Vitara now has just Motion and Ultra spec levels like its S-Cross, Swace and Swift siblings.
Those various exterior styling revisions update Vitara with redesigned front grille and bumper, rear upper spoiler incorporating rear window side spoilers, new design 17-inch alloy wheels and the addition of two new colours which are Sphere Blue Pearl Metallic / Cosmic Black dual-tone and our car’s Titan Dark Grey Metallic, both as options.
An even higher level of safety technology is now available as standard across the range including Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Speed Control, Driver Monitoring System and eCall.
Standard equipment levels for both versions have increased too with the addition of a 9-inch media display, wireless smartphone link with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Keyless entry and start, High Beam Assist, Auto-dim rear-view mirror, rear parking sensors plus Suzuki Connect connected services that includes three years free subscription.
STEVE HOWARTH’S TEST DRIVE SUZUKI VITARA
SOME cars just seem to have been around forever – for example the Suzuki Vitara, a common sight on our roads since 1988.
Now that shows Suzuki have been doing something right - even the current Hungarian-built fifth generation of this small SUV has been around for 10 years.
The Vitara has changed a bit in that time and now there is a facelift for 2025 with a redesigned front fascia and upgraded tech, including a bigger infotainment screen, improved the fuel economy with both 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines available as a mild hybrid or full hybrid and an electric version due any time now.
Our test car was the 1.4-litre mild hybrid in top spec Ultra form with optional AllGrip 4x4 and special order Titan dark grey metallic paint resulting in an on the road price of £30,449.
It comes with a slick six-speed manual gearbox and quite sprightly performance as 0-62mph comes up in a respectable 9.5 seconds.
While the mild-hybrid version can’t drive on electricity alone the full fat option can but is a bit slower to 62mph taking 12.7 seconds, not helped by its standard auto gearbox. The Vitara comes with front-wheel drive as standard but can be upgraded to AllGrip for a more surefooted drive.
Where the Vitara has always scored is on economy thanks to those frugal engines and its lightness – up to 60mpg and a kerb weight of just 1290kg for the 2025 version.
I spent a week of around town motoring as well as a weekend away in the Cotswolds and found the car very easy to live with – especially that frugal fuel consumption. The ride is firm but well-damped and the Vitara isn’t uncomfortable, even on long distance motoring.
The gear lever in our manual version is high-set and well-spaced out so falls easily to hand and most of the controls are logically laid out with physical buttons and dials for the climate control making it easier to make adjustments while you’re on the move and an easy to use sat-nav set up.
Moving up to the Ultra grade increases standard specification even further with 17-inch polished alloy wheels, Panoramic sliding Sunroof, suede / leather seat fabric, front and rear parking sensors, electric folding door mirrors with built-in indicators and overhead storage console.
Vitara hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient small crossovers in its class with the 2WD mild hybrid manual transmission models offering an up to 9 per cent improvement over the previous version. Full hybrid 2WD models with auto transmission are up to 6 per cent better.
You do notice that light weight when closing doors and through the steering but that is how the car can achieve such economy figures so is a plus in the overall scheme of things as is the high level of standard equipment.
The Vitara range starts at £27,200 for the 1.4 mild hybrid 2WD version.
For more info see www.suzuki.co.uk
TWITTERING ON
By Angela Kelly
- because x’ing on doesn’t sound quite the same
Are
car headlights dangerously dazzling?
IT was good news to hear that the Government is to commission a new study looking into potential “countermeasures” for dazzling LED headlights on vehicles.
On the basis of “thank goodness it’s not just me”, motoring organisations and MPs have spoken out after accidents have been blamed on people being blinded by LED lights.
There have already been calls to ban certain types of headlights on cars because of fears that they are so bright they’re causing accidents.
AA members have told the organisation that LED lights on vehicles are among the factors causing them to be “blinded” while driving.
Worryingly, according to national collisions’ data, dazzling headlights were a contributing factor in 216 incidents in 2023.
Now, after a new question in the House of Commons on the subject, the Secretary of State for Transport accepted there was increased public concern about headlight glare. Independent research was underway and due to be delivered this Summer.
Certainly, driving along country lanes late at night to be met by the glare of bright LED lights coming in the opposite direction could create a potentially dangerous situation.
AA president Edmund King stated: “Our own research shows it is an issue for some drivers with three quarters saying they have been blinded by oncoming headlights.
“Our members tell us that they are feeling the strain of brighter headlights more than ever before, as well as brighter brake and traffic lights. Conversely, they also say brighter lights enhance road safety.
“The problem seems to be LED lights on higher vehicles such as SUVs. The Government-sponsored investigation into the use of LED lights on our roads should help clarify this issue further, as well as provide appropriate measures where needed.”
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Few issues we deal with have triggered quite as much of a reaction among drivers as the brightness of headlights. It’s clear that, for a proportion of the driving public, glare affects them profoundly on the roads at night.
“But while the frustration is evident, the causes of the problem and what can be done about it are much less clear. That’s why the Government-funded project is so important.”
So now all we can do is wait for the outcome of the research and hope it sheds a (muted) light on a worrying situation.
We’re not interested in your opinions – heckle off!
ANYONE who has ever been to a comedy night or major one-man show will know about the irritation of hecklers.
For some reason, they believe that the audience – and the comedian – will be highly entertained by their inane shouts when the reality is that it’s annoying at the least and rude and disrespectful at the most.
Peter Kay is the latest comedian to hit the headlines for taking direct action to deal with hecklers.
The AO Arena in Manchester was the scene with two audience members removed while Peter was performing his Better Late Than Never … Again tour.
When one unofficial “performer” started shouting out one of Kay’s well-known phrases, “garlic bread”, the other responded by chanting “We love you, Peter, we do.”
Kay’s response was “We love, you love” but then stated: “Alright, love, we heard you. Take her out while you’re up there (removing the first heckler) – drag her out.”
Then he is later heard to say: “Go on, Lisa Riley”, referring to the Emmerdale actress.
This incident actually resulted in a bit of a public row, with the heckler going on TV, stating: “I didn’t mean to cause any harm, I was just showing my love …. but he obviously didn’t like it.”
