Nene Valley Living August 2013 by Best Local Living

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LIGHTING THE WAY Peterborough’s community parade RIDE THE RIVER Boat trips on the Nene

SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE HERE! Where to go and what to do

£1.50 AUGUST 2013

Nene Valley Living

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N ENE VA L L EY LIVING

Cover image: COTTAGE IN GRANTCHESTER BY LESLEY ANNE CHURCHILL

This Issue A UGUS T 2013

e’ve strayed a little from our regular patch this month, as we bring you some ideas for day trips. Why not try our walk in Cambridge (page 29), or, if you prefer something more relaxing, a trip to The Orchard tea garden at Grantchester? This is where the poet Rupert Brooke and his illustrious friends, Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russell, Maynard Keynes and Augustus John, amongst others, spent riotous days around the river bank and in the shade of the apple orchards. It is a beautiful spot on a summer’s day, and although busy with tourists at this time of year, it’s usually possible to grab a deckchair and enjoy a cream tea and a potter under the willows by the water’s edge. Of his time lodging at The Orchard, Rupert Brooke wrote: “I live on honey, eggs and milk, prepared for me by an old lady like an apple (especially in the face) and sit all day in a rose garden to work.” It is still an English idyll, despite the proximity of the M11. Closer to home, we have some great ideas for family activities and a guide to spending time on the River Nene. I really enjoyed writing the article about a special community arts project that is taking place in Peterborough on September 6th. A musical and visual spectacular which culminates in Cathedral Square, it has been dependent on Peterborough’s multi cultural population sharing their stories and working together. As the composer Jon Baker said, the end performance will be wonderful, but the process of making it has been just as valuable. Enjoy the month, let’s hope we have lots more sunshine to come.

Fion a Cu mberpatch Editor

5 Editor’s selection

29 A walk in Cambridge

7 Upfront

33 Messing about on the river

Fun buys for August

Book your tickets for Burghley Horse Trials!

8 Upfront

Spotlight on South Africa

10 Upfront

Nicholas Rudd-Jones suggests a route

Make the most of the River Nene

37 Diary dates

Our pick of the month’s events

Make a tomato tarte tatin

13 A good read

Books to take on holiday

14 Choir confidence

Fashion advice for a choral group

19 Food news

Café Clarkes reviewed

20 City of Light

Peterborough’s lantern parade

22 Health and beauty notes Top treatments and offers

25 Fun in the sunshine! Family activities for the holidays

Editor Fiona Cumberpatch fiona@bestlocalliving.co.uk Write to Nene Valley Living, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY www.nenevalleyliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager Bridget Steele 01733 707538 bridget.neneliving@ntlworld.com Advertisement Director Helen Walton 01780 754801 helen.stamford@btopenworld.com Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Senior Designer Nik Ellis nik@locallivingdesign.co.uk Advertising Copy Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 Email: localliving@btopenworld.com Published by Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 9FY www.locallivingltd.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne

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NENE VALLEY LIVING AUGUST 2013

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GREAT BUY S FOR A UGUS T

Editor’s selection

A wooden trug for your home grown fruit and veg, £20 each, John Lewis, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough.

A sweet treat for a summer tea, 12 mini macaroons, from Marks and Spencer, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough

Ring, £14, Monsoon, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough

Woodland cushion, £18, Paperchase, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough

Easy-to-use chalk paint will instantly refresh your garden furniture or indoor cupboards – no preparation needed. £18.50 for a one litre tin from Foxtail Lilly, 41 South Rd, Oundle (open Wednesday to Saturday) Tel: 01832 274593

Personalised bunting from Jollys Toys and Games, 28a High St, Thrapston. The double sided bunting is made in Oundle by Hilly Horton and costs £22 for a 2.5 metre length.

Abundance: how to store and preserve your garden produce by Alys Fowler. £16.99, Kyle Books, to order from The Oundle Bookshop

Keep the kids entertained on long journeys with Ringo the Sockette glove puppet (with squeaky tongue!). £12.50, Jolly’s Toys and Games, 28a High Street, Thrapston or www. JollysToys.co.uk NENE VALLEY LIVING AUGUST 2013

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W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront A PA you can trust

Oundle-based Nikkita Welman has set up her own PA business, QUINCE. Here, she explains what the service can offer: “I am often asked why I decided to set up my own PA business. It’s very simple: there is very little locally offering the same level of service, flexibility and expertise as QUINCE Professional PA Service. I built QUINCE on the back of various projects being undertaken where my clients have needed quick, efficient and confidential tasks carrying out, such as organising business trips and diaries, and general administration. Other clients have needed an extra pair of hands with personal shopping, booking dinners and hotels. As I offer a pay-per-hour service, you only pay for the time you use, meaning QUINCE has the flexibility to work around you, your business and family, unlike the restrictions and costs incurred when you employ a full time PA. The feedback so far has been great. So if you need a discreet, trusted cost effective PA service then QUINCE is here for you and I can work remotely, office based or in and around your home.” • Call Nikkita Welman, on 07764562852 or email quincepa@outlook.com

Burghley Horse Trials 2013 The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials are more than just a horse event, and there is plenty to keep all spectators entertained. Equestrian sport aside, Burghley also enjoys a reputation for the magnitude and quality of the trade stands – over 500 selected retailers. Many visitors return each year purely to browse the avenues and speciality pavilions that include the popular Rural Crafts and Country Living marquees, the Burghley Food Walk and the Green Lifestyle pavilion. The historic parkland guarantees easy parking and a selection of on site cafes offer breakfast. Thursday and Friday are dressage days, ideal, as many locals will testify, for shopping and browsing, enjoying the arena displays of equestrian expertise or the finals of the Dubarry Burghley Young Event horse competition and a picnic in the parkland with friends. The fearless sporting action takes place on Saturday, cross country day, when 80 horse and rider combinations test their mettle and stamina around the four miles cross country course and its 30 spectacular feature fences. With the help of the band of the Bugles and Rifles, the competition comes to a rousing conclusion on Sunday with the final showjumping phase which will determine who takes home the Land Rover perpetual challenge trophy and the £50,000 first prize. • Burghley Horse Trials, September 5-8. Booking, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk

Do you want to lose weight? Being overweight is one of the major health hazards facing the population. But knowing that you need to lose pounds and being able to achieve it is not easy. The Cambridge Diet started 30 years ago and has won awards for enterprise and excellence. It is a healthy, flexible weight management programme for men and women. With the help of a consultant you can find a programme to fit your lifestyle, based on a calories intake of 440 to 1500 calories a day. The range of meals are easy to use and nutritionally balanced and you can combine them with conventional food for a more gradual weight loss. You will receive one to one support from your consultant to help motivate and encourage you, and it doesn’t stop when you reach your target weight. They will be there to help you maintain your new weight. To get started, call local consultant Lorraine Noller on 07738217733 or email Lorraine.noller@btinternet.com • It is advisable to consult your GP before embarking on a weight loss programme

An English country garden Councillor Marco Cereste officially opened a beautiful and restful hidden garden at John Clare Cottage, Helpston on July 13th. The garden has been designed by Adam Frost, who won a gold award for it at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2012. It has been recreated in the grounds of the cottage where John Clare, the socalled ‘peasant poet’ lived. “The garden is characteristic of the landscape which inspired John Clare,” said Sara BlairManning of the John Clare Trust. “It has limestone hard landscaping, supplied by Stamford Stone, and is bordered by a beautiful wild flower strip.” Volunteers, local schools and community groups worked on the garden. You can visit it, and enjoy coffee or a light lunch at the delightful café within the cottage. • John Clare’s Cottage is at 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 253330 or visit www. clarecottage.org for opening times. Don’t miss the We Love Words Festival of Literature and Poetry which is being brought to Peterborough for the second year running by the John Clare Trust. The Festival runs from 20th- 28th September and will feature walks, talks, poetry, workshops, drama, music and rap. Highlights include talks by Germaine Greer on September 25th, Michael Portillo, September 20th, Richard Mabey, September 24th and Benjamin Zephaniah, September 22nd. Venues vary. • To book your tickets contact the Key Theatre Box Office on 01733 207239 and to see more details of events, visit www.welovewords.org

