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From the Editor s,
Spooky Greetings Reader
ying Hockey, stuff for me was obvs pla a busy month! The good faves; Baby my Well, wasn’t September of e som h n a plethora of events wit the and s ion sess PT the ly friends Netball & my Carr with our love Parties, team socials, Jim ay thd Bir h oming 40t s, upc the wer Sho few! But, fitting with we never see, to name a to my ing pen hap who live so close and yet gs some not nice thin e gory bits as well and this is but ns, season there were som dow also are ere there are ups there Wh . ers mb me ily fam friends and de. where character is ma barely heating on? I mean, it’s up, who has turned the but I it in s ow Anyways, come on, fess ut 16 snuggly thr m in our house has abo k thin I t. osta rm affordable and every roo the the degrees on once it drops below 19 on the jog or it, must admit, I do struggle r bea can I if see come on at 18 though and r!! I’ve got to I might have to set it to rm again – it’d be cheape wa feel I il unt s ow thr rt days and sho spot whilst wearing 16 it’s the prospect of the for Autumn yet, I think ut it, and abo ic say, I’m not quite ready talg nos te cosy and there is something qui the whole in e tak little sunlight, but equally par not do we to note, start of it for me. Point oky themed Halloween signifies the y the reduced priced spo enjo do I but , een low n I should!! tha re Americanisation of Hal day after, far mo ilable in the shops the s and reds! wn sweets and chocolates ava bro and of orange love the autumnal colours And besides, who doesn’t #winkyface! If you know, you know! fire and a hot a good book, a roaring for sitting down with son sea this love r of Reading, Yea also I ntly the National know that 2026 is appare iration for insp chocolate to hand. Did you our see and I hope you is National Book Month m too, we the like add in to that October you e hop st! We obvs with a creepy twi – ers cov nt fro ’s as well nth lies this mo iously get the Negative Nel 90% of the time – we obv k bac feed ly love h suc get m!! but we don’t listen to the cks will living so close to a Starbu Spiced Latte – Oooooh, n the tur to off Right, time for a Pumpkin I’m e!! her wasted it, Halloween pun….I’m be the death of me!!! Get it. r notch so I can pay for thermostat down anothe edition!!! #mindblown – that’ll be the November See you next month team Emily x
for advertisers & contributors: Upcoming submission deadline ‘26 | DEC ‘26 EDITION - 6TH NOV NOV ‘26 EDITION - 8TH OCT ‘26
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FOOD & RETAIL
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JOIN ILKESTON LADIES HOCKEY CLUB WANT TO GET FIT? NOT PLAYED SINCE SCHOOL? FED UP OF YOUR CURRENT CLUB? Whether you’re returning to the game or picking up a stick for the first time, there’s a place for you. It’s all about fitness, fun, and feeling great. Get active, make friends, and enjoy every session.
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FOOD & RETAIL
A TRIP TO THE STARS AT SHERWOOD OBSERVATORY It had been far too long since the Voice team had enjoyed a little outing together. We’ve been so busy that finding the time hasn’t always been easy, but when we do venture out, we want it to be somewhere we can genuinely recommend to our readers. So, when we were invited to spend an afternoon at Sherwood Observatory, we jumped at the chance – and we’re very pleased to say that it was well worth the trip! Set in an area that benefits from darker skies, the observatory is home to an impressive planetarium built within a beautifully converted Victorian reservoir. The transformation really is something to see. Following a £6.8 million redevelopment, the centre reopened in November 2024 and the renovation has already received well-deserved recognition. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel incredibly welcome. Susanna Holt, Marketing, and Centre Manager Tony Booth greeted us before we were treated to a special planetarium show by Planetarium Lead, Matt Nutter. We could quite happily have stayed there all afternoon – and perhaps a little longer! Matt brought the universe to life with fascinating explanations, plenty of opportunities to ask questions and some truly spectacular visual displays. And that’s what makes Sherwood Observatory such a lovely place to visit. Behind the friendly team is a dedicated group of volunteers who clearly have a real passion for astronomy and for sharing that enthusiasm with others.
autumn and winter, making the most of the longer, darker nights and the opportunities they bring for observing the skies. There’s also a new Discovery Hour, taking place once a month, giving visitors the chance to explore the building and exhibitions at their own pace – and perhaps enjoy a coffee and a snack from the café while they’re there! Make sure you book online in advance to avoid disappointment for Planetarium shows, Open Evenings and Discovery Hours. For more information and sherwood-observatory.org.uk.
to
see
what’s
coming
up,
visit
From the Voice team: We’ve visited plenty of places over the years, but there was something particularly special about spending an afternoon looking up at the stars. We’re incredibly lucky to have somewhere like Sherwood Observatory right on our doorstep – and if, like us, you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s out there, we’d definitely recommend paying them a visit.