Forced to defend himself on Instagram, the comedian explained that the two hecklers were “disrupting from the very start.
“I did my best to address the situation and made light of it as any comedian would but, unfortunately, their interruptions continued.
“I then tried to ignore them, hoping they’d settle down, but when the disruption persisted into the second half of the show, I asked the audience around them if they were being bothered by the noise.
“They all shouted ‘yes’ and when I asked for a show of hands at least 40 people raised theirs. At that point I had no choice but to take action.”
Sorry but my sympathies are all with the performers on this one. For some reason, audience members sometimes believe that people have come to hear from THEM and insist on shouting out.
But they’re not funny and they’re not wanted.
I really think heckling is a self-fulfilling prophecy and if you do it, prepare for retribution – usually with a great put-down by the comedian.
Now that really IS appreciated by the audience.
Mammograms really do save lives
HAVING a mammogram is not something you’d automatically do for fun.
Your breasts are compressed between two metal plates and x-rays taken to reveal any problem areas.
It is routinely offered to all women aged 50 to 70 in the UK every three years and more than two million women are screened each year.
It’s a brilliant tool in diagnosing early problems. It discovered my breast cancer early 20 years ago on a routine appointment. I had surgery, went on a five year drugs’ trial and I’ve been clear ever since.
Even though for me it was a personal life-saver, I do understand why many women refuse to have a mammogram. They are probably frightened about the procedure and unsure what it entails.
So it was absolutely brilliant to see 63 year-old presenter Vanessa Feltz undergoing a mammogram live on TV’s This Morning. vShe held a normal conversation throughout and explained the procedure well.
When asked how it felt, she said: “It feels slightly squashed. But it certainly isn’t hurting at all. I wouldn’t even call it discomfort. I certainly wouldn’t call it pain.”
Around 11,400 women and 85 men die from breast cancer every year - the equivalent to 32 deaths every day. So please don’t miss your mammograms.
EMMA THOMPSON
Over four decades of screen & stage
IT’S very unlikely that British actress Emma Thompson could ever be typecast.
She can put in a sensitive performance as the scorned wife, have audiences crying over her deep emotions as a mother or, equally, laughing out loud at her comedy performances.
On the big screen she’s been prim and proper, completely wanton and very brave. And it’s all down to hugely skilled acting talents and a lack of fear of challenging new roles.
This is not surprising when you realise that her professional actress gene was honed early, at home in London and in a family of actors.
Her father Eric Thompson - a scriptwriter and stage director as well as an actor - was perhaps best remembered as the creator and narrator of children’s TV classic The Magic Roundabout.
Her mother Phyllida Law worked extensively in TV series like Dixon of Dock Green and Rumpole of the Bailey and also appeared in films.
Emma’s sister Sophie is also an actress and has appeared in TV programmes from EastEnders to Coronation Street as well as in films like Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Emma’s wit was cultivated at home in this cheerful and creative family atmosphere. She attended Cambridge University, studying English Literature, and was part of the university’s famous Footlights Club where Monty Python members first met.
She graduated in 1980 and started her entertainment career on BBC radio and touring with comedy shows. Her first big TV break came on the comedy sketch programme Alfresco in 1983, writing and performing alongside Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.
She worked later on other comedy shows, including with actor Robbie Coltrane.
In 1985, she collaborated with Stephen Fry on his stage adaptation of the play Me and My Girl in London’s West End, in which she had a leading role.
This proved successful with Emma getting good reviews. On the strength of this, she was cast as the lead in BBC TV miniseries
Fortunes of War co-starring actor and director Kenneth Branagh, who became her first husband.
In the late 1980s and ‘90s, she was in a variety of well-received TV and film productions. Her first film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy and then she and Branagh co-starred in several films including Dead Again in 1991 and Much Ado About Nothing in 1993.
In 1992, she showcased her considerable acting talents on both sides of the Atlantic in the wonderful Merchant-Ivory film Howards End. She won both an Oscar and a BAFTA, heralding her move between art films and the best of Hollywood.
In 1993, she received two Academy Award nominations – for her role as the housekeeper in a grand house in the wonderfully atmospheric The Remains of the Day and as a lawyer in In The Name of the Father.
In 1994, she demonstrated her light touch with comedy in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Junior.
The next year, Emma - also a very talented screenwriter - wrote the screenplay for Ang Lee’s much-acclaimed version of Sense and Sensibility. In fact, she is the only person to have won Academy Awards for both acting and writing.
In 1998, she put in a much-praised performance as the wife of presidential candidate John Travolta in Primary Colours.
Then, in a real change of character, she starred in the Harry Potter film series as whacky Divination teacher Sybill Trelawney.
“I have a nervous breakdown in the film,” she recalled, “and in one scene I get to stand at the top of the stairs waving an empty sherry bottle which is, of course a typical scene from my daily life, so isn’t much of a stretch!”
In 2003, she joined a star-studded cast for blockbuster Love Actually, with a gently affecting performance as the wronged wife.
Her usually attractive appearance was deliberately marred in 2005 as the scary Nanny McPhee in the film of the same name. In 2012 she was in Men In Black 3.
Emma was cast in Bridget Jones’s Baby in 2016 and starred in Beauty and the Beast the following year. She was promoted to Prime Minister in 2018 for Johnny English Strikes back and was Baroness von Hellman in another very popular film Cruella in 2021.
She is in the latest Bridget Jones blockbuster Mad About the Boy and is in the middle filming Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie with The Fisherwoman also currently in post-production.
She married British actor Greg Wise in 2003 and the couple have one daughter Gaia and also an adopted son Tindyebwa Agaba.
Emma plainly doesn’t take herself too seriously. She once said: “I am who I am and there is nothing I can do about that.”
As to her work ethic, she stated: “I have periods of intense activity, then stop.
“My ideal is to work hard in the morning until I pick Gaia up from school. Just putting an empty square in my diary seems to make a space in my head, too. You have to be very good at saying no.”
Emma is honest about her acting skills. “Acting simply cannot be about how you look. It would be very difficult to make a film where you have to be beautiful in every shot.
“You have to put so much effort into it; you have to hold your head at particular angles, put the light in a certain way and I don’t like acting like that. I like to act unconscious of how I look.”