NENE VALLEY LIVING august 2013

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UpFront Spotlight on South Africa South Africa’s extraordinary natural beauty and cultural diversity often amazes visitors to the country. Superb infrastructure, a great variety of accommodation and world class service mean that South Africa has something to offer the most discerning traveller and is culturally and scenically inspiring. Cosmopolitan, relaxed and with a comfortable Mediterranean climate, Cape Town is the idea gateway into South Africa. Sandwiched between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the city enjoys one of the world’s most spectacular locations. Take a cable car to the summit of Table Mountain for superb views over Cape Town and the beaches beyond: visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, or stroll along the attractive Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in the city’s old port area, full of vibrant restaurants, shops and cafés. Arts and the theatre will not disappoint, and other excursions delve deeper into South Africa’s past and open doors not always visible in the city itself. The colourful Bo-Kaap area is one of the oldest residential areas in the city and home to the Malay community. Extending south of the city are many chic and leafy suburbs. Camps Bay is well known for its relaxed atmosphere, beachfront sidewalk and lively restaurant and café culture. This area is also close to the magnificent Kirstenbosch Gardens from where hiking enthusiasts can climb Table Mountain. Cape Town is the perfect base from which to explore the Cape Winelands, the Cape Peninsula and the seaside town of Hermanus. Big Five wildlife viewing is available just two and a half hours from Cape Town in the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Oundle Travel offers a nine night fly-drive itinerary from Cape Town through to the Winelands featuring four star accommodation, from £1,840 per person, including return economy class flights from London Heathrow and a Group B car. A five star boutique hotel option is also available for this itinerary at a supplement. Contact Oundle Travel to discuss your requirements further. Tel: 01832 273600 www.oundletravel.co.uk

Local authors in print • Danielle Fox from Peterborough released her first novel Freed By You onto the Amazon Kindle store in May and she has already had 3,500 downloads. Describing the story as “an erotic romance novel with lots of drama and suspense to keep those pages turning,” Danielle is thrilled that her book has achieved an average 4.5 star rating. The mum of three, who also works as a nail technician at Eden Hair Studio, has a lifelong ambition to become an author. • David Buswell from Titchmarsh, Northants, has had a non-fiction work, Amazing Ageing, published by MX Publishing. David’s book is a psychological survival guide for people approaching older age. “It is a highly practical book about living, which discusses the issues around ageing and most important, provides simple easy to follow exercises from Neuro Linguistic Programming, Psychosynthesis and Buddhism,” says David. Available on Amazon. Contact David at david@amazingageing.co.uk • Artist and writer Amanda Martin from Woodnewton set herself the challenge of writing a novel in daily instalments on her blog in 2013. She has published the first instalments of 200 Steps Home on Smashwords.com, an online publishers. You can catch up with Amanda’s progress and daily extracts at WriterMummy. wordpress.com

ASK THE

expert

Kerry Hilliard, partner in accountancy firm Stephenson Smart, explains the new childcare scheme for working families which was announced by the government earlier this year Once fully up and running, the scheme will be worth up to £1200 per child, and so will save a typical family with two children under 12 years old up to £2,400 a year. The scheme will be phased in from late 2015 and will initially apply to children under five. Ultimately it will be open to around 2.5 million families with children under 12. To be eligible, families will have to have both parents in work, with each earning less than £150,000 a year, and not already receiving support through Tax Credits or Universal Credit. They will receive 20 per cent of their yearly childcare costs up to £6,000 per child. The new scheme will replace the existing childcare voucher programme which is currently offered by less than five per cent of employers. Families who use the old scheme will be able to stay with it or switch to the new system. Large families will benefit as savings are calculated per child rather than per employee. The new scheme is also likely to be welcomed by the self employed who cannot currently claim vouchers. Families where only one parent works will be worse off, together with those only requiring small amounts of childcare. The Government is consulting on the finer details of the new scheme, including looking at how employers can continue to play a role in supporting their employees with childcare costs within the new system. For more information and tax advice, contact Stephenson Smart & Co, telephone 01733 343275 or visit www.stephensonsmart.com

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UpFront At Riverford, our aim is to make fresh, seasonal, organic food available to everyone, Three years ago we launched our Riverford Cooks campaign to inspire people to cook from scratch using a veg box. Our local Riverford Cook, Diana Burke, is based at our farm in Sacrewell. This is her recipe for a savoury tarte tatin which would be perfect for a light supper or lunch Cherry tomato tarte tatin Serves 2 or 4 (depending on how hungry you are), Prep 10 mins, cook 30 mins Ingredients: • 1 tbsp olive oil • 40g butter • 1 tsp caster sugar • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 1/2 whole head of garlic (cut in half crossways) • 4 sprigs fresh marjoram or oregano • 250g cherry tomatoes, cut in half through the middle • 1 tbsp dry breadcrumbs • 320g sheet all-butter puff pastry, rolled out to 3-4mm thick • 1 egg, beaten • Extra virgin olive oil, to serve Method: Heat the oil and butter in a 23cm ovenproof frying pan. Add the sugar and balsamic and season with salt and pepper. Put the garlic bulb cut side up in the middle. Scatter over the marjoram and arrange the tomatoes cut side down around the garlic. Cook for 5 mins. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs. Cut the pastry to the same size as the pan, lay it over the top of the tomatoes and tuck in the edges. Brush with beaten egg. Bake in a 220°C oven for 20 mins, until golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and leave to sit for 5 mins. Run a knife around the edge of the pastry to loosen it, place a plate over the top and tip it out. You may need to do some tomato patching, depending on how non-stick your pan is. Cut into slices, squeezing out the garlic to spread over the tarte. Find more recipes at www.riverford.co.uk/sacrewell. To order your Riverford box, call 01780 789700 www.riverford.org.uk/sacrewell

Celebrate with the Kings Head, Apethorpe Charlotte and Simon of The Kings Head, Apethorpe, are celebrating their two year anniversary at the village pub with a special birthday bash. Join them for a barbeque, bouncy castle, excellent selection of ales and cider, live music and stalls on August 25th from 4pm. Tickets cost £8.50 to include a pint and a burger/hog roast. Children under 12 go free with a paying adult. The Kings Head, Kings Cliffe Rd, Apethorpe, PE8 5DG Tel: 01780 470627 www.kingsheadapethorpe.co.uk

Families stay connected this summer Local-parent.co.uk is a new social network for parents and families local to the Oundle and Thrapston area. Rachel Carroll, a local mum, started the website with the aim of providing a calendar of events and activities, but by popular request she is now supplying extra information. “I want to grow the site so that parents can share information, review places of interest, swap deals and really be able to explore what is happening in the local community,” says Rachel. To find out more visit www.local-parent.co.uk or email info@local-parent.co.uk

Photographic society exhibition Peterborough Photographic Society will be hosting an exhibition at Peterborough Garden Park from Saturday 31 August to Sunday 1 September. This is a great opportunity for people interested in photography to look at locally created work and speak to Society members about their work and photography in general. Those interested in joining the Society are invited to an open evening on Tuesday 3 September at 7.30 in The Parkway Sports and Social Club in Peterborough. For more information, visit the website www.peterboroughps.org.uk.

