Birmingham & solihull issue 40

FREE Please

JUNE - AUGUST 2016

BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL EDITION 40

Barry Manilow ONE LAST TIME: THE TOUR

Home Comforts FROM JAMES MARTIN

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

take on

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The UK’s largest stocks of Collection

Discover the largest selection of superb quality rugs in the UK. We travel far and wide to find the finest rugs in theworld. Every one of our showrooms is home to the most exquisite array of designs. Thousands of designs in every size, shape and colour. When it comes to rugs, we’ve got everything covered.

Service

If you are looking for something special to make the finishing touch to your room you are sure to find it at FrithRugs. With our “Bring to home” service we can even bring a selection to your home for you to choose in situ, so its never been easier to find the perfect quality large rug

Colour

Enjoy a rainbow of shades. Our rugs come in every tone from subtle neutrals in cream and beige to fired-up reds, gorgeous greens and bold blues. Calming and invigorating colours create the right mood for any setting. Bring in samples of your existing colour scheme and find the perfect match.

Warmth

Turn up the heat with a beautiful rug. There’s no faster way to add a warming focal point to any room in the home. Choose a vibrant shade and introduce rich tones to lift your mood and warm your heart. Select a deep pile design and sink into softness and cosy indulgence.

Beauty

Every rug is a work of art. Each hand made rug is unique and has been beautifully created by master craftsmen. This is exceptional quality and skill that has to be seen to be believed. Visit a showroom and the sheer beauty of our designs will take your breath away.

Over 30,000 rugs in stock, with free next day delivery

quality Rugs & large Rugs

Tel: 0845 4 900 600

Style

M6

What’s your style? Traditional, floral, tribal, modern, plain? We source rugs from all over the world with designs from the Middle and Far East and a vast range of machine made wool rugs from Europe. Most rugs are made especially for us. Our exclusive Laura Jade Designer Collection features a dazzling display of contemporary designs and colours.

Ideas and inspiration for everyone.

SAT NAV: WS11 7FJ

Stafford

A460 Rugeley

A34 A5190 A519 Litchfield

J12

A4601

A5

A460 JT7

M6 J11

Quality

It’s our watchword. We search the world for fine rugs and only the best meet our exacting quality standards.

Our buyers inspect every rug before dispatch to our showrooms. This kind of attention to detail is unmistakable. Step inside a showroom and discover the largest collection of superb quality rugs you’ve ever seen.

Comfort

Beautiful to the eye. Warm and comfortable underfoot. All our rugs are made from only the finest materials and come in a range of thicknesses to suit any room. Choose from sleek rugs in fine silk to long pile shaggy rugs. Kick off your shoes and enjoy the sensation. Comfort is guaranteed.

A460

J11A

JT8

M6 TOLL A5

Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffs WS11 7FJ Showrooms also at: North Wales LL18 5TZ Staffordshire WS11 7FJ Concessions in: Isle of Man IM4 4LH Kent CT1 3RQ

• 30,000 RUGS IN STOCK • ORDER TODAY, HAVE IT DELIVERED FREE TOMORROW* *Excludes weekend delivery.

Choice

See rugs in every size, shape and colour. Our vast selection of sizes ranges from a modest 31 cm sqaure to a huge 8m by 5m. Even larger rugs are available to order.

Choose from rectangles, squares, circles, ovals and octagons as well as hall runners in a variety of lengths.

Custom

Most of our designs are available to order in any size, any shape and any colour. So, if we don’t have the right rug in stock for you, we will arrange for this to be custom made, exactly as you want it.

• FREE PARKING • BESPOKE SERVICE • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Open: Mon-Sat: 10.00-5.00, Sun & Bank Hols: 10.00 - 4.00 Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day & Easter Sunday FrithRugs is a trademark of GH Frith (Bodelwyddan) Ltd. DPSv3

Offering Great Value Holidays For Over 90 Years

from only

£185 Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

Located on the south coast within the historic county of Sussex, lies the elegant seaside resort of Eastbourne. Renowned for its top sunshine records and award winning beaches, Eastbourne is understandably a popular holiday destination for all.

With a sprinkling of high street shops, centrally located, a Victorian pier and a rich history boasting a variety of castles, museums and galleries, Eastbourne is sure to cater for your every need.

Imperial Hotel Located just a stone’s throw away from the promenade and band stand, this grand Victorian hotel is full of character and home to a number of spacious, comfortable bedrooms, all accessible via lifts.

Guests are able to unwind in the relaxing lounge area before an evening meal in the Majestic Restaurant, offering hearty, home cooked food.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Two lifts serving all floors l Porterage.

The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Take a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of Wight, an island of astounding natural beauty with a variety of attractions to suit all ages.

Located on the south east coast of the island, the traditional seaside resort of Shanklin is home to golden sandy beaches and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional thatched cottages. It is understandably one of the most popular resorts on the island with plenty to entertain.

Ocean View Hotel Situated in a premier location with an idyllic seaside position, the charming, well-appointed Ocean View Hotel boasts uninterrupted panoramic views across Sandown Bay. The hotel also offers a large sprung dance floor and provides live entertainment most evenings.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and sea views rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor swimming pool l Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Please note that on each floor of the hotel, some steps may need to be negotiated.

Delightful Devon Torquay

Located in the heart of the English Riviera, Torquay is renowned for its mild climate, award winning sandy beaches and secluded coves and has been a popular holiday destination since the early 19th century.

With its distinctive European atmosphere, sophisticated environment and beautifully varied scenery, Torquay remains a popular holiday destination.

Abbey Lawn Hotel If you’re looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey with stunning views of the bay, the Abbey Lawn hotel offers an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

The hotel comprises superb facilities, including a heated indoor swimming pool and a conservatory lounge overlooking the bay, where guests can relax and enjoy a drink.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and front facing rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor pool l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

The Robinsons Difference Home pick-up service available l No single supplements* l High standard of accommodation l Great choice of menus l Executive coaches with extra legroom l Includes excursions l Friendly staff l Own hotels in great locations l Peace of mind security l Payment in instalments * Robinsons own hotels l

9 Day Tours 2016

8 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW

ABBEY LAWN

25 Jun

£469

£469

£469

02 Jul

£469

£469

£469

09 Jul

£469

£469

£469

16 Jul

£469

£469

£469

23 Jul

£469

£469

£469

30 Jul

£469

£469

£469

06 Aug

£469

£469

£469

13 Aug

£469

£469

£469

20 Aug

£469

£469

£469

27 Aug

£469

£469

£469

03 Sept

£449

£449

£449

10 Sept

£439

£439

£439

17 Sept

£429

£429

£429

24 Sept

£419

£419

£419

01 Oct

£339

£339

£339

15 Oct

£329

£329

£329

29 Oct

£319

£319

£319

06 Nov

£339

£339

£339

26 Nov

£339

£339

£339

Only standard rooms available on 9 Day Tours

8 Day Tours 2016

7 nts dinner, bed & breakfast IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW

7 Day Tours 2016

6 nts dinner, bed & breakfast

ABBEY LAWN

IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW

5 Day Tours 2016

4 nts dinner, bed & breakfast

ABBEY LAWN

IMPERIAL OCEAN VIEW

ABBEY LAWN

25 Jun

£439

£439 £439

26 Jun

£409

£409

£409

27 Jun

£269

£269

-

26 Jun

£439

£439

£439

03 Jul

£409

£409

£409

01 Jul

£269

££269

-

02 Jul

£439

£439

£439

10 Jul

£409

£409

£409

05 Jul

£269

£269

-

03 Jul

£439

£439

£439

£269

£269

-

09 Jul

£439

£439

£439

10 Jul

£439

£439

£439

16 Jul

£439

£439

£439

17 Jul

£439

£439

£439

23 Jul

£439

£439

£439

24 Jul

£439

£439

£439

30 Jul

£439

£439

£439

31 Jul

£439

£439

06 Aug

£439

£439

07 Aug

17 Jul

£409

£409

£409

11 Jul

24 Jul

£409

£409

£409

15 Jul

£269

£269

-

£269

£269

-

31 Jul

£409

£409

£409

19 Jul

07 Aug

£409

£409

£409

25 Jul

£269

£269

-

29 Jul

£269

£269

-

02 Aug

£269

£269 -

08 Aug

£269

£269

-

12 Aug

£269

£269

-

16 Aug

£269

£269

-

22 Aug

£269

£269

-

26 Aug

£269

£269

-

30 Aug

14 Aug

£409

£409

£409

21 Aug

£409

£409

£409

28 Aug

£409

£409

£439

04 Sept

£399

£399 £399

£439

11 Sept

£399

£399

£399

£439

£439 £439

18 Sept

£389

£389

£389

13 Aug

£439

£439

£439

25 Sept

£359

£359

£359

14 Aug

£439

£439

£439

09 Oct

£279

£279

£279

20 Aug

£439

£439

£439

23 Oct

£269

£269

£269

21 Aug

£439

£439

£439

06 Nov

£289

£289

£289

20 Nov

£289

£289

£289

27 Aug

£439

£439

£439

28 Aug

£439

£439

£439

03 Sept

£419

£419

£419

04 Sept

£419

£419

£419

10 Sept

£409

£409

£409

11 Sept

£409

£409

£409

17 Sept

£399

£399

£399

18 Sept

£399

£399

£399

24 Sept

£389

£389

£389

25 Sept

£389

£389

£389

Imperial Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £35 Abbey Lawn Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £50 Front Facing Room - £15 Ocean View Hotel Supplements per person: Premier Room - £50 Sea View Room - £15

£409

Only standard rooms available on 7 Day Tours

We offer you ...

