Rutland Living May 2018

Rutland Covering Rutland, Market Harborough and the surrounding area

May 2018 ÂŁ1.50

LIVING

Be inspired by where you live

Spring into summer FA S H I O N , I N T E R I O R S , S H O P P I N G , F O O D A N D M O R E

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Contents May 2018

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FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY 14 Fashion: What to Wear in May! 48 Health & Beauty: The Beauty Buzz

HOME & GARDEN, SHOPPING

Cover images this month: RL: Sandra Peck for Barnsdale Gardens, see p4 for more details (www.sandrapeckwatercolours.co.uk/ 01572 813200, barnsdalegardens.co.uk).

MHL: Bicycle at Keals of Market Harborough, 10a Abbey Street, Market Harborough (01858 419798, www.keals.net), by Elli Dean (07932 055548, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk).

www.rutlandliving.co.uk www.marketharboroughliving.co.uk

Editor Clare Peel clare@bestlocalliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager, Rutland Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 rutlandliving@btinternet.com Advertisement Manager, Market Harborough Kirstie Mitchell 07864 065778 kirstie@bestlocalliving.co.uk Advertising Copy & Subscriptions Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Designers Sarah Patterson inkdesign@virginmedia.com, Calum Handley, Chris Strickland Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne Subscriptions: annual rate £25 (UK only).

Please write to the Publisher at Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford PE9 9FY, with a cheque payable to Local Living, or go online to www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

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New Season, New Look Rutland Kitchen Renovation by QKS Step Inside…The Dovecote at Cawthorpe Outdoor Living: RHS Chelsea Garden Show The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre

FOOD & DRINK

31 Britt’s Superfoods 34 Village Shops: Use Them or Lose Them 39 The Olive Branch: Flavours to Usher in the Summer

ACTIVITIES, CULTURE, LEARNING & BUSINESS

8 Maidwell Hall Boarding and Day School 47 Little Living 52 Urban Rambles: a New Book by Nicholas Rudd-Jones 55 Small Beginnings 64 Out & About

PEOPLE & PLACES

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6 Picture of the Month: Harringworth Viaduct 10 Rutland Heroes: Rutland Reminders 70 History: Harborough’s Fighting Hero

NEWS & NOTES

4 Editor’s Page 60 Barnsdale Hall Hotel: 30 Years, Julie Shaul Gardens, The Rutland County Show, The Rutland Poppy Project 62 The Magic of Motown, Burghley Game and Country Fair, UPP Property

Stamford Shakespeare Company at Tolethorpe Hall

The Merchant of Venice

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12th June - 1st September 2018

The Merry Wives The School of Windsor for Scandal

For 10% off ticket price quote code TOLERUTLIVMY when booking. www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk

☎ BOX OFFICE: 01780 756133

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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THIS MONTH

Welcome

May is shaping up nicely, with the blossom finally on the trees, carpets of bluebells beautifying our local woods and a royal wedding in the offing.

We’ve got some gorgeous interiors features for you, plus the lowdown on village shops (the aptly entitled “Use them or lose them!”) and more besides. After a rather soggy, grey start to spring, isn’t it uplifting to be enjoying longer days and warmer weather as we head towards summer – perfect for exploring our beautiful region. And if you’ve got the walking bug, I recommend Urban Rambles, a superb new book written by Local Living’s Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones. Nicholas’s walks around our local area have been a highlight of this magazine over the years, and it’s wonderful to now have his recommendations for further afield. From here, his Nottingham and Cambridge walks make excellent day trips. For more details, see pages 52–3.

Enjoy the magazine and have a great month!

@rutlandliving

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@rutlandlivingmag

Editor’s selection Some highlights for May

PAINT CELEBRATE

Meghan and Harry’s big day on 19 May with this fine bone china mug, £13, from local designer Sophie Allport. Check out her shop on Stamford’s High Street or visit www.sophieallport.com.

at Barnsdale Gardens with Sandra Peck, whose beautiful garden watercolour is featured on the cover of Rutland Living this month.

There’s a painting day each month, always on a different topic, and the sessions, which run from 10.30am to 4pm, are designed to be enjoyable, relaxed and informative, and are for beginners as well as those who have been painting for a while. Garden Views (seen here) is on 17 May, followed

by Raindrops on Roses (28 June), Hemerocallis (26 July), Potting Shed (23 August), Sunlight through Trees (20 September), Clematis (25 October), Oakham Castle in Pen and Wash (15 November) and Snowy Garden (13 December). For full details and bookings (£65 per painting day, including tea/coffee, an afternoon cream tea and entry to the gardens, with materials £6 extra if you require those), contact Barnsdale Gardens on 01572 813200 or courses@barnsdalegardens.co.uk. For more details, see www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk.

SPLURGE VISIT

Northamptonshire’s Palladian Kelmarsh Hall, where Heritage Lottery funding has been used to create a full sensory “below stairs” experience (photo: Sarah Vivienne). www.kelmarsh.com

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at Ashley Farm Shop on Saturday 12 May, from 10am to 4.30pm. They’ll be hosting an Artisan Food & Craft Fair, with locally produced food, craft stalls and much more. Visit www.ashleyherbfarm.co.uk for more details.

(Photo: Dorte Kjaerulff)

SAMPLE

cider and sausages at The Grainstore Brewery Cider & Sausage Festival, from Friday 25 May to Monday 28 May 2018 in Oakham.

There’ll be 40 real ciders straight from the barrel, locally crafted sausages and live music. For full details, including information on which bands are playing, see www.grainstorebrewery.com.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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www.heidikjeldsen.co.uk 5 The Maltings, Mill Street, Oakham LE15 6EA t: 01572 722666 e: heidi@heidikjeldsen.co.uk

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

Picture of the month Harringworth Viaduct, opened in 1878, only took 16 months to build.

Pretty quick really, considering it’s the longest masonry structure across a valley in Britain, has 82 arches and comprises 30 million bricks! Maybe the speed had something to do with the size of the workforce – 400 - and the fact that they got paid overtime for working through the night. Plus, it helped that they were “on-site”, housed in 12 huts on Gretton Hill and 40 huts at the Seaton end. Mind you, you would have thought that the supply of beer – calculated to be 30 gallons per hut per week – would have slowed them down!

Today the line is occasionally used for steam trains (great excitement) and as an alternative route when there are engineering works on a nearby line. To me the viaduct always conjures up walking, because so many of the best hikes in this region beetle up and down the valley sides or along the river – the viaduct provides the ultimate landmark!

And the walk often ends with a beer (only an eighth of a gallon, I hasten to add…) in The White Swan at Harringworth.

Words by Nicholas Rudd-Jones Photo by Alex Hannam See more of Alex’s images on Instagram, at hannam79

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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Maidwell Hall WORDS: CLARE PEEL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: MAIDWELL HALL

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and impressively tidy! Food is a forté, I’m told, and there’s great stress on meal times offering the opportunity for conversation and the fostering of good manners. Lunch, incidentally, is followed every day by a 20-minute reading break – a fabulous idea that I’d love to introduce into my own daily timetable.

OUNDED in 1911, and moved from Derbyshire to its present idyllic location in the Northamptonshire countryside in 1933, Maidwell Hall is a boarding and day preparatory school for boys and girls aged 8–13 (a few 7-year-olds attend, but the key range starts at the equivalent of Year 4).

It is set in 55 glorious acres, with fine views across the surrounding countryside, and the main building, which dates mostly to the 17th century, is magnificent. Dominated by square corner towers with spike-topped cupolas (19thcentury additions), it invites comparisons with Hogwarts that are no doubt popular with its young charges.

SCHOOL ETHOS Maidwell Hall offers a traditional, holistic education that encourages children to enjoy the great outdoors, to grow in self-confidence and independence, and, something that Headmaster Robert Lankester is keen to stress, to shine as individuals. The writer A.A. Milne wrote, “The things that make me different are the things that make me”, and promoting a mature, enlightened outlook that reflects this seems admirable to me.

This ethos of championing individuality is perhaps most charmingly manifested in the uniform. Children are required to wear clothes that are line with the school’s “code of dress”, but within that they may choose from a range of colours and finishes, creating an appealing kaleidoscope of shades for tweed jackets and cord trousers – an archetypally English look.

Maidwell Hall’s country-house setting and values are classic, traditional ones, and there’s a real Swallows and Amazons feeling about life here. There’s a strong emphasis on enjoying the school’s fabulous grounds, promoting a healthy, active lifestyle and offering pupils a sense of freedom, whether they are exploring, den-making or tree-climbing in the woods that surround the school (what they poetically call “the Wilderness”), cycling, or out on the lake, rowing or fishing. Learning is nonetheless rooted in the 21st century, with iPads provided

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

for each child to use in class, as well as to facilitate easy communication with home.

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME There are just 127 pupils (75 boys and 52 girls), so what is offered is a highly personalised education (class sizes of around 12 are the norm), with careful attention given to nurturing and pastoral care – crucial, given the tender age of the children here. Around 80 per cent of Maidwell Hall’s students are boarders, with around 10 per cent from overseas and a number from military families. The school also has some day pupils, who are fully integrated into school life and extra-curricular activities.

Many children are from homes within around 1.5 hours’ drive of the school, including Rutland and Leicestershire – Maidwell Hall’s hugely accessible location and its excellent road, rail and air links are key selling points. The school works very much in conjunction with parents – children see a lot of their families during term, on “leave outs” (Friday lunchtime to Monday evening), and parents are encouraged to attend school events in between those times.

The homely feeling is strong – there’s an invitingly cosy-looking library opposite the main entrance that creates a welcoming first impression, and the bedrooms – especially the girls’ attic dorms (girls’ boarding was introduced in 2010) – are warm, appealing…

THE CURRICULUM AND BEYOND The school prepares pupils for Common Entrance, with specialist teachers in all subjects, and individual tutors who see children through their entire time at the school.

Destination public schools include Uppingham, Oundle, Radley, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Stowe, Eton and Harrow.

There are daily sports lessons, making the most of the enviable facilities (sports hall, squash court, astro-turf hockey pitch, indoor swimming pool, nine tennis courts and a sixhole golf course) for an impressively broad range of sports. Not surprisingly, traditional country sports such as clay-pigeon shooting, rifle-shooting and riding are offered too, while the grounds are made for cross-country running, and the trout lake is perfect for fly-fishing. Music is a thriving area, too, with funds currently being raised for a substantial development that will include a new music school and performance hall, plus new library.