There’s plenty more to discover too, including a fascinating exhibition, a lovely volunteer-run café and a shop. You don’t need to be an astronomy expert either. Whether you’re introducing a curious child to the wonders of space, looking for a new hobby, or simply fancy discovering something a little different, there really is something here for everyone.
Something Spooky This Way Comes! The October programme is now out, and it seems the universe is getting a suitably mysterious feel for autumn! There’s We Are Aliens, exploring the fascinating question of whether we really are alone in the universe, alongside DARK and Phantom of the Universe, which delve into the mysteries surrounding dark matter. There’s also Unveiling the Invisible Universe and Universe Through All the Senses, offering a fascinating look at the universe beyond what we can normally see, hear and experience. And as the nights draw in, there will also be monthly Open Evenings throughout
Sherwood Observatory, Coxmoor Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. NG17 5LF 01623 552276 sherwood-observatory.org.uk Registered Charity Number 1187777 14 Don’t forget to mention Voice Magazines when responding to the Ads
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Colemans Est 1982
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Colemans have been manufacturing bespoke kitchen and bedroom furniture for over 40 years. We are a family run business with a belief in great quality products and service at sensible prices. All our products are built specifically for you and your needs, we can manufacture in any colour and style your heart desires. With Colemans the possibilities are endless.
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SLIMMING WORLD
NAME Carrot and Swede-topped Veggie Cottage Pie SERVES: 4
SWIPS: FREE
READY IN: 1 hour 30 minutes Pure comfort in every bite! Packed with hearty vegetables and topped with a deliciously golden carrot and swede mash.
Method: 1.
Ingredients: 600ml hot vegetable stock made with 1 low-salt stock cube
1 cal cooking spray 1 onion, finely chopped
2 tsp Marmite, or other yeast extract
3 large celery sticks, finely sliced 250g button mushrooms, halved or quartered 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp tomato purée 300g frozen plain soya/vegetable protein mince, defrosted 400g can chopped tomatoes
16
2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme 2 small swedes (roughly 750g in total), peeled and roughly chopped
2.
400g carrots, roughly chopped 2 tbsp fat-free natural Greek yogurt Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, to serve
3.
Spray a large, deep, non-stick frying pan with 1 cal cooking spray and put it over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery and mushrooms and fry for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until starting to soften. Add the garlic with a splash of water and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the tomato purée and mince and mix everything together. Stir in the tomatoes, stock and Marmite. Season with pepper and add the thyme, then bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until the veg are tender. At the same time, preheat your oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7.
Boil the swede for 5 minutes, then add the carrots and boil everything for a further 15 minutes until very tender. Drain, season with pepper and add the yogurt. Mash until smooth. 4.
Spoon the pie filling into a 2-litre ovenproof dish. Top with the mash and rough up with a fork. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the topping is turning golden.
5.
Scatter the pie with the parsley and serve with your favourite Speed Free vegetables, discarding the thyme sprigs before eating.
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and Moss Removal HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Sewing Machines My mum had a treadle sewing machine, she used it to make our curtains. I can still picture her pedalling, one foot in front of the other, the machine clattering as fabric passed furiously through her hands. Before she married, she had worked as a factory machinist, so she knew how to sew at speed. It was a heavy old beast: cast iron, solid as anything, and hardly ever troublesome. A drop of oil now and then was all it asked, and it felt as though it could stitch its way up one side of the street and down the other. I loved the little wooden drawer underneath, with its half-used bobbins, spare needles, and unmistakable scent of machine oil. It was also very satisfying the way it folded away after use. My mother-in-law had a Singer too, first worked by hand crank and later converted to electric with a foot pedal.
Singer Hand Crank Singer Treadle
She was a wonderfully skilled tailor and seamstress, though her husband would not let her run a business or take any form of payment. In our sessions, we meet many people with memories of sewing machines and the work done on them. One woman told us about her grandmother, who ran a market business mending stockings - another small story stitched into everyday life.
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.