Football fun in the holidays One Touch Football is running some Football Fun/Development days and Mini Olympics Sports days in Peterborough this summer. The football courses, lead by Glenn Vaughan, will take place at The Riverside Pavilion, Candy Street, Woodston, on August 13, 14, 15, 28, 29 and 30 August. The cost is £15 for the first day, £13 thereafter, and the courses are open to children aged 4 -12. The Mini Olympics days will be held at The Nene Valley School, Sugar Way, Peterborough, dates to be confirmed. To find out more or to complete an online booking form, visit www. onetouchfootball.co.uk

Pumpkin Day

Saturday 26th October 11am-4pm Free family day out at Riverford on Sacrewell Farm

alolme

welc

visit www.riverford.co.uk/sacrewell or call 01780 789700 10

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PE R SPE CT IVE S

A good read

In search of a good book to take on holiday? Sue Dobson asks around for some recommendations Tina Parsons, Director of Burghley Academy in Peterborough and author of The Beauty Chronicles (Bookshaker) enjoyed Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Black Swan). “The story revolves around inseparable cousins, Anju and Sudha. Anju has a fierce spirit and longs to study literature at college while Sudha is beautiful and calm and dreams of designing clothes and having a family. Marriage leads them along separate paths in different countries but after many years and many obstacles the friends are reunited. Most of the story is set in India with tales of Bengali myths and Hindu gods forming part of its rich tapestry. In essence it is a story about the limitations of tradition, the struggle for change and the pain and joy of sisterhood. The writing is such that I felt the two women’s every emotion as each told her part of their shared story.” Reverend Canon Bruce Ruddock at Peterborough Cathedral chose Good Italy Bad Italy by Bill Emmot (Yale University Press). “Having lived in Rome for four years, I am easily attracted to any new book about Italy. However, having worked there in an ecclesiastical context, it was interesting to read a book about this wonderful country that makes almost no mention of the Church at all! The author, a former editor of The Economist, offers a penetrating insight into why politically and economically Italy has sunk to become a major problem in the European Union, whilst also suggesting positive and imaginative ways in which it can return to prosperity. Here we have familiar tales of mafia cruelty, stifling employment law and the sins of Silvio Berlusconi, alongside accounts of determined opposition to corruption and visionary entrepreneurs. This is a great read for anyone who loves the country that is, at the same time, both heavenly and maddening.” Justine Turton, Festival Manager for the Oundle Music Trust says: “Every so often it is good to revisit old favourites and recently I found myself seeking the solace and wisdom imparted within the pages of Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (Sphere). It is novel about ‘an old man, a young man and life’s greatest lesson’ and is the author’s account of his final meetings with his old college professor Morrie Schwartz, who is in the final stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Morrie is facing his fate with grace, humour and dignity and through these final lessons reminds Mitch about the true meaning of life: Live fully and in the moment. Treat others with respect, kindness, love and dignity. Seek joy and appreciate your family and friends. It’s a must read for anyone who is a little lost in life.”

Sylvia Neal, co-owner of The Old Barn at Wadenhoe, enjoyed Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell. “The novel has two strands: one follows Betty Dean from her quiet life on Guernsey into adventurous anonymity in 1990s Soho, while the other draws on her grandmother Arlette’s life in the bohemian whirl of 1920s London. Arlette has left much of her estate to a mysterious beneficiary, Clara Pickle, and Betty’s searches for Clara uncover a tale of love, loss, heartbreak and surprises. As the story flips between the two eras, I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter. It’s a good holiday read.” My own recommendation is The Secret Life of William Shakespeare (Headline Review) by local author, Jude Morgan. Will works with his father as a glove-maker in the Shakespeare family home but dreams of joining the travelling players. Even when he marries Anne Hathaway, the pull of the theatre proves too strong and he moves to London, to act and then to write plays. In this brilliant evocation of mid-16th century life, full of atmosphere and exquisite detail, we follow his journey alongside that of Anne, as she remains in the country with the children and her in-laws, struggling to understand the man she loves. The lives of intemperate Kit Marlowe and egotistical Ben Jonson are expertly woven through Will’s story and the author fleshes out his protagonists and their relationships so perfectly that the reader cannot help but become immersed in their joys and sorrows. Moving and absorbing, this is historical fiction at its very best. • You can order books from The Oundle Bookshop, Market Place, Oundle Tel: 01832 273523. NENE VALLEY LIVING AUGUST 2013

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FASHION

Choir confidence

Sally Stillingfleet has been helping to style some members of a local choir A Handful of Harmonies, along with their inspiring choir master, Andrew Clingo. Photos: Elli Dean

hen it comes to group activities, I have always been against generic uniforms, While I can appreciate the cohesive ‘gluing together’ properties of clothing such as polo shirts for choirs and school groups, I believe far more in the powers that clothes have to help people express their individuality. Being able to try new styles and having confidence in clothes will give everyone new stage presence - and a rest from the inevitable polo shirt!

Group left to right (Debbie Howard, Debbie Harbour, Hilary Pearce, Andrew Clingo, Suzi Parfrement, Sue Casson)

Coneys, Stamford, dressed choir master Andrew Clingo Since starting A Handful of Harmonies (AHOH) in Langtoft two years ago, Andrew has grown the groups to seven across the region (with a new group recently forming in Oundle). With choirs meeting up for 90 minutes each session, this once small vocal group has ballooned and aims to give women of all ages some ‘me time’. All the ladies adore Andrew - his immense talent and infectious enthusiasm for singing and performing is truly astonishing. One thing they are also unanimous about though is that his “baggy jeans and T shirt image have to go!” Coneys fitted Andrew out with Tommy Hilfiger chinos £85, Thirty Ten jacket £200 and pink shirt (AHOH signature colour) £70. Shoes £109, from Marcia May Shoes. Neil styled Andrew’s hair with a bit more of a quiff.

Energy, Stamford, dressed Debbie Howard Debbie’s petite frame has not always been so. Debbie has recently lost a staggering amount of weight and was determined to get into some jeans after spending many years in “jogging bottoms and baggy tops!” Debbie, who was a founder member of the Langtoft choir two years ago this month, is a proud grandma (who would believe it?) She was amazed at the selection of jeans at Energy and very pleased with her new ‘Rock Chick’ look with Levis Demi Curve skinnies £85 and a striped sleeveless blouse £60, teamed with a fitted black cotton Esprit Blazer from Attic. Black Gabor sling-backs £85 from Marcia May Shoes. Her clutch is by Coach, £120 from Arch Label Agency. Debbie’s hair is fine, cut into a bob, so Sophie added volume with soft curls around her face, complementing her new youthful outfit.

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Arch Label Agency was the inspiration for Sue Casson Sue describes how she aspires to emulate the dress sense of Helen Bonham-Carter, so at Arch Label Agency Susie chose her a Gianni Versace dress (£120) with an eclectic romantic summer print and with some wicked silver wedges by Prada, £80. Having moved from York recently, Sue joined AHOH (Stamford) to meet people and has loved being part of this sociable group. Having naturally curly long hair Sophie relaxed the curls and made them more defined with large rollers to add volume and height.

Cavells and Arch Dress Agency dressed Debbie Harbour Debbie had lost sight of her good looks, choosing to wear black loose styles for her work as a Mobile Hairdresser. She was shocked when she saw the dress I coaxed her into wearing, from Cavells. Debbie is also a Grandma (I was staggered when she said she has a 30 year old daughter!) She really enjoys being a part of the Stamford choir. The new Tucker dresses (from £315) and shirt shapes suit all sizes, and belted, the dress defines Debbie’s waist and emphasises her stunning figure. Beautiful long, naturally curly hair is re-defined using larger rollers for the Marylyn Monroe look by Sophie, perfectly in tune with the dress and red lipstick. Delicate statement earrings £450 from Paradise Found really complete the outfit with Russell and Bromley heels £80 and a Coach clutch £100 from Arch Label Agency.

Attic, Stamford, dressed Hilary Pearce Hilary tends to wear more subtle, darker colours, so we have deliberately not chosen brown! Instead we steered her towards cobalt blue and white highlighted with a striped Tommy Hilfiger scarf, £45 Hilary admits she plays safe with her clothes, but shopping with her daughter has encouraged her to be more daring, showing off her height and long legs. Esprit blue jeans £45, Penny Black linen jacket £150, with American Vintage vest £35 underneath. Blue peep-toe shoes £80 from Marcia May Shoes. The most striking transformation came at the salon where Neil cleverly wove in three warm shades to highlight her hair, finally shaping and straightening her naturally unruly thick hair into a slick, contemporary blunter shape.

Cavells, Oakham, dressed Suzi Parfrement Rosie at Cavells spent a lot of time with Suzi getting her outfit together as Suzi had very definite ideas about her personal style. Rosie put her in an amazing snakeskin print Joseph top £295.00 and Part Two jeans £74.95 with Toni Pons wedges £80.00. Gorgeous Azuni cuff from Paradise Found £69. Suzi’s hair benefited from Neil’s straighteners, defining her blonde hair around the face, complementing perfectly the asymmetric hemline.