The Good Schools Guide summarizes Maidwell Hall as follows: “Small enough for everyone to know each other but big enough to offer a first-rate, all-round education, the school encourages pupils to work hard, get lots of fresh air and have fun along the way.” Anyone wishing to find out more is encouraged to contact the school to arrange a visit or to attend an Open Day (details below).

Maidwell Hall, Northamptonshire NN6 9JG, www.maidwellhall.co.uk. Visits can be arranged via the Headmaster’s Secretary on thesecretary@maidwellhall.co.uk or 01604 686234. The next Open Day is on Sunday 20 May 2018 – please contact the school for further information.

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Dr Charles Lawrence is a former Head of Science at Oakham School and during his career was involved in organising student visits to elderly residents in Rutland as part of the school’s Community Service programme. In his own retirement he decided to continue his visits during school holidays, and this led to the launch of Rutland Reminders – a group using singing as therapy for people with dementia.

RUTLAND

HEROES

Rutland Reminders WORDS: AMANDER MEADE PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

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OTICING over the years more and more people affected by dementia, Dr Lawrence was fascinated by a TV programme he saw explaining how music therapy could be used to engage with those affected. “I had a bit of a lightbulb moment and decided that my New Year’s resolution in 2010 would be to launch a group to explore the benefits of singing as therapy, and the concept for Rutland Reminders was born.”

Dr Lawrence faced three challenges: the first to secure volunteers to help; the second to raise money; and the third to find a suitable venue for the music sessions. With a sufficient number of “arms twisted”, an AGM was held in June 2010, with the first session of the Rutland Reminders taking place at the beginning of September. From that first session, which involved residents of the Rutland Care Village, word spread quickly throughout the county, and Dr Lawrence and the team now entertain anything between 30 and 60 guests at each session. “We have a transport contingency fund, which we use to pay for taxis and minibuses to bring people from their door to ours at no cost to themselves. The Rutland Lions are also kind enough to offer three drivers who volunteer to bring guests along too.”

Typically one regular session per month takes place in Oakham as well as an outreach session at Aberdeen House Residential Home in Uppingham, with plans to expand that service to include more destinations in villages across the county. Guests with dementia, their carers and Reminders volunteers sing for about 40 minutes, followed by refreshments and poetry then another round of singing, and culminating in afternoon tea.

“A songbook has been created by our Senior Leader, Clare Hitchcox and her team. We use songs from the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s – often themed around the seasons, holidays, and times of the day or the seaside 10

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

for example. We also use a special memory box containing goods and souvenirs that are carefully chosen to trigger responses. Our guests can join in and sing, or they may not – the point is to try and find a moment of engagement, even if it is just a smile. There is such empathy between our volunteers and guests as well as an opportunity for mutual support between carers, which is invaluable. We have witnessed many moving moments when one of our guests has responded to a song in a way they may not have done for many years, and that is very special indeed.”

Thanks to a donation from the Rutland Lions, a CD of songs has been recorded by the Rutland Reminders group and is available to buy to help with funding. Monday 21 to Sunday 27 May is Dementia Awareness Week, which will find Dr Lawrence speaking on the radio about the work of the group as well as fundraising in Tesco in Oakham and on Uppingham Market. “There are several special events throughout the year including a Strawberry Tea in July and in September a visit from Emma Warren, who brings memorabilia from Oakham Museum – this is always a great afternoon and gets a big response.”

Dr Lawrence has been visiting the elderly for over 30 years now and he says that the work of the Rutland Reminders is one of the most gratifying things he has been involved with. “Modern medicine is adding years to our lives but not necessarily lives to our years, so, when people say the service is appreciated, that brings me a great deal of joy.”

Find out more about the Rutland Reminders at rutlandreminders.org. uk or call Diana Ellard on 07779 413889. See also www.facebook.com/ rutlandreminders or twitter.com/rutlandreminders.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE IN STYLE Originals Exhibition Come along to Trent Galleries this Spring.

Welcome Mr. Wattson to the family.

Your fun and flexible friend.

28th April – 5th May

This is an opportunity to be inspired by a collection of exciting new original artworks from our best-selling artists.

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Displaying the very best in British and European decorative lighting and the latest in LED technology.

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Thousands of options and bespoke manufacture offering an unlimited choice.

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Appointments and home visits available.

Open Tue to Sat 9am-5pm 13 Manor Walk, Market Harborough, LE16 9BP

01858 467716 www.harboroughlights.co.uk

The exhibition brings together a stunning range of original artworks by internationally acclaimed award winning artists, that we are proud will be exhibiting in our fine county of Rutland!

Call the Gallery on 01572 722790 for further information.

We hope to see you there.

www.trentgalleries.co.uk 11 Mill Street, Oakham LE15 6EA I 01572 722790 I oakham@trentgalleries.co.uk

Louvred and Solid Window Shutters

mail@rutlandshutters.co.uk

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READY TO SELL YOUR HOME THIS SPRING? Moores are the region’s premier Estate Agency with hundreds of registered buyers waiting to be paired with their ideal property.

Why not use Moores’ discreet marketing service to find the perfect buyer for your home?

With over 70% of their buyers coming from out of this area, Moores have developed an innovative and highly effective strategy to ensure buyers from London and the South East can easily view homes that match their wish list.

With Moores’ property matching service there really is nothing to lose!

EXPERTISE WITH A DISCREET APPROACH If you prefer to keep your plans a little more confidential, Moores have an extensive portfolio of buyers ready and waiting to view properties so vendors can achieve a swift sale with no ‘For Sale’ board or press marketing. The property matching team will introduce your home to serious buyers allowing you to test the water discreetly when the time is right for you. 40% of our sales now happen this way.

SPREADING THE WORD With buyers no longer relying on traditional methods or endless on line sites to find their ideal home, Moores have developed new ways to reach them. With two brand new platform offices in Grantham and Peterborough as well as close partnerships with agents in London and the South East, Moores have made it easier than ever for buyers to find out about homes in this region as

well as the fantastic lifestyle opportunities available within an hour of the capital.

FROM PLATFORM TO PROPERTY – MOORES MAKE IT EASY Methods of reaching potential buyers may be changing but traditional expertise and detailed regional knowledge never go out of style. The Moores Country and Commuting teams use their property matching skills to arrange viewings for visiting buyers who are collected on arrival and chauffeured to view properties chosen according to their specification.

INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE? Demand is high for homes of all kinds so act now to find out what your property could be worth by calling for a no obligation valuation and to hear how your home can be included in one of our Property Road Shows or included in one of our exhibitions planned for Kings Cross in May.

Tel: 01572 757979 Oakham • Tel: 01572 821935 Uppingham • Tel: 01780 484555 Stamford • Tel: 01664 491610 Melton • Tel: 01476 855618 Grantham Tel: 01733 788888 Peterborough www.mooresestateagents.com INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR HOME FOR THE BEST PRICE? REGISTER WITH MOORES TODAY

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What to wear in May! The fashion teams from Rutland Living and Stamford Living got together this month to bring you the best from Oakham and Stamford’s fabulous high streets.

Beautiful spring/summer fashion and accessories right on your doorstep!

FASHION: NIKKI BEATTY AND SALLY STILLINGFLEET PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

Palm tree shirt, Hartford, £130, Vanilla; Tom Ford sunglasses, from £280, Langrick and Coe Opticians

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

Bag, Becksöndergaard, £65, Energy

Green trousers, HOD, £70, blouse, Lolly Laundry, £69, bag, Yerse, £95, all Cavells; OHW trainers, £80, available online; Tom Ford sunglasses, from £260, Langrick and Coe Opticians Bunny bag, £18.99, Pikolinos brogues, £89.99, Marcia May; sunglasses, £10, Energy

Blue trousers, HOD, £70, jumper, JEFF, £129, both Cavells; pale grey Rieker laceups, £55, Marcia May

 RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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What to wear in May!

Shirt dress, Hartford, £159, Vanilla; leather-handled circular basket, £34, Emma Cutmore; sunglasses, £10, Energy; navy sequin Paul Green pumps, £125, North Shoes Big thanks to our beautiful model Claire and to Fika for letting us take over their courtyard for our shoot. Thank you, too, to our lovely photographer Elli Dean (07932 055548, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk).

Grey dress, Foil, £75.99, necklace, Noor of London, £36.99, both Duo; pumps, Paul Green, £145, CoCo

STOCKISTS Cavells, Oakham, 01572 770372, www.cavells.co.uk CoCo, Oakham, 01572 757646, www.cocooakham.co.uk Duo Boutique, Oakham, 01572 722116, www.duoboutique.co.uk Emma Cutmore, Stamford, 01780 482870, www.emmacutmore.co.uk/Emma_Cutmore Energy, Stamford, 01780 765633, www.energy-clothing.com Langrick and Coe Opticians, Oakham, 01572 724407, www.opticians-oakham-meltonmowbray.co.uk Marcia May, Oakham, 01572 759313, Stamford, 01780 762699, www.facebook.com/marciamayshoes/ North Shoes, Stamford, 0845 468 0145, www.northshoes.co.uk OHW Shoes, 01858 466566, www.ohwshoes.com Vanilla, Oakham, 01572 757577, www.vanillaboutique.co.uk For more fashion inspo, go to fashion editor Nikki Beatty’s Instagram @styleinthestix

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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New season, new look

Bedroom revamp One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to spruce up a bedroom is to invest in a new set of bed linen. White linen is a timeless classic and always looks chic, while pretty prints and pastels are a fresh choice for a little girl’s room.

For a relatively modest amount you can refresh your sleeping space and have that “new sheet” feeling every evening.

Above: “Botanist” bed linen by Christy at Fords.

Christy Junior “Ladybird Floral Indigo” bed linen from Fords of Oakham

It’s time to welcome the new season with open arms and think about treating your home to an update. From flooring and furniture to teapots and textiles, this year’s message is “welcome back to colour”, so why not inject a little summer fun into your decor? Amander Meade rounds up some of the best ideas from local interiors suppliers who can help update your scheme whatever your style or budget.

Keep your rugs looking great Luckily for Rutland, both market towns have a rug specialist. In Uppingham The Rug Studio is a showroom spread over three floors and run by Rachel Simpson – herself a trained weaver. At Oakham Rugs, Chris and Fiona can provide a wealth of information about the provenance of all their Oriental rugs including Afghan Sultanabad rugs and all qualities of Persian rugs from small tribal Qashqai to room-sized Tabriz and Kashan. Both companies also provide expertise on rug cleaning and restoration.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

Above: Try Barefoot Flooring for an excellent range of tiles and flooring for all rooms in the house.

Above: Kilim cushions and rugs are a speciality of Oakham Rugs.

Above: There are dozens of antique and contemporary rugs to choose from at The Rug Studio in Uppingham.