She is also very practical. “I’m very lucky I write as well,” she stated. “I don’t see how I could be as effective a mother as I’d like to be if I had to go away and act all the time.
“So I’ve sort of pulled back from acting, which is fine, because I’ve found over the years – and this was a surprise to me – that I can get the same kind of creative satisfaction from writing as I have heretofore gotten out of acting. It’s very encouraging, really.”
Walk this way: a hiking holiday to remember
Silver Travel Advisor’s Kerry Gallagher laces up her hiking boots and takes to the trails in Madeira, one of Europe’s most scenic hiking destinations
I’ve been lucky enough to watch the sun rise in some pretty incredible places. The Taj Mahal in India, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Uluru in Australia. But perhaps one of the most memorable was at Ponta do Rosto located on the eastern tip of Madeira. With sweeping views across the Atlantic Ocean and coastal cliffs dominating the landscape, this scenic viewpoint delivered one of the most vibrant and colourful skies I have ever seen.
Despite a 5am start to catch this spectacular sunrise, we then set off to hike Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco, also known as ‘The Dragon’s Tail’. This rugged coastal path follows the narrow stretch of the island which takes you to the furthest point on the east coast that it is possible to hike to. Any effort it took to hike 10km with sleepy heads under the heat of the morning sun was richly rewarded with stunning views of the turquoise ocean crashing against colourful rock formations. Every turn revealed a different perspective and a reason to stop and take photos to capture the memories.
This was just one of the hikes I took during a week-long hiking holiday with a group of friends in Madeira. As avid hikers in the UK, usually found in the Lake District most weekends, we’d heard time and time again that Madeira was one of the most incredible islands
in Europe for hiking, with a varied mix of terrains from levada trails to hidden waterfalls, steep mountains and, as we saw from Sao Lourenco, glorious coastal pathways.
Sao Lourenco
Ponta do Rosta
And everything we had heard turned out to be true – with so much more I could add. It was day after day of discovering new landscapes and exploring some of Madeira’s most popular routes, and seeking out some of the lesser-known trails. Planning couldn’t be easier thanks to the naming system of the island’s trails – all of which start with PR meaning ‘Pequena Rota’, which translates to ‘small route’, followed by a number.
PR1 is perhaps the most famous hike, and a must on any hiking holiday. It takes you from Pico de Areeiro to Pico Ruivo – the highest peak on the island at 1,862m. It’s also where you’ll find the iconic ‘Stairway to Heaven’. It’s a challenging route with steep inclines and rough terrain, but the views are worth every step. Unfortunately following the wildfires in August 2024, the majority of the trail is now closed, but visitors can still sample a section between Pico de Areeiro to Pedra Rija Belvedere.
Before arriving in Madeira, I was a little confused by all the talk of levada trails – what is a levada? Do we have them in the UK? The answer is no, there are no levadas in the UK, but there are over 3,000kms of them in Madeira. In short, they are irrigation channels transporting water from the springs at the top of the mountains down to the valleys below. They provide a natural footpath through some of the most breathtaking scenery, and at times they are the only means of access to certain places and areas of natural beauty.
Amongst the many levada trails we walked, the most popular was PR6 – the Levada das 25 Fontes – a moderate trek passing Risco waterfall, through thick forest and onto the star of the show – a weeping wall of 25 streams falling into the clear pool below. However, my favourite levada trail was PR6.3 – Lagoa do Vento – a short trail of just 7km which passes a levada waterslide, and leads to the base of the waterfall in a quiet, secluded spot, ideal to stop for lunch or just to relax and soak up the surroundings. From here you are actually at the top of a tier of waterfalls and below you’ll find Risco and 25 Fontes from the PR6 route. You can even walk to the top of Risco where the water cascades over the edge – but take extreme care as there are no guardrails or barriers.
Aside from excellent hikes and scenic trails, there’s plenty to see and do in Madeira. The capital, Funchal, is a vibrant city on the coast, boasting cobbled streets lined with shops, restaurants and bars… and the unique attraction of basket-weaved tobogganing! And the smaller town of Calheta, with its laid-back waterfront restaurants, where a perfect Sunday evening was spent enjoying cocktails as the sun set. As highly as I recommend Madeira, I’ll leave you with a word of warning – if you’re tempted to try the traditional Madeiran tipple Poncha, then do so at your peril and remember – small sips, not down in one!
Next steps
To plan and book a hiking holiday to Madeira or elsewhere in the world contact Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678. visit silvertraveladvisor.com
Stairway to Heaven
Levada Waterslide
Preparing your Home for Summer Days
NOTHING cheers us up when the weather is gloomy and rainy than planning for sunshine days, at home or abroad.
While booking holidays may not be for everyone this year – or within their pocket – looking at practical ways to make your home Summer-ready will definitely give you a boost.
Nor do you have to budget to spend huge amounts for the sunnier seasons ahead. Often, it’s just a matter of improving what you have and taking advantage of your current décor and furnishings.
On a practical basis, check for cracks and leaks around your home that the colder months may have inflicted. Ensure your GUTTERS are not broken or clogged up with leaves and check your pipes for Winter damage.
Don’t forget to check out basements or attics, too. If you need repairs there, get them sorted to have your home in tip-top shape.
HANDY TIP: Summer is definitely the best time for work on your BOILER so if it wants servicing, look around for good deals. Going into warmer days means less demand on boiler engineers’ time, too, so you can pick your times better.
Seeing the EXTERIOR of your home looking bright and cheerful helps our mood and Spring is also an ideal time to get this done. Colour improves kerb appeal.
Your front-door is the focal point of your home’s front exterior so make sure it’s looking good – clean, bright and welcoming.
Take a proper look at your GARDEN and make decisions on how it could look for the rest of the year. Spring is the time to spruce it up and plan it properly.
Sweep up any dead leaves, remove weeds and prune bushes and plants. Pre-Summer work goes a long way in helping your garden blossom later.
If you’ve got a bird bath or similar, give it a good clean – the birds will appreciate it as well. Mow the lawn and make sure it’s in good condition. As well as giving it the best possible growing start, it cheers you up as it’s nice to look at!