Stockists Coneys (New!), 3 Ironmonger St. Stamford Tel. 01780 481298 Arch Label Agency, 34 St. Paul’s St, Stamford (New!) Tel. 01780 764746 Attic, 33 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford. Tel.01780 766667 Paradise Found, 34 St. Mary’s St. Stamford 01780 764439 Energy, Ironmonger Street, Stamford Tel. 01780 765633 Marcia May Shoes, 41 St. Mary’s St, Stamford Tel. 01780 766608 Cavells, 16 Mill Street, Oakham. Tel. 01572 770372 Why not book an opportunity to see the Cavells team in action and find out for yourself how you can put together Autumn’s new looks. The fashion morning is themed “Fall into Autumn”, a morning showcasing transitional pieces, with hair and beauty for the new season. Thursday September 19th start time 10.00 am in Cavells then lunch at Hambleton, ticket price £38.00. • A big thank you to Jess Nurse for doing the natural but glamorous make-up and Amy for the amazing nails. (07814 202641) • The Salon 3’s transformational work. Allowing us to use not only their talented stylists but also the salon as a backdrop. Many thanks. Tel. 01780 765505

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Advertisement Feature

A DAY OUT…IN PETERBOROUGH Peterborough is a city which has something to offer everyone. From the stunning Cathedral and recently rejuvenated Cathedral Square, fantastic shopping centre, hive of bustling eateries and array of independent retailers, through to a packed programme of events including the Arts Fest, visitors will be delighted by a day out in Peterborough.

Queensgate shopping Centre Situated in the heart of Peterborough city centre and easy to reach by car, rail, bus or foot, shoppers can browse the fantastic array of more than 90 stores including John Lewis, M&S, Topshop and Primark, along with independent retailers such as men’s fashion boutique Maysons and eyewear specialist The Oculist, both situated in the centre’s charming Westgate Arcade. Queensgate also has a packed events calendar for visitors to enjoy this year, including a spectacular fashion event in September, October’s student takeover and what promises to be an extremely exciting festive period during December. • For more information visit queensgate-shopping.co.uk Cathedral sQuare Recently rejuvenated, Cathedral Square in the city centre is a bustling hive of restaurants and cafes, making it the perfect place to enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks after a day of shopping. Queensgate has recently brought popular Italian restaurant Carluccio’s to the square where shoppers can enjoy authentic food, relaxing drinks and a mooch around the deli. Visitors can also choose from other tasty eateries including Pizza Express, Nandos, Prezzo and Patisserie Valerie. peterborough’s hidden gems Peterborough has lots to offer the discerning shopper. Hidden among its shopping streets are a host of individual independent shops, coffee shops and restaurants. Whether it’s value for money, individuality or service with a smile you’re searching for, look no further than Peterborough’s varied indie retailers. • Visit localindieretailers.co.uk for more information

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spaCe This summer take a trip to the city centre museum to see Space: Fact and Fiction (1 June – 7 October). The exhibition will highlight the UK’s role in space exploration and what it really takes to become an astronaut. Learn answers to all your burning questions, such as is time travel really possible? What is the difference between a meteor and an asteroid? And is there actually life on other planets? Plus find out how science fiction has shaped the course of space technology and exploration over the years. • Find out more online at vivacitypeterborough.com peterborough City Centre eVents There are many events held in Peterborough throughout the year from themed events such as the Italian festival and specialised markets to larger scale events at the Embankment such as the Great Eastern Run, the Willow Festival and the Beer Festival. • the events are always changing so call in to the Visitor information Centre on bridge st. to find out what is happening now. peterborough arts Fest Peterborough Arts Fest 2013 is set to be bigger and better than ever before, packed full of street arts, circus acts, street performers, installations

and extravagant visual displays, there really is something for everyone. Moving to different dates in August and September, Arts Fest will visit more locations in Peterborough this year including the city centre in and around Queensgate shopping centre, Central Park, Peterborough Cathedral, Flag Fen, Key Theatre and the embankment. • For the full festival programme, dates, times and booking information, visit the re-look website peterboroughfestival.co.uk peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral is an excellent visitor destination, offering the opportunity to explore its rich history and magnificent architecture, and of course to enjoy the tranquillity of the Cathedral and its precincts. Cathedral tours Visitors to the Cathedral will find that nothing quite matches taking a tour in the company of one of the expert guides. They provide a fascinating insight into the history of the building, the key points of religious, architectural and historical interest, and they can relate many stories and legends associated with the Cathedral. • to arrange a tour / group booking please call amber homer-Woof on 01733 355300 or visit peterborough-cathedral.org.uk for more information.

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Escape to the Suffolk coast STAY AND EAT AT THE SHIP AT DUNWICH

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friendly, family run, Best of British specialist delicatessen with knowledgeable staff selling carefully sourced and delicious foodstuffs. The perfect place to find treats for a picnic, to buy a good cheese, to order a gift hamper or just to buy something nice to take home to eat. Daily sampling and tasting available, it’s the only way we think a deli should be – try a new cheese, olive or chutney – come and see what catches your eye…

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Got an event coming up? Whether it’s a massive special occasion, smaller private function or a corporate event we can cater. Open: Mon to Fri 8:00 – 17:00 Sat 9:00 – 17:00 Sun – Closed for restocking & baking! Devines Deli Ltd, 10B West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EF

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FOOD & DR INK

Food News All the latest on local food and drink

Nene Valley Living

recommends Café Clarkes

The setting of Café Clarkes at The Key Theatre, in a modern space overlooking a lawn sloping down to the River Nene, where several narrow boats are moored along the bank, is hard to beat.

he quality of the food is great too, being the sister establishment of Clarkes in the city centre, which has already had so much impact on the local eating out scene. Whilst the main Clarkes restaurant is about fine dining, the café is about mixing the best of both worlds – the great British-inspired food at Clarkes and a welcoming, relaxed, casual dining scene. We went at lunchtime for a half-work, half-social meeting, and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The space is light and airy and agreeable. For starters we shared the ‘Bar Board’, which comprised a taste of crispy brawn fritters and apple chutney, Ham Hock and Lincolnshire poacher croquets, Devils on horseback with Grasmere streaky bacon, Kings Lynn brown shrimps & smoked haddock fishcake and Quail and mushroom Scotch egg with sage mayonnaise. Good for sharing, very filling. The main courses all worked really well. I chose at the ‘casual end’ with Bubble and squeak with poached egg and bacon (mmm, delicious), Helen went for the loin fish and chips, with minted pea and

tartar to the test (passed with flying colours) and Bridget enjoyed the more classic sea bass, Lyonnaise and potted shrimp butter (sea bass was fresh and cooked perfectly). As for the desserts, they hit the spot in every way – flavoursome, indulgent and beautifully presented – we enjoyed Eton mess with local strawberries, Nutmeg Egg custard tart and Raspberry compote and Vanilla pannacotta with a red berry consommé. Café Clarkes adds a whole new dimension to the Key Theatre experience and must be tried whether you are going to a show or not. And on a hot day you will be able to take your drink or coffee out onto the terrace and enjoy the beautiful setting. Nicholas Rudd-Jones. • Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-2.30pm & 5.00-10pm; Sunday 12noon-6pm. www.clarkespeterborough.co.uk Tel: 01733 561465

Summer Sundays at Charters

Express Business lunches at Riva

Want to take a client out for lunch but short on time? Riva has just launched a menu aimed at business people on a tight timescale. The Pranzo Rapido will feature freshly prepared dishes, which are slightly smaller than many offerings from the a la carte menu and also speedier to bring to the table. For example, you could have a single cannelloni with ricotta, spinach, béchamel and Napoli sauce, or perhaps a lunchtime taster plate with Parma ham slices, salami, buffalo mozzarella with pine nuts, marinated vegetables, bruschetta with anchovies or marinated artichoke hearts. With its free car parking, Riva, which relocated to Eye at the beginning of May expects that many workers from across Peterborough can be back at their desks within the hour having had an enjoyable break or working lunch. • www.riva-restaurant.co.uk