Living in colour The Italian Riviera was the inspiration for the “Manarola” range of wallpaper and fabrics

by Osborne & Little, with the colours typical of that region dominating – think citrus tones, raspberry, terracotta, aquamarine and azure. The “Portovenere” range depicts a typical Liguria scene with its tumble of painted houses, while “Spiaggia” is a cool, striped design, and “Taggia” is a lively array of vertical embroidered zigzags. Explore the many colourways and other designs in the “Manarola” range at Sarah Harding Interiors in Uppingham.

Above: “Portovenere” wallpaper, £85 per roll; “Manarola” stripe wallpaper (left wall), £65 per roll; sofa upholstered in “Spiaggia”, £69 per metre; all by Osborne & Little (osborneandlittle.co.uk) at Sarah Harding Interiors.

Above and below: Invest in some super-stylish lighting

by Lumison Lighting of Oakham. James is a Lighting Designer, and his expertise can help show your rooms quite literally in a completely different light. Wall lights, shades, pendants and lamps all available in a range of styles and sizes.

Above: Velvet is huge this season, both in furniture, window dressings and soft furnishings. To add a little luxury, indulge in something soft such as these beautifully textured velvet cushions and throws from the Jaipur Collection by Christy at Fords of Oakham.

Above: Inspired by the bees buzzing around her garden, the Sophie Allport “Bees” collection features the said insects on a very pale green or white background. You can shop for a range of fine bone china, kitchen textiles, tableware, bags, accessories and more from the collection at Fords of Oakham or at Sophie Allport on the High Street in Stamford.

Above: It’s the little touches that make a house a home. Guests will appreciate one of these pretty wool blankets from Woolroom in polka dots, geometrics or pattern to snuggle up in when they visit. Eating outside in the evening? These lovely blankets ar the perfect wrap to keep out the draughts.

Above: Find classic and quirky items of homeware at Keals of Market Harborough.

Right: Keeping rooms cool in summer and cosy in winter, smart plantation blinds

by Rutland Shutters are a stylish choice all year round.

Left: Artwork at Trent Galleries

DIRECTORY 5 day Blinds 01572 759176, 5dayblinds.co.uk Alexander Lewis 01858 434444, alexanderlewis.com Barefoot Flooring & Beds 01572 759752, barefoot-flooring.biz Brookside Carpets & Curtains Ltd 01858 433334, brooksidecarpets.co.uk Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors 01572 722345, elizabethstanhope.co.uk Fords of Oakham 01572 722654, fordsofoakham.co.uk Gildings Antiques 01858 410414, gildings.co.uk H Monk and Sons Ltd 01858 462196, hmonks.co.uk Harborough Lights 01858 467716, harboroughlights.co.uk Harborough Stone 01858 410033, harborough-stone.co.uk Keals of Market Harborough 01858 419798, keals.net Kingfisher Curtains 01572 757893 Lumison Lighting 01572 724600, lumisonlighting.co.uk Oakham Rugs 01572 724441, oakhamorientalrugs.co.uk The Rug Studio 01572 829927, therugstudio.co.uk Russell Francis Furniture 01858 435990, russellfrancis.co.uk Rutland Shutters 07768 695236, rutlandshutters.co.uk Sarah Harding Interiors 01572 823389, sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk Smart Joinery 07899 960780, smartjoinery.co.uk Trent Galleries 01572 722790, trentgalleries.co.uk Weaver Ltd 01572 759899, weaverltd.co.uk Wingate Gallery 01858 465455, wingatesgallery.co.uk Woolroom 01780 461217, thewoolroom.com

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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Specialist in the manufacture, installation and care of natural stone.

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Blinds & Curtains Made to Measure & Fitted Locally We can use our fabrics or source Your Designer Fabric for you.

FOR A QUOTATION OR ADVICE Call Richard on 01572 759176 or 07967 383827 or email rich@5dayblinds.co.uk Fitting Blinds & Curtains: Oakham, Rutland, Stamford, Melton & Bourne

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SPRING SALE: UP TO 20% OFF PLUS FREE STORAGE WORTH £198 22

STEP

INSIDE

Elegant by design After months of planning, a tired and dated kitchen was transformed into a light and welcoming space by Stamford-based company QKS. WORDS: AMANDER MEADE PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN Below: The magnificent quartz-topped peninsula provides the focal point of the kitchen and is the social hub of the room. It hosts an integrated extractor hob, sink and dishwasher. The cabinetry by QKS is all oak lined with a full-height fridge and dual ovens with combined microwave.

The stools are by Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors. The walls are painted in “Elephant’s Breath” by Farrow and Ball.

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Elegant by design About QKS….

QKS have been established since 1981, and their newly refurbished kitchen showroom in Stamford is the largest in the area. Design Consultant Andrew Singer says that design flexibility is a crucial feature of the QKS service and one in which the team takes great pride. “This means that in addition to the traditional styling associated with older buildings we can also offer exciting possibilities for more contemporary projects, whether as extensions or as part of a new build.” With over 10,000 projects completed in the region, the statistics speak for themselves – you can find 25 room settings, and 100 different built-in and range cookers in the showroom, and QKS offer 1,000 different door styles and colours. Options range from bespoke and custom-made kitchens to factory-built versions. In short, whatever your taste or budget, you will find the kitchen you want at QKS, plus all the design input and advice you need to add value to your home.

Above: The preparation and cooking area is clearly defined from the dining space beyond. Floors are by Stamford Stone. The large silver candelabra are by Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors. Appliances are by Siemens throughout.

QKS – Quality Kitchen Services 01780 755855, qksstamford.co.uk

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T was time for a major update to the kitchen – described as “very ’70s” and an ergonomic nightmare – belonging to Mr and Mrs L, who live in a conservation village on the border of Rutland and Leicestershire.

“Our dining room was never used, so the remit to our architect was to create an open-plan kitchen with space for dining and entertaining that would work for us in a much more efficient way,” explains Mr L. The couple decided to extend the footprint of the former kitchen by creating a large extension, building on a rarely used piece of garden.

Taking their time over their planning, they worked alongside local architect, Joe Breslin, who frequently collaborated with the couple’s chosen builder – Will Ashmore of Coppice Homes. Once work was underway on the build, Mr and Mrs L began to shop around for kitchens. Having eliminated the idea of commissioning hand-crafted units, they selected QKS of Stamford for the job. “We were immediately impressed by the quality of the advice and planning expertise as well as the fact we were never put under any pressure to buy – in fact, designer Andrew Singer saved us money, where it was appropriate.”

The extensive build coupled with brand new plumbing, flooring and electrics meant it was crucial to synchronise the efforts of the tradespeople involved, and Andrew was on site frequently to make sure plans were carried out to the last centimetre. This streamlined approach allowed the team to pinpoint the exact day when the new kitchen could be fitted, and, true to their word, QKS completed the installation in four days. “The teamwork was more than impressive,” says Mr L. “The worktop for our huge peninsula is made from quartz and over three metres long – it took five people to lift it!”

The couple are delighted with the resulting kitchen, which has a Stamford Stone floor and clearly defined cooking and dining areas beautifully decorated using local suppliers. Clever storage and elegant details such as down-lit, glass-fronted soft-close cabinets add a touch of glamour to the otherwise highly functional space. “Everything is where it should be, which makes cooking and entertaining so much easier. We still come down every morning and think ‘Wow’.”

LOCAL SUPPLIERS: Joe Breslin (Architect) 01572 724108 Cavells 01572 770372, cavells.co.uk Coppice Homes 01572 811111, coppicehomes.co.uk Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors 01572 722345, elizabethstanhope.co.uk Stamford Stone 01780 740970, stamfordstone.co.uk 24

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

Above: The dining area is filled with natural light thanks to the large lantern skylight and French doors. “Light was very important in this project; the lantern was extra expenditure but well worth the effect, and it helps give a really contemporary feeling to the new kitchen.” Mr L. The couple already owned the dining table and chairs – the console table, matching lamps and faux hydrangeas were from Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors.

t Es

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1981 - 37 Years

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25 large room settings in our extensive showroom

• Contemporary, modern, traditional & handmade bespoke kitchens • Affordable, quality kitchens and the latest designs on display • Over 60 appliances on show The best quality, best value & best service from a company fitting kitchens since 1981

Your local appointed Sheraton dealer and Neff Master Partner

Additional Kitchen Designer required. Apply in writing.

T H E A R E A’ S L A R G E S T I N D E P E N D E N T K I T C H E N S H O W R O O M The Maltings, Barnack Road, Stamford, PE9 2NA T: 01780 756514 or 755855 E: sales@qksstamford.co.uk www.qksstamford.co.uk

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STEP

A very happy house is how current owners Paulette and Trevor Davidson describe the spacious home they designed around a dovecote that was the original occupant of the plot.

Amander Meade finds out more about the home they built in the tiny hamlet of Cawthorpe, just northeast of Rutland.

INSIDE

The Dovecote at Cawthorpe

WORDS: AMANDER MEADE PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

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T was a long-held dream of Paulette’s to build a home from scratch, so when she spotted a large plot of land with initial planning to build an extension to a dovecote she was intrigued. “The dovecote itself was originally listed but de-listed when we bought it, although there were still stipulations about what we could do around it; we were only allowed to join one new wall to the original building, which influenced the shape of the house.”

After several attempts at pleasing the planners, the Davidsons received approval to construct a large, family house of Stamford Stone in which their young family could grow up. Paulette designed the layout herself, and

 The kitchen was made by hand and has oak and granite worksurfaces.

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The Dovecote at Cawthorpe

Above: The large master bedroom has fabulous views over the countryside.

Left: The same wallpaper in the ensuite creates a flow from the master bedroom.

at the top of her wish list were generously proportioned rooms and plenty of bathrooms. “My dream was a light, bright, contemporary home, and my husband just wanted a snooker room – I think we both did well.” The construction was by D and I Builders of Bourne, and they worked fast to complete the build in under 12 months. “It was important to me to recruit tradespeople locally,” remembers Paulette.

The couple entertain family and friends frequently, so opted for a large, open-plan living kitchen with zoned areas of demarcation for cooking, dining and relaxing – although Paulette originally planned for her dining table to grace the entrance hall. “Things evolved, and the dining table just worked better nearer the kitchen. When the children were small, they could be watching TV while I cooked, and it was nice to be all together,” she adds.