If you’ve got a BARBECUE in the garden, give it a deep clean before you really need it for warmer days. Remove that grease and grime embedded there to leave it sparkling!
Garden fences and walls could have suffered from Winter weather so examine these external areas. With fences, tackle the most affected areas with sandpaper or a brush and then add a layer of good-quality outdoor paint to return that uniform colour.
Check out your GARDEN FURNITURE to see if it’s damaged in any way or even just looking a bit sad. Remove dirt, cobwebs and leaves by washing with warm, soapy water. If you’ve got wooden furniture, use a pressure washer to get rid of grime that’s built up.
Do you want to invest in some new garden items and furniture?
Fire pits, for example, with comfortable seating around are an excellent idea for family get-togethers and to enjoy every hour of fine weather right into the evening.
Tidy up your shed or garage on the next decent day. You’ll find garden tools and all you need for the Summer far more easily and create extra storage for your home.
Sort out your washing line. Drying clothes outside is not just better for the environment, it’s better for your clothes. And pegging out is so satisfying!
HANDY TIP: Clean your windows well, inside and out. You want the best of that sunshine to pour into your home and you’ll be surprised at the difference to the light just having really clean windows makes.
When it comes to your home INTERIOR, think about how you’re going to replace all the wintry furnishings for more summery ones. This includes swapping cosy rugs, candles and heavier curtains for lighter fabric and brighter colours.
Do some or all of your rooms need PAINTING? Some may just need a touch-up but if you’re going to embrace the Summer
months, having a change of décor makes your home feel like a new property.
Take a good look at colour charts and use shades that blend in with your current décor but may be one or two shades lighter. And add signature walls in brighter shades to add a focal point.
Bring GREENERY into your home – this is a great way to prepare your home for Summer and enjoying more life outdoors. Create your own clever arrangements with twigs and greenery in a pretty pot or vase and invest in attractive indoor plants that make you feel you can breathe again.
HANDY TIP: Putting a Peace Lily in a pot in various rooms in your home can help fight mould and promote freshness. They cleverly absorb excess moisture in a room and can prevent mould growth and mildew.
As Summer is a time for fresh starts, use Spring to DE-CLUTTER your home, clearing out rubbish and itemizing things you can sell or give away online or can take to your local charity shops.
Exchange heavy throws for light, airy linen, light fabrics and cheerful cushions. Take down those heavy CURTAINS and consider lighter fabrics or even voiles which give a balmy Mediterranean boost to any room.
Is this the time to install BLINDS? They are ideal for warmer months and give any room a quick “makeover”. Current styles and colours suit any room and make it come alive when the sunshine hits.
Wetroom & Walk-in Shower Specialists
Is your LOUNGE FURNITURE too wintry and heavy? You don’t have to spend a fortune to replace it. Shop around for deals or visit any of your local charities’ furniture showrooms. The British Heart Foundation and Emmaus particularly specialize in good-value furniture at realistic prices, and you’re also supporting two excellent causes.
Bring out the lighter weight BEDDING for when temperatures are higher and look at colour co-ordinating them better in your bedroom. Could you do with a change of lighting here? Are your curtains Winter-weight when you could wake up to light streaming through to signal a really beautiful day?
Victoria Mill, Albert Street, Lockwood, Huddersfield
Tel: 01484 547110
to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday, 9am to 4pm
Email: hudd@atlasbathrooms.co.uk
Great choices for the smallest room
Thinking of updating your bathroom? Then take a look at the extensive showroom at Huddersfield’s Atlas Bathrooms of Lockwood. With now even more choice in store, Atlas has invested heavily in the extensive showroom and now has even more displays of bath suites, showers and wet rooms to choose from
It now has one of the biggest displays of bathrooms and accessories in the Huddersfield area. Spread over two floors it has ranges from top manufacturers including Jacuzzi, Heritage, Roca and Ideal Standard
There is also plenty to suit all budgets with bathrooms and showers ranging in price from affordable to the luxurious end of the market
For more information, look at the website www.atlasbathrooms.co.uk or ring 01484 547110.
VISITS BUXTON OPERA HOUSE
2-6 SEPTEMBER
Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre is delighted to announce the return of the legendary, award-winning musical Blood Brothers. The international smash hit show plays in the Opera House from Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 September 2025 as part of its continuing UK Tour. Casting is to be announced.
Award-winning playwright Willy Russell’s epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers, scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway. It is considered 'one of the best musicals ever written' (Sunday Times). Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000
performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
The superb score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It's Not True.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet. It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again - this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show's shattering climax.
Further information about the UK tour of Blood Brothers can be found here: www.kenwright.com/ productions/blood-brothers-uk-tour
Planning your garden for Summer
Sponsored by Gordon Rigg Garden Centre
Sarah Plested, a horticulturist and garden designer based in North East Hampshire, discusses the use of colour in the garden and explains the principles behind successful plant combinations.
My favourite take home from RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year was the use of bold, bright colours. Out were the wishy-washy pastels and white gardens of previous years and back with vengeance were golden yellows, bright reds, deep blues, purples and oranges. In the glorious May sunshine, the rainbow of colours was a sight to behold.
In our own gardens, great combinations are often the result of a happy accident, either by a plants self-seeding or the need to fill a gap with a plant donated by a friend or in a sale at the garden centre.
When designing, plant combinations are the key to a successful planting plan with colour, form, texture and flowering time all considerations when selecting plants. We all have our favourite ‘doers’; quite often plants that work hard with interest over a long period of time, aren’t fussy and behave themselves!
Choice of colour
The basics of the colour wheel work for planting too. Opposite or complementary colours work well together such as orange
and deep purple or yellow and blue. Choosing a palette of colours side by side on the colour wheel (analogous colours) creates a harmonious arrangement. These two rules can be combined, for example a splash of dark purple from Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ in a border of pinks and blues, or the sharp lime green from Euphorbia shillingei, provide a contrast to the pale colours and really set them off.
Quite often my clients express a dislike of yellow flowers and both red and yellow can sometimes jar in the flower border unless they are positioned with a complimentary or analogous colour. One of my favourite combinations is the bright yellow of Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus and the rich magenta of Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’. My Rosa ‘Evelyn Fison’ is displayed at its best with the large deep bronze leaves of Canna ‘Wyoming’ forming the backdrop behind.
