicken, Easington, Bucks HP18 9EY. 01844 208387 www.themoleandchicken.co.uk

Seven Stars, Stars Lane, Dinton, Bucks HP17 8UL. 01296 749000 www.7starsdinton.co.uk

Napoleonic wars, famous politicians and writers such as Evelyn Waugh. The recently refurbished Eden restaurant is a true mix of tradition and style as befits the hotel’s history with a bespoke bar that pays homage to the hotel’s literary past and John Fothergill, innkeeper at the establishment in the 1920s, who chronicled his experiences in his book ‘An Innkeeper’s Diary’. Here you can enjoy a candlelit supper for two whilst watching the world go by or take time out to celebrate that special occasion with

family, friends or colleagues. The Spread Eagle has entered a new chapter in the history of the hotel. Following an extensive makeover, it now boasts contemporary styling and sleek design set within traditional surroundings, presenting guests with a unique experience and ensuring the Spread Eagle’s reputation for innovative hospitality is maintained and carried forward for generations to come. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning dinner, bed and breakfast for two at The Spread Eagle, simply

The Valient Trooper, Trooper Rd, Aldbury, Tring, Herts, HP23 5RW. 01442 851203 The Village Gate, 225 Aylesbury Road, Wendover, Bucks HP22 6BA. 01296 623884 www.villagegatewendover.com The White Swan, 18 High Street, Wendover, Bucks HP22 6EA. 01296 622271 The Woolpack, Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks HP22 5UP 01296 615970 www.woolpackstokemandeville.co.uk

Win an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast for two at The Spread Eagle

he Spread Eagle hotel in Thame, Oxfordshire has stood imposingly in the heart of this charming and picturesque town since the 16th century, although it now sports an impressive Georgian facade. The Spread Eagle is on Thame’s Cornmarket, part of reputedly the widest main street in the country which holds the town’s famous farmers market. During its colourful history this stylish hotel has played host to Charles II, French prisoners from the

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Who was Charles II’s father? a) Charles I b) Louis XIII c) William II Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on Aug 31st. l The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket, Thame, Oxfordshire , OX9 2BW Tel: 01844 213661 Email: info@spreadeaglethame.co.uk Web: www.spreadeaglethame.co.uk

l Food & Drink

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Like a swan The Lambert Arms’s stately Tudor facade belies the frantic hive of bustling activity beneath the hotel’s surface. Weddings and conferences, dog walkers, diners and businessmen grabbing free wifi with their coffee, it’s all in a days work for this ancient inn...

he Lambert Arms is a striking half timbered coaching inn just off the M40 at Aston Rowant. Despite its appearance the inn was built around 1834 by a junction on the Lewknor-Chinnor road once known as Aston Cross. Its ornamental styling is an early example of neo-Tudor design. It was a useful stopping place for London traffic and in 1840 a traveller on the ‘Mazeppa’ coach said ‘after descending the steep hill we stopped at the Lambert Arms for a glass of excellent Marlow beer’. A Baronet, Sir Henry John Lambert lived at Aston House, near Tetsworth until he died in 1858, aged 66 and could be the reason for the inn’s name. Having undergone a major revamp in September 2008, which included the addition of a mews accommodation block and function room for up to 120 guests, the hotel is currently owned by the Bespoke Hotels Group and run by general manager Andrew Edwards and his team. It is once again a bustling travellers rest with 44 spacious and stylish, modern bedrooms, a large, relaxed and welcoming bar with open fires and comfortable leather sofas, an on-site fitness suite and an excellent kitchen serving freshly prepared, quality food at reasonable prices.