3 4/6/7/8 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 3 2 included excursions 3 Home pick-up service available 3 Service of driver courier

Your Groups’ Specialist for coach holidays in the UK and Europe

We can tailor make tours to your specific requirements, if you want more information then contact our groups department on 0800 7851025 or email groups@robinsons-holidays.co.uk

With over 90 years of experience in tailor making holidays, we at Robinsons offer a personal service. Whether you need help with part or all of your groups holidays we can lend a hand in organising, booking and everything in-between.

We are flexible in our approach and can offer destinations found in this brochure or we can tailor make to your specification, whether in the UK or Europe. We offer all of our group’s excellent benefits: • 1 FREE place for every 10 paying passengers • Special interest and activity groups catered for • Complete financial security-BCH Bonded

£269

£269

-

05 Sept £269

£269

-

09 Sept £265

£265

-

13 Sept £259

£259

-

19 Sept £255

£255

-

23 Sept £249

£249

-

27 Sept £245

£245

-

01 Oct

£239

£239

£239

05 Oct

£235

£235

£235

09 Oct

£229

£229

£229

15 Oct

£225

£225

£225

19 Oct

£219

£219 £219

23 Oct

£215

£215

£215

29 Oct

£209

£209

£209

02 Nov

£219

£219

£219

06 Nov

£219

£219

£219

12 Nov

£215

£215

£215

16 Nov

£215

£215

£215

20 Nov

£209

£209

£209

26 Nov

£209

£209

£209

30 Nov

£209

£209

£209

* 05 Dec £199

£199

£199

* 12 Dec £189

£189

£189

† 23 Dec £429

£429

£429

 29 Dec £379

£379

£379

Imperial Hotel: Supplements per person: Premier Room £20 Ocean View: Supplements per person: Premier Room £30 Front Facing Room: £10 Abbey Lawn : Supplements per person: Premier Room £30 Front Facing Room: £10 Turkey & Tinsel; * Unlimited single rooms; † Christmas Tour includes 3 resort lunches & 1 mystery excursion -  New Year Tour includes 3 resort lunches & 1 mystery excursion

Robinsons Holidays, Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP

Great value south Great coast holidays British Breaks Coach SELF-DRIVE & & COACH COACH INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE BREAKS BREAKS SELF-DRIVE

89 nclusive ££189 holidays GREAT GREAT VALUE VALUE55DAY DAY BREAKS HALF BOARD HALF BOARD BREAKS

from from

per per person person

When itit comes comes to to inviting, inviting, relaxing relaxing When breaks in the south, we have the breaks in the south, we have the ideal holiday for you. ideal holiday for you.

Whether you’re after family-friendly holidays, a romantic getaway Whether you’re after holidays,our a romantic getaway or a group break withfamily-friendly like-minded people, seven hotels cover or a group break with like-minded people, our seven hotels cover the south’s finest locations. From the popular beaches of Cornwall the south’s finest locations.

From the popular beaches of Cornwall to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone. to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone.

Our coach inclusive option allows guests across the UK to travel in Our coach inclusive option allows guests the UK of to having travel in comfort, while our self-drive holidays offer across the freedom comfort, while our self-drive holidays offer the freedom of having your own car. your own car.

have our own fleet of executive ches that enables us to offer el from a selection of pick up Every break includes: Every break nts across theincludes: UK. • Return coach travel (self-drive option available)

• Return coach travel (self-drive option available) • Comfy en suite accommodation vehicle features conditioning and on board • Comfy en suiteair accommodation • Breakfast & 3-course evening meal o make your &journey as comfortable as possible.

• Breakfast 3-course evening meal • Live nightly entertainment also boast friendly drivers who will warmly greet • Live nightly entertainment

elp you settle into your pre-allotted seat and let now of any planned comfort breaks. We aim to Trio awarded Certificate of Excellence ou to your hotel between on We are proud to3-5pm, announce thatdepending three of our group – the Barrowfield, Devonshire and Daish’s hotels – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. ngth of the journey.

Six fabulous locations, seven great hotels

Seven locations,weymouth eight greatweymouth hotels. newquayfabuloustorquay Every break includes: Isle of Wight

Torquay

Bournemouth

Eastbourne

• Return coach travel (self-drive option • Comfy en suite accommodation

Request your new 2016/2017 brochure now!

Barrowfield Hotel Daish’s Hotel

Devonshire Hotel Devonshire Hotel

Hotel Prince Regent

Russell Hotel

Bournemouth Sands Claremont Hotel • Breakfast & 3-courseTheevening meal

Don’t miss

Request your new 2015 these coach brochure now!

inclusive breaks!

Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.

All holiday prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin or double room on half board basis and includes nightly live entertainment.

Price includes return coach travel from: EM1: Mansfield, Nottingham, Beeston, Loughbrough, Leicester,

Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!

Coventry. EM2: Mansfield, Nottingham, Beeston, Loughbrough, Leicester. EM3: Nottingham, Derby, Burton-upon-Trent, Tamworth, Sutton Coldfield, NEC EM4: Nottingham, Derby, Burton-upon-Trent, Local pick points from, Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Tamworth, Suttonup Coldfield, NEC, Coventry.

All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).

Tewkesbury and Worcester make it easy to get away.

DATE DATE

DESTINATION HOTEL

07

08 January 08 12 16 17 23 23

HOTEL

DAYS

JULY COACH DAYS BOARD INCLUSIVE DATE PRICE Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

15

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

18

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

20

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

21

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

24

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

25

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

£269

5 – Torquay Devonshire Hotel

EM2

£2195

Half

EM1 £124

5 – Eastbourne £2695 Claremont Hotel

Half

EM3 £164

4

£189

5

£249

5

£269

5

£254

5

£249

5

£224

5

£269

5

Half

£109

11

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

Half

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

£89

12

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

Half

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

4

Half

£89

14

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

Half

£104

24

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

6

Half

30

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

Half

EM1

£129

EM1

£139

EM2

£129

EM1

£174

EM1

£169

EM1

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 5 Half £124 April 28 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

02

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 Half £99 02 29 Russell Hotel – Weymouth

Devonshire Hotel 5 – Torquay

£2597

Half

£214 EM1

04

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 Half £119 06 30 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

Sands Hotel – 5 Bournemouth £2545

Half

£154 EM1

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

Half

£144

5

Half

£109 AUGUST

EM4

05

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

11

02 Devonshire Torquay 22 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 Hotel Half –£109

5 – Eastbourne £2245 Claremont Hotel

Half EM3 £179

17

04 Somerset5 Hotel Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne Half – Llandudno £139 23

Daish’s Hotel –6Isle of Wight

£3196

Half

EM1 £184

22

05 Claremont Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 Hotel Half – Eastbourne £109 24

Russell Hotel – 6Weymouth £3194

Half

EM2 £114

25

07 Sands Hotel Half – Bournemouth Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 5 £139 May

09

10

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

10

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

13

Somerset Hotel – Llandudno

14

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

Half

£124

25

Somerset Hotel – Llandudno

26

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

6

£309

5

£224

5

£269

5

£269

5

£224

5

£269

EM1

05

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

20

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

Half

21

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

6

Half

June

Prices shown on two people sharing a 19 are per person based Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms Daish’s Hotel Islebooked of Wight 04 with sole19 occupancy. Optional local excursions can– be at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates 22in 2015. If you would prefer Devonshire – Torquay 09 available to self-drive,Hotel deduct £20 per person from prices shown.

27

Llandudno

5

01

27

bournemouth

5

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

February

PICK UP

COACH DAYS BOARD INCLUSIVE PRICE £214 EM1

DESTINATION HOTEL

Claremont Hotel – EastbourneMarch

13 Devonshire Torquay 01 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 Hotel Half – £89 14 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 5 Half £104 09

PRICE

EM1

£154

EM3

£184

EM3

£244

EM3 EM2

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

£2545

Half

£174 EM1

Daish’s Hotel –5Isle of Wight

£2246

Half

£244 EM1

Claremont Hotel 5 – Eastbourne £2697

Half

£334 EM1

5

5

£254

EM3

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or selfdrive holiday dates available in 2016. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown.

isle of wight Newquay

eastbourne

Weymouth

n available)

Call 01803 201 432 or visit daishs.com Weymouth Call 01202 638840 or visit daishs.com quote 50PLUSCHE quote 50PlusEM

facebook.com/daishs facebook.com/daishs Bournemouth Somerset Sands Hotel Hotel

BarrowfieldDaish’s Hotel Hotel

Claremont Hotel Prince Regent Hotel

@daishs_holidays

@daishs

Russell Hotel

TWITTER

T w i tt e r i n g O n w ith G raham S mith

Old Smokey meets his match Match making through social media is perhaps nothing new but taking a couple of 50-plus silver surfers and an ageing cat acting as introducer has to be something of a first! But it has worked out just purrfectly for everybody.

Old Smokey is something of a media star on Facebook. He’s the mouthpiece of a former top national newspaper photographer who decided to launch the page for pet lovers, their stories and their photographs. Little did he know that unwittingly the site was to be the meeting place for a couple then living 150 miles apart but whose lives and careers had started right on his own Lancashire doorstep.

As Old Smokey strolled the green acres of his adopted home little did he know that behind the scenes a romance was unfolding with all the ingredients of Wuthering Heights, a story set very close to his own doorstep, where, ironically, our modern day Heathcliff was living. His Cathy was many miles away but through the humour and banter which the couple shared on the Facebook page a friendship and more was forming as Smokey catnapped his way through far more than his standard nine lives.