The oak-topped kitchen was hand-built by a cabinet-maker recommended to Paulette and is painted in lilac for a soothing feeling. Having always hankered after an Aga, Paulette found one for sale online, and she and Trevor travelled to Penhill in Wiltshire to collect it. “When we found ourselves travelling down an endless private drive, I knew we had to be visiting the home of a celebrity, and I was proved right when the documents accompanying the Aga listed Heather Mills as its previous owner!”

Elsewhere in the kitchen diner Paulette has kept things contemporary with pops of peacock blue used in the bar stools, dining chairs and wall light shades. “The house is painted entirely in white on the walls, then I play with colour in each room,” she explains. “White walls are a practical solution when you have a growing family, as they are so easy to re-touch. I also enjoyed making my own curtains and soft furnishings for the house in colourful Designers Guild fabric.”

The master bedroom is Paulette’s favourite room and it certainly has the luxury of space thanks to the adjoining dressing room. “Without big clunky wardrobes to work around, I have rearranged this room a number of times.

The bed can be moved to face the full-height French doors, which frame what I consider to be the best view around.” The Davidsons' home stands at the end of a sweeping driveway flanked by lawn and low herbaceous borders, with well-established beds with flowering plants and shrubs all around the house itself. “We have been very happy here,” says Paulette, “but it’s a big house and garden for us now, and it’s time for another family to love it as we have done.

I hope it will always be a happy home, as it was intended.”

The Dovecote is currently being marketed with Humberts of Stamford.

To find out more contact Josh Budgen on 01780 758097/humberts.com.

Above: Currently Trevor’s snooker room, this space could be a study, reception room or granny annexe.

Left: All the rooms lead off from this large reception hall.

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Dr Britt Cordi is a local entrepreneur and founder of Britt’s Superfoods. Living on the Rutland/ Northamptonshire border with her husband Daniel and son Ralph, Britt divides her time between delivering inspirational health and wellbeing talks, supporting those with significant health needs and overseeing her successful business. Amander Meade finds out more.

Britt’s Superfoods

Can you tell us what led to the launch of the business?

I have a PhD in molecular biology and nature conservation, and it was while I was studying for this that I discovered the incredible health benefits that wheatgrass juice can provide.

Over the years, I worked for several nature conservation charities, but in the back of my mind I always knew that there was incredible opportunity in bringing fresh, organic wheatgrass juice to people.

In 2009 I founded “LiveWheatgrass Ltd” (now rebranded as Britt’s Superfoods) with my husband Daniel, and our success grew from there. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing you have made a difference to someone’s health and wellbeing, and, through my business as well as via delivering health talks around the world, I have been able to make my vision a reality.

What inspired you to get started?

The business idea was formed with the desire to care for my family and friends. My parents were ageing, and I had a close friend who was very unwell. I really wanted to be able to help them with the healing powers of fresh wheatgrass juice, but sourcing organic, raw, field-grown wheatgrass, not just the

powdered form, proved impossible. Clearly there were a lot of people looking for the same kind of product, as within just an hour of launching our new business online we had our first orders.

What makes you stand out from similar businesses?

There are many variations of wheatgrass on the market – it’s even on supermarket shelves in powdered form – but we are the only company in the UK and mainland Europe that offers fresh, outdoor-grown wheatgrass juice.

We are also proud to offer an entire collection of complementary SuperFood juices, some of which, such as our “Blended Green” juice, are entirely unique to us. These juices, which are made from the fruits of our Northamptonshire fields, are now also shipped globally – to countries including Denmark, Germany, Spain and the US. By harvesting, processing and then flash-freezing in a matter of hours, we lock in all of the essential nutrients, vitamins and enzymes that make wheatgrass a true superfood.

We are so confident of the benefits of our wheatgrass juice that if a new customer doesn’t feel the benefits from daily use within a month, they will receive 110% of their money

back, which shows that we genuinely care about our clients and their wellbeing.

What plans do you have for Britt’s Superfoods over the coming 12 months?

Last April I was delighted to welcome two private investors on board, and this has really enabled us to take huge leaps forward as a business, propelling us into a more mainstream position in the market and allowing us to develop exciting new products. We’re also in the process of speaking to a number of professional ambassadors, who we will be working in partnership with to co-promote our businesses, so there are exciting times ahead.

OFFER: Britt would be delighted to offer Local Living readers an exclusive 15% discount off any order placed at www.brittsuperfoods.co.uk. Simply enter the code LOCALINTRO at the checkout before Friday 1 June 2018, and your order will be swiftly delivered to your door, enabling you to become the best possible version of yourself.

Note that Britt’s Superfoods are also available at Fika, Mill Street, Oakham.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

EDITH WESTON ACADEMY

Edith Weston Academy, part of the successful Brooke Hill Multi-Academy Trust, overlooks the picturesque south shore of Rutland Water.

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he serene sense of calm provided by the quaint surroundings seems to pervade the walls of the school itself; however, it is clear that there is an underlying sense of drive and purpose amongst the staff and the pupils. Executive Headteacher Sharon Milner said, ‘We have high expectations at Edith Weston – we want every single child to be the very best they can be and to develop a love for learning’.

Whilst recognising the importance of high academic attainment and progress, Edith Weston offers pupils opportunities to pursue their individual interests both in and outside the classroom. The awarding of a Gold Sports Mark and the opening of an on-site swimming pool is testament to the school’s commitment to sport. The Arts play a key role in school life too; Mrs Milner and Head of School Mrs Louise Pettman both beam with pride as they tell us about In November 2017 the school was rated Good the children’s participation in the Spotlight in all areas by Ofsted, who highlighted the Dance competition at Stamford’s Corn children’s positive attitudes towards learning, Exchange Theatre, and the regional Young and strong and ambitious leadership. They Voices project. The school also embraces also recognised the committed and skilled its stunning natural surroundings, team of teaching staff, who work hard to undertaking a number of tasks in the deliver exciting and inspiring learning school’s woodland area, as well as enjoying opportunities. Staff and pupils benefit from sailing lessons on Rutland Water. the school’s commitment to small class sizes in order to meet the needs of every child.

From the age of two children are able to Being part of the Multi-Academy Trust brings attend the school’s Little Ospreys nursery, advantages for each school, including joint a vibrant and nurturing environment that residential trips, collective themed days with aims to help children discover a sense external visitors, and a comprehensive gifted of independence and a love for learning and talented programme to ensure all pupils through play. can reach their full potential.

Located close to the St George’s army barracks in North Luffenham, the school has worked hard to create a welcoming environment for local families and new arrivals, creating a close-knit community.

All parents show great appreciation for the work the school has done to foster a sense of togetherness, commenting that they are made to feel part of the wider school community, and the school do as much as possible to help them. A breakfast club and wide range of afterschool clubs offer extra support for those with work responsibilities.

The wider community are invited to attend swimming lessons at the school, including the popular Parent and Toddler sessions. The pool can also be hired for parties.

It’s refreshing to see that, in amongst all the statistics and league tables, Edith Weston Academy is still putting children at the heart of everything it does.

Visits to the school are welcome.

Please contact the school office on 01780 72 0025 or visit the school website www.edithwestonp rimary.co.uk

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Village shops:

use them or lose them Deborah Pennell travels around the area to meet owners and volunteers at some of our wonderful village shops and looks at the important role they play in the local community.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN AND DEBORAH PENNELL

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VILLAGE shop plays a key part in village life: somewhere to buy store cupboard ingredients and everyday necessities, a place to chat and to meet people, and somewhere to keep an eye on others who may need to be cared for within the community. The reality is that if those of us who live in outlying villages do not use these shops, we will lose them, and our community life will be poorer as a result.

Visit your village shop and you are guaranteed a friendly, helpful, personal service – many can order in produce from local suppliers, and some provide a delivery service to the elderly and less mobile within the community. Fresh fruit and vegetables come straight from local wholesale markets, and prices on most lines compare favourably with those of the large supermarket chains.

While visiting so many village shops I completed a price comparison on essential basics such as bread, milk, butter and jam – the results were interesting. Village shops will never manage to compete on milk price (milk in supermarkets is generally sold as a loss leader, as they hope to gain an uplift on other products purchased), but with most other essentials you may only find a five or ten pence difference per item. When you work out the cost of catching the bus or driving into your local town, this means that prices are generally very comparable, if not the same, and sometimes cheaper!

B Barbara’s Store, Empingham

This family-run store has all the charm of your traditional village shop. Barbara Prior set up Barbara’s Store in 1968, moving to the current site in 1972. In the last six years, her son Martyn, and daughter Wendy have taken over the day-to-day running of the business, with Barbara and husband Rodney continuing to help behind the scenes.

Employees/volunteers: Martyn and Wendy, Barbara and a number of paperboys.

Best-selling products: newspapers, sandwiches, bagged penny sweets and lunch items.

Local products stocked: Askers bread, Grasmere Farm meat, Grainstore beer, local honey, organic Welton Farm eggs.

Most random stock item: packs of screws.

Ways of promoting the shop: a sign on the main road (A606) and word of mouth.

B The Shop – Barrowden & Wakerley Community

The Barrowden and Wakerley community-run village shop opened in August 2009. Barrowden previously had a shop attached to a private house in another part of the village, but, when the old lady there died, the house was put up for sale.

I met Sheila Saunders, who was part of the steering group to re-instate a shop in the village, and who remains integral to the running of the community shop.

She said, “in the Parish Plan there were 200 requests to replace the previous shop, so it was important that the steering group drove the project forward. Many people also offered practical help in the form of helping to clear the site before building works could start. Grants for an initial £12,000 were sought from the Lottery building fund, which sadly came to nothing, but a local social building fund gave us a grant of £6,000. A further £3,000 was raised by the village, and the final £3,000 was gifted by a local couple.”

This shop/cafe is all about the community. Run by volunteers, it is the lifeblood of the village.

Employees/volunteers: Manager David Lewis, who was employed in April 2010, plus between 30 to 45 volunteers.

Best-selling products: Kings Cliffe bread, which is delivered daily, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Local products stocked: ready meals from Clarkes of Queniborough, Hambleton Bakery bread, Helen Buff Handmade Chocolate, jam from Saints and Sinners, incredible cakes by local retired baker Joan Millington are served in the cafe.

Ways of promoting the shop: village email, Twitter, Facebook, parish magazines, website (see page 36 for details).

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Easton Stores and Post Office Jag and Bant Dhillon moved from Peterborough to Easton on the Hill in 2004 to run the village shop there. They are an integral part of the local community and offer an unrivalled service to village residents. If you visit the shop, you can be sure of a warm and friendly welcome. It is crammed full of your everyday supplies as well as many other non-essential items, all at prices to rival any of the supermarkets. I have often looked for something slightly out of the ordinary here and, amazingly, they always seem to stock it. One thing never to walk past: their fresh samosas, sold from the counter near the till – you will not eat better.