Since reopening, the restaurant has been awarded a coveted AA Rosette, an AA Breakfast Award and is listed in the Michelin Restaurant and Eating Out Guides. “Our style is friendly, yet professional,” says Andrew, “The building has great atmosphere, relaxed and informal but welcoming, in Summer or Winter and food is a real passion here. I was a head chef myself before moving into management and at The Lambert Arms we believe it is possible to provide outstanding food, in stylish yet informal surroundings, at sensible prices. And we are building a reputation for doing just that. “Our accomplished head chef Justin Mason and his team produce delicious seasonal dishes with the focus on locally sourced produce. Our menus feature imaginative modern, British, a la carte dishes, as well as traditional pub classics. We also offer a tasty bar snack menu and quite mouth-watering puddings!” For meetings, conferences, weddings or events the Oxford Room accommodates up to 120 guests. It can be divided in two and features floor to ceiling windows with stunning views over the Chiltern Hills. The adjoining Wycombe Room, has its own dedicated bar, while

outside the furnished outdoor courtyard area is ideal for al fresco dining and relaxed receptions. There are also a number of additional rooms for smaller, more informal meetings. “We are all things to all men,” smiles Andrew, “a local pub, a hotel, a conference centre, but when you arrive you’ll get friendly personal service and probably never realise quite how much is going on!” The Lambert Arms is a tasteful mix of old and new - wooden floors, warm walls, leaded windows,

and chunky candles. There’s a proper bar serving a good selection of ales, wines and more and you can eat in the restaurant, on the patio, or in the bar with waitress service seven days a week. The ‘Mazeppa’ no longer stops by but you can still get a pint of excellent ale! l The Lambert Arms , London Road, Aston Rowant, Watlington, Oxon, OX49 5SB Tel: 0843 357 5534 Email: info.lambertarms@ bespokehotels.com Website: www.bespokehotels.com Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

John Bigg

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Sipping a glass of chilled Sauvignon in the peaceful gardens of The Dinton Hermit it is hard to imagine that these lands were once torn apart by a bloody civil war. And then you find out about Cromwell’s sympathisers in Dinton and the hermit with the king’s blood on his hands...

he Dinton Hermit is something of a mystery. The inn is not actually in Dinton at all, but just up the road in Ford, near Haddenham, between Thame and Aylesbury. It is very old, a listed building of historical significance with a Wychert barn, but nobody seems to know quite when or why it was originally built, only that there has been an inn on the site since at least 1620. The original building is of stone and has been extended over the years, as has the barn, which now houses several bedrooms. The unusual name, we know more about... A local man, Simon Mayne of Dinton Hall, was a prominent member of the Parliamentary Party during the Civil War. In 1645 after the battle of Naseby the victorious Cromwell stayed with him at Dinton Hall and left his sword as a gift. Mayne later sat as a Judge of the High Commission Court which tried King Charles and he was one of those who signed the king’s death warrant. Power swung back from the puritans to the royalists though and Mayne was brought to trial for ‘the killing of a king’ in October 1660. He was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death. He died in 1661 while a prisoner in the Tower of London and his body was brought back to Dinton for burial. Mayne’s clerk at Dinton Hall, a man called John Bigg, is believed to have been one of Charles’s executioners. It is not known who actually carried out the deed, as there were five executioners present on the scaffold that day, all hooded to hide their identity. Bigg became a recluse in the years following the restoration of the monarchy, some say out of remorse, but possibly out of fear that he might be brought to justice as well. He took to living in a cave near Dinton Hall and became known as the Dinton Hermit. Most days Bigg, top right, would walk the eight miles, past the inn at Ford, to Great Hampden to get food from the Hampden family who were old parliamentary friends. He renewed his clothing by patching with leather and cloth. One of his boots is in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and it is rumoured 42

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

The Dinton Hermit has been extended over the years and was at one time rendered in white

the other is still in Dinton Hall. On his belt hung three bottles, one for strong and one for weak beer and one for milk. Bigg died in 1696 aged 67 and was buried at Dinton Church. When the inn took on his name though is not known! Entering The Dinton Hermit today you can certainly sense the history. It was probably originally a turnpike pub, a stopping place for those on the old Aylesbury road. The rugged stone walls, huge inglenook fireplace and shiny worn flagstones must have provided shelter for many a weary traveller over the last 400 years. At one time there was a farmers bar and a saloon, now it’s a single open bar but with nooks, crannies, old beams and atmosphere a-plenty. Dinton couple Roger and Mariko Pratap bought The Dinton Hermit three years ago. The inn had got into financial difficulties and was being offered for sale by the official receiver. “We’d often talked about running an inn,” says Roger “and seeing the local pub threatened with closure focused our thoughts.” The couple started by making some physical changes to the premises, recruiting a management team and defining what the pub should offer.