We read so much about Internet love stories now. They are usually the province of the young but our lovers are beyond the first flush of youth and kept their true feelings hidden among the pictures of Spring lambs and cuddly puppies on Old Smokey’s page. Few knew their secret and Old Smokey was oblivious to the fact that he was the catalyst (go on, groan then) in a blossoming relationship, a meeting of minds and a fabulous friendship which neither of our anonymous lovers had been looking for but which fell naturally into their laps as both had been victims of unhappiness before.

It became obvious to the couple that destiny decreed they must be

Graham Smith

together and they met one day in the shadow of the legendary Pendle Hill, an area where they had both worked many years ago, but which still held a magic for both of them. The meeting confirmed all that they already knew… and more. Old Smokey had done a catastrophic (more groans) piece of match making. He probably sat back in the sun and knew he’d done a scratch job (I don’t care how much you groan any more).

The couple are now together and very happy, proof that social media can bring fulfilment to all ages, can bridge the miles, can bring like minds together and Old Smokey knows his master’s page wasn’t such a daft idea after all.

The players in this piece met up recently…Old Smokey was asleep on the coffee table. He cast an eye towards the couple as though he was the cat that got the cream. He didn’t…….I did.

Big John and the pc brigade Irregular readers of mine will know the pc brigade gets up many of my orifices.

Recently the mentally challenged of the USA have decided there can’t be a national John Wayne day because of racist comments he made when he was alive. What?

inside HOLIDAYS...

UNUSUAL HOLIDAY JUST FOR ADULTS PAGES 10-11

BARRY MANILOW ONE LAST TIME: THE TOUR PAGES 12-13 8

INTERIORS...

YOUR DREAM HOME PAGES 14-15

JAMES MARTIN home comforts PAGES 28-30

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

As I recall John shot thousands of Indians as an actor but never killed one in his own right. What a load of bloody wigwams. I interviewed John many years ago. He was drunk, belligerent, drawling and a pain in the proverbial but I loved him, as I had loved him in every film he ever made.

He was a larger than life character with vices. He had opinions, he wore a wig but he was a lovely live human being who gave pleasure to so many.

So who are these twerps who say he cannot be commemorated? Get on your horses and drink your milk.

He was an actor who played a part. These twits cannot even be themselves without a script written by lunatics.

Enough to make you ill As the years advance I find myself in need of a little medical attention, and that’s exactly what I get…little.

Arrive at the surgery and no one at reception speaks to you. You have to punch your date of birth into a machine and it tells you if you have an appointment. It’s also bloody ignorant and doesn’t say “Good Morning”.

Alternatively you can have a telephone appointment. By the time the doctor phones you you’ve

Googled your symptoms and know more about the prognosis than she or she does. I spoke to a doctor recently and got more drugs over the phone than I could have done with a machine gun raid on a pharmacy. Scary.

What happened to the good old days where the doctor pricked your boil?

The final curtain We’re running out of stars and icons.

So many famous names and wonderful entertainers are leaving us this year, and some not so wonderful who are praised as being icons, a much overused word in the media.

Terry Wogan, Cilla Black and Paul Daniels are three who spring to mind as having contributed much to not just the world of entertainment but far beyond it. Their talent was honed at a grass roots level with real people, not electronically enhanced and wrapped in a brick to throw at the unsuspecting public.

Hair raising Being follically challenged I should probably keep my mouth shut, but what’s this coloured hair thing all about?

I’m almost used to the younger generation having tattoos and metal

protruding from every bodily orifice but green, blue and red hair. I don’t get it.

It is not attractive in any way and makes them look like frustrated orang-utans who are in need of a banana.

Recently I saw three apparitions in the supermarket with varying shades of top knot. It put me right off my breakfast of quails’ eggs in octopus pee and thoroughly spoiled my frogs’ leg sandwich.

We’ll meet again One of the true icons of British entertainment, Dame Vera Lynn, is now 99. She seems to share the longevity of the Royal Family to whom she is so close.

Is it really 21 years since we last heard her sing in public? And 60 plus years before that since she was the Forces sweetheart It’s some years now since we sat and reminisced in a small French restaurant, her eyes wistfully looking out to the sea surrounding the country she helped to liberate.

Keep smiling through the years you wonderful lady , the inspiration of so many memories.

FIND YOUR PERFECT RETIREMENT HOME AND USE YOUR EXISTING PROPERTY TO SECURE YOUR MOVE! Do you dream of owning a

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50 Plus Travel

sponsored by and booked the beautiful Arosmari Village Hotel in Western Crete, through Simpson Travel, who have several properties in Europe with a no-child policy. It was a good decision! Small cottages dotted around charming grounds, with a pool, hammam, spa and restaurant for breakfast, ensured privacy and quiet. Having always been busy chasing around after children, sun cream and hats on, water packed, snacks at the ready, it was a relief to pick up ourselves, a beach towel and head out with little effort. The village was small and sweet, with a few restaurants serving traditional food and pleasingly well priced drinks in the square. We chatted to other holidaying couples, who were, without dissent, rather revelling in this time together, child-free.

HOLIDAYS JUST FOR ADULTS

By Jennie Carr from Silver Travel Advisor Over the last couple of years, we have enjoyed several holidays and short breaks on our own.

Yes, we have travelled without our lovely children, all of whom have had the decency to leave home, or truth be told, head for establishments of learning around the country. So we have intermittent returnees, with bags of washing, boxes of books and objects of little discernible use to my eyes, that cannot be parted with! And we do still enjoy our holidays as a family however the trips a deux are rather a highlight, unexpectedly so in some ways!

Close to Home It all started with a break at Thoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire, one of Warner Leisure Hotels 13 splendid properties.

Most determinedly for the over 21s, and hazarding a guess, most guests were over 50, there was not a Barbie or a tank engine in sight. Nor indeed

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a grumpy teenager with earphones lurking in a corner. No, Thoresby Hall is proud of its adult only approach, recognising that, at times, grown ups like to be in the company of other grown ups, no children allowed.

Which does not mean a boring, stuffy environment at all. There is much play on offer: fencing, archery, Zumba, yoga and snooker just for starters. And an exceptional spa, with treatments and a pretty indoor pool for a little pampering.

Warner’s particular speciality is the evening entertainment and despite, being based within a magnificent Grade 1 listed building, the theatre, part of a sympathetic extension, hosts shows, musicians and comedians of repute.

We took a Friday to Monday break, wandered in the extensive grounds, dined at the Blue Grill restaurant (2 AA Rosettes) and gently boogied to the tribute band, Abba Fever. All in all, a good beginning to our time away as a couple!

Spreading our Wings

Simpson provide a car on this trip as exploring is definitely part of the holiday. I can certainly say that we made the best of this, visiting monasteries, beaches, the towns of Chania and Rethymno. And there wasn’t a single moan from the back seat – it was empty apart from my trusty Panama.

Another island triumph After a really busy 2 week summer family holiday, three girls and mother as well, which frankly felt like running a marathon in flip flops and failing dismally at my own version of Mary Berry, it was most certainly time for another break on our own. An island again, this time Cyprus to Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort, just for grown ups. We booked through Adults Only Hotels, great name and does what it says on the tin: holidays without children in over 30 destinations, across a range of hotels 3* to 5*+. They organised flights, transfers, car hire and the hotel. Our hotel was a decidedly relaxing spot, deep in the mountains behind the bustle Paphos, surrounded by forests and mountains. It is well known as a spa, with natural mineral springs and was replete with soft-shoed therapists who looked like models.

However, do not be fooled, those girls can make grown men wince when they get cracking (quite literally) on a sports massage.

Emboldened by this success, I suggested we try the Med for a week

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TRAVEL

Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort, Cyprus

We visited in the autumn, so it was quiet which was what we wanted. And most comfortably warm, still swimsuits-on-thebeach weather. The hotel is created from wood and stone, neutral colours throughout, so it’s very much in tune with the environment. Big panoramic windows are everywhere, bringing the utterly restful outside in and reinforcing the calm. In fact, it’s so tranquil that we fell asleep after a hydrotherapy treatment, in comfy loungers facing the woods. Not a child in sight (or sound) to disturb us.

ARCHAEOLOGY & TRAVEL

Where next?

We are certainly getting the hang of our adults only holidays, and the plan is Italy next, with Florence and Rome in mind. So, two city centres likely and a little touring as well. I am excited and looking forward to visiting the Uffizi again, indulging in Duomo gawping and divine Italian food. Staying, of course, in hotels just for grown-ups!

Silver Travel Advisor Fact Box: For more information about the companies mentioned in the article: Warner Leisure Hotels.

Visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 0330 100 9774 and quote PHC Silver for special discounts.

Simpson Holidays Visit www.simpsontravel.com or call 0203 642 4697 and quote Silver Travel Advisor to enjoy a £50 reduction on each booking.

Adults Only Holidays Visit www.adultsonlyholidays.co.uk or call 01529 298 117. Quote

Silver Travel Advisor to enjoy free shuttle transfers.

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Perfect Combinations of Leisure and Interest • Minoan Crete & Santorini • Cyprus: North & South • Pompeii & Campania • Malta's Millennia • Ancient Greece

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Barry Manilow “One Last Time” BARRY Manilow’s latest UK tour may be entitled “One Last Time” but it’s very unlikely that the British public will ever let one of their favourite artistes simply disappear from view.