A line up of the finest bands and musicians from across Peterborough will take to an outside stage at Charters, a leading pub and restaurant in the city, every Sunday this summer. Stuart Wright, general manager said: “we are delighted to provide the people of Peterborough with a warm and friendly environment in which to relax and enjoy some free entertainment in one of the best beer gardens in the city.” In August, the dates are as follows: August 2 – The Gangsters, August 11 – The Motor City Vipers Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August – The Randall Rootz Festival August 25th – Tom and Pete • Charters is at Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1FP For more info on Summer Sundays, visit www.charters-bar.co.uk or phone 01733 315700

A moveable feast

Take the heat out of your summer party by getting Jack Harrison to provide the food from his mobile wood fired hot rocks pizza oven. “Pizza making is visual entertainment for guests. They watch us roll out the dough, add the toppings and slide it into a wood fired oven. It lends itself to a casual, relaxed event producing 100 pizzas within the hour,” says Jack. He also caters a mix of barbecue food, including wood oven roasted rib of aged beef accompanied by some great salads. • Contact him at jack100harrison@aol.com

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ACT IVIT IE S

City of Light At dusk on Friday September 6th in Cathedral Square, there will be a visual and musical celebration of Peterborough and its people, past and present. Fiona Cumberpatch finds out how a unique multi cultural project came together “Working together breeds trust and community.” Jon Baker, composer, Upon This Rock

f you come to Cathedral Square, Peterborough at 7pm on September 6th, you may be surprised at what you find there. Arts organisation Metal has been working with local community groups, schools and individuals to create an event called Upon This Rock. Spectacular lantern parades, starting from three points near the city centre, will culminate in a musical and dramatic performance which is intended to celebrate the city’s identity and heritage. The performance takes its inspiration from the idea of ‘home’ and the city’s history of migration, which can be traced through the housing schemes of the 60s and 70s and thousands of years back to the Bronze Age boat people of the Fens. “Peterborough is a place where people have constantly arrived and settled, it’s not just a recent thing,” says Emma Bernard, artistic director of Upon This Rock. “It is about life sweeping you along and finding somewhere to hang on to. For many people, Peterborough has been that island, that safe place that they have come to call home.” Emma has been working with composer Jon

Baker and people from the community to create a narrative structure, which will form the basis of the performance in Cathedral Square. “We are just the catalysts,” points out Emma. “The project is all about getting people together to create something homegrown.” With volunteer members from different communities within the city, Emma and Jon have been running workshops to tease out some of their family stories. “It’s about looking at your family from the outside and talking about yourself as if you’re another person,” says Emma. “To do this, we use role playing, memory games and storytelling. I will then go away and write a script based on what people have said.” Meanwhile Jon Baker has composed music to underscore the set pieces and has put together a band of local musicians. He has been scouring the city for singers and has met with local choirs and singing groups, including a Polish choir and the popular Peterborough Voices. “Singing has gone from a lot of people’s lives,” says Jon. “It is good to turn it into a community bonding experience. The aim of all this is to

involve as many local people as we can and to maximise the links between different groups of people.” Some might argue that this is exactly what Peterborough needs. As an ethnically diverse city, which, according to Arts Council research, has a low engagement with the arts compared to other towns (it is in the bottom 20 per cent in the country), a project which promotes both interest in culture and community cohesion could be valuable. The British Council carried out a study which suggests that “culture enables us to appreciate points of commonality and where there are differences to understand the motivations and humanity that underlie them.” It is something which Jon and Emma appreciate. “We all share the same sky, but we are allowed to be different,” says Emma. “This is all about unity and coming together, it’s not about sameness.” Adds Jon: “Working together breeds trust and community.” Both Jon and Emma have been surprised what they have found in the city. “The people we’ve met have been some of the most positive

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The lantern makers

Jeni Cairns was one of four local artists selected to work with local school children to make the lanterns which will illuminate the parade to the city centre. Jeni and her co-workers (Stuart Payn, Shashi Patel and Alex Lingford) went to the nationally known Liverpool Lantern Company in Liverpool to learn how to construct the lanterns, so they could then return to Peterborough and run workshops for the students. “The whole thing has been an incredible experience,” says Jeni. “The lantern frames are made from willow or wire. LED lights are placed inside the framework, which is covered with wet strength tissue paper which is very durable and robust.” The Liverpool Lantern Company create vast structures for national theatre and festivals, so the artists were able to draw on their expertise. “We have been working with younger students at St Thomas More RC Primary School and Orton Wistow Primary School, and older ones at Ken Stimpson Community School and Hampton College, to produce around 200 lanterns,” says Jeni. “The kids have done really well, and their teachers were very involved too.” Each school is making shaped lanterns based on the theme of immigration and migration. Orton Wistow’s lanterns are suitcase-shaped, St Thomas More are producing houses, Hampton College’s theme is pots and pans and kitchen equipment, and Ken Stimpson Community School are making boat shaped lanterns. There will also be a huge lighthouse structure, created by The Liverpool Lantern Company, on to which all the smaller lanterns will be hung as the parades reach Cathedral Square. It will then be raised into the air, accompanied by music.

Jeni Cairns Photo: Lesley Anne Churchill

Artist Stuart Payn works with students at the Ken Stimpson Community School Photo: Ruth Campbell

Moony (right) and Paul Mills share stories of life in Peterborough

advocates of Peterborough, whether they’ve been here for years, or whether they have more recently found it as their ‘rock,’” says Emma. “On my part, the city has been a revelation to me. Once you land here, you can see that it is an interesting and beautiful place.” • The parades start at 7pm from: Shamrock Park (at the top of Broadway), Peterborough Museum (Priestgate), Chauffeur’s Cottage, St Peters Road. They will culminate in Cathedral Square. • Upon This Rock is part of Peterborough

Arts Fest 2013, brought to the city by Vivacity Culture and Leisure. The festival is packed with street arts, circus acts, street performers, installations and extravagant visual displays. With events taking place in August and September, you can find the full programme at www.peterboroughfestival.co.uk • If you would like to make something to take to bring to the parade, drop into Central Park on August 10th, where artists will be working with the general public at a series of free workshops. NENE VALLEY LIVING AUGUST 2013

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HEA LTH & BE AUT Y

Health & Beauty Notes All the latest news on local health and beauty businesses. By Bridget Steele PERFECT SKIN

The Beaux Amis salon in Wansford specialises in Decleor Beauty treatments and also sells a range of Decleor products. Their new BB (or beauty balm) cream skin perfector is a great buy - at £29 for a 40ml tube it combines a 24 hour multi protective moisturiser with the benefits of a foundation for natural flawless skin that brightens and illuminates the skin as well as correcting blemishes and has an SPF 15 rating. I bought some from the salon after salon owner, Stacey Chalkley said how popular it had been and clients were delighted with results. It is great product that is quick and easy to use with many benefits in one product and is great for smoothing out the complexion and improving skin texture. • For more details on treatments or the Decleor BB Cream contact Jasmin or Stacey at Beaux Amis, The Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Peterborough Tel: 01780 781102.

SUMMER DISCOUNTS AT ELYSIA

Elysia Health and Beauty in Tansor are offering £5 off all treatments booked during July and August with this article. The salon offers a wide range of beauty and holistic treatments in beautiful, relaxing surroundings. Whether its a CACI or microdermabrasion results driven facial , a manicure, pedicure or St Tropez tan to get your summer holidays off to a ﬂying start or perhaps a relaxing massage or reﬂexology treatment to get into the holiday mood. Lash Perfect lash extensions are a popular choice this year for maintenance free eyes and beautiful luscious lashes. • For more information contact Elysia Health and Beauty, Tansor, Oundle, Tel: 01832 226328 or 07879 620196 www.elysiahealthandbeauty.com

INDEPENDENT ESSENTIALS Herlington Dental Practice prides itself on providing quality dental care at an affordable price. The practice has recently introduced an excellent dental payment plan where for a monthly payment of £7.29 (equivalent to just 24p a day) you will receive two examinations, two scale & polishes each year plus two small x-rays every two years. In itself this represents a saving of £8.52 compared to the practice standard dental charges. However, the really great news is all the other benefits that the plan provides: • Emergency out of hours cover (normally a minimum charge of £100) • Dental injury cover up to £10,000 • Mouth Cancer cover up to £12,000 • Access to Denplan’s 24 hour worldwide dental emergency helpline that your travel insurance may not cover if you are more than 40 miles away from your dentist. There is also 10% off the cost of ALL routine dental treatment If two members of your family join together the monthly payment is reduced by five per cent. If three family members join the monthly payment is reduced by 10 per cent and if four or more family members join the monthly payment is reduced by 15 per cent. • Find out more by calling Bushfield on 01733 370331, Herlington on 01733 234566 or Werrington on 01733 573244. * Terms and conditions apply.