“We see it as a village inn,” says Roger. “It’s a pub with rooms. We’re not trying to be too complex foodwise, we want to be accessible and of wide appeal - to offer great pub food, comfortable accommodation and a relaxing place to come for a drink – inside or out. “It’s a small community here but the pub is as much for the people who live locally as for those who come from further afield to eat, or to stay overnight.” The Hermit boasts excellent kitchens where the food is all freshly prepared, from sauces to desserts. There’s traditional pub food on the menu like ham, egg and chips, cod and chips, or sausage and mash and in the evening, an a la carte selection with dishes such as: Gravadlax of Salmon with mixed leaf salad and Dijon dressing; Beef Carpaccio with rocket salad and parmesan shavings; or Steamed Mussels with chorizo, coriander, tomato and garlic; Beef Wellington served with Dauphinoise potatoes, seasonal veg and red wine jus; Pan Fried Salmon on a warm potato and

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Trina and Shamus

watercress salad with horseradish jus; or Braised Lambshank with cream potato, baby spinach and red onion jus. The dessert list features: Stem Ginger Panne Cotta with pear puree and coconut tuiles; Apple Tarte Tatin with vanilla ice cream; or Chocolate Brownies with pistachio ice cream among other delights. When Vale Life visited and tried the carpaccio, lambshank and panna cotta we were suitably impressed. All were excellently cooked and presented and service was smooth and friendly. Roger and his family moved to Dinton some eight years ago. He’s originally from Cheshire and over the last 17 years, has successfully grown his father’s business Majesticare from a single care home to a national company with 17 luxury care homes and 800 staff. “My father started our first care home,” says Roger. “He had some health problems though, so I left my job in banking to help him run the business in 1994. We’ve gradually

expanded the company through building and acquisition. Locally we have care homes in Chinnor, Henley and Banbury. “We believe good quality and high standards are important to all businesses, and are delivered through having the best people. Our customers come first, and the experience of visiting The Dinton Hermit should be a celebration of a 400 year tradition of hospitality from this site.” At the pub the six barn rooms have been given a makeover. The new bedroom interiors have been designed by Elizabeth Warden and the rooms refurbished to a high standard in a classic, contemporary scheme. The rooms now all feature brand new modern bathroom suites and flat screen televisions. “We are doing quite well with corporate bookings for accommodation during the week,” says Roger. “Our reputation has been growing and we are seeing turnover increasing.” Word of mouth is of course one of the best promotional tools - almost as good as a magazine article we at Vale Life might say. The Hermit is a delightful place to visit, especially in the summer with its rural location and huge garden and we are sure word will continue to spread.

If you can make it to Ford on a weekday lunchtime (Mon-Fri, 12noon-2pm) £10 will buy you a two course lunch, which is great value. Get your loyalty card stamped and you qualify for a free lunch after six visits even better! On Sundays the traditional roast dinner is very popular (£11.50) so it is wise to book ahead - and there’s plenty of alternatives if you don’t want roast, from a ploughman’s to a burger, or a baked tart of baby leeks and Oxford blue cheese. The Dinton Hermit now offers hotel accommodation in 11 stylish bedrooms, a great restaurant serving lunch and dinner, a traditional village pub with local beers and a spectacular pub garden. It seems the drive and enterprise Roger has applied in building Majesticare may also be working at The Dinton Hermit. It is a delightful spot and these days, one in which you can enjoy a relaxing beer while discussing the relative merits of King and parliament, without fear of losing your head! l The Dinton Hermit Inn, Water Lane, Ford, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8XH Tel: 01296 747473 Email: relax@dintonhermit.co.uk Website: www.dintonhermit.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Founded in 1992 after a ‘brewing drought’ of over 50 years Tring Brewery has prospered in the town and recently moved to bigger premises to keep up with growing demand. Charlie Trott fills his glass...