At 72, the singer who specialises in lush, sentimental ballads and orchestrated upbeat songs and has long been dubbed the consummate showman, is still as popular as ever on both sides of the Atlantic – and in many other countries around the world.

He will play only eight dates in the UK – from Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena to the Manchester Arena and London’s O2 Arena – which will no doubt each be a sell-out. But his music is an enduring currency that few fans will ever stop needing, and that ensures that, even if this is “one last time” on tour, his records and TV appearances will be as much-prized as ever.

His life has been all about the music.

As he explains: “I am a musician. My passion for music has obliterated everything in its path for my entire life.

“Whenever there was a choice between music and anything else, music won hands down every time. No one person or material thing could ever come close to the feeling I get when the music is right.”

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Barry was born to Edna and Harold Pincus, of Russian-Jewish descent, in Brooklyn, New York, in 1943. His father left when he was just two and young Barry later adopted his mother’s maiden name of Manilow.

His musical interest started early: at the age of seven he learned to play both the accordion and the piano, preferring the latter, and was singing by 13.

After graduating from high school, he was accepted into the well-known Julliard School of Music and paid for his own schooling by working in the CBS mailroom.

It took time for Barry to meet the right people but he was eventually given the chance to become musical director of CBS show “Callback”. To supplement his income, he also wrote, produced and performed advertising jingles for clients including Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds.

In 1971, a then unknown singer, Bette Midler, hired him as her pianist, arranger and musical director and it was a collaboration that brought the young

man his real break into the music world.

He supervised Bette’s first two albums - her debut album won a Grammy award - and in 1972 at the Carnegie Hall, had the chance to showcase some of his own material. This led him to a new label, Bell, offering a record deal; his debut album “Barry Manilow” was released in 1973 although it didn’t sell well.

After Bell itself underwent a transformation and became Arista, however, his fortunes changed. New label head Clive Davis asked Barry to record pop tune, “Brandy”, a UK hit for Scott English. Barry altered the tune to a ballad and renamed it “Mandy”, to avoid confusion with a similar-sounding hit. The haunting song really struck a nerve with the record-buying US public and went to No.1 in early 1975, remaining one of Barry’s best-loved songs of all time even today.

His second, equally successful offering in early 1976 was “I Write The Songs” from the “Tryin’ To Get The Feeling” album which went triple platinum. Barry was becoming an established star.

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CELEBRITY NEWS His concert double LP “Live” in 1977 was his first and only No.1 album with sales of more than four million copies. ABC aired his first prime-time programme “The Barry Manilow Special” in 1977, for which he won a Grammy award, and the same year he won a Special Tony award for his Broadway show.

The following year, he had another triple platinum album with three Top Ten singles including the legendary “Copacabana”, and his reputation as an entertainer who delivered was made.

Seven albums and five years later, he inevitably decided to change musical direction and released a swinging jazz album, “2:00 AM Paradise Café”, featuring big jazz names including Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme and Gerry Mulligan. He continued to show his versatility with swing, vocal jazz and traditional pop through various albums including “Manilow Sings Sinatra” – proving the man can sing anything from standards to showtunes and give it that Manilow magic.

As he admits: “My style of music is the great American songbook meets the pop world of the Seventies and Eighties.”

In 1985, he played the role of Tony Starr in the TV series “Copacabana.”

In 1994, he enjoyed stage musical success with a show of the same name and followed it with another musical, “Harmony”, which toured both the US and UK extensively.

Since then, the hits, the touring and the TV appearances have all continued in large amounts for the boy from Brooklyn. He’s performed in two-hour “specials”, and guested in popular shows like “Ally McBeal” and “Will & Grace.” His career has also been littered with awards; in 2002, he was inducted into the US National Academy of Popular Music’s Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside Michael Jackson, Randy Newman and Sting.

At the same time as these glittering accolades, though, and the millions of fans he attracts, he has always had his detractors who never saw his brand of music as being contemporary enough.

Go to any of his shows or conventions, however and Fanilow Fever is strictly

Barry Manilow with Leron Gubler and Dave Koz at the ceremony honoring Dave Koz with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Vine Street, Hollywood, California.

the order of the day. The singer makes himself very accessible to fans, and many of them have followed him for the nearly three decades of his career and are intensely loyal.

He’s had a couple of health scares and, like many artistes before him, probably finds extensive, regular touring exhilarating but tiring. However, Barry himself is keen to point out that the title of this latest tour does not mean he is quitting his singing career.

As he told the American newspaper the Kansas City Star just recently: “I’ve

been roaming the earth for 40 years, and it’s not that I’m retiring.

“I will still make albums and do onenighters here and there. This is the last of the big tours that keep me away from home and living my life. It’s time to stop the big tours, not time to stop.”

And that’s good news for the millions for whom Barry Manilow is their singer, their showman of choice. And when worldwide pop trends of all kinds have come and gone – for them, Barry is still No.1.

Photos: Mary A Lupo/Shutterstock.com s_bukley/Shutterstock.com

To find out more about tickets for the One Last Time Tour go to www.manilowuk.com www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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HOME builders. You can either visit websites like the National Federation of Builders on www.builders.org.uk or the Federation of Master Builders on www. fmb.org.uk Again, it’s always best to try to see something they have already built and find someone who can recommend them.

You may want to improve your GARDEN by having it landscaped by professionals, creating wonderful areas to sit and enjoy beautiful plants and flowers in peace and tranquillity. You might want to install a HOT-TUB for both relaxing and socialising – just imagine lying in that bubbling warm water without a care in the world! A CONSERVATORY or ORANGERIE is another brilliant way to both extend your home and improve your quality of living. These days, they come in all sizes and styles to suit your property and your needs, adding extra space and light.

DREAM HOMES

By ANGELA KELLY

WE’VE all seen beautiful homes on TV and in magazines and thought “if only I could have that” and plan happily for the items that you definitely would buy funds permitting.

Start on the outside. Would you like an EXTENSION building onto your home to create an extra lounge or maybe one or two more bedrooms? If you like the location of your current home and you have the room on your present property, this is always a good choice because it means you don’t have the stresses of moving to another area and life can go on as always, only better.

Like most major buys in life, though, we can often work towards buying one specific item or addition to our home. So, it’s definitely worth having a “wish list” of improvements that you would like if you could raise the money for them.

Check first whether you will need planning permission or building control approval by visiting the Government website www.planningportal. gov.uk If you need an architect either go to national bodies like the Architects Registration Board on www.arb.org. uk or ask among friends and neighbours for a recommendation, and try to see something they have designed previously.

Itemising these improvements by priority is a helpful way forward, and creating that plan can brighten up even the gloomiest day. Working around the house to see how you would improve it in the best possible way is definitely something worth doing – even if the cash to do it seems very far away!

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And forget about those old conservatories that were freezing cold in the Winter and too hot in the Summer.

Today’s conservatories have the latest glass technology which keeps the heat in and the cold out to create a comfortable oasis of extended living.

Internally, you might want to open up rooms, getting rid of walls and changing the shape and layout of your home.

OPEN-PLAN living is very popular now and very convenient, whatever your lifestyle. Discuss this one with your local builder and discover new ways to maximise the home that you already like into one that you love.

HALLWAY and STAIRCASE. An often overlooked part of the home is the hallway and staircase. There’s only so

The same applies to

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many times you can paint over the walls or hang new pictures up. This sadly neglected space also happens to be the first thing people are likely to see when entering your home, and as we all know, first impressions count. You don’t need an entirely new staircase to make an impact. Bury based company - renovateyourstaircase.com offer the perfect solution to revamp the staircase in your home, offering bespoke designs to suit you in a whole range of materials including oak, walnut and even modern stainless steel.

Although they do supply and fit complete staircases from new, a simple renovation may be just what your home needs to get a fresh, modern look that will impress. The procedure is carried out by joiners who are experienced in staircase renovations, with minimal disruption and can also undertake all aspects of bespoke joinery to add finishing touches to your living spaces.

The latest decorating trends could influence your luxury plans, and WALLPAPER figures large in 2016 in more ways than one. The minimalist approach is waning and maximalist

rules! So, instead of just one feature wall, experts suggest papering whole rooms again – and in strong geometric patterns or vibrant jungle designs which could bring your lounge or living room alive.

Is it time to get rid of that old SOFA and treat yourself to a magnificent new three-piece suite? Choose the style with which you feel most at home, whether it’s a luxury leather or a deep, soft material you can sink into.

It may be that you just love your current furniture but it’s looking a bit the worse for wear. So your dream furniture might involve re-upholstering your sofa in a smart new fabric to suit the new décor of your room.

Style experts predict that rattan furniture is making a big comeback in homes this year so you might opt for the latest styles in this flexible and popular material. An enjoyable tour of furniture shops and warehouses will no doubt reveal some new favourites for you, including modern sideboards and cupboards to help with storage space.

How modern is your TELEVISION? Technology is very apparent in the range

of TVs now available to buy, whether you want a huge screen and the very latest Ultra HD 4K TV or something more modest. The reality is that TV is now part of our lives and, if money isn’t the main drawback and you really enjoy everything from the latest cookery shows to sports events across the globe, then there really are some fabulous TVs out there at local dealers with a good reputation for understanding this important entertainment field.

New CARPETS or other flooring could be high up on your dream home list, and are more affordable than you might think. Whether you want a smart, plush new carpet to bring warmth and style to your rooms or you prefer the latest hardwood or luxury vinyl, it’s worth shopping around.