Form and appearance
I use the term ‘Form’ rather than ‘Shape’ because plants are three dimensional, organic shapes and as such can provide depth, width and height in border. All of these are of equal importance and the right combination provides the structure that will change through the seasons.
Evergreen shrubs are the bones of your garden along with plants with winter
interest; displaying colourful or textured bark, interesting twisted bare branches or brightly coloured stems.
Perennials and bulbs provide the perfect opportunity to change the height of your border through the seasons. Spring bulbs such as Camassias and Tulips can make way for later flowering perennials such as Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Fascination’ and Foxgloves. Some perennials add real architectural interest during the summer months such as Angelica, large ferns and the tall flowering stems of Acanthus mollis.
Combining plants that create tight mounds, with more relaxed sprawling forms and tall slim structure with plants with a broader habit, introduces interest in the garden and also ensures that plants get the right amount of light they require and don’t compete for space.
Texture and composition
This can be visual as well as physical. Light ephemeral flowers of grasses, Heucheras and Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ contrast against the large leaves of Hostas and Ligularia or the spikey leaves of Acanthus. When putting plants together, the shape of their leaves as well as their flowers should be considered. Many plants have a short flowering period so the foliage is just as key in an attractive planting scheme.
Plants that cry out to be touched (a personal favourite is Pennisetum villosum) can be positioned by paths or terraces and enjoyed in passing, encouraging interaction on the journey through your garden.
Flowering
Making sure your garden provides pleasure throughout the year is probably the most challenging aspect of planting design. If you require a low maintenance planting scheme then focus on evergreen structure, flowering trees and shrubs and foliage colour. Bulbs and semi-evergreen perennials are useful for adding interest through the seasons.
If you enjoy gardening and want to achieve a more active planting scheme that changes throughout the seasons, planning is key. There are useful combinations of early and late flowering perennials such as Aquilega vulgaris and Anemone x hybrida that can be planted side by side, without one drowning out the other. Bulbs are useful too, Alliums can be planted with Verbena bonariensis as their leaves will have died back long before the Verbena is reaching skywards. A note on Alliums, plant geraniums or other groundcover to hide their leaves which die back before they are in flower.
Make sure you know the mature size of the plant you select. Shrubs can be
underplanted with perennials until they reach maturity, but perennials mature within two years so don’t be tempted to plant them too close together.
Much research has been carried out into plant communities; plants that live happily side by side without one species dominating or shading its neighbours. A good example is a wildflower meadow,
where plants with similar requirements have no need to fight for nutrients, light or water. This balance is quite difficult to achieve in our gardens so we can cheat a little!
Cannas, Dahlias and other late flowering non-hardy plants are ideal for filling gaps when the early summer flowers are past their best. I over-winter mine in a small coldframe, or they can be kept in a garage. Their rich, bold shades soak up the late summer sun and my borders are transformed from light and airy in early summer to opulent and rich, stretching right into Autumn.
Annuals also have a role to play in keeping the colour going and filling in gaps. Raise them from seed in early spring or select from the huge array on display in garden centres and nurseries.
Finally, pots are an excellent way of introducing a dash of colour. A cheerful pot of tulips can be positioned for maximum impact and then replaced with summer bedding or Agapanthus later in the summer. Their portability is an added advantage, pots can be moved to wherever they are needed.
True harmony in your garden is achieved when there is the right balance of colour, texture, height and form and the pleasure gained from trying to achieve this is perhaps as important as the end result.
A GARDENER’S PARADISE
JAMES MARTIN CHEESE
ITV’s Saturday Morning’s James Martin offers over 100 classic and contemporary recipes that highlight how cheese can add flavour, depth and indulgence to your everyday cooking. Here he shares 4 of them with us for you to try.
Cheese and bread are a winning combination and in this twist, instead of making a sandwich or toastie, a whole hollowed-out cob is filled with a creamy, cheesy filling.
Serve with a simply dressed salad to cut through the richness.
SERVES 4–6
l 50ml white wine
l 1 cob loaf, top sliced off carefully and most of the crumb removed
l 500g Cheddar, grated
l 500g Gruyère, grated
l 100ml crème fraîche
l sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
l 50g salad leaves, to serve
FOR THE DRESSING
l 25ml vegetable oil
l 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
l 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Method
Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan)/425°F/gas 7. Pour the wine all over the bread and leave for 5 minutes until the wine is absorbed.
Layer half the cheeses into the bread and top with crème fraîche. Sprinkle over the rest of the cheeses and put the bread onto a baking tray. Pop into the oven for 15–20 minutes.
To make the dressing, whisk all the ingredients together, then add a splash of water. Pour over the salad leaves and serve alongside the baked bread.
HERBED LAMB RACK WITH RATATOUILLE
Grated Parmesan adds an umami element to the wonderful herby crust on this lamb, which is held together by the cream cheese. You can swap the Parmesan for Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano, while ricotta or mascarpone would work well in place of the cream cheese.
SERVES 4
l 8 rib rack of lamb, trimmed and cleaned
l 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
FOR THE HERB CRUST
l 1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley
l 1 small bunch of mint
l 25g Parmesan, grated
l 1 thick slice of white bread
l 1 tablespoon full-fat cream cheese
l zest of 1 unwaxed lemon FOR THE RATATOUILLE
l 2 tablespoons olive oil
l 1 onion, diced
l ½ garlic clove, sliced
l 1 red pepper, diced
l 1 yellow pepper, diced
l 1 green pepper, diced
l 1 courgette, cut into 1cm cubes
l 1 aubergine, cut into 1cm cubes
l 3 large tomatoes, diced
l 1 small bunch of basil, torn
l sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F/gas 6.
Heat a large frying pan until hot, then fry the lamb, fat-side down, for 2 minutes.
To make the herb crust, blitz all the ingredients to a fine paste in a food processor or blender. Brush the fat on the lamb with the mustard, then top with the herb paste. Transfer to a roasting tray and roast for 15–18 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 10 minutes. Slice.