TITEFX AT THE COSMETIC CLINIC PETERBOROUGH

Titefx is a new treatment at the Cosmetic Clinic and it is a safe, gentle and effective non-invasive procedure which targets problematic fatty areas to approve the appearance of the body to give a slimmer, smooth and tighter ﬁgure. The treatment includes radio-frequency heating, vacuum massage and a high amplitude pulse that delivers optimal energy to treatment areas and may reshape and contour the body to provide a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. The treatment is safe for all skin colours and types and has no side effects or downtime. The clinic are offering a sixth treatment free when ﬁve are paid for at £125 per session. • For more information contact Peterborough Cosmetic Clinic, 226 Dogsthorpe Road, DHC Business Centre, Peterborough PE1 3PB Tel: 01733 310090 E-mail peterboroughcosmeticclinic@ aol.co.uk www.ukcosmeticclinic.com

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18/7/13 15:10:20

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Fun in the sunshine! The children have broken up but what are you going to do all summer long? Lucy Banwell finds the best fun to be had out and about in the area this August

Burghley House Burghley’s ‘Garden of Surprises’ may not be the cheapest day out, but it’s worth every penny on a scorching hot day! Put the kids in their swimmers and Crocs and off they go, running amok among the water fountains, interactive installations and follies. The admission charge also covers entrance to the house and gardens, the latter being fantastic for children – acres of rolling parkland with excellent paths for cycling or scooting. HOW MUCH? £6.50 per child, £12.70 per adult WHEN OPEN? Daily 11am – 5pm WHAT’S ON? The Burghley Film Festival 1st – 4th August Outdoor screenings of children’s favourites in the daytime and grown-up films in the evenings. Bring a picnic and popcorn and settle down on

the grass with the kids to watch films such as Jungle Book, Shrek or Finding Nemo. £4 per child, £8 per adult for a day pass to the Film Festival Beastly Boring Burghley Tours 10am daily from 22nd July until 31st August. A guided tour with a difference revealing the gruesome details and horrible histories of the folk who have made Burghley House their home over the years. Each child will receive a free Beastly Boring Burghley Guidebook at the end of the tour. The tour is complimentary with the normal admission charge but places must be booked online via www.burghley.co.uk MORE INFO: www.burghley.co.uk Tel: 01780 752451

Barnwell Country Park Situated just outside Oundle is Barnwell Country Park with its idyllic lakeside walks and meadows to explore. Visit the bird hides to see how many wildlife species you can spot and enjoy the views from the many benches dotted along the paths. The big draw here for kids is the children’s play park. The recently revamped area includes a sand pit, a pirate ship, a zip wire and an elevated wooden walkway. Picnic tables abound so bring your own grub and enjoy a lovely family day out in sunshine! HOW MUCH? Free admission! Parking costs £2.60 per car WHEN OPEN? All day, every day WHAT’S ON? Wildlife Wednesdays 11am – 1pm, 7th,

14th, 21st, 28th August & 4th September Pond dipping with the rangers. Discover Barnwell Park’s fascinating underwater world. £2 per child MORE INFO: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk Tel: 01832 273435

Stanwick Lakes There’s something for everyone at Stanwick Lakes, a 750-acre nature reserve in the heart of the Nene Valley. The adventure play area with climbing tower and water play will keep young kids amused for hours and a short walk will take you to the assault course and adventure trail which are a brilliant challenge for older children. You can bring your own bikes to explore the seven miles of flat cycle paths or you can hire bikes on site during the school holidays. Café Solar offers drinks, snacks and light meals, or you can bring your own barbecue and enjoy freshly cooked food in the great outdoors in the barbecue area overlooking the lake. HOW MUCH? Free general admission. Parking costs £3 for up to 2 hours and £5 for the whole day during the summer holidays. WHEN OPEN? Daily 7am – 9pm (Visitor Centre open 10am – 5pm) WHAT’S ON? Get Arty in the Discovery Zone 1pm – 4pm, 1st , 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th August Make clay pots, dreamcatchers, masks and mosaics with the kids £1 per child Bistro Raffle WIN! A meal for two at the Friday Bistro evening worth £33.90. To enter, email info@rftrust.org.uk MORE INFO: www.stanwicklakes.org.uk Tel: 01933 625522 NENE VALLEY LIVING AUGUST 2013

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Sacrewell Farm Kids never seem to tire of Sacrewell Farm and, such is its timeless charm, parents are usually pretty taken with it, too. You can pet and feed the goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs, and there are also shire horses, pigs and the odd peacock to admire. The outdoor wooden play area and maze provide hours of fun for little ones and we recommend picnicking down by the gorgeous old Mill House, followed by the obligatory game of Pooh Sticks on the bridge! But if a downpour strikes, everyone can scuttle into the Activity Barn to enjoy the ride-on tractors, Didi cars and soft play.

WHAT’S ON? Family Fun Pet Day, 3rd August Bring your pet along and visit the Pampering Parlour, have their Pet Portrait taken or enter your hound in one of the Dog Agility sessions. Teddy Bears Adventure Day, 18th August Has your teddy ever zip-wired from the top of a water mill or bungee jumped over a stream? Now’s their chance, and each bear will receive a certificate at the end of the day as a reminder of their bravery. * There will also be daily pony grooming, pond dipping, duck racing and ‘Lamb National’ races over the summer. MORE INFO: www.sacrewell.org.uk Tel: 01780 782254

HOW MUCH? £5.25 per child, £6.95 per adult WHEN OPEN? Daily 9.30am – 5pm

Flag Fen Archaeology Park Step back in time with a visit to Flag Fen, an extraordinary Archaeology Park situated on a sometimes eerie patch of fenland some five miles east of Peterborough. The site of a once hidden 3,300-year-old timber causeway the size of Wembley Stadium, Flag Fen brings history to life with its reconstructed Bronze Age and Iron Age roundhouses. As well as getting a sense of what life was like for our ancient ancestors, visitors can also view the site’s most recent archaeological find – the largest group of Bronze Age boats ever to be discovered in the UK. The Must Farm boats can be viewed via special tours which are currently being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am. With a tangibly historic atmosphere, many people believe Flag Fen to be more mystical than Stone Henge itself. Pay a visit and find out for yourself!

Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows The Nene Valley’s newest nature reserve, Irthlingborough Lakes & Meadows, has safeguarded 117 hectares of land near Wellingborough to help preserve a valuable wetland wildlife environment and provide a recreation area for dog walkers, bird spotters and the like. Families visiting the site can walk through breath taking wetlands, spotting all sorts of different wildlife species along the way. Look out for kingfishers, herons, warblers and even cuckoos in this natural haven.

PHOTO: ALAN SMITH

HOW MUCH? £3 per adult, £2 per child, Under 5s free. Parking free. WHEN OPEN? Daily 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm) MORE INFO: www.vivacity-peterborough.com Tel: 01733 313414

HOW MUCH? Free admission and free parking WHEN OPEN? All day, every day WHAT’S ON? Damsels & Dragons 10.30am – 12.30pm, 10th August Learn about the magnificent dragonflies and damselflies which inhabit this wetland habitat. Free, no booking required. MORE INFO: www.wildlifebcn.org Tel: 01604 405285

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L o C A L walk

Cambridge City & Country Walk

POINTS OF INTEREST

Until recently I always thought that a good walk meant a country walk. But not any more. Nicholas Rudd-Jones explores the concept of ‘rus in urbe’ – the country-like bits of cities – and what better place to start than Cambridge, with a river passing through its heart, a common, a Victorian graveyard, a park, a botanical garden, a water conduit running through allotments and even a small wood!