Consider your lifestyle and what you want from your flooring. If you’ve got pets, for example, it’s worthwhile looking at the latest hard-wearing, upmarket designs in vinyl or wooden flooring.

Discuss this with a well-known local company and get their expert advice on what is likely to suit your home best.

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OUT AND ABOUT The Enid 16th July

Following their recent ground breaking audio-visual production promoting new album “Dust”, The Enid are about to embark on a limited time only intimate club tour. Their new shows celebrate the 40th anniversary of debut album “In the Region of the Summer Stars”, and the band will be performing this album in its entirety for the first time in decades.

Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS Tel: 01452 503050 Livewire - The AC/DC Show 22nd July

Live/Wire is The AC/DC Show. The unique six-man tribute to rock music’s greatest band AC/DC, complete with cannons, a wall of Marshalls’ and over two hours of High Voltage Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS Tel: 01452 503050

Rene Rhythm and Blues Festival 25th July to 31st July.

To compliment the event Cafe Rene’s Real Ale and Cider Festival will run throughout the week as well as our full menu. Also look out for a Pig Roast, Rene BBQ and other sumptious treats on Greyfriars Green 30th & 31st July.

CAFE RENE, 31 Southgate Street Gloucester, GL1 1TP Tel: 01452 309 340

Birmingham Caribbean Festival 29th to 31st July

The Caribbean Food and Drinks Festival started in 2011 in response to a desire for Caribbean food to be more widely available to diverse communities in the UK.

The festival creates an environment in which Caribbean arts, culture, food and drink, in their various forms, are promoted and made accessible to an increasing proportion of the British population.

The Festival Objectives are to:

Showcase, champion and celebrate Caribbean food, drinks, arts and culture Support and market Birmingham’s local and diverse food and drinks’ industry Promote Caribbean food, drink and culture, along with a range of activities and entertainment for the whole family

www.birminghamcaribbeanfestival.org

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Birmingham Caribbean Festival 29th to 31st July 2016 Beatrix Potter and the Tailor of Gloucester 3rd to 6th August

The Everyman Theatre Company, along with the EveryVoice Choir and local community actors bring Beatrix Potter’s personal favourite story to glorious life on stage.

A poor old tailor sits in his shop in Gloucester, making a wedding coat for the Mayor. But what happens when he catches a cold and has no choice but to take to his bed for the weekend? Will the coat remain unmade? Don’t worry the world is full of magic; and, when the tailor returns to work, he finds the coat has been findshed. But who or what has completed the coat (almost)?!

EVERYMAN THEATRE, Regent Street, Cheltenham GL50 1HQ. Tel: 01242 572573 Chantel McGregor 04/08/2016

In 2014, Chantel was voted by the British Blues Awards as Guitarist of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Chantel was recently nominated again in the Guitarist of the Year category in 2015’s British Blues Awards. In 2014 Chantel began writing and recording her second album Lose Control, this being due for release in October 2015.

Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS Tel: 01452 503050 42nd Gloucestershire Steam Vintage & Country extravaganza 5th - 7th August

The Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club stage their 42nd Annual show at South Cerney Airfield on the outskirts of Cirencester in Gloucestershire on August 5th, 6th, & 7th 2016. A great family fun day out

Northmoor Lane, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 5QD 01453 890891 Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Festival + Beer, Cider & Perry Festival 20th and 21st August

Following on from previous year’s successes, the 2016 H&G Canal Festival - coupled with the Saturday evening Beer, Cider & Perry Festival - is expected to bigger and better than ever before.

The Wharf House Over, Gloucester, GL2 8DB Tel: 01452 332 900 enquiries@thewharfhouse.co.uk Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Wed 7 - Sun 18 September

Audiences of all ages will be flying high with its mixture of madness, intrigue and exuberance.

Watch out! The most Fantasmagorical musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, lands in Birmingham in 2016.

One of the world’s favourite musicals, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, intrigue and exuberance.

Price From £23.50 Tickets & Information, Memberships, Restaurant Bookings Box Office: 0844 338 5000 Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB The World Famous Elvis Show Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August

Chris Connor is back!

Sold out in 2015, direct from the West End, world-leading Elvis performer

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Chris stars in this huge production with his 12-piece energetic live band The Sweet Harmonies!

Voted ‘The Worlds Best’ in a world-wide Elvis Presley fan poll, audiences are left speechless by his voice, looks, movies and mannerisms. It really is as if Elvis is performing in front of your very eyes.

You won’t want to miss the Elvis show of the year!

Suitable for ages 10+ “Wow that boy is good! He looks like Elvis and very energetic like him too!” Joe Esposito (Elvis’ best friend and road manager)

The Core Theatre, Solihull Box office 0121 704 6962 The Core Theatre Solihull Theatre Square, Touchwood Homer Road Solihull B91 3RG Emily Lee & Band 3rd September

Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS Tel: 01452 503050 Giffords Circus 8th - 19th September

Since 2000, when it was formed by Nell and Toti Gifford, Giffords Circus has delighted fans from far and wide with good old-fashioned entertainment.

Loved by all the family, young and old and complete with acrobats, jugglers, horses, magic, puppeteers, dancers and comedy. Giffords Circus tours much of rural Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and London. To book tickets and for full show details please visit our online Box Office at www.everymantheatre.org.uk/event/ giffords-circus/

Stratton Meadows, Fennells Farm, Lypiatt, Stroud GL6 7NE 0845 4597469

Born in Cheltenham and currently living in London, this marks Emily’s biggest ‘home-county’ show to date and the first to include her new full live band as well as the acoustic performances that have become her trademark.

NOISES OFF 3rd-12th September 2015

“The funniest farce ever written!”

Noises Off is a play within a play, hailed as “the funniest farce ever written!” It is about an ambitious director and his troupe of mediocre actors. The cast and crew are putting together a silly sex

comedy titled, Nothing On - a singleset farce in which lovers frolic, doors slam, clothes are tossed away, and embarrassing hi-jinks ensue. As tempers flare, backstage passions are also alight with clandestine affairs, jealousies and thwarted ambitions melting in a crucible of exhaustion and first- night nerves. Things have not improved when the touring production reaches Goole, and by the time the shattered company reach Stockton-on-Tees, it is not only the sardines that are disintegrating.

Written by Michael Frayn; in memory of Davina Barnes.

Sutton Arts Theatre South Parade, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B72 1QU Box Office: 0121 355 5355

Turandot on Sydney Harbour 15th September

Turandot is the beautiful and powerful princess, who challenges her many suitors to answer three riddles on pain of death. Calàf is a brave prince from a foreign land, who falls instantly in love with the princess. Despite the wishes of his exiled father and the pleas of a slave-girl who loves him, he rings the gong and declares his love for the princess. She presents her riddles,

BOX OFFICE: 01242 572573 BOOK ONLINE: everymantheatre.org.uk A fully restored Victorian theatre, offering the best in live entertainment. For a complete list of events visit everymantheatre.org.uk.

Book a backstage tour of our historic, Frank Matcham designed theatre along with your tickets by calling Sally-ann Rhodes on 01242 695574, or email sally-ann.rhodes@everymantheatre.org.uk.

Tue 4 - Sat 8 October

Featuring a spectacular 16 piece orchestra plus sensational performers and dazzling choreography.

Highlights of the new season include...

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Tue 12 - Sat 23 July

Starring Lucy O’Byrne and Andrew Lancel

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THE DRESSER

Tue 27 Sep - Sat 1 Oct Starring Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith

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OUT AND ABOUT and in triumph, the unknown prince answers. Turandot despairs and the prince takes pity - offering the ice-cold princess a riddle of his own. But Calàf’s riddle risks more than his own life everyone else’s hangs in the balance.

Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS Tel: 01452 503050

Alvin Ailey “Unbelievable. Go see Ailey. It’s change-your-life good” NBC’s Today Show

Fri 23rd - Sat 24th September The irresistible dancers of Ailey are back in Birmingham after their sellout visit in 2010 with a dazzling array of offerings. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Battle, this allstar line-up continues to wow audiences and critics around the world.

Experience beautifully different repertoire over two days, which include Ailey classics as well as new works by some of today’s most acclaimed choreographers.

Price From £10 Tickets & Information, Memberships, Restaurant Bookings Box Office: 0844 338 5000 Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB G2 Definitive Genesis 7th October

G2 perform classic 1970’s Genesis from the ‘Seconds Out’ era and earlier Gabriel years.Ripples, Los Endos, Blood

On The Rooftops, Afterglow, mixed up with classics, Firth Of Fifth, Cinema Show and Suppers Ready, this is vintage Genesis, performed by G2 to a level Genesis themselves would be proud of!

Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS Tel: 01452 503050

Blood Brothers “Exhilarating... one of the best musicals ever written” Sunday Times

Mon 10th - Sat 22nd October

Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.

Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi-award winning Blood Brothers. Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in Londons West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical, as inevitably it brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval’ (The Daily Mail).

Price From £18 Tickets & Information, Memberships, Restaurant Bookings Box Office: 0844 338 5000 Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB A VISION OF ELVIS Friday 21st October 2016

A Vision Of Elvis is one the world’s leading touring Elvis productions.

Celebrating all the music of Elvis Presley from Sun Studio’s through to ‘68 Comeback with the finale being the Concert Years engaging audiences with an uplifting and authentic Elvis experience.

WIN A £25 M&S GIFT CARD! SIMPLY VISIT OUR COMPETITIONS SECTION ON WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK TO ENTER

The New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Station Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B5 4DS. secure.atgtickets.com

Four Tops & The Temptations GREATEST HITS TOUR 2016 26th October

Motown’s timeless legends The Four Tops and The Temptations have

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announced a UK tour for October 2016, with special guests Tavares. The three iconic bands will play 7 shows together, one of which at the Genting Arena, Birmingham!