Employees: Jag and Bunt are regularly to be found serving behind the counter in both the shop and the Post Office. They also employ a couple of local people and several paperboys.

Best-selling product: milk.

Local products stocked: Grasmere Meats and sausage rolls.

Most random stock item: cutlery set.

Ways of promoting the shop: Facebook, and an A4 leaflet circulated around the village once a month, highlighting any promotions.

B Bulwick Village Shop

Owner, Camille Mclean, moved from Scotland and bought the site of the Bulwick Village Shop (winner of The Great Food Club Awards for Best Village Shop 2017/18) some 13 years ago. Her vision was to have a tiny store selling her homemade chutneys and preserves – these days it has expanded to include a tea terrace overlooking beautiful parkland. It is known for serving amazing ploughman’s lunches, soups and exceptional tapas, and, on occasion, customers can be found sitting in Camille’s living room! Camille also instigated the annual “Bulwick Together” day, a great opportunity for residents of the village to meet one another. She provides food and drink for the party. Her ethos is “feeding people is like giving love.” She has won awards both for the shop and for her “The Pickled Village” range of chutneys and preserves. The shop has a tasting shelf, and stocks lots of deli-style products and homemade produce.

Employees: this is a real family affair: Camille and one of her daughters run the shop, with parttime help from a lovely local lady.

Best-selling product: Red Rapscalion – red onion marmalade with redcurrants and chillies. It is even sent abroad and delivered to caterers in large quantities.

Local products stocked: homemade ready meals and cakes prepared on site by Camille, Hambleton Bakery bread, Saxby’s cider, Warner Edwards gins.

A popular stock item: sweetie corner where children can choose from a multitude of tempting penny sweets.

Ways of promoting the shop: Facebook, Instagram, website (see page 36).

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Collyweston Community Shop

The Village Store & Café, Cottingham

The shop in Cottingham is “owned by the village for the village”. As part of a re-launch of this community-run shop, the villagers were asked to invest in their local amenity. To this date they have 260 shareholders, with further shares available to residents, should they see fit to invest in this community project.

The store is run by a committee of locals, and you really get the feeling it is a great place to go and grab a coffee and some local produce, and catch up on some gossip, or ask for help – the committee and their willing bunch of 12 volunteers seem ready to lend an ear and have allotted a special table within the café called the “Have a chat table”.

Best-selling products: newspapers, bread and milk.

Local products stocked: Joseph Morris and Grasmere Farm meats, preserves provided by Mary, who lives locally, and delicious cakes for the cafe, all of which are baked by local people. Manor Farm Dairies provide yogurts, and Hambleton bakery bread can be pre-ordered twice a week.

Ways of promoting the shop: Cottingham community magazine, Facebook, Mailchimp.

Opened in 2010 on the site of the old butcher’s shop, this is a fantastic example of a community pulling together to provide a service for their residents. The original shop committee was bravely headed up by Paul and Sandra Johnson, who worked tirelessly alongside other members of the village to bring their dream to reality. To this date the Johnsons volunteer for several hours a week to help keep the shop doors open and to provide a valuable service to the village.

Rachel Forsythe, the shop manager of five years, gave up a high-pressure job with long hours, and now organises the day-to-day running of the shop, ordering stock, training new volunteers, and playing a key role in promoting the shop through social media.

The volunteer group is diverse, ranging from retired men and women, to a computer analyst, a local farmer, a school teacher and a mother who previously flew helicopters in the Army Air Core, as well as students who need to fulfil voluntary service as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Employees/volunteers: one employee; they are always looking for new volunteers.

Best-selling product: milk.

Local products stocked: The Bytham Kitchen Pickles & Chutneys, local honey, Kings Cliffe bread, Belvoir cordials, Nelsons and Grasmere Farm meats, pies, sausage rolls, Rutland Pies, and many own-brand products (muesli, biscuits and marmalade).

Ways of promoting the shop: Twitter, parish magazine, sign on the A47, website (see page 36 for details).

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B Edith Weston Village Shop

Helen and Andy Wood have owned the shop in Edith Weston for the last five years. They took over a run-down enterprise and have transformed it into a clean, accessible village amenity. Helen has lived in the village for around 17 years, so when the shop lease came up for sale, she decided to buy it, because she felt it was so important to the community to keep it running. I asked how they thought it helps the community having a village shop? “We serve so many of the local villages: North Luffenham, Lindon, Wing, Manton, to name a few. As our nearest large towns are Oakham and Stamford, it is often difficult for the elderly and those without a car to get into town, so we provide a vital service for them.”

Number of employees: four plus Helen, who pops in and out.

Best-selling products: fresh fruit and vegetables, plus bread from the in-store bakery.

Local products stocked: Vivia Crump’s chutneys, Corkers crisps, Grasmere Farm and Nelsons meats and other products, Rutland rapeseed oil and Bitteswell Brown free-range eggs.

Percentage of residents who use the village shop compared to passers by: probably 50:50.

Helen says, “in the summer months we serve lots of cyclists and walkers, and also people using the sailing club.” This accounts for bicycle puncture repair kits being among the items for sale (a multitude of bicycles pass every day).

Ways of promoting the shop: Facebook, a sign on the main road, and word of mouth.

B The Village Stores & Post Office, Ryhall

Miranda and Dave Amies are the proprietors of this award-winning shop, which was voted Best Independent Retailer 2017 in The Mercury Business Awards. Having left a job in HR, Miranda has embraced the responsibility of shop-keeping and loves the challenge of providing this key service to the community. In the six years they have owned the shop, Miranda and Dave have transformed it into a thriving place for local people to shop, meet and buy cake!

(According to Miranda the residents of Ryhall love cake!)

Employees: five part-time, working anything from 10 to 26 hours per week, plus Miranda and Dave.

Best-selling products: everything from the deli counter, which includes sausage rolls and scotch eggs from The Wicked Witch restaurant, plus cakes and Miranda’s weekly curries, which are very popular on a Friday and Saturday night.

Local products stocked: Hambleton Bakery bread, Deliciously Different flapjacks and brownies, Saints and Sinners jams, fresh fruit and vegetables from a local wholesaler and Just so Italian products, such as good-quality pasta.

Ways of promoting the shop: village magazines, Facebook and Instagram, website (see right).

J Wooding, Greengrocer, Kings Cliffe

This traditional village shop has been owned and run by John Wooding for 38 years. He took over the building from his father, who was a baker on the same site. John said, “I started selling fruit and vegetables before I left school, and used to run a mobile van.”

Employee: just John, who has not had a holiday in years!

Best-selling products: fresh fruit/vegetables.

Local products stocked: Fowlers eggs.

Most random stock item: a selection of DIY items and sewing products.

Ways of promoting the shop: word of mouth.

CONTACTS: Barbara’s Store 15 Church Street, Empingham, LE15 8PN, 01780 460348 Open: Mon–Fri 7am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 9am–4pm The Shop – Barrowden & Wakerley Community Wakerley Road, Barrowden, LE15 8EP, 01572 748748, www.barrowdenshop.org Open: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 10am–1pm Bulwick Village Shop 15 Main Street, Bulwick, NN17 3DY, 01780 450774, www.bulwickvillageshop.com Open: Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm, Sun closed Collyweston Community Shop 21 High Street, Collyweston, PE9 3PW, 01780 440830, collywestonshop.co.uk Open: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 9am–12pm The Village Store & Café 2 Corby Road, Cottingham, LE16 8XH, 01536 770097 Open: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 9am–1pm Easton Stores & Post Office 3 Westfields, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LY Open: Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat 7.30am–7pm, Sun 7.30am–1pm Edith Weston Village Shop Off Church Lane, Edith Weston, LE15 8EY, 01780 722164 Open: Mon–Fri 7.30am–6pm, Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 8.30am– 12.30pm J Wooding: Greengrocer, Fruiterer and General Grocer 10 Park Street, Kings Cliffe, PE8 6XN, 01780 470307 Open: Mon 9am–1pm, Tue–Fri 8am–1pm and 2–5.30pm, Sat 8am–1pm, Sun closed The Village Stores & Post Office The Square, Ryhall, PE9 4HJ, 01780 763572, www.ryhallvillagestores.co.uk. Open: Mon–Fri 7.30am– 6.30pm, Sat 8am–5.30pm, Sun 8.30am–12pm

VILLAGE SHOPS: SERVICES Post Office

Barbara’s Store, Empingham The Shop - Barrowden & Wakerley Community

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Fresh New Look Lunch Menu Tuesday – Saturday 12-2pm Enjoy a warm welcome and fine food all served with a smile in our award-winning restaurant.

Great for a treat, a business lunch or a quick bite to eat.

Our mouth-watering delights include: Buffalo mozzarella salad, salted black beans, chilli tomatoes, spring onions, wonton crisps.

Slow roast pork belly, black pudding, apple and sage rosti, mustard creamed cabbage.

Steamed cod, asparagus, peas, gnocchi, gammon and parsley broth.

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From rhubarb with homemade ricotta to organic English natural wines…

Olive Branch co-owners Sean Hope and Ben Jones are in summery mood.

Flavours to usher in the summer S

UMMER is around the corner, so this month we’re bringing you a couple of bright- and fresh-feeling recipes straight from The Olive Branch kitchen. One of the main ingredients of the first dish is sharp and tangy British rhubarb, whose appearance is one of the first signs that lighter, warmer evenings are within touching distance. A vegetable not a fruit, “forced” rhubarb – which is grown in the dark – first appears in January, while the more deeply flavoured field-grown variety starts to be harvested from around April. When combined with homemade ricotta and Rutland prosciutto (from Rutland Charcuterie Company, where else?), it makes a wonderful springtime starter. Meanwhile, blood oranges, used in the second recipe, are now at the end of their season, but what a great summery flavour they produce, and what a colour! I hope you enjoy making these two dishes at home, but if you want to see how we do them, come and see us in Clipsham!

Mixed salad of rhubarb, Rutland prosciutto, homemade ricotta Serves 4 Ricotta • 1l whole milk • 1 pinch salt • 20ml distilled or white wine vinegar 1. Place the milk into a large saucepan with the salt.

2. Heat the milk to 93ºC, then add the vinegar and stir well.

3. Remove from the heat, stir again and allow to stand for 10 minutes.

4. Line a large sieve with a muslin cloth and place a large bowl underneath it.

5. Using a straining spoon, remove the solid curds from the pan and place on to the muslin cloth.

6. Cover the ricotta and place in the fridge to hang overnight to create a firm texture.

7. Serve with the poached rhubarb (see right), lightly dressed salad leaves and slithers of Rutland

prosciutto from Rutland Charcuterie (available from rutlandcharcuterie. co.uk).