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National Year of Reading 2026: Go All In! Remember picking up a book intending to read for ten minutes and suddenly discovering you’ve completely lost track of time, only to be dragged out of your book trance by the realisation that you’re absolutely starving? That’s the magic of reading – and in 2026, the National Year of Reading is encouraging us to rediscover it. The campaign, led by the National Literacy Trust in collaboration with the Department for Education, has a wonderfully simple message: “Go All In.” Rather than telling us what we should be reading, it encourages us to start with what we already love. And that makes perfect sense. Love football? There’s a whole world of biographies, sporting stories and match-day history waiting for you. Mad about cooking? Find a recipe book and work your way through it. Fascinated by history, gardening, travel, music, cars, crime or celebrity? There will be a book, magazine or article with your name on it. You don’t even have to be a “book person”. Reading has changed enormously over the years, and there are more ways to do it than ever. You can curl up with a paperback, download an e-book, listen to an audiobook while walking the dog or get your reading fix from a magazine, comic, graphic novel or online article. And let’s be honest, there are few things better than finding that book – the one you can’t put down. The one you think about while you’re doing the washing up. The one where you tell everyone, “Don’t talk to me, I’m reading!”
Of course, not every book is going to be a winner. Sometimes you can get halfway through and wonder why you’re persevering. If it isn’t grabbing you, put it down and try another one! There are far too many brilliant books out there to waste time struggling through one you don’t enjoy. Reading can also be wonderfully simple. A chapter before bed, a few pages with your morning coffee, an audiobook in the car or a magazine while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil. It doesn’t have to involve finding hours of spare time – sometimes just a few minutes is enough to escape into another world. And what better month to embrace it than October? Alongside the National Year of Reading, October is National Book Month, giving us another reason to celebrate the written word and perhaps discover something new. Why not revisit a favourite from your childhood? Swap books with a friend. Pick something completely outside your usual genre. Ask someone what they’ve enjoyed reading recently. Or, if you haven’t been in a library for years, pop through the doors and see what catches your eye. Because reading isn’t about how many books you finish, how quickly you read or whether you’ve read all the “classics”. It’s about finding something that makes you want to turn the page. So, this October, Go All In on something you love. Pick up a book, open a magazine, press play on an audiobook and see where it takes you. You never know – your next favourite story could be just one page away.
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Bakewell Old House Museum IT’S A GRAVE BUSINESS…
ason Local stone m fon Thomas Straf
Saxon cross seat
James Mills
Spike Milligan wanted the words ‘I told you I was ill,’ on his gravestone. Unfortunately, the local diocese wouldn’t allow this, but they were ready to compromise, allowing the words to be translated into Irish (Gaeilge), ‘Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite,’ Love, light, peace were also added . So, Spike got his way in the end… sort of… For thousands of years stones have been used to mark the site of burials. Burial mounds called barrows are scattered over the countryside in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Locally close to Arbour Low lies Gib Hill barrow, an ancient burial site. Not too far away is Minninglow which has five burial chambers. (three not complete). For centuries memorials were reserved for nobility and the wealthy, whilst the poor were often buried in unmarked graves, close to where they lived. Gravestones were usually laid flat, flush with the ground and often a pile of stones, or a smaller footstone bearing initials of the deceased, was placed at the end of a grave site. These were intended to ‘keep the dead from rising.’ During the 17th century church cemeteries began to replace personal burial grounds. Gravestone were placed vertically, instead of flat. They were hand carved with the names and age of the deceased. As time passed favourite prayers, religious symbols and personal details were added. Graves of the rich were often enhanced with the addition of elaborate sculptures. Sometimes heavy iron cages called mortsafes, were constructed around graves to deter body snatchers. Limestone, slate and sandstone were the
stones most commonly used as these were the easiest materials for masons to hand carve. Nowadays I imagine letters are mostly shaped by machine on the granite and marble gravestones we see today. And, just like people, every gravestone tells a story. Bakewell All Saints church has a number of interesting gravestones. Alongside the graves of well-known Bakewell residents such as White Watson, geologist, fossil and mineral collector, sculptor, (to mention but a few of his talents,) and Ann Greaves of pudding fame, stand other less famous, but equally as interesting memorials. One belongs to local stone mason Thomas Straffon. ‘In memory of Thomas Straffon who while working at the North Arch of the Tower of Bakewell Church was by an Accident, suddenly cut off, in the Prime of Life and Vigour of Health, Oct 4th1842 aged 32. Pass the time of your Sojourning here in fear.’ A bit of a stark warning for the poor lad. Carving at the base of the stone explains it was ‘Erected by a few of his Fellow Workmen.’