ver the last few years cask ale has experienced a marked increase in popularity among a widening range of drinkers. Pubs that used to sport a solitary hand pump have now increased their offering in response to consumer demand. With our readers’ interests at heart I headed for Tring, home of Tring Brewery, producer of exotically named ales such as Sidepocket for a Toad, Jack O’Legs and Death or Glory, to discover more about this flourishing industry and the award-winning brewery itself. Last year the brewery relocated from its old site off Akeman Street, in the heart of Tring’s conservation area, to a spacious new unit on the edge of the town opposite Tesco. My host, company marketing man and second brewer Ben Marston, pictured, gave me a whirlwind tour of the new facility and its spacious brew-house occupied by various gleaming stainless steel vessels. To the front of the brewery is a large retail and hospitality space offering views into the brew-house. With a nod to traditional pub interiors, this space serves as the sampling area for the firm’s increasingly popular brewery tours. It is here that you can also purchase a selection of ciders or any one of the 25 cask ales that Tring Brewery produces annually. “We had to move for space reasons,” says Ben. “Demand was outstripping supply and we’d reached the point where we were struggling to cope with orders. We just didn’t have room to brew enough beer! The old site served us well for over 15 years but the new brewery has three times the capacity, ensuring no customer is left with an empty glass. The new facilities also provide opportunities for

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Ben Marston

further improving quality, service and product range.” Noticing that the product was referred to as cask conditioned ale and not bitter or lager, I asked Ben what the difference was. “Cask conditioned ale is made from four ingredients,” explained the brewer. “Water, barley malt, hops and yeast. After the main fermentation stage, it is decanted into casks or firkins (72 pint vessels used to deliver product into pubs). At this stage a small amount of sugar and yeast is still present in the firkins, which, during storage, results in a secondary fermentation. This secondary fermentation naturally produces extra CO2, the bubbles, also known as ‘condition’. “This process also means that cask ale contains sediment which in pubs settles in the firkin. The beer sold through our shop is sold ‘bright’ meaning it has settled and is then decanted, ready to drink straight away. “In a lager, the filtration process, after fermentation removes sugar and yeast cells so CO2 has to be injected into the solution. “As for bitter, this is just one of many styles of cask ale. They are not all bitter, in fact

styles such as milds and barley wines are often sweet and smooth”. Deciding to put the marketing man on the spot I ask him to define the indefinable and explain what it is that makes Tring Brewery ales so special? “It’s actually hard to identify any one thing,” says Ben, not looking at all perturbed. “They all have defining characteristics crafted to appeal to different drinkers. We have an ale for pretty well every palate, from the hardened lager drinker dipping their toe in the world of ale (not literally of course), to the seasoned ale enthusiast. There are certain beers that stand out as being particularly popular all year round such as Sidepocket for a Toad and my favorite, Colley’s Dog but our monthly specials are always a hit and this year we have reintroduced 12 of the best specials brewed over the last 10 years, all popular in their own right.” I think what Ben was trying to say is that it would be best for me to try a few of the Tring brews and make my own mind up. After all taste is a very personal thing. Side Pocket for a Toad seemed a good place to start. As with many of Tring’s brews it sports an unusual name which I am told all derive from local legends, myths, phrases and miscellaneous regional history. The brewery runs an annual competition to suggest names for the next year’s beers. Details are given in a monthly e-newsletter, along with opportunities to get involved with the brewery, win beer and keep up to date with its charitable work. Log on to: www.tringbrewery. co.uk for more details. As for the aforementioned Side pocket For A Toad - it is named after an old Hertfordshire saying alluding to the uselessness of anything. The phrase has sadly passed into disuse, although I’m afraid to say that by the end of the afternoon it may well have been brought back and applied to me! l Tring Brewery Company Limited, Dunsley Farm, London Road, Tring, Herts, HP23 6HA Tel: 01442 890721 Website: www.tringbrewery.co.uk Shop open: Monday - Tuesday 11am – 5pm Wednesday to Friday 9am – 6pm Saturday 9am – 5pm

47 Bicester Road, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9EE Tel: 01844 208268

www.angelrestaurant.co.uk

Restaurant open: For Lunch, Monday - Saturday: 12-2.30pm, Sunday: 12-3pm For Dinner, Monday - Saturday: 7-9.30pm, Sunday Evenings: Closed. Bank Holidays open as usual.