Meanwhile, for the ratatouille, heat a large non-stick pan over a medium heat, add the oil, then add the onion and fry for 1 minute. Add the garlic, then the peppers and cook for 30 seconds, then add the courgette and cook for another 30 seconds. Finally, add the aubergine and tomatoes, season and cook over a gentle heat for 5 minutes or until cooked. Finish by stirring through the basil.
Serve the ratatouille with the lamb.
Visit us for hearty food andales!real
THE STRINES INN
Despite being within Sheffield's border, the Strines Inn could be a world away. Nestled amongst breathtaking moorland scenery, it is one of the local landmarks in the Peak District National Park.
Originally a manor house, it was built in 1275 for the Worrall family, although most of the present day structure is 16th Century. After becoming an Inn in 1771 when John Morton leased the property from the Worrall's, it got its name from an Olde English word meaning the meeting of water, quite appropriate as nowadays it overlooks the Strines Reservoir.
In the height of Winter the Inn attracts walkers and visitors on a daily basis. The roaring fires and stunning views perfectly compliment the excellent food and drink available, with many dishes being homemade.
The Strines Inn is also famous for its numerous peacocks, the previous Landlord having introduced several pairs twenty years ago, there are now over thirty of them.
There is also accommodation available for those people looking to escape for a few days to relax. Our rooms all feature four-poster beds, en-suite bathrooms, hot drinks facilities and colour televisions. Each has a dining table where breakfast will be served to you, offering you comfort and privacy. Two of our rooms have fantastic views across the reservoir, so please ask if you would like a room with a view.
• Four-poster bed
• En-suite facilities
• Breakfast included
SUMMER BERRY CAKE
The ultimate summer sweet, this berry cake showcases the best of the season’s produce to provide a colourful contrast to the pale icing. Simple to throw together but impressive enough to roll out for guests and special occasions.
SERVES 8 FOR THE CAKE
l 250g caster sugar
l 250g butter, softened
l 5 eggs
l 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
l 250g self-raising flour
Method
FOR THE ICING
l 400g full-fat cream cheese
l 100g icing sugar TO DECORATE
l a selection of summer berries
l sprigs of mint
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/350°F/gas 4. Line a deep 25cm cake tin with greaseproof paper.
Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, beat the sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs and vanilla and fold in the flour.
Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour. Leave in the tin to cool completely.
To make the icing, in a bowl, gently beat together the cream cheese and icing sugar.
Top the cake with the icing, then decorate with berries and mint. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Is it time to start afresh in the garden and turn those ideas you’ve been dreaming about over winter into reality. Whether a major transformation or simply disguising an ugly drain cover, making plans and acting on them is exciting and rejuvenating for you and your outdoor space. One of the best moves I made last year was to give my wooden panel fencing a facelift. The dark protective coating had done its job but really made the garden feel much smaller and enclosed than it needed to be. Admittedly the lighter paint finish I chose required a few coats to mask what was underneath but the difference it made justified all the hard work – not only has the fencing receded from view but the paler backdrop really sets off plants growing against it.
Borrow the view
Is there a view or attractive feature beyond your garden that you could focus the eye on to make your plot feel bigger than it actually is? It could be a church spire, a group of trees or perhaps some hills on the horizon. Trimming an opening in a hedge will frame the scene and draw the eye to what lies outside as will creating a ‘window’ in a boundary wall. Some rustic screening or trellising with an archway in it can have the same effect. Alternatively, use a simple pair of trees in pots or two attractive tall urns either side of a feature to direct attention to it.
Grow wild
Many modern flowers offer wildlife little or no nectar or have such large and intricate flower heads that insects can’t find a way inside to reach it. Provide a helping hand by planting a native wildflower patch that will offer food, in the form of pollen, seeds, fruits, nectar and foliage to feast on, as well as shelter and
nesting sites. Go for plants like common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgar). Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) has lovely lilac flowers, shaped like a pin cushion on tall upright stems and flowers between July and September. For scent try chamomile with its apple-like aroma in June to August. Wildflowers are not only easy to grow but fairly pest resistant too.
Take it easy
Having a gorgeous garden doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to it. Keep things low maintenance by growing plants that are reliable, easy to care for and offer a long flowering season. Evergreen shrubs like viburnums, mahonia and camellias have attractive flowers, provide year-round interest and need little pruning. And don’t forget bulbs will come back year after year. In spring snowdrops (galanthus) look wonderful planted in drifts under trees or brightening up bare space between border shrubs. Crocuses inject much needed colour at this time too. Choose perennials like Geranium ‘Rozanne’ that just need deadheading to encourage more flowers and go for trees like acers that will add height but need little to no pruning.
Devise a plan
Grab a diary or calendar in the new year sales or programme your phone to remind you about jobs, like pruning and sowing, that need to be done at a particular time. If it’s major design work you’re considering then don’t underestimate the importance of planning before digging. It’ll save time and stop you from making costly mistakes when you’re tempted to buy at the garden centre. Knowledge is key so get to know everything about your plot from soil type to which areas
are in sun and shade. Are there large trees that will affect plant growth or structures, like a bin store, that you’d like to disguise. Know what you want to use your garden for and how much time and resources you can devote to it.
Get the seasons covered
Whatever the season you can never predict the weather. A veranda or gazebo will take all the guesswork out of the equation, leaving you free to entertain outdoors whenever you want or just relax and enjoy the garden year-round under cover from rain or full-on sun. Seek out designs like those offered by & urbandecorbury.co.uk, who provide bespoke aluminium framed options that not only fit against a structural wall but include a choice of polycarbonate or glass roofing, all in a range of sizes and colours.
Add water
Tap into the relaxing sound of running water. These days we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to designs and size of water features. From traditional ponds with built in electrics for larger plots to solar fountains for smaller ones, water adds an extra dimension to your outdoor space and also encourages wildlife. Make it a focal point or use it in amongst planting or a quiet corner for added interest. A still water feature, hidden from view ready to be discovered, is effective too as it provides an element of surprise.
Love your lawn
If you don’t have time to do anything else then the quickest and best way of giving your garden a lift is to make sure lawn edges are looking neat and tidy. It’s amazing what a difference a trim can make. Well-defined edges against paving show you care and look really stylish. Do it at least once every other cut using long-handled edging shears or a special half-moon edging iron. A powered nylon-line trimmer will make quick work of a larger lawn.