Another story lies behind the gravestone of James Mills. His tribute declares… This Stone is Erected by Subscription of the hand’s employer at Lumford Mill. To the Memory of James Mills who whilst working there was suddenly killed by being caught by a shaft on the 20th July 1846 Aged 22 years. The base of his stone says, take ye heed, watch and pray for ye know not when the time is. The churchyard in Bakewell is a peaceful place and a bench close to the Saxon cross offers a seat where you can admire the best view of our town. It’s well worth stepping inside the church. And whilst you are there, do wander over to explore our lovely museum, it’s only a few steps away hidden on Cunningham Place and we are open every day from 11am to 4pm.
Who doesn’t love to hear Halloween Ghost Stories and on 30th October Stephen Coates will be reading some, so come and enjoy the atmosphere of our lovely museum. Tickets available on our website or from the Museum.
I seem to remember hearing that Thomas was buried where his body rested after the fall. It’s quite a way from the church so I Joyce Janes on behalf of Bakewell Old House Museum might have imagined that.
DURING 2026 THE MUSEUM IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, 11AM TO 4PM To advertise please call 01773 549 035
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and Guess the words rd! ! o w s s o r c Fill in the
Pitcherwits
®
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures. Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
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Across 5 Jump that’s a bit riskily taken! (3) 7 Flypast said to be worse than a cold (3) 10 Fine linen made from river block, say? (7) 14 Smorgasbord, straight out of the cooker (3) 15 Furrow has a bad start for champagne (3) Down 2 Sensed in a woolly sort of way? (4) 3 Lazy tickover? (4) 9 There, somewhere below, is a revolting person (5) 12 Egg unmoved by endless changes (4) 13 Chicken nuggets: fashionable up front! (4)
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Across 1 Do this, being unpopular with lenders if so minded (4,7)
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Rest easy in marquee in continental area (6,5)
11 Potter in line up for a swim, say? (4,3)
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Picks an awful lot of fungus you shouldn’t drink with (3,4)
16 Teach, in mime, how to use teleporter through the ages (4,7)
7
Shine now and then in a fickle way, right? (7)
ANSWERS FOR LAST MONTHS PITCHERWITS Across: 1 Hexameters, 6 Aura, 7 Via, 8 Navy, 9 Weakness, 11 Turned on, 14 Ever, 15 Ago, 16 Rapt, 17 At the least. Down: 1 Horned toad, 2 Away win, 3 Track, 4 Revue, 5 Cause a riot, 10 Nanette, 12 Roost, 13 Earth.
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GOLDEN HILL BY FRANCIS SPUFFORD Golden Hill, is a very unusual book. It’s set in the mid-1700s in New York – and written in that style, although the author is very much 21st century. Mr Smith, the mysterious hero, arrives from London to this start-up city of only 7000 souls, with a £1,000 order to cash and spend. He’s a good looking and charming young chap who knows nobody when he lands, and keeps his cards very close to his chest. He moves through this mistrustful society in a somewhat sideways fashion, from almost being murdered, to being jailed and threatened with hanging, acquiring friends in high place, and being challenged to a duel for cuckolding the governor the everyday life of a chancer. Or is he? It’s immense fun, quite snarky, sometimes dark and deep, brilliantly descriptive – imagine Bridgerton and The Other Bennet Sister mixed. And driving you through all this, is the mystery of why he’s there and why he won’t tell anyone – the reader included - what he’s up to. Until, the final reveal, which is a cracker. Not for everyone, but definitely worth a punt if it sounds like your kind of thing.