Poached rhubarb • 500ml sugar syrup (one part water to one part sugar) • 5g root ginger • 5g bruised lemongrass • 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar • 2 sticks of rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 1. Place the sugar syrup into a saucepan with the ginger, lemongrass and vinegar.

2. Bring the stock to a rapid boil, then add the forced rhubarb and bring the mixture back to the boil for 60 seconds.

3. Remove the pan from the heat, cover with clingfilm.

4. When ready to serve, drain and plate with the ricotta, salad leaves and prosciutto.

Coming up at The Olive Branch

Blood orange crème caramel

Tuesday 8 & 15 May: Cookery demonstrations with Sean Hope

• 125g caster sugar • Juice and zest of two blood oranges • 500ml double cream • 2 sprigs rosemary • 1 tbsp caster sugar • 1 vanilla pod, split (or use a few drops of vanilla essence) • 2 large eggs • 2 large egg yolks

Saturday 19 May (lunchtime): Chardonnay with Charles Hawkins Come and discover the diversity of Chardonnay with Charles Hawkins.

From Old World to New World, oaked to unoaked, we will be tasting eight Chardonnays, all accompanied by a wonderful selection of tapassize dishes.

Thursday 21 June, 7pm: Napa Valley Wine Dinner with Peter Franus A dinner hosted by the great Californian winemaker Peter Franus, whose wines will be matched to a seven-course seasonal menu.

Book on 01780 410355

The garden terrace at The Olive Branch really comes into its own during the summer evenings, and we’ve got the perfect drinks to serve during those beautiful Rutland sunsets. Our unique homemade country cocktails are perfect sundowners and include “Taste of Topiary” (Rutland hedgerow rosehip syrup, Olive Branch Seville orange marmalade, bourbon and orange bitters), and our famous Clipsham Cooler (gin, apple juice, elderflower, mint, lemon and ginger ale).

We are also excited to be able to offer the wonderful Txakoli.

Anyone who has enjoyed the tapas bars of San Sebastián will have sipped this – it’s a superb young and fruity dry white, best poured into the glass from a height to release the flavours. And we are now serving an English “Pet Nat” – an organic, natural wine made with a single fermentation in the bottle, unfiltered to provide a fuller, ripe, tart flavour.

The Rutland Charcuterie team.

Their prosciutto goes perfectly in this rhubarb dish.

We have some great craft beers, too, including two fantastic sour beers, which go brilliantly with many of our spring dishes. The first is “Salty Kiss” from Magic Rock Brewing – a German-style “Gose” beer made with salt water, sea buckthorn and fruit; it’s a beautiful accompaniment to a bowl of mussels or shellon prawns. The second is “Calypso” from Siren Craft Brewery – a wonderfully refreshing tart beer that’s full of dry, hoppy flavours and great with a plate of local charcuterie or a platter of British cheeses.

Serves 6

1. Place the sugar and juice of the oranges into a saucepan and heat to create a golden caramel.

2. Carefully pour the hot caramel evenly into the bottom of six ramekins and allow to set.

3. In another saucepan, heat up the cream with the rosemary, orange zest, a tablespoon of sugar and vanilla to infuse the flavours.

A Clipsham Cooler with your sunset?

4. Mix the whole eggs and the yolks together in a bowl and then strain the hot, infused cream on to them and mix well.

5. Pour the egg mixture evenly into the moulds, place into a bain marie.

6. Place the crème caramels in their bain marie into a preheated oven at 160ºC and cook for around one hour until set.

7. When they are cooked, remove them from the oven and allow to cool before chilling them overnight.

8. To serve, gently heat the bottoms of the moulds in hot water, then turn out onto individual plates.

9. Garnish with blood orange segments.

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39

Gretton Garden Services Country Inn and Restaurant A warm welcome is assured at our quintessential old English county pub, bringing you the best of British home cooked meals and a choice of well kept Real Ales.

Why not join us for Sunday Lunch?

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• Driveways • Turfing • Weed Spraying • Scarification • Pressure Washing

Call Chris Stubbs to see how his practical knowledge can turn your dreams into reality

Mob. 07976 286664/Home. 01536 772434 email chrisstubbs57@hotmail.com

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OUTDOOR Living

This month Rebecca Chatterton takes a look at an absolute highlight of the gardening calendar, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which is taking place from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 May at the Royal Hospital in London. It’s fabulous to experience it in person, but it’s also brilliant for sparking creative inspiration from afar, so if you’re looking for ideas for your own patch of green now that the weather is improving, it may be just the thing. For more details, see www.rhs.org.uk.

Artisan Gardens

IMAGES: All ©Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

Also at the show there will seven Artisan Gardens, demonstrating more traditional designs, materials and crafts skills. Here visitors can find inspiration in schemes as diverse as Viking’s Wellness Garden, rich in herbal and culinary plants, or the structured restraint of a Japanese hospitality garden. The Embroidered Minds Epilepsy Garden by Kati Crome is inspired

by William Morris’s daughter Jenny, who suffered from epilepsy, and the effects it had on her family in the Victorian era, when the condition was socially stigmatised.

Space to Grow

Welcome to Yorkshire Garden

by Mark Gregory

T

HE RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of Europe’s most prestigious celebrations of gardening. This year promises to be as spectacular as ever with horticulture’s most creative designers unveiling inspirational gardens that challenge the visitor’s imagination and tackle some of the big issues preoccupying society today. Man’s relationship with his local environment is a recurring theme; the benefits of gardening on mental health and wellbeing are a frequent focus too.

Shows Gardens

This year there 10 Show Gardens, which are traditionally the highlight of Chelsea.

Themes include Romance and whimsy, Plants and green spaces to improve lives and Man and the environment. In Romance and whimsy, there’s the M&G Garden by Sarah Price, promising “a romanticised Mediterranean haven”.

There’s also the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden by Mark Gregory, inspired by the Dales with natural landscape planting, a buttercup meadow and stonewalls to contrast a cottage garden. Then there’s the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory by Jo Thompson – a modern interpretation of the late 18th-century concept of an intimate secret garden.

In Plants and The David green spaces to Harber and improve lives, Chris Savills Garden Beardshaw’s garden for Morgan Stanley represents the impact of the work of the NSPCC on children’s lives. The Lemon Tree Trust Garden by Tom Massey emulates the resourceful space- and water-saving techniques used in farming in refugee camps in Northern Iraq. And in Man and the environment, highlights include The David Harber and Savills Garden by Nic Howard – a garden in layers reflecting the evolution of man’s interaction with the environment over time. There’s also the LG Eco-City Garden, representing sustainable city living in which technology is balanced with gardening to address localised environmental issues.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

This year the RHS introduces a new category Space to Grow, which features smaller gardens that will hopefully “inspire visitors to transform a compact, urban The Silent Pool Gin Garden or unusual outdoor space”. Practical designs and trends to take home include colourful planting, the use of interesting landscaping materials and employing water as a sensory distraction. These include The Silent Pool Gin Garden by David Neale.

Other highlights

The RHS Feel Good Garden will emphasise gardening’s positive impact on mental health, and this year, as well as exhibitors from the world’s best nurseries, growers and florists, the famous Great Pavilion will house a garden at its centre.

Designed by Tom Stuart-Smith it’s a therapeutic space created from mostly recycled materials, and many of its plants have been brought out of retirement having appeared in show gardens at Chelsea before!

TRENDS

Here are some Chelsea trends to love – something, hopefully, to inspire every style of gardener: Native planting and supplies Choose native plants – they’ll thrive better and establish more quickly.

Consider using natural fertilisers and seaweed products to feed your garden and gather rainwater where you can for watering.

Hands-off gardening Structural plants and shrubs are all the rage and with minimal effort they produce maximum impact. Put them in containers for instant effect and bring them close to your entrances for easy watering. Embrace the Japanese art of Wabi-sabi – the ultimate in laid-back gardening, with its meaning being the acceptance of the natural cycle of growth, decay and death. Recreate the look with moss-covered stones, overgrown perennials and weathered pots and declare the look spiritual rather than neglected.

Incorporating mindfulness The benefits of gardening on mental health and wellbeing are well documented, so remember to garden for yourself and include the things that you like such as your favourite colours and smells (be they on trend or not)!

Call James on 01780 752119 info@marramgardens.co.uk www.marramgardens.co.uk

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A rural retail treasure trove “The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre is a lovely place to eat and enjoy good atmosphere, stunning settings and first-class service. It’s a perfect pit stop on my way to the King Power!”

Mark Pougatch, sports broadcaster and journalist

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

T

HE Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre is a family-run business in East Langton, Market Harborough, drawing visitors from Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland. It has grown from a greenhouse producing tomatoes for sale on Leicester and Bedford markets to an award-winning, multifarious offering. Since the Langton Stone Company was launched in 2011, the Greenhouse and Garden Centre has expanded its range of plants and gardening products and also now stocks gifts, clothes and speciality foods. The Greenhouse Café opened in 2013 and now enjoys an excellent reputation for being a fabulously welcoming space, well suited to a range of diners, with an enticing seasonal menu. Spacious parking in a newly re-laid car park and good accessibility on the Melton Road are distinct advantages too.

furnishings. The Langton Stone Company has its own showroom in rustic greenhouses.

With so much under one roof, visitors can buy groceries, pick out seasonal garden plants, grab a birthday jumper and card for someone or a housewarming gift, or have a look at the fine stone or garden furniture on show before enjoying a drink or meal at the Greenhouse Café. Site concessions include a veterinary practice, a dog groomer and a butcher, completing an impressive range of offerings all under one roof (or just outside). Clothing brands stocked include the Sara Miller London range and chic Scandinavian brands Nümph and Danefae, while the homeware selection ranges from Broste to Ib Laursen. Through a new loyalty scheme, customers will be rewarded with discounts, exclusive offers and priority bookings.

ONE-STOP SHOP The tasteful range of products for sale includes plants, ornaments and garden furniture, as well as locally sourced groceries (fabulous fruit and vegetables), speciality foods (conserves, condiments, confectionery, soft drinks and craft spirits including Market Harborough’s Two Birds gins, vodkas and absinthe and Loddington’s Warner Edwards gins, etc), plus gifts, cards, toys, clothes and homeware items, from kitchenware to soft

THE GREENHOUSE CAFÉ At the Greenhouse Café, the food is kept fresh and simple, with the focus on great-quality seasonal dishes. Whether you’re coming for breakfast (served until 11.45am), coffee, lunch (served from 12pm) or afternoon tea (from 2.30pm), and are dining alone, with friends or with the kids, it’s the perfect venue: light, spacious and wonderfully welcoming to all. For children, there are toys to play with and plenty of room, plus a specially designed menu that’s

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

served all day and has been designed to keep even the fussiest young diners happy. The café can also be booked for private functions.