The Bell at Chearsley

Summer Party with Alvin the ultimate Elvis Saturday August 27th

Includes: pig roast, disco, Tutu’s Thai food, steel band, children’s activities and lucky ticket. 4pm til late, tickets £30, under 12s free: Call: 01844 208077 Fuller’s Ales and a mouthwatering selection of fresh home cooked food await at The Bell. There’s a lovely, large, child-friendly garden and some great deals to be had, including the Monday Night Special - a Newitt’s steak pie, peas and gravy for only £4.95. The Bell, The Green, Chearsley, Nr Long Crendon. Tel: 01844 208077 www.thebellchearsley.co.uk

The Crown Inn, Sydenham, Oxfordshire, OX39 4NB. Tel: 01844 351634

Max and Louise welcome you to The Crown at Sydenham Try our food - delicious meals, simple well-matched ingredients, gorgeous desserts. All food cooked to order using fresh produce Quick lunch options: steak ciabatta / club sandwich Tue-Thur: Pasta & a pudding only £15 ! Pleasant garden for those sunny moments! www.crownsydenham.co.uk

Open: Tue-Fri: 12noon-3pm, & 5.30pm-11pm, Sat: 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-3pm, Closed Monday. Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Towersey……the Festival Experience - Just the ticket for a day out at the end of the Holidays

OK some might say ‘life’s a beach’ but it’s Towersey not Towersea and nowhere near the sea, so this August Bank Holiday set sail for the local village where life’s a festival...

ust outside Thame, Towersey is one of the most picturesque Oxfordshire villages you could hope to stumble upon. What better setting then for a festival of Music, Street Theatre, Real Ale and Ciders, great food and good times?! The Towersey Festival Experience Ticket gives you a daytime taster of what the Towersey Festival is all about. It provides access to the Showground where there are three performance spaces programmed full of entertainment. Add to that all-day circus skills workshops, world class face painting, great children’s shows, the world’s largest parasol, a mobile recording studio and the Unique Kinetic Wood and Steel Sculpture Helix in Gimble... It’s the perfect way to experience the thrill of a major festival without having to leave your comfort zone, - it’s just down the road! NEW FOR 2011... Towersey has always had a vibrant and well stocked bar on The Showground but this year they are pulling out all the stops and hosting a proper Real Ale and Cider Festival. Over 20 award winning local and national brews will be showcased with daily tasting notes and sessions and a chance to win a trip round one of the partner breweries. The bar has its own stage hosting bands and informal music sessions Other great additions to the Showground this year Busk Stop, a place where any budding, or seasoned, performer can give the passing crowd a taste of what they do. Music, song, dance, magic... any artform is welcome on this open platform. festival favorites... Towersey welcomes back festival favourites MegaSol, the World’s Largest Parasol, the ever popular Airstream Mobile Recording Studio, the Rockhopper and the Giant Free-Standing Climbing Wall Challenge.

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

In terms of entertainment it really is a hugely diverse range. Across the Three days you might encounter Giant Hopping Kangeroos, Jugglers, Clowns, Storytellers, Marching Brass Bands, Traditional Dance and Music, Celtic Sessions in the Bar, Huge Grey Seals, Traditional Indian Circus, Aboriginal Didgeridoo and Mischievous Sprites to name but a few. Go down for the day and experience the magic of a festival at Towersey for only £7. Open from 10am–6pm, Saturday, August 27 to Monday, August 29. Adults £7 and just £2 for 5-17s and over 60s. The Car Park is FREE or catch the Festival’s BIG RED BUS which runs regularly to and from Thame. Or if you want a bit more go to one of the festival’s many events in the Festival Dance House Marquee.

This year the festival opens with the legendary Billy Bragg on Thursday, August 25 at 7.30pm and there’s a real family treat on Sunday, August 28th at 3pm with the Number One Touring Theatre version of the classic children’s story “The Little Red Hen”. In between there’s a great night of music every night… see the website for full details of The Festival Dance House events. Bank holiday means Towersey Time - the greatest show in the county.