Think outside the border
Don’t confine plants to borders and patio pots. Create extra space for them to grow in by lifting slabs and planting up the gaps with tough rock plants, low growing herbs and succulents. If you’ve got a large expanse of patio that you want to keep for entertaining, it’s a simple way of softening the look of it and makes the space much more inviting and individual. In the same way see a broken slab as a planting opportunity rather than an eyesore. Choose drought tolerant types that are happy with limited root space like Thymus serpyllum, houseleeks and aubretia. Less hard landscaping is good for the environment too.
Genteel Geneva
By Rebecca Underwood, BA Hons | Travel Journalist
Geneva, the second most populous city of Switzerland, is situated in Romandy, right on the spot where the sparkling waters of Lake Geneva meet the mighty river Rhône, and surrounded by the majestic Alps and the Jura mountains it is simply unforgettable.
A truly global metropolis, a financial hub, and the international heart of diplomacy, Geneva hosts the headquarters of the European branch of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 1949, the Geneva Conventions, which focus on the welfare and protection of prisoners of war, wounded participants and innocents caught up in conflict, were signed in this tranquil city.
Geneva, known as the city of peace, is one of the greenest cities in Europe, and provides a very high quality of life for its fortunate residents. To appreciate the stunning beauty of this cosmopolitan city, I took a stroll along the quays of Lake Geneva and admired the view of the Jet D’Eau, a spectacular fountain, which pumps gallons of water soaring up to 453 feet into the Swiss air.
I made my way to the English Garden at the foot of the Mont Blanc Bridge and you was amply rewarded with a view of the flower clock, which of course, as expected, keeps perfect time. For an insight into Geneva’s reputation as a city of peace, I visited the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum on Avenue de la Paix and observed the Humanitarian Adventure, a fascinating exhibition, which focuses on defending human dignity, restoring family links and reducing natural risks. Be sure
to see the interactive chronology, which presents 150 years of humanitarian history and you can see examples of Red Cross and Red Crescent operations currently taking place around the world. Also located on the Avenue de la Paix is the imposing Palace of Nations, which was originally built in 1929 to house the League of Nations and has hosted the United Nations since 1966. Visitors are welcome but ensure that you make an online reservation for the popular guided tour well in advance. This beautiful property is surrounded by an enormous park which features an abundance of towering trees and colourful flowers and you may well encounter one or two of the resident peacocks strutting around and defending their territory with gusto. I made my escape, and headed towards the Old Town and visited the Rath Museum to view exquisite collections of Swiss art. Built in 1824, the Rath, known as the temple of the muses, is located on Place Neuve, near to the city’s only remaining rampart walls
Another nearby attraction is the Maison Tavel, the oldest house in Geneva, which is also a museum. The original property was constructed in the 12th century and was rebuilt in 1334 due to fire damage. Located on Rue due Puits St Pierre, this property is a fine example of Geneva’s history, with an impressive display of exhibits dating back to the medieval period. For a very special treat, I followed in the footsteps of Lord Byron and Shelley and visited the Château de Chillon, located at the eastern end of Lake Geneva near Veytaux, 98 kilometres from the centre of the city. In June 1816, Lord Byron, accompanied by Shelley, was sailing on Lake Geneva and decided to visit the Château. Byron wandered around the castle’s dungeons and on hearing the tale of the imprisonment of the Genevois monk François Bonivard in 1530, he was inspired to write the narrative poem Prisoner of Chillon. Byron carved his name onto one of the pillars in the dungeon and it remains in place today. Records show that the castle dates back to 1005 and in the 12th century it was home to the Counts of Savoy, members of the one of the oldest royal families in the world and rulers of Italy for 85 years. Peter II, known as the Little Charlemagne, was the last Count of Savoy to reside in the castle and was largely responsible for expanding the property. London’s Savoy Theatre and the Savoy Hotel were both named in his memory. I wandered around the enormous main rooms and admired the four great halls and the opulent bedrooms, one of which was occupied by the Duke of Savoy and it is adorned with several beautiful examples of 14th century murals.
Geneva
Another popular attraction is the beautiful Lavaux wine region, which covers 800 hectares and was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. The Domaine Bovy, a family owned wine estate located in Chexbres, is only 20 minutes drive from the Château Chillon and visitors to the winery are welcome. Selected wines from Chasselas are housed in huge oak casks for up to six months after direct pressing, cold settling, the adding of yeast and fermentation between 18 and 20 degrees centigrade. The red wines are de-stemmed, fermented at 28-30 degrees centigrade, frequently pumped and macerated for ten days and are stored in the oak casks for six to eight months. I visited the Bovy Cave, which is furnished with casks, each with a capacity of 2,500 to 5,000 litres and I needed no persuasion to take part in the popular wine tastings, held on a spacious veranda with spectacular views across Lake Geneva and the Alps.
To clear my head, I made my way back to the Old Town and took a brisk walk to the Place du Molard, the location of the Molard Tower, which dates back to 1591 and is the only remaining part of an enclosure built to protect the city. I strolled along the Rue du Rhône, a shopper’s paradise crammed with glittering jewellery shops with breathtaking displays of timepieces and other sparkling treasures. I passed by the chic boutiques including Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Armani and Valentino and if, unlike me, you are enticed inside, be prepared to part with a substantial number of Swiss francs. Should you be pondering on splashing out on a new wristwatch, consider visiting the Patek Phillippe Museum, located on Rue de Vieux Grenadiers. The exquisite collections, displayed over four levels, are simply dazzling. Exhibits include watches and enamels dating back to the 16th century and the fascinating history of Patek Phillippe, founded in 1839.
For sailing enthusiasts, Geneva’s spectacular Bol D’Or Mirabaud, the most important inland regatta in the world, takes place, during the summer, every year. More than 3,000 participants are expected to race to Le Bouveret accompanied by 600 sailboats.
Or, you may prefer to visit the Geneva Festival, the largest tourist event in Switzerland, held in July and/or August and includes concerts, fun fairs, art and craft markets and a wide array of water sports including rowing and water-ski jumping competitions and life boat racing. Evening displays of fireworks, accompanied by music, light up the sky and children and ‘grown ups’ squeal with delight.