This is not the first time The Four Tops and The Temptations have joined forces in the UK. Throughout several co-headlining tours they’ve built a lasting relationship with their British audience, winning them over with their unmissable arena-sized parties.

The Four Tops’ ground-breaking sound includes soul, R&B, disco, doo-woop and jazz influences; they strongly contributed to define the Motown sound. Their hits include I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) and 1966 number one Reach Out (I’ll Be There). The line up for the tour includes original member Duke Fakir plus Ronnie McNeir, Lawrence Payton and Harold ‘Spike’ Bonhart.

Barclaycard Arena King Edwards Rd, Birmingham, West Midlands B1 2AA www.theticketfactory.com Disney On Ice 25th - 30th October 2016

Enter a fantastical winter wonderland beyond imagination when Disney On Ice presents Frozen.

The heartwarming Academy Award®winning tale you love is now a full length production live on ice and skating into Birmingham. Be magically whisked away to wintry Arendelle by dazzling special effects and astonishing skating as you sing and dance along to inspiring songs including “Let It Go.” Join royal sisters Anna and Elsa, the hilarious snowman Olaf, Kristoff and Sven, as they journey to discover that true love is the most magical power of all!

Hosted by Mickey and Minnie, with special appearances by beloved Disney Princesses and characters from all-time favourites like Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Disney’s The Lion King. This unforgettable celebration of love and friendship will leave your family with memories to last a lifetime.

Experience the Full Story – Live on Ice!

Barclaycard Arena King Edwards Rd, Birmingham, West Midlands B1 2AA www.theticketfactory.com

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JIM DAVIDSON

Sunday 13th November 2016

Guest Starring Mathew Horne Age Guidance; 12+

Barclaycard Arena King Edwards Rd, Birmingham, West Midlands B1 2AA www.theticketfactory.com

Jim is a well-loved, albeit rather risque, entertainer and star of stage and screen. He is guaranteed to give an excellent performance whether he is entertaining the troops or advertising second-hand cars.

Rod Stewart FROM GASOLINE ALLEY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY 2nd - 3rd December

The New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Station Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B5 4DS. secure.atgtickets.com

The Catherine Tate Show GUEST STARRING MATHEW HORNE 30th Novmeber

The critically acclaimed, award-winning comedian and actor, Catherine Tate, will bring ‘The Catherine Tate Show - Live to Birmingham this autumn.

In never seen before sketches, the tour will unite some of Catherine’s best-known characters from her hugely successful BBC series ‘The Catherine Tate Show’. The cast will include ‘Nan’ Taylor, Irish nurse Bernie, Geordie Georgie, Essex girl Sam... and the return of a certain argumentative teenager...

Rod Stewart, international rock star has announced the ‘From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits 2016’ arena tour that is set to delight fans up and down the UK as he takes to the stage from 12 November – 13 December 2016 heading to the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham on the 2 December 2016!

Bringing with him his biggest hits from 1970 to 2016. Demand for Rod Stewart’s spectacular live shows are as strong as ever following the recent release of musical legend’s 29th critically acclaimed platinum selling album ‘Another Country’, which shot straight to #2 in October 2015.

Barclaycard Arena King Edwards Rd, Birmingham,

THUR 15 SEPT 7.30

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The Music of Carole King & James Taylor £20.00*& £18.50*(disc)

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STARMAN DAVID BOWIE A Musical Celebration £21.00

WED 21 SEPT 7.30

THAT’LL BE THE DAY

Madness are an English ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s 2 Tone ska revival, they continue to perform with their most recognised line-up of seven members.

Madness achieved most of their success in the early to mid-1980s. Both Madness and UB40 spent 214 weeks on the UK singles charts over the course of the decade, holding the record for most weeks spent by a group in the 1980s UK singles charts. However, Madness achieved this in a shorter time period (1980–1986).

Madness have had 15 singles reach the UK top ten, one UK number one single (“House of Fun”) and two number ones in Ireland, “House of Fun” and “Wings of a Dove”.

Barclaycard Arena King Edwards Rd, Birmingham, West Midlands B1 2AA Ticket Hotline 0844 33 88 22

NOW BOOKING FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON !

£21.00*

WED 19 OCT 7.30

JOE McELDERRY

£22.00* & £20.00*(disc)

THU 22 SEPT 7.30

WED 26 OCT 7.30

£15.00* & £13.00*(disc)

Madness 17th December

AN EVENING WITH BARRY FRY & ‘BIG’ RON ATKINSON

£25.00*

DOREEN’S GRAND NIGHT OUT

West Midlands B1 2AA Ticket Hotline 0844 33 88 22

LES McKEOWNS BAY CITY ROLLERS £25.00*

For performance schedule and ticket prices please check the theatre’s website

Online booking www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk *inclusive of booking fee 75p per ticket up to a max of £3

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R O B E RT POWELL A MODERN KING? FOR a lad from Salford, playing the King of England is quite a step up – but it’s just a further page in the very varied history of actor Robert Powell...

Even anyone who didn’t recognise that strong face and haunting eyes would know the wonderful, warm tones of his voice.

A combination of that and a prodigious and chameleon acting talent have also helped ensure a lengthy and successful career in both theatre and TV. But Robert as a modern king? Well, audiences from the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre to the Manchester Opera House are able to tell you that this characterisation in the fascinating play “King Charles III” is brilliant entertainment.

Written by Mike Bartlett, who also wrote last year’s TV hit “Doctor Foster”, it looks at Prince Charles as he takes over the throne and reveals the people whose names are so familiar to us.

Oddly, it’s a role tailor-made for Robert Powell because he does actually know the Prince; he’s met him several times socially as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.

“Prince Charles is an absolutely delightful man,” he explains. “He has a conscience and he follows it. He’s very principled but he’s also very charming.”

As to Robert’s own interpretation of the Prince, when he first started in the role he realised that it could not be an impersonation. “I do a bit of a party piece for fun being Prince Charles, actually,” he laughs, “But the role had to be played in a different way, so that the audience aren’t so busy with an impersonation that they are distracted from seeing the character.”

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As he is explaining this, however, he does unconsciously sound very like the Prince. Audiences, though, have accepted his interpretation so well that they have stayed entranced throughout.

Challenging roles are nothing new for Robert Powell, now 71, as his career is littered with a varied catalogue of parts.

He was born in Salford in 1944 and started his acting career while attending Manchester University. He made his film debut in 1967 and landed his first starring role in “The Italian Job” in 1969.

His film career has included Franco Zefirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth” in 1977, which for many was a defining role for Powell. He has been quoted in the past, though, as saying: “I hope Jesus Christ will be the last in my line of sensitive young men for quite a while.”

He’s certainly not been typecast. When he took the lead role of Richard Hannay in the re-make of “The Thirty Nine Steps”, this sparked an eponymous TV series for him in the ‘80s which not only went straight to the top of viewers’ favourite programmes but which, as he admits, was really his favourite role in his career so far. “The writing was wonderful and I really loved being Hannay,” he says. “Today, all the crime heroes are flawed beings with problems, but Hannay saw the world in black and white and was very straightforward, rock solid – I liked that.”

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“I did feel that we could take that formula to a new series and have The Gardeners, The Chefs or The Doctors with two incompetent, idiotic characters but it’s just an idea.”

Robert Powell is married to former Pan’s People dancer Babs Lord and they have two children. It’s plain that he’s very much a home-bird, and that he really doesn’t enjoy touring “although it’s good for the bank balance.”

Sadly, Thames TV which made the programme lost their licence not long afterwards and any further series disappeared.

“When I’m driving and I get fed up with Radio 4, I switch on Radio 4 Extra and listen to all those old comedy programmes for miles, laughing away,” he states.

He’s had numerous other TV roles, including the popular series “Doomwatch” and he enjoyed a lengthy role as the hospital boss in “Holby City.”

So, is there no chance of “The Detectives” coming back? “You can never say never,” he says, “but it’s finding the writers. Steve Knight,

He’s generally fit and healthy. “I had an NHS check-up and the doctor said I’m fine. He did ask me, though, if I’d ever smoked and I said I had but I’d given up 30 years ago. He said that my lungs were actually a lot younger than I was, which is strange!”

He’s always enjoyed sport and only gave up cricket 10 years ago. These days, he plays golf “although not in the Winter.”

Robert does, however, talk fondly about probably his most unusual career move, when his pal and golfing partner comedian Jasper Carrott suggested he join him as two incompetent detectives in sketches for Carrott’s own hit TV series. This proved so popular that a separate series, “The Detectives”, resulted , showcasing Robert’s humorous side and acting skills even further.

For what could often be classed as a “serious actor”, he admits that humour plays an important part in his life. He loves the old Goon Shows – something he has in common with Prince Charles – and ‘50s and ‘60s radio favourites like Round the Horn and Ray’s a Laugh.

He comments: “You tend to eat out a lot – I usually have a good breakfast in the hotel and that lasts me until after lunch. In the past, I’ve gone out to eat with chums in the cast after the performance but these days the cast are mainly young and just want to go to the pub!”

At the end of March, “King Charles III” opened in Sydney. He’s been to Australia many times and likes it so he’s happy about that, and afterwards he’s taking three months off.

I do a bit of a party piece for fun being Prince Charles, actually... who helped write the original series, is a famous screenwriter now and very busy so I don’t think he’d want to do this again.