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GARDEN SERVICES
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GARDEN SERVICES So much changes in the garden in autumn. The soil’s still warm, so you can lift and divide perennials, giving them a good chance to settle in. You can plant a few later flowerers such as Japanese anemones and winter pansies to take you through into winter. And of course, get your spring bulbs in. Then there’s the tidying up, adding to the compost heap or making leaf mould for next year. October is the big bulb planting month. Daffs, crocuses, alliums, fritillaries, grape hyacinths, dwarf iris, anemones. Garden centres are full of them. There’s been a growing trend to plant smaller bulbs in lawns – given that you’re not going to be mowing until well into spring – and they do look lovely poking through the green. You could plant them singly – use a bulb planter to lift and replace turf and soil chunks - or with very small bulbs even a stick pushed about four inches deep would create enough space to drop a bulb and push a bit of soil on top. Or you could lift a patch of turf, dig down a few inches, plop in a few crocus or dwarf iris bulbs and replace the turf. The main rule is to plant bulbs at a depth of least two to three times their size. Cut back perennials to within a couple of inches of their base, unless - as with honesty or others with attractive seed heads - you leave them till spring to give the garden a bit of winter shape. If you have perennials which are more tender - cosmos or coleus or penstemon - it’s worth leaving this year’s stems till spring to give the crown a bit of protection over the winter. And if there’s any new growth on any of your perennials again leave until spring. If you are cutting off seed heads, don’t put them on your compost pile – you might have more than compost next spring – without any way of identifying what you’ve inadvertently planted. Lift tubers of begonias, dahlias and cannas once the first frost has nipped them. Cut the stems off about two inches above the base, lift and remove soil by hand and store them upside-down in a cool place for a couple of weeks. Then put them in boxes filled with spent compost, dry sand or soil – or a combination of all three with the old stalks exposed at the top and keep in a frost-free space until spring.
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GARDEN SERVICES
EN FEEDERS
BIRDS ON GARD
NATURE NOTES FROM THE PEAK DISTRICT
SEASONAL CHANGES SIGNAL A NEW INFLUX TO WILDER GARDENS
The change from a long, hot, dry summer to a cold, wet August can come as something of shock, especially to smaller birds which suddenly need to bolster their energy intake. Accordingly, in recent weeks there has been an influx of, for example, titmice and various finches, particularly flocks of Greenfinches and Goldfinches, with the latter in abundance. A drop in temperature immediately triggered flocks of twenty to thirty Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Coal Tits, boosted every so often by ten to fifteen Long-tailed Tits and an occasional Nuthatch. About the same time, the locallyresident House Sparrows seem to be doing well and joining the feeding frenzy. Of course, many of these birds also take to local hedgerows, lane-sides, and fields where the late-summer pickings are quite easy and accessible. The big boost in numbers in both gardens and in the wider countryside is in a large part down to the post-breeding fledging of youngsters leading to excited mixed flocks of adults and juveniles. I have also noticed this year that some of the young Greenfinches and Goldfinches in particular, have become rather bold to the point of being almost tame. Along with the immature titmice, the finches especially, seem totally unbothered when I go out to top up the feeders. I have even had birds land on a feeders at the same time as I am holding it and filling it with food. This is quite extraordinary and something I have never known before, which the exception perhaps of one of my bolder Robins. In terms of visitors to the garden, the Wood Pigeons have reduced somewhat but numbers have been
supplemented by regular visitations of Collared Doves (altogether prettier and less hassle in terms of pigeonpoop), and of the delicate-eyed Stock Doves. I have also noticed an increase in visits by urban Feral Pigeons, something we don’t often see here. Other exotic ‘feral’ species include the increasingly ubiquitous Canada Geese, introduced to ornament grand estates in the 1600s and 1700s, and now breeding widely alongside now feral populations of native Grey Lag Geese. Over the last few weeks, I have seen and heard flocks of fifteen to twenty Canada Geese flying in v-formation low over the garden. Their distinctive and very loud call is described as a repeated ‘wagh-onk’ and this adds to their impact as they pass at roof-top height. No doubt as autumn progresses, we will be seeing and hearing large flocks of Pink-footed Geese heading north-west to south-east on their long migration from the tundra landscapes where they breed. As the long, drawn out skeins of Pink-feet pass overhead, their presence is characterised by high-pitched calls of ‘unk-unk’ and ‘wink-wink-wink’. These birds have increased greatly in numbers and whereas they used to be heading down to the Lincolnshire Wash and East Anglian marshes, it seems that many pitch down closer to the Peaks on farmland and wetlands around the Trent Valley and the Humberhead Levels of South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. As the seasons change and the weather drives many species southwards, others will move in from northerly climates to take their place. Nature is constantly in flux as species come and go, and we see this in the wildlife garden, in the countryside beyond. And all part of a living tapestry.
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Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter Don’t forget to mention Voice Magazines when responding to the Ads @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
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SUDOKU #75!
Fill in all the numbers This is a sudoku 1 square grid 81 cells 9 3x3 blocks 1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.
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These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
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