ADVICE AND FEEDBACK Horticultural advice is readily available too, with the team on hand seven days a week, all year round, to help with anything you could ask regarding your garden. If you want to find out more from the comfort of your own home or beyond, the centre has an easily navigable website and shares product launches and other useful information on its social media pages. Local website Best of Market Harborough recently awarded The Langtons its “Highly Commended Business” award for 2018. Gardening and orchid masterclasses and the Radio Leicestershire gardening panel show “Down To Earth” have also recently proved to be very popular, as have special Mother’s Day and St Patrick’s Day menus, and Easter promotions.

At the Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre there is something for everyone, and you don’t need a garden to come in!

The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre, Melton Road, East Langton, Market Harborough LE16 7TG, open Mon–Sat 9am– 5pm, Sun and bank holidays 10am–4pm, 01858 545819, langtongreenhouse.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

MINI ADVENTURES PRESCHOOL Starting a preschool has been a dream of Mini Mischief owner Sam White ever since she opened the soft play centre at Three Manors Retail Park in Market Harborough.

A

nd this September that vision will become a reality as Mini Adventures Preschool opens at the beginning of the Leicestershire school year. The mezzanine floor of the building is currently being converted into a standalone preschool for children aged two and half to five-years-old.

the preschool for full registration at 9am.

“We realised that it would be really hard for the children to walk past the play equipment and go straight upstairs. So we will let them come in, be greeted by staff and then chuck off their shoes and have a play which will help set them up for the day,” said Sam.

It will open from 8.30am to allow parents to drop off younger siblings before the school run and operate until 3pm, every Monday to Friday during term time. Sam said the preschool was the ideal venture to help fulfil the potential of her existing staff, many of whom have childcare training which is currently not being fully utilised. She said the unique selling point of the preschool was the high number of experienced staff and the relatively low capacity of around 30 children.

The preschoolers will then have free play and set activities in the upstairs rooms which will be their own dedicated area with no public access. The beauty of the building is that it is already child friendly because it has been purposefully designed for children.

“From a parent’s perspective the key factor is the staff. They are highly qualified and experienced. We have level 6 degree qualified staff and we are aiming to keep ratios low.

Most of the staff have children of their own and all have experience of working with children, some for over 20 years. We have thought about what kind of care we would have liked our own children to have,” said Sam. Each morning children will be able to burn off steam for 30 minutes on the play frame downstairs before going upstairs to 46

design and understanding the world. Experts will also be brought in to provide activities such as music and dance and each child will have a dedicated key worker who records their development in a learning journey. The preschool will be offering the 30 free childcare hours but will charge for additional, optional extras such as meals and trips.

A hot lunch time meal will be provided which will be similar to school dinners with a rolling menu including jacket potatoes, spaghetti bolognaise and veggie fajitas.And once a week children will be able to get creative and get involved with making their own lunch and desserts such as sandwiches, homemade pizzas, fruit kebabs “A lot of the time we will have free play, like with any childcare provider, but will also do academic and muffins.Although there is no outdoor space the children will be taken outside to local parks and more structured work and allow each child and open spaces each day.The mezzanine to progress and spend as much time as they are floor will also be cleared of furniture to provide happy to in each area. We will also have some the preschoolers with an area to ride scooters tech time, this will be highly supervised and e-safety will be extremely important.” added Sam. and trikes and the railings will be boarded up and decorated with finger mazes and brightly coloured educational pictures.Although the The children will also be encouraged to try mezzanine floor will no longer be open to the out new foods at snack time with a range of healthy, seasonal fruit and vegetables on public during the week the two upstairs party offer. The preschool will follow the statutory rooms will be available at the weekends.

Early Years Foundation Stage framework with children learning personal, social and To find out more ab emotional development; communication and out the Mini Adventures Presch language; and physical development. This will ool look out for one of their open be alongside four specific areas of learning: days over the summer or contac literacy, mathematics, expressive arts and t 01858 419743 .

Email info@minia dventures.co.uk Facebook page ‘Mini Advent ures Preschool’

A liTtlE DAy out

A liTtlE ADveNtuRe

Step back in time at Oakham Castle (www.oakhamcastle.org) on Sunday 27 May and visit the multi-period Living History Weekend. Running from 11am to 4pm the fun-packed day celebrates the castle’s 800-year history. Visitors will be able to experience the sights, sounds and smells of medieval, Saxon and Tudor life through a variety of re-enactments and activities such as archery and a scaled-down trebuchet.

Tickets are £6 for adults and £4 for children, and under threes go free. And over at Lamport Hall (lamporthall.co.uk), just a short drive south of Market Harborough, there is the Festival of Country Life on Sunday 27 May and Bank Holiday Monday 28 May from 10am to 5pm. This lovely traditional show set in the glorious parkland of the hall will be exhibiting vintage tractors and demonstrating how rural crafts such as spinning and spoon-making are being kept alive. There will also be an array of craft stalls, antiques stalls, entertainment and displays plus a chance to visit the Museum of Rural Life and learn how food was harvested in the olden days.

My two little ones love visiting West Lodge Rural Centre (www. westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk) in Desborough all year round, as there is always something new to do, see or feed. During the first bank holiday weekend from Saturday 5 to Monday 7 May the farm is creating a swashbuckling adventure with its pirates and princesses weekend. Kids can dress up in their favourite costume and take part in the fancy dress competition, have a go at walking the plank, search for clues around the farm on the treasure trail and even get the grown-ups involved in the sandcastle contest. Or why not head over to Rutland Water Nature Reserve (www.rutlandwater.org.uk) for bug hunting in the woods at a family drop-in day on Sunday 27 May from 10am to 3pm. Kids can catch mini beasts, go pond dipping and take part in nature-related craft activities. No need to book. The price is £3 per person.

LIttLe livIng v

With two bank holidays, May is a great time for family events, so fingers crossed the weather stays fine.

Lily Canter and her two boys select some of the region’s best highlights for all the family.

A liTtlE MAkiNg

A liTtlE BAkiNg

The weather has been so extreme and unpredictable this year that it is always useful to have a rainy-day event up your sleeve, especially during the holidays. Katherine Fortnum Ceramics in Knoll Street, Market Harborough, offers workshop days where all the family can get messy playing with clay. Two-hour sessions for under 11-year-olds are £25 per person and include clay and bisque firing. Why not sign up to make some clay monsters on Tuesday 29 May at 10am or a trinket box at 2pm on the same day. Find out more and book your place by visiting www.katherinefortnumceramics.com.

This month Emma Steed of Nature’s Pantry, Market Harborough, has a special snack suitable for those who are gluten free, dairy free, vegan or don’t want to consume any processed sugar. The delicious Apple Carrot and Raisin Muffins can be made in advance and eaten as a quick snack, cold or warmed up. Emma runs fun cookery classes for little ones in term time and throughout the holidays.

Find out more at naturespantry.co.uk.

A liTtlE FEstIvaL May is the perfect time to visit the stunning neighbouring countryside on foot or pedal bike as part of the Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival. From Saturday 19 May until Friday 1 June there will be a full programme of events enabling you to enjoy the scenery with a guide on a series of designated routes.

The second week of the festival involves family-orientated walking and cycling activities to coincide with the school half-term holiday, so there is plenty of opportunity to get out and about with the kids. View the full programme of events at www.activerutland.org. uk/walkingandcycling. For advice on cycling and routes, contact Rutland Cycling (www.rutlandcycling.com), who have excellent stores with helpful staff at Whitwell and Normanton.

Ingredients: 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tbsp water) 1 cup of gluten free oats 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup of grated apple

1 large ripe banana mashed 1/3 cup of finely grated carrot 1/4 cup of coconut milk 1/3 cup of raisins 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil 1 tsp of vanilla

Method: First make the flax egg and set aside. Take half of the oats and blend them into flour using a Nutribullet or similar mixer. Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl and mix all the wet ingredients (including the flax egg) in another bowl, then add the two together, mix, and spoon into silicone muffin cases. Bake at 180ºC for 15 to 20 minutes, until the muffins turn golden on the top.

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HEALTH The beauty buzz & Catherine Varney rounds up the latest news and innovations in the hair and beauty industry this month.

Tackle fat with two unique treatments Now, if I told you there was a treatment that could reduce fat without the need for hitting the gym or dieting, would you be interested?

I visited Lesley Spencer at the Chaelis Clinic to find out about the unique fat-busting treatments she offers…

Cavitation treatment

Lesley explained this was excellent for getting rid of stubborn areas of fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise (perfect for my mummy tummy). Whilst this treatment can cover a wide area at a time, it would be too costly and time consuming to cover the whole body, so if you are very overweight, this isn’t the treatment for you (although it’s absolutely perfect for getting rid of excess inches after a diet).

Lesley fired up the cavitation machine and showed me how she was going to shock my fat into disappearing with a handpiece that had four transducers on it – these send a light vibration through all of the skin layers and hit the adipose (fatty) tissue underneath. The vibrations hit the membrane surrounding the fat cells, causing them to burst, and the lipids (or fats) are then carried away by the body’s excretory system. So far, so simple.

Lesley applied ultrasound gel across the whole of my abdomen (the treatment can cover the whole of the diaphragm area in one session) and then set about firmly kneading my skin to ensure the ultrasound waves were able to penetrate to the correct depth. Whilst it felt like my tummy was being given a good workout, it wasn’t painful (just slightly uncomfortable when it got to my ribs and hip bones!), but she managed to cover a large surface area in just 45 minutes, so it’s easy to see how this would also be very effective on back fat, thighs and buttocks too.

This was followed by a quick burst of shockwave therapy to aid the process, increasing blood circulation and collagen production to improve the tone and texture of my skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite.

I was told that my regular diet of predominantly tea and coffee would need a little overhaul for a few days, as I should drink at least 3 litres of water a day to alleviate the stress on my kidneys as they flushed the fats away. Whilst results are immediate and visible after the first session (I lost 2–3cm on both my waist and hips), this is an 8-week treatment schedule, which includes the cavitation and shockwave therapy, at a cost of £995.

It may sound expensive, but this is minimal when compared to the cost of surgery in which I think very similar results can be achieved – after all, the 8-week photos (right, top) speak for themselves…

Cryolipolysis

Try saying that after you’ve had your chin frozen! This treatment requires a much smaller area than cavitation, and, having given me a cursory once-over, Lesley decided that the pouch under my chin was the ideal candidate for some contouring.