Then, he’s going to tour with his good friend actress Liza Goddard in the Alan Ayckbourn comedy “Relatively Speaking” – “and Liza and I will go off in her car in the daytime to visit museums and castles, which is what we always do, “ he says.

All of which seems perfectly fitting for an actor who currently daily slips so easily into the role of our future monarch.

For more details about the UK tour of “King Charles III” go to www.kingcharles3play.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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HEALTH & FITNESS norm. Simply eating from a smaller plate and getting portions back into perspective will help you shed the pounds with minimal effort.

3. Ditch the sugar The ‘buzz’ word of the moment; But, the fact remains, sugar is full of calories yet totally lacking in nutritional value.

Sugar can be addictive, with effects on our brain similar to hard drugs and may contribute to diabetes, as well as obesity.

Ideally, ditch it completely, or at least try sticking to the recommended limit of 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day.

4. Keep hydrated A glass of water before meals has been shown to reduce the amount of calories we consume. What’s more, we might think we are hungry, when in fact we are thirsty. But don’t reach for a fizzy drink or juice, which are both high in sugar.

Instead, get a taste for pure water and your body will thank you for it.

TOP TIPS

5. Sleep well

FROM DR SALLY NORTON How do I lose weight?

As a nation, we are getting heavier and heavier, despite decades of yo-yo dieting. With gradual weight gains, our risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, breathing problems, infertility and much more, increases.

So face the facts – are you ‘tripping the light fantastic’ or ‘packing a hefty punch’? And more to the point, how do we stop the numbers on the scales and importantly, our levels of fat, increasing?

likely to be providing your body with premium fuel and it will function far better as a result.

2. Beat portion distortion – choose a smaller plate!

Portions are out of control – we are consuming larger quantities of food every year. Super-size high street drinks and buckets of popcorn are now the

1. Avoid processed food where possible

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How can I really manage my blood pressure?

High blood pressure affects one in four adults, putting their health at risk. It increases our risk of stroke, heart disease and more. The scary thing is, over 5 million of us In the UK don’t know about it as it doesn’t always cause symptoms initially.

So, firstly, the NHS recommends we get our blood pressure checked by a GP, particularly if you are overweight, smoke, have relatives with a history of high blood, or if you are worried about health in other ways.

Dr. Sally Norton’s top five weight loss tips:

If you have to study a label to find out how much sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and other additives there are – it is best avoided. Processed food is often stripped of fibre, low in vitamins and minerals, as well as being packed full of nutrient-poor calories. If you cook and prepare real food from scratch, you are

Studies show we are more likely to reach for high-sugar, high-fat foods when tired.

So, a good night’s sleep is an easy way to help your weight-loss efforts.

Weight loss expert & brand ambassador for Kinetik Wellbeing www.kinetikwellbeing.com

Home monitoring with an easy-to-use blood pressure measuring devices, then allows you to keep a check on your own blood pressure at different times of day or night, in different circumstances – exercising, stressed, relaxed, standing or lying. Monitoring at home, also avoids the stress and anxiety of visiting the doctor.

So, how do you achieve and maintain a healthy blood pressure?

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simply be moving more. Fitness – i.e. making time to move, should be an essential part of our day, in the same way we might pick up the kids from school, or get to work on time. Instead of seeing it as an optional extra, we should see it as something that is vital to keeping us healthy, that way we’ll do our best to find the time, the energy, and the ways to fit it in.

2. Find an activity that works for you Take a look at your lifestyle, likes and dislikes and find an activity that is going to work best for you. Choose something you’ll be able to find the time for, that you’ll enjoy and that you can easily incorporate into your life (e.g. brisk walking or perhaps a dance class). Then you are more likely to maintain it longterm.

3. Be prepared

Dr. Sally Norton’s top five tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy blood pressure: 1. Weight control Keep your weight in the healthy range – and your waist to hip ratio 1 (or 0.85 for women) 2. Keep active If you are fit and get plenty of exercise, your blood pressure is likely to benefit too.

3. Eat a healthy diet without too much salt A healthy diet is likely to help weight control, with the added benefit of being low in salt. Salt is one of the greatest influences on our blood pressure and reducing salt is one of the quickest ways to reduce blood pressure. But remember, 75% of the salt we eat is already in foods like ready meals, bread, breakfast cereal, sauces and processed meats. So, avoid processed food where possible, cooking from scratch is preferable.

4. Stop smoking and cut right back on alcohol Both of these affect our blood pressure – and much more besides – so binning the fags and slashing the alcohol consumption will do us a lot of good.

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5. Get help Finally, if your blood pressure is high, take advice from your doctor as further treatment may be needed.

How can I improve my fitness - without hitting the gym five times a week?

‘Sitting is the new smoking’, we are told.

Why? More and more evidence is suggesting that sitting for hours on end is bad for our health. We weren’t designed to spend long periods of each day slumped on the sofa or hunched over our desks, gazing at computer screens.

Studies have shown that compared to more active people, the risk of early death is 15 per cent greater for people who sit more than eight hours a day. Long periods of inactivity can increase your risk of heart and cardiovascular disease, weight gain and type 2 diabetes, as well as some cancers. You may also become prone to headaches, visual fatigue, neck and low back pain.

So what can you do?

Dr. Sally Norton’s top five tips for improving your fitness

We’re all super busy, juggling jobs, family, housework etc., every minute counts.

So make sure that whatever activity you choose, you’re fully prepared. If you commit to a regular brisk walk, keep your walking boots by the front door, ready to throw on whenever you plan to head out. If you are prepared, you have fewer excuses.

4. A few minutes is better than nothing Without doubt, moving is better than staying still, even just a few minutes can make a difference. No matter how busy we are, we can always find a few spare minutes to get our heart rate up and blood pumping. So squeeze in whatever time you can find and it’ll make all the difference when it comes to your health.

5. Moving should be part of everyday Busy at work? Why not suggest a walking meeting? It will also get the creative juices flowing! Daily commute? Use your journey to work as a chance to inject some fitness into your day – ditch the car and cycle to work, or park a little further away and walk in. Meeting with friends?

What a about a catch up combined with a walk in the park? Combine your socialising with some exercise rather than a coffee and cake.

1. Make moving a priority The problem with exercise is that we often think that means visiting the gym five times a week – when it fact we should

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LEGAL

Dementia can affect anyone so make your LPA There are 850,000 people living with Dementia in the UK. 225,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year – that’s about one person every three minutes.

While age is the most significant contributing factor to dementia, it’s not just the ‘old’ that develop it; one out of 20 people living with the condition are under the age of 65.

Figures recently released by the Office of National Statistics revealed that in 2015, an additional 28,189 deaths were registered compared with 2014. 86% of this increase consisted of people aged 75 and over – a figure of 24,201, of which 41% had an underlying cause of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia isn’t an actual disease; it’s an all-encompassing term used to describe a collective group of symptoms that occur when brain cells stop working properly.

While most people associate dementia with memory loss, the condition affects people in a wide variety of ways. These include changes in behaviour, confusion and disorientation, delusions and hallucinations, difficulty communicating, problems judging speeds and distances, even craving for particular foods.

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Interestingly, there are more women in the UK living with dementia than men. Of the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, 500,000 of them are women. This may be because more women are living well into their 80s – nearly three in four people aged over 90 are women. According to Alzheimer’s research, women over 60 are twice as likely to develop dementia as they are of getting breast cancer and after the age of 65, the risk of dementia doubles every five years.

The four main conditions that make up dementia are Alzheimer’s, Vascular dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies and Frontotemporal dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for about two-thirds of cases in the elderly. Vascular dementia occurs when blood flow to the brain becomes reduced. Some people have both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease which is often referred to as mixed dementia.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a type of dementia that shares symptoms with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Tiny deposits of protein, known as Lewy bodies, form in the brain’s nerve cells. Although it’s not understood why they appear, or how they contribute to dementia, their presence is linked to low levels of important chemical messengers and to a loss of connections between nerve cells which, over time, causes the death of nerve cells and loss of brain tissue.

Some people can show features of both Alzheimer’s and DLB. Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is relatively rare and thought to account for less than 5% of all dementia cases.

It’s caused by damage to cells in areas of the brain called the frontal and temporal lobes, which regulate personality, emotions and behaviour, reasoning, planning and decisionmaking as well as the understanding and production of language. It usually affects people between the ages of 45 and 64, although three out of every 10 people develop the condition at an older age.

Being diagnosed with a degenerative mental illness such as dementia ultimately means there are likely to be problems with maintaining your independence. Support will be critical for your wellbeing, but once your

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mental ability starts to fail, your way of life could end up being decided by strangers. This is why it’s important to make arrangements for your care in case a time comes when you can’t do it yourself.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that effectively gives someone else the right to act for you and make decisions on your behalf. This person – or more than one person if you prefer – is referred to as your attorney. Anyone can be your attorney, as long as they’re over 18.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney.

The first focuses on your personal welfare, while the other deals with your financial affairs. You’re not obliged to take out both LPAs but if you do, you can have the same attorney for both or they can be different.

A health and welfare LPA allows your attorney to make decisions about your well-being. This covers a wide variety of issues, for example your dayto-day care including medication, your diet and how you live. You can even give your attorney the power to accept or refuse life-sustaining treatment on your behalf.