For the ideal place to stay consider the Beau Rivage hotel, located opposite the Jet d’Eau, on the Quai du Mont Blanc, a popular picturesque lakeside promenade. This grand property dates back
to 1865 and offers the highest degree of comfort and service. Accommodations are spacious and luxuriously furnished with rich fabrics, the latest gadgets and amenities and fabulous panoramic views of the Lake, Mont Blanc and the old town. Should you feel peckish, you won’t need to go far as Le Chat Botté offers outstanding French and contemporary dishes reflected in the achievement of a Michelin star. Or you may prefer the more informal dining experience at the Café du Soleil on Place du Petit Saconnex. Order the traditional Swiss fondue, made with a delicious cheese from Roche, a small village, north of Gruyére. Sample a tipple of Pinot Blanc Geneva, raise your glass and make a toast to the enchanting and genteel city of Geneva.
Chillon Castle
Lake Geneva
Geneva’s Flower Clock
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY HOME FROM BEING TAKEN TO PAY FOR YOUR CARE?
Director of Ostrich Legal Jolene Head explains why homeowners are leaving it too late or simply doing nothing at all to protect their hard-earned assets.
Current rules & regulations
Most couples are not aware that if they require care at a later date, the local authority will look at their assets on a means-tested basis to see whether they will contribute to an individual’s care.
Where a financial assessment is carried out, assets have to fall below £14,250 before they can contribute towards any care fees.
If the first person to die (in a married couple) leaves everything to the surviving spouse and the spouse then goes into care, it doesn’t take much time for a person’s estate to diminish from £120,000 to £14,250 when the average weekly cost of care is £900.
“I dealt with one particular case when a client had left all his estate to his wife in his will, and she subsequently went into care. It was initially £280,000, taking into account the property that they owned, the bank accounts, savings, etc. She was in care for four years at the cost of £46,800 per year, and when we came to deal with the estate, two children received £92,800 between the two of them rather than the £280,000 that their parents had hoped they would pass to them.”
What can you do about it?
I have a lot of clients approach me to sign their house over to their children now as they feel it wouldn’t be taken into account if the local authority later carried out a financial assessment.
This is not correct as the local authority has an unlimited amount of time to look back at what assets that individual had and if it is of the view that the person who is going into care has ‘deliberately deprived’ themselves by giving the property away it can seek to have the person who received the asset to pay for the care.
Not only does this outright transfer not work for care fees, but it is also a high-risk step. The property would no longer be owned by you, and as such, you could be forced to leave the property, or it could be taken into account if your children divorced or if they had financial difficulties - So it certainly isn’t something we would recommend.
At Ostrich Legal we recommend changing the way in which you own your property from a joint tenancy to a tenancy-in-common and leave the property on trust for the surviving spouse instead of gifting the entire estate to one another.
It is important that couples act now as it isn’t something that can be done when one party dies or becomes incapacitated as they will not be in a position to give us instructions.
Other can care fee planning our clients have used the type of planning we offer to prevent their children from losing out if their spouse was to remarry.
Most of our clients don’t realise that if their spouse was to remarry then their would automatically be cancelled and their estate would likely all pass to their new spouse, not their children.
Appointments by home visit at no extra cost - Call: 01422 658008
Jolene Head Director of Ostrich Legal Ltd
Director of Ostrich Legal, Jolene Head is your local solicitor with over 14 years experience of helping parents protect as much of their estate as possible.
I know things can be overwhelming, and often complicated when to comes to a Lasting Power of Attorney or Will writing. With Ostrich Legal, you get all the expertise of a fully qualified solicitor but with a friendly, understanding approach from Jolene to keep things as simple as possible.
We come to you. Home or office visits
Flexible appointment times to work around you
Fully qualified Solicitor for your peace of mind
Local expertise and understanding
Approachable and friendly
£375.00
Affordable Funeral Service
Losing a loved one can be one of life's most upsetting and distressing times. We go out of our way to help ease the worries where funeral arrangements are concerned.
Not only involved with losing a loved one is the emotional upset, but it can also be a time of financial worry and strain and we not only lend a sympathetic ear but also an affordable funeral service too.
Or maybe you see not the need for an elaborate funeral and want only a simple, low key occasion without all the fuss.
Affordable without compromising on care. If we can help please call for an informal chat and advice
SPRINGHEAD
Funeral Service
Your Local Caring Independent Funeral Director
Direct Cremation - £1200
Direct Cremation - £1200
Direct cremation at a fixed price inclusive of all necessary disbursements, cremation fee, doctor’s fees and an eco friendly coffin (no funeral service)
Low Fuss Funeral - £2250
Low Fuss Funeral - £2495
• The payment of a cremation fee
• The payment of the Doctor's fees
• The payment of the Minister's / Celebrant fees
• The conveyance of your loved one into our Chapel of Rest
• The provision of an oak effect coffin with handles
• The arranging and conducting of the funeral
• The provision of the hearse and necessary staff on the day of the funeral
Bespoke Funeral - £2695
Bespoke Funeral - £2400
• All of the above plus..
• The viewing of your loved one at our traditional chapel of rest
• The leaving from a home address on the day of the funeral before proceeding to the crematorium
Inclusive Funeral - £2995
Inclusive Funeral - £2700
• The payment of a cremation fee
• The payment of the Doctor's fees
• The payment of the Minister’s / Celebrant fees
• The conveyance of your loved one into our Chapel of Rest
• The provision of an oak effect coffin with handles
• The arranging and conducting of the funeral
• The provision of the hearse and necessary staff on the day of the funeral
• The viewing of your loved one at our traditional chapel of rest
• The leaving from a home address on the day of the funeral before proceeding to the crematorium
• Obituary in the local newspaper
• Floral tribute to the value of £50
• One family limousine
ALL OTHER FUNERAL REQUIREMENTS UNDERTAKEN AFFORDABLY
Springhead Funeral Service
Chapels of Rest
616 Wakefield Rd, Huddersfield, HD5 8PZ
Tel: 01484 534 488
7/9 Stainland Rd, Halifax (opposite Andy Thorntons)
Tel: 01422 327 382
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