Mill Rd Cemetery www.millroadcemetery.org.uk This is a real find, and seldom visited by tourists. It is listed by English Heritage in Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest as a Grade II site. It was consecrated in 1848. Several of Cambridge’s most renowned Victorian residents are buried in the cemetery, including shopkeeper Robert Sayle and wood and stone carver James Rattee. If you want to find out more the website is very informative. Parker’s Piece It was on Parker’s Piece that basic football association rules were formed in the 19th century. A plaque has been mounted to commemorate this, with the inscription: Here on Parker’s Piece, in the 1800s, students established a common set of simple football rules emphasising skill above force, which forbade catching the ball and ‘hacking’. These ‘Cambridge Rules’ became the defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules.

King’s College from the backs

Hobson’s Conduit Thomas Hobson was a well known Tudor Cambridge businessman who, in 1610, helped finance the building of a conduit to convey fresh water to the centre of Cambridge from the springs in Nine Wells, near Trumpington. The Tudor fountain was moved from the market square to its present position on Lensfield Road in 1856. Thomas Hobson is also famous for the expression “Hobson’s Choice” which means no choice at all. He kept a stable of horses which he would hire out in strict rotation, the customer having to accept whichever horse he was offered, or none at all!

WALK DATA Distance: 8 miles Typical time: 4 hours (including an hour for sightseeing) Map: Explorer 209; or better still the A-Z Street Map of Cambridge Start & Finish: Grantchester Tea Rooms Terrain: flat, easy going How to get there: Train gets you to a point close on the walk; start walk at Botanical Gardens, entering via Station Rd gate

Cambridge Botanical Gardens (www.botanic. cam.ac.uk) are a complete delight. They were first opened in 1846 and have been a source of enjoyment and an important input to plant research ever since. A great place to be inspired or just relax.

Striking library at Trinity Hall

Hobson’s Fountain

River Cam at Magdalene

Byron’s Pool, Grantchester A tranquil stretch of water along the River Cam, just outside Grantchester. It is now a nature reserve. Merits the short detour.

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THE ROUTE

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Park at The Orchard, Grantchester (providing you are going to be a patron there). Walk through the tea room gardens and turn immediately right through a gate into a grass field, then slightly left down to the River Cam. Then follow the river left to Cambridge On reaching the suburbs of Cambridge, follow the road ‘Grantchester Meadows’ to the end, then turn right and enter Paradise Nature reserve. Come out at a car park, turn right across a bridge across a small tributary, and take the path half left that reaches the banks of the Cam again. Proceed left along the river, under Fen Causeway and passing the Garden House Hotel on the other bank. Cross the weir, up Granta St and then left into Silver St over the river On reaching a green area, turn right along The Backs, passing King’s Chapel and then Clare College. Turn right up Garrett Hostel Lane and then swing left up Trinity Lane to Trinity St Proceed left up St John St, then left along Bridge St until you reach the river again. Turn right and follow the river for some way along the bank, alongside Jesus Green and then Midsummer Common, all the way until you approach the Elizabeth Way flyover Shortly before the flyover, take a path going diagonally left up Walnut Tree Rd, which runs alongside the main road. Take the subway under the roundabout, exit at the other side; turn right into East Rd and just after the Law Courts turn left into St Mathews St. Follow this to the end, and then just to your right on the opposite side you will see a track and the entrance to the Mill Rd Cemetery. Walk through it and come out at the far right hand end, then walk down a track with trees on either side to Mill Rd. Turn right on Mill Rd and head up to Parker’s Piece. Follow this west on the south side, and then cross the traffic lights and walk down Lensfield Rd past the Polar Research Institute.

PITSTOPS The Orchard, Grantchester www.orchard-grantchester. com Faded splendour, but unbeatable on a sunny day when you can sit out in the orchard on deckchairs reciting your favourite poem. I love their website The Orchard, Grantchester boast: “The place where more famous people have taken tea than anywhere else in the world”, including of course Rupert Brooke. Bills, 34 Green St, just off Trinity St (www.bills-website.co.uk) A stylish diner-cum-café where jars of jams line the walls and chips come in enamel mugs (the sort of chips you put vinegar on). Alexandra Arms, Gwydir St – charming and out of the way This would make a great stop for a drinks break; this is the street just to the east of the cemetery; they also do light lunches Botanical Gardens Café Has a modern feel about it, and great outdoor space. Food is good, interesting and freshly prepared. Recommended for tea.

Hobson’s Conduit

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At the end of Lensfield Rd, turn left down Brookside, with Hobson’s Conduit on your immediate right. You will arrive at the entrance of the Botanical Gardens From the Botanical Gardens entrance (which thoroughly merit a visit and have an excellent café), continue along the road with the conduit on your immediate left. Cross Brookland Avenue and follow the conduit footpath with allotments on your right. Make a brief detour through Clare Woods on your right and then re-join the Conduit path. Follow it all the way until you have nearly reached Long Rd Just before Long Rd, take the track left that takes you down to the Guided Busway, which also has a cycle track, Follow this along until you are level with the massive Addenbrooke’s Hospital on your left, then take a footpath right that goes through council estates. Go down Paget Rd, take a cut through to Beverley Rd and then reach Trumpington High St Take a right and an immediate left at the war memorial down Church Lane, and then follow the Grantchester Rd back. Just before the Cam there is a very worthwhile excursion to Byron’s Pool nature reserve. Re-joining the road, you cross a bridge over the Cam and then another across the millstream. Follow the footpath immediately to your right, which re-joins the road just a few yards short of your start-point.

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• NVL august ADS.indd 32

17/7/13 15:20:53

act ivit ie s

Messing about on the river Take advantage of the glorious River Nene this summer, says Ronnie Haydon

‘It’s the only thing,’ said the Water Rat solemnly…there is nothing…half so much worth as simply messing about in boats…’ The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame

hose wise words from literature’s most loquacious water vole are as true today as they were back in 1908. In fact they’re probably truer: floating lazily downriver, through meadowlands and wooded valleys, is the perfect antidote to the pace of modern life. Of course, it’s not all about drifting deliciously with the current. People who want a little more action when they take to the river may prefer the speedier journey time afforded by a kayaking trip, or thrill to the element of competition, in which case this year’s dragonboat festival springs to mind.

Take me to the river Whatever your chosen vessel, you get a whole new perspective from the river, there’s time to appreciate our spectacularly green countryside (that’s the upside of consistently rainy summers) and to keep a weather eye out for Ratty’s descendants. Work continues to reintroduce rare water voles to our rivers, and some Wildlife Trusts are having more success than others. A 2012 report on the River Nene drew a blank on Ratty sightings, but we should live in hope.

Hire a kayak from Trek-kits, Oundle

www.nenevalleyboats.com Still, there are dragonflies skimming the surface of the water, and fat bream dodging the anglers below, and any number of wading waterfowl to admire as you wend your way downriver. What better way to appreciate such bounty than from a narrowboat? Dan Macintyre Jones runs Oundle’s Nene Valley Boat Holidays (www. nenevalleyboatholidays.com) with his wife, Carol. They hire out their narrowboats for short breaks or whole weeks from around Easter to the end of autumn half term, weather permitting. Those last two words hold particular significance for Dan, given the rather fluid nature of recent summers: “Boating holidays are gaining in popularity, despite the run of poor summers, but last year we were flooded out.” Nonetheless, people love the independence and novelty of having their own, well-appointed floating home for a few days, and the business is doing well, dismal weather notwithstanding. Do young families hire out the boats, though? One would imagine that coping with babies and toddlers on board would be a challenge.  NENE VALLEY LIVING AUGUST 2013

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“Funny you should say that,” laughs Dan, “I’m just in the middle of fitting a bedside cot for a family who are bringing a one-year-old, so, no, we get all types of people booking with us. ‘The boats are well equipped and spacious enough for family groups, and they have hot and cold running water and a power supply.” Don’t people worry about crashing into things, or getting stuck in a lock? “There’s no need to worry,” says Dan. “We give people full instruction and go through the lock drill with them until they feel confident.” What about places to moor? Things to do and see? Places to eat? “There are official mooring spots, but not really that many. Most people use semi-official ones, where boats are tolerated. The situation needs to improve really, because the river flows through a lot of private farmland. There’s nothing to stop you mooring for the night in one of these fields, but if the landowner comes along and sees the boat he or she has the right to tell you to move on. “As far as places to see and things to do we can certainly provide a map of the area, and tell them about pubs and landmarks, but most people find that being on board the boat is its own entertainment…you just keep cruising along the river, and the world’s your oyster.” Dan and Carol can also hire out a six-person rowing boat for those who want to mess about on the river on a smaller scale. You can bring a picnic and take off for half a day or so. Or you can treat yourself and make the most of the picnic service – lunch provided by one of Oundle’s lovely delis. 