A property and affairs LPA addresses the material things in your life. This can include paying your bills, collecting your income and benefits, conducting your financial affairs or even selling your house. This is quite a responsibility so if you wish, you can place restrictions or conditions about what your attorney can do within your LPA. One thing to be aware of with a property and affairs LPA is that your attorney isn’t allowed to have been declared bankrupt.

No one likes to think they could develop life limiting conditions, but the reality is that dementia is indiscriminate. It can affect any of us at any time in later life, so it’s reassuring to know that if you’re unable to make a decision yourself, they’ll be someone who can. Because you’ll have chosen this person yourself, you’ll know they will have your best interests at heart and will make decisions based on what you want, rather than leaving it to a stranger or someone you don’t trust.

The key to a Lasting Power of Attorney, however, is that you can only set one up when you’re well.

Once you’ve lost capacity, it’s too late because the law deems that you’re not deciding for yourself that you want to make a LPA and that you don’t understand what it means, so timing really is of the essence.

If you’re interested in drafting your LPA, Crystal Advice offers a free no obligation consultation to guide you through the regulations and to discuss what’s right for your circumstances.

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FINANCE & ESTATE PLANNING EXPERT

& a visit to your home if it helps Since Riffat Sultana founded the business, Crystal Advice have been working hard over long hours to make sure people are financially secure after they lose a loved one.

The staff at Crystal Advice are dedicated to making sure that assets are distributed according to your wishes, and that every detail of what will happen to your estate when you’re gone has been covered.

Wills & Trusts Power of Attorney Family Trust l Prepaid Funeral Plans

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l Probate

In this dynamically changing and challenging economic environment, we understand that getting a mortgage can be a minefield. We therefore ensure that we not only get you that mortgage offer but will support you through this process until you complete or get that key. We will liaise with your agent and your solicitor to ensure that this is accomplished successfully.

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We open doors to your future

Call 0121 693 5380 email: enquiries@crystal-advice.co.uk

Kings Court, 17 School Road, Birmingham B28 8JG. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loans secured on it.

Crystal Advice Limited is an Appointed Representative of Ingard Financial Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) No. 450731.

The FCA do not regulate some forms of Buy to Let mortgages.

Registered Office: Kings Court, 17 School Road, Birmingham B28 8JG. Registered No: 9932669.

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FOOD & DRINK JAMES MARTIN’S

HOME COMFORTS C hicken cordon bleu It’s ham, cheese and chicken: that’s all. It’s a simple dish, but like many things in life, the simplest are the best. Cook the escalope in plenty of butter, not oil. By the time the butter is nut- brown, the chicken should be ready to turn over and cook on the other side. You need to allow the middle to become hot, to melt the cheese inside.

Serves 4 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 175g Emmental cheese, cut into 8 chunks 4 good-quality thick ham slices 75g plain flour 3 eggs, lightly beaten 150g panko breadcrumbs sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 150g unsalted butter 300g French beans, trimmed 25g flaked almonds Cut the chicken breasts in half widthways nearly all the way through then open out to a heart shape.

Lay a large piece of clingfilm on a work surface, and place the chicken on top. Cover with another sheet of clingfilm and gently bat out with a rolling pin until about double the size and 1cm thick.

Remove the clingfilm and lay two pieces of cheese over one half of each chicken breast, then fold the ham on top. Fold the other half of the chicken over to enclose the cheese and ham, and press down lightly.

Place the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs in separate bowls, each big enough to take a chicken breast.

Season the flour and eggs with salt and pepper, then pass the chicken first through the flour, then the eggs, then the breadcrumbs, coating fully.

Put 125g of the butter into a large frying pan and set over a medium heat. When the butter is just melted, add the chicken and cook for 4–5 minutes on one side until the butter is golden brown, then turn and cook for another 4–5 minutes. Baste the chicken with the melted butter as it cooks, keeping it over a medium heat. You don’t want the butter or breadcrumbs to

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burn, and you want the chicken to be cooked all the way through and the cheese melted.

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Add the beans and cook for 3–4 minutes until just tender, then drain. Put the pan back on the heat and add the last of the butter and the flaked almonds. Heat until the butter is melted, then toss the beans into the butter and warm through.

Season well.

Serve the chicken with the beans alongside.

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O yster and sea f ood pie with samphire I don’t know that ‘posh’ is the right word for this really, as although it uses oysters and lobster, you can get hold of both of these easily nowadays. It does use a fair bit of champagne, but you can always use prosecco instead. The grated potatoes make a great topping – just give them a thorough squeeze to remove any excess water.

Serves 4–6 140g unsalted butter 2 heaped tablespoons plain flour 600ml double cream 350ml champagne sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 500g salmon, boneless and skinless, cut into chunks 400g smoked haddock, boneless and skinless, cut into chunks 1kg cooked lobster, shelled and cut into chunks 8 oysters, shucked 350g raw king prawns, shelled and deveined 100g samphire 1kg white potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated 3 egg yolks 200g frozen peas

Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas mark 7.

Put 75g of the butter into a saucepan and heat until melted, then add the flour and cook for 2 minutes until thickened and light golden-brown.

Add the cream gradually, whisking all the time, and cook until thickened and smooth. Pour the champagne in a steady stream into the sauce, still whisking all the time, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

Place the salmon, smoked haddock, lobster, oysters, prawns and samphire in a large ovenproof dish. Pour the sauce over the top to coat everything.

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Put the grated potato into a clean tea towel and squeeze all the liquid from it. Place in a bowl. Melt 50g of the remaining butter in a saucepan, then mix with the potato and egg yolks and plenty of salt and black pepper.

Sprinkle over the top of the fish, then place on a baking sheet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes until golden and hot through.

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the peas and cook for 2–3 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the pan, add the remaining butter and season to taste. Serve with the fish pie.

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FOOD & DRINK

E nglish apricot and almond bake When you make the frangipane, make sure to mix the butter and sugar together until they are white, and then fold in the flour by hand to help keep it as light as possible. It’s best not to keep the bake in the fridge, as the butter will harden up – if you have to, warm it through in a low oven before serving.

Makes 15 pieces 375g shop-bought sweet pastry 200g unsalted butter, softened 200g caster sugar 3 large eggs 200g plain flour 125g ground almonds

Roll out the pastry to 5mm thick and about 2cm larger than your tin. Roll it onto the rolling pin, then roll it over the tin.

Press gently into the corners, then trim the excess from the edges. Place in the fridge while you make the filling.

Place the butter and sugar in a food mixer or a large bowl, and beat for 5 minutes until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Remove from the mixer and fold in the flour, ground almonds and baking powder.

Cover the pastry with the apricot jam, then spoon over the filling and smooth out to the edges. Lay the apricot halves gently on top, in rows, and bake for 35–40 minutes until golden-brown and risen. A skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean; if it doesn’t, return it to the oven for a further 5 minutes and repeat.

Leave the cake to cool in the tin, then cut into rectangles to serve.

1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder 150g apricot jam 8 fresh apricots, stoned and quartered Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/gas mark 3. Grease and line a 30 x 23cm traybake tin.

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More Home Comforts by James Martin (Quadrille £20) Photography: Peter Cassidy

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THE SUMMER TRIANGLE . . . . . . AND A LOVE STORY CAST AMONG THE STARS B r ian J ones The summer night sky is dominated by the three constellations Lyra (the Lyre), Cygnus (the Swan) and Aquila (the Eagle), brilliant Vega forming a large and conspicuous triangle with nearby Deneb in Cygnus and Altair in Aquila. Known as the Summer Triangle, this formation is very prominent in the evening skies at this time of year.

Stars from two of these constellations feature in a Japanese legend which tells of two lovers – the beautiful Orihime and the shepherd Hikoboshi. After their marriage, they began to neglect their work to be with each other. This angered the gods who punished the couple by sending them to opposite banks of the heavenly river. They are only allowed to meet on one night – July 7th – which is celebrated as a holiday by children in Japan.

If you want to see Orihime and Hikoboshi, look high overhead after the sun has set. The first star to appear will be Vega, the brightest star in the small but distinct constellation of Lyra and which represents Orihime. Halfway between Vega and the south-eastern horizon will be the bright star Altair in Aquila which represents Hikoboshi. If the night is dark and clear you may see the pearly glow of the heavenly river stretching between them. Running from the north, extending across the sky and meandering down towards the south, this heavenly river is in fact the Milky Way. Our Sun is a member of a gigantic spiral formation of stars called the Galaxy. The faint misty band of light we see crossing the night sky is our view as we look down along the galactic plane, the Milky Way being formed from the combined glow of countless thousands of stars. Although the vast majority of the individual stars within the Milky Way are invisible to the naked eye, their combined light produces the faint luminous band we see spanning the heavens.

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The astronomers of ancient Greece identified the constellation Lyra with the lyre given by Apollo to the musician and poet Orpheus to accompany his songs. Deneb, whose name means ‘tail’ in Arabic, depicts the tail of Cygnus, a large, cruciform-shaped constellation which also bears the unofficial title of the Northern Cross. From Deneb the rest of Cygnus can be picked out easily, the swan’s outstretched wings and long neck prominent as it flies southwards along the Milky Way. The Summer Triangle is completed

by Altair, the brightest star in the

constellation Aquila. Located over the southern horizon during summer evenings this constellation, its leading star Altair in particular, is fairly prominent. The area of sky around Aquila and Cygnus is rich in star fields and will repay sweeping with binoculars on really dark, clear nights.

Now that the warm summer evenings are upon us, why not venture outdoors and check out the Summer Triangle? When you do, perhaps you can spare a thought for the two starstruck lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi.

Happy stargazing!

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