27-29 August

Sat / Sun / Mon

Towersey Showground A UNIQUE Festival

ExpErIENcE Tow

ersey, near Thame

Dance comedy Music Magic puppetry & Storytelling circus Workshops Exotic Market Stalls World Food Fair real Ale & cider Festival The Market Square with 500 Seats climbing Wall challenge Mobile recording Studio Huge children’s play Area... ...and something simply ‘MAG IcAL’

* * *

Two GREAT Shows at Towersey Festival

Sunday 28 August 3pm

An early learning classic for ages 3 - 7 and parents too. “Who will help me plant these grains of wheat?” “Not I said the Pig.” “Not I said the Rat.” “Not I said the Cow.” “Fair enough,” said the Little Red Hen, “I’ll do it myself!” Making bread is hard work, but it would be a lot easier if the lazy farm yard animals lent a hand! An adaptation of the nursery favourite, featuring a host of animal puppets, sing-along songs and comic routines. It’s a treat for the whole family with no scary bits! “A truly enchanting hour for children - and their parents” The Stage

All tickets £7 (under 5’s FREE) until 15 August. £9 from 16 August

Book now at www.towerseyfestival.com or call 01629 827016

Thursday 25 August 7.30pm “Socialism of the Heart” from one of the best known and best loved artists of his generation Support from More Like Trees Tickets Adult £15 (£18 from 16th Aug.) 5-17 yrs £8 (£9) Buy now www.towerseyfestival.com or call 01629 827016

Other Festival Dance House Events include - (all starting at 7.30pm) “Berlin Big Band” 17 HIPPIES Friday 26 August

THE BuRNS uNIT (As seen on Jools Holland) Satuday 27 August

“Folk Rock Legends” THE OySTERBAND Sunday 28 August

www.towerseyfestival.com * 01629 827016

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Farrier demonstration

orse body painting is a training technique used by animal welfare charity the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust. In a horse body painting demonstration, the body of a horse is painted on one side to show where major organs, muscles and bones are located. People are then asked to remember the location of these anatomical structures and paint them onto the other side of the horse’s body. “This is a great interactive way for people of all ages to learn more about a horse’s anatomy,” said Liane Crowther, training manager at The Horse Trust, who learnt about the technique on a recent visit to Gambia. “We’re very excited to be offering this new activity at The Horse Trust during the summer holidays and hope lots of people will visit us to take part.

“It’s also a nice activity for the horses as they enjoy the physical contact and like being bathed afterwards.” As well as horse body painting, the charity will be running various other activities over the summer holidays including demonstrations, “have-a-go-at-grooming” sessions and competitions for children. Staff will be demonstrating various aspects of horse care, such as bathing and clipping and demonstrations by local farrier Jonathan Smith are also planned. If you’d like to go along contact The Horse Trust office on 01494 488464 for more information on daily activities. Horse body painting sessions are running throughout the summer until September 7. Visitors to the sanctuary will also have the opportunity to enjoy the summer weather by taking a picnic and making use of the charity’s new picnic area complete with tables. You can support the work of the charity by purchasing some of your refreshments at the visitor centre. They stock delicious ice creams from local firm Beechdean Dairies, as well as a variety of hot and cold drinks. The Horse Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses is open between 2pm and 4pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from mid April to October 30. Entrance to the sanctuary is free, but the charity encourages a donation of £5 per car or family to help it to meet its running costs. With each horse costing around £10 per day to care for at the sanctuary, your donation will make a big contribution to their lifelong retirement. There will be a nominal charge

for horse body painting and some other activities arranged during the summer holidays, call The Horse Trust office on 01494 488464 for details. The Horse Trust was founded in 1886 and is the oldest horse charity in the UK. Based at Speen, near Princes Risborough, it is committed to a programme of welfare, science and education and is the largest provider of grant funding for equine welfare in the United Kingdom.

The Trust funds research into equine diseases; gives grants to help build and equip equine hospitals throughout the country and works to raise awareness of the importance of cost, care and commitment to responsible horse ownership. The Horse Trust also manages The Home of Rest for Horses which, funded solely by donations and legacies, provides lifetime sanctuary for around 100 retired working horses, ponies and donkeys from many different backgrounds.

Come and visit The Horse Trust's Home of Rest for Horses

for a great family afternoon out!