Go for a paddle

Here be dragons

If you want to get closer to Nene nature, a kayak excursion will fit the bill, and once again, Oundle has the answer. Trek-kits (trek-kits.co.uk), an outdoor adventure shop based next to the river inlet at Oundle Wharf, runs a kayak hire service. The vessels they lend are the sturdy, inflatable type. If this is the first time you’ve dipped a paddle, the good people at Trek-kits can give you (and your children) a lesson. You don’t need to be an expert to go out kayaking, though, so no need to worry about learning eskimo rolls and such. Life jackets are provided. Proximity to the water means you can walk out of the shop, climb aboard and paddle away but if you’ve a particular destination in mind, the kayak can be popped on a roof carrier and taken to your preferred launching point, or you can paddle to the place where you’ve left your motor, deflate the boat and drive it home to return it. For more details on kayak hire, ring the helpful staff on 01832 272 050.

If you can dredge up nine shipmates you can float a team for Nene Valley’s annual dragonboat race (nenevalleydragon.org.uk). This year the race takes place on 1 September at Wicksteed Park. Dragonboat racing dates back to the Zhou Dynasty in China (475-221BC), when a charismatic minister poet Qu Yan chucked himself in the river in despair when he heard the capital city had been overthrown. The townspeople who loved him rushed to his aid in their boats, banging a drum to ward off evil spirits and throwing dumplings to the fish to prevent them eating his flesh. Today dragonboat racing is popular all over the world, not least around this popular river valley, where once a year, teams of feisty paddlers, testing their back muscles to the limit to the encouragement of the beating drummer, go hell for leather to win the challenge cup. As far as we know there is no official dumpling thrower, but teams must be overseen by a helm (steersperson). To enter your own team you pay £350, which includes the hire of your boat, a qualified helm, entry in three exciting races and cut price advertising for your organisation in the souvenir programme. You have to be over 16 to be a part of a team. There’s a trophy (and untold glory) for the winners, medals for runners up and prizes for the best-dressed team and most prolific fund-raisers. Does all that sound a bit energetic? Never fear, it costs nothing to come along and spectate. You can leave the messing about in boats to the dragon teams while enjoying the carnival atmosphere and sampling the food stalls. There’s always next year to master that all-important dragonboat stroke.

Canoe it You can hire a canoe from Canoe 2, based at Ditchford Lock, near Wellinborough and go down the river for anything from half a day to five days. The company offers a pick up and drop off service, as required. Choose a Canoe 2 short break holiday and it includes comfy camping in bell tents or a yurt, or a soft bed in a B&B or a country hotel, and a full English to set you up for the day. The company’s Old Town canoes are ideal for beginners and you get a full safety briefing and instructions. Telephone 01604 832115 or visit www.canoe2.co.uk for more details.

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Friday 20th September 2013

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D IA RY DAT E S

AUGUST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

What’s On

Yasmin Bradley highlights some interesting events this month Saturday 10 August Peterborough Arts Fest Field Day From midday An amazing afternoon of unusual entertainment: escapologist, Rob Roy Collins, Horrid Henry, the Man in a Box, Mr Spin and the Sergeant Majors on stilts; also arts and crafts demonstrations, stalls and workshops and local artists at work. Free. Central Park, Park Crescent, Peterborough, PE1 4DZ. www.peterboroughfestival.co.uk; arts@vivacity-peterborough.com

Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 August Burghley House Film Festival 10.30am – 4.30pm 5.30pm - late Enjoy four days of double bill outdoor cinema in stunning surroundings including sing-alongs, showstoppers and children’s classics plus perfect summer food, drink and pre-bookable picnics. From £6 (£4). Burghley House, Stamford, PE9 3JY. www.burghley.co.uk. 01780 752451. burghley@burghley.co.uk. Tuesday 6 August Beeing Crafty: Opening Day and 2nd Birthday Julie Fernandez (the actress in the wheelchair from the Office) and business partner, Sarah Payne celebrate new premises with special offers on anything crafty you could ever want. Stuart Hilliard (The Great British Sewing Bee, BBC2) does the honours! Free. The Granary, Brook Farm, Thrapston Road, Ellington, PE28 0AE. 01480 891 746; info@beeingcrafty.co.uk

Saturday 17 August Peppa Pig 11am – 4pm Children’s favourites, Peppa Pig with little brother, George meet and greet younger shoppers! Free. Brotherhood Shopping Park, Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE4 6ZR.

Friday 9 August Amps Italian Wine and Pizza Night 6.30pm Taste a new, exciting range of around 30 Italian wines guided by experts and complemented by wood -oven baked pizzas prepared on site by a local pizzeria. £15. The Olive Grove, Oundle Road, Polebrook, PE8 5LQ; 01832 273502. Amps Fine Wines, Market Place, Oundle, PE8 4BQ. www.ampsfinewines.co.uk.

Sunday 11 August Britten Sinfonia 7.30pm One of the world’s most celebrated and pioneering ensembles crosses genres in this pre-view BBC Proms performance. £10. Thorpe Hall, Thorpe Road, Peterborough, PE3 6LW. 01733 330060/207239. www.vivacitypeterborough.com/event/brittensinfonia-classical-concert Saturday 17 August 7pm – 1am Vixstar Summer Party in aid Spend a sumptuous summer evening raising thousands of pounds for Sue Ryder and East Anglia Childrens’ Hospice: fruit palm, BBQ feast and dessert, chocolate

fountain; raffle and silent auction with fabulous prizes and more…. £26. Holiday Inn,Thorpe Wood, Peterborough,PE3 6SG. www.vixstar.net; Facebook Vixstars. 0773 8684 401. Sunday 18 August Little Puffers Open Day 2pm -5pm Go and see a fully working garden railway under the guidance of station master Keith Richardson at his home in Longthorpe. New features this year: a warehouse with crane and pumping engine, a working bubble truck and a working welder. Five engines will be running. Adult £2.50, children £1. Family £5. Refreshments available. Proceeds to Asthma Research. 13 Apsley Way, Longthorpe, Peterborough PE3 9NE. Tel: 01733 262749 Saturday 24 – Monday 26 August The Tower at War! 10.00 Experience medieval warfare and meet the knights … and find out the newly discovered role of the Tower during the Wars of the Roses! £4 (£3); £10 (families). Longthorpe Tower, Thorpe Road, Longthorpe, Peterborough, PE3 6LU. longthorpe. tower@vivacity-peterborough.com; 01733 864 663. www.vivacity-peterborough.com

Sunday, 11 August Wisbech & District Historic Vehicle Club Road 9 – 11am Over 200 classic vehicles take the eighty-mile round route from Somers Road Car Park, Wisbech pausing at Perkins Engines, Peterborough for a static display, and culminating in a show and prize-giving. Somers Road Car Park, Wisbech, PE13 2RA. www.brmmbrmm.com/ wisbech. pr@wisbechhvc.me.uk. 07946 810391

NENE VALLEY LIVING august 2013

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FENLAND COUNTRY FAIR STOW-CUM-QUY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Traditional Country Fair Established 1981 - www.fenlandfairs.com

Sat 24th, Sun 25th & Mon 26th August

Vintage

BASC Cookery

Childrens Rides

Ring Displays

Fun Fair

Clay Shooting

Archery

BASC Dog Events

Full Catering & Bars

Heavy Horse Show Monday - Lurcher Show Saturday Terrier Show Sunday & Monday - Ferret Show Rural Craft - Craft Marquee RING DISPLAYS: Falconary - Gun Dog Demonstrations - Quarter Horse Bee Keeping - Bygones and much more For further information and events listings see www.fenlandfairs.com

GATES OPEN 8.30am TO 5.30pm Admission Adults £10.00 Children under 13 FREE Address: Quy Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy, CB25 0AF 38

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