HORSE BODY PAINTING

Bring a picnic for a fantastic time at our 200 acre horse sanctuary in the rolling Chiltern Hills and meet many of our 95 abandoned, neglected and retired working horses, ponies and donkeys and learn more about the work we do as the oldest horse charity in the UK.

Daily demonstrations:

• Hands-on grooming • Watch our horses being bathed • Special farrier demonstration - please call for details • Visit our Education Centre to learn about our history • Refreshments available A To T 4129 HAM E

PRINCES RISBOROUGH

To A40 AYL 10 ESB UR Y

There’s cartloads of hands-on fun to be had at The Horse Trust in Speen this summer and the good news is it all involves horses... or donkeys!

A413 GREAT MISSENDEN

THE HORSE TRUST

A4010

(SLAD LANE, SPEEN)

A4128

A404

HIGH WYCOMBE

STOKENCHURCH A40 TO OXFORD

AMERSHAM PRESTWOOD

Free admission by way of donation

Take part in Educational 'Horse Body Painting' BOOK TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT on 01494 488 464

A40 M40

TO LONDON

The Horse Trust, Slad Lane, Speen, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 0PP

Telephone: 01494 488 464

www.horsetrust.org.uk Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

The 3 Peaks Challenge is not only a fun family day out in the beautiful Chilterns countryside but a healthy way to feel good having raised funds to help Iain Rennie Grove House deliver vital nursing care

BE PART OF SOMETHING

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And Walk the Chalk with Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care

Sunday 18 September • Stunning route • Fun for all the family • Dogs welcome • Treasure hunt 5, 9 or 18 mile sponsored walk along the Ridgeway

01442 820739 www.C3Peaks.com Registered Charity No. 1140386

Vale Life : Aug / Sept 2011

his September why not put on your caring hat and walking boots and support newly merged local charity Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care (IRGH) in one of its most important fundraising events of the year. The Chilterns Three Peaks Challenge is a walk along the Ridgeway through beautiful Chilterns countryside and takes place on Sunday, September 18. The Challenge, supported by Arriva buses who are providing 10 buses and drivers on the day, offers a choice of distance: a five mile, a nine mile or an 18 mile route to suit both walkers and dogs of all ages and fitness levels. IRGH is calling on local people to rise to the challenge and is promising a fun-filled day for all participants. The walk sets off from Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire. The full route is 18 miles long and last year the majority of walkers chose this option. There will also be a five mile option taking in the two peaks of Whiteleaf Cross and Coombe Hill and a nine mile option which allows walkers to climb the third peak of Ivinghoe Beacon too. At the end of the five mile route, all participants can enjoy a barbecue in Wendover before the five mile entrants catch the specially provided Arriva bus back to their cars in Princes Risborough. The nine mile walkers take a bus to the third peak at Ivinghoe Beacon and the 18 mile participants continue on foot. All walkers will be returned to their cars in Princes Risborough using the dedicated Arriva bus service. The choice of routes makes it ideal for families and this year there is a brand new Treasure Hunt along the five mile route, especially for children, to keep them amused along the way. Adults signing up are being encouraged to raise sponsorship of £150 which will fund an Iain Rennie nurse for 24 hours. “Last year the walk raised a fantastic £100,000,” says IRGH Events Manager, Ruth Barber, “and this year we’re aiming to beat this

total. We live in such a beautiful area and this is a great opportunity for people from all over the country to get out and enjoy the Chilterns, whether they are seasoned walkers or not. “We are very grateful to Arriva buses whose help is invaluable in organising the logistics of the day. “At IRGH, we see every day how valuable our nursing service is to local people facing life limiting illnesses, so this is a superb chance for everyone to enjoy themselves, see a beautiful part of the country, get some exercise and help a worthy cause at the same time.” This year’s fundraising target is £120,000 and the money will go towards the nursing care offered by IRGH to patients with life limiting illness either in the day hospice or at home. The service is offered free to families but Government funding only covers approximately 10% of the charity’s costs with fundraising needing to make up the remainder of the £6 million needed each year. For more information and to register for the Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge 2011, please see the website at: www.c3peaks.com

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