Cryolipolysis is essentially “fat freezing”, in which a cryo cup is placed on the area to be treated, the air flow is activated, and the fatty tissue is pulled into the cup with a vacuum action. Lesley prepared my skin with an anti-freeze membrane that would protect my skin from any damage. Once she activated the machine, I could feel my chin being sucked into the cup and she began the freezing process. The area got cold very rapidly, but not uncomfortably so, and as the treatment lasts for only approximately 20 minutes, it was perfectly bearable. Again, this treatment is very carefully controlled: the machine only freezes down to -6ºC, the temperature at which fat cells are destroyed (blood and tissue freeze at -12ºC, so there is no danger of any damage to them at all).

This is a one-off treatment, which starts from £175 per area, in which you will see 20 to 40% of fat cells permanently destroyed. Immediately afterwards and for the first few days, there was very slight pinprick bruising, but, by day 3, you wouldn’t have known I’d had it done. Lesley said it takes until week 8 to show the results off to their full effect.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

However, I have noticed a difference straight away – my profile is much smoother and more contoured, and the pouch underneath my chin that had really started to bother me (but which I’d accepted as an inevitable part of ageing) has gone!

A big move for Beauty Defined Beauty Defined owner Natalie Godefroy is delighted to announce that the salon has recently relocated to the Settling Rooms, which is the iconic Grade II-listed building in the centre of Market Harborough. “Being in this prime location will really put us on the map,” she told me.

Natalie has completely redesigned the interior, so it has a Harley Street feel to it, which is in keeping with the high-end aesthetics and non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatments the team will continue to offer.

One of the newest treatments are the PRP (Plasma Rich Platelet) therapy facials – or vampire facials, as they are more commonly known. These harness the growth factors in your own platelets to aid rejuvenation and treat pigmentation and scarring. The treatment starts with Natalie taking a small sample of your blood and using a centrifuge to separate out the platelets. The platelets are then administered to your skin using one of a choice of methods: Mytoxin™ PRP, which uses Derma Roller to reintroduce the platelets; Liquid Gold PRP Therapy, in which platelets are reintroduced to the face using injections; or Plasma Blast technology. It is a natural and safe way to stimulate collagen, rejuvenate the skin and repair age-related damage for a more youthful and radiant complexion.

& BEAUTY Give your hair some TLC Sheet masks for the face have been big news for about a year now, but Redken have just launched the first sheet mask for the hair – first previewed on ITV’s This Morning and now available from Creme Hair and Beauty in Oakham! This innovative product can be used at home or as part of your in-salon service and is designed to cover the whole of your hair for an easy, non-drip application. Simply shampoo hair, then apply the All Soft Mega Sheet Mask by twisting and wrapping the hair fully into the cap and fasten with the adhesive strap. Gently massage the cap to transfer the product onto the hair and then leave for 10-15 minutes – no mess and no fuss. The mask is brilliant for severely dry hair and blends cactus extract, aloe vera and Sacha Inchi Oil to strengthen hair from root to tip, resulting in supersleek, smooth and intensely hydrated hair.

What’s new in nails?

There have been so many advancements in nail care and colour over recent years, it’s true to say that we’re completely spoilt for choice in our local area for nail salons. Two of my favourites in the region are Ellique in Oakham, which offers OPI gel nails, and Naomi Nails and Beauty in Market Harborough, where there is a whole menu of nail services including extensions, overlays, Biosculpture gels and nail art. I asked the salons for the best way to look after a gel manicure to ensure it stays looking fabulous for two weeks and beyond: • Avoid getting nails wet at all for the first 24 hours, if possible.

• A glitter top coat often helps to prolong the life of your gel manicure.

• Wear rubber gloves for cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms – better still, get your partner or a friend to do it! The cleaning products are not only bad for your nails, they wreak havoc on your skin too.

• Rehydrate your nails – try to have a break between gel polishes every now and then and use a moisturising product on nails and cuticles to minimise brittleness.

• When it’s time for the gel to be removed – DON’T PICK! This can take the top layer of the nail off as well. Go back to the salon to have it soaked off (they do this for a small additional charge if you’re having another set applied) or use acetone nail polish on cotton wool to gently remove it at home.

DIRECTORY • Beauty Defined, Settling Rooms, Springfield Street, Market Harborough, 01858 288242, www.beauty-defined.co.uk • Chaelis Clinic, Sten Beren, Main Street, Lowick, Kettering, NN14 3BH, 01832 733811, www.chaelis.co.uk • Creme Hair and Beauty, The Old Church, 8 Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 723823, www.cremehairandbeauty.co.uk • Ellique, 55 South Street, Oakham, 01572 723950 • Naomi Nails and Beauty, 14 Manor Walk, Market Harborough, 01858 657001, www.naominailsbeauty.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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51

Urban Rambles:

a new book by Nicholas Rudd-Jones

A

LL my life I’ve loved walking through the countryside – round here across the gently rolling hills of Rutland, in the more rugged outcrops of the Peak District and often in the mountain ranges of Europe.

And the order of play is roughly the same - walking gear, maps, compass, rucksack, ruggedness, in exchange for tranquillity, exquisite views and impressive calf muscles.

Until recently. My epiphany came whilst strolling with a friend along the Regent’s Canal, when the exquisite pleasures of urban rambling suddenly dawned on me – no preparation required, no rucksack, snacks and loos almost always on hand, great architecture and history at every turn and – this is the really surprising bit – bags of delightful green spaces. Our cities have been transformed in the last generation, and there are some real gems. So, I decided to write a book about it, and thus was Urban Rambles born.

Choose from cathedral cities like York and Lincoln, seats of learning like Cambridge and Oxford, trading ports like Bristol and Liverpool, cities designed for pleasure like Brighton and Bath. Choose to visit Victorian industrial cities Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham, and, of course, the nation’s capital, where my ingenious 25-mile circular route takes you from urban regeneration through the Olympic Park and past rivers, parks and palaces.

Because of our central position in the country, many of the walks can easily be reached in a day, especially as they all start and finish at the city’s main station. Here’s a flavour of a couple:

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

London

Altogether this walk is 25 miles, but it is split into four stages, so you could do it one stage at a time, if you prefer. And because one stage starts at King’s Cross and St Pancras and another ends there, stages I and IV are especially convenient for us folk from the north.

The London Inner Circle takes the City as its pivot and makes use of old waterways: the canals (Regent’s Canal, Lee Navigation, Grand Junction), conduits (The New River), rivers (Lea, Thames) and “hidden” rivers (Walbrook, Fleet, Tyburn, Westbourne) of the capital. Around two-thirds of the route is close to water – although sometimes you wouldn’t know it, as it’s a few metres below ground! The route was driven by a determination to take you through as much green space as possible – be it parks, squares, churchyards, waterways, dockyards, terraces or even a sky garden. Thrown in too are the next best things to quiet, green spaces – medieval passages, alleyways and mews.

One of my favourite recent initiatives is the campaign to make London the world’s first National Park City: “a city where people and nature are better connected; a city that is rich with wildlife and every child benefits from exploring outdoors”. London has a world-beating 3,000 parks, 13,000 species of wildlife, and 47 per cent of its surface area is green spaces; and in the last generation things have got so much better with major regeneration projects and environmental improvements.

Cambridge

This walk takes you past many of the classic university sites of the city, but also to places that you will never have seen before, even if you have lived or studied here. In half a day you will feel like an insider!

Cambridge is a city still defined by academia. The most prominent (if plain) building remains Giles Gilbert Scott’s 1930s’ University Library, only 157 feet in height but visible from miles around; for this is a very flat landscape, ideal for the cyclists you will encounter around every corner, often heading straight for you! The dominance of the colleges in the landscape has meant a city grid that is skewed, with almost all of the nineteenth-century development taking place to the east of the city away from the colleges. The railway station was also relegated to the south-east edge of the city, apparently to discourage undergraduates from hopping on the train down to London and neglecting their studies.

However, the huge benefit of this tight collegiate land ownership has been the large green open spaces that have remained intact, along the Backs, the river to Grantchester and also the numerous sports fields.

The name “the Backs” refers to the backs of the colleges. In the sixteenth century, the area consisted of pasture, gardens and orchards owned by the colleges, with wooden bridges across the Cam. Over time, the colleges planted avenues of trees and built sturdier bridges.

In 1772, Capability Brown laid out a wilderness behind St John’s College. This “rus in urbe” vision continues to this day, with sheep in front of King’s, wild areas, specimen trees and vistas, making it one of the most picturesque spots in the country. Punting, which is an integral part of this rural idyll and looks like it has been around for ever, was surprisingly only introduced in 1903, when Jack Scudamore spotted the tourist potential. The other very noticeable feature of Cambridge has been its pedestrian- and cyclistfriendly policies. The city centre has been barred to traffic for many years and is consequently a delightful space to wander through, full of interesting shops and cafés.

Full directions and a Google map of all the walks and more can be found at urbanrambles.org.

The Urban Rambles book, published by Frances Lincoln, can be purchased online at Amazon, or at Walkers Bookshops.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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Small beginnings Many businesses start in the home on a kitchen table, in a garden workshop or even from a van parked in the drive. Lily Canter spoke to four local companies, big and small, to find out how they began and just what it takes to create a successful new venture.

Seven Scents Home Stepping into Verity Davis’s home in Market Harborough is like walking into a scent emporium, as subtle, sensual and striking smells hit your nostrils at every turn.

From her kitchen worktop Verity creates a range of seven fragrances for candles and diffusers using organic and natural ingredients including soya bean wax and plant extracts.

Set up last June, Seven Scents Home already has products in a 30-mile radius including upmarket gift shops Bagel & Griff in Market Harborough, Bunny & Clarke in Tur Langton and Lavender Blue in Uppingham, as well as selling the range via their website.

Using some surprisingly simple equipment, Verity makes the products by hand, ensuring that the scent is equally distributed throughout the candle rather than just sitting on the top like many high-street candle brands.

“As a mother of two I want the best in my house and I don’t want to use any chemicals. I use non-alcoholic oils, which last a lot longer, and everything is recyclable.

“The candles come in glass tumblers, which can be washed and used as drinking glasses, and we encourage customers to use the cardboard pots for storage. The small ones are great for putting jewellery in, and the large ones can be used to store food like pasta.”

Fords of Oakham

As a family business dating back to 1877 Fords of Oakham has more than a century of experience operating retail and funeral services. Not, of course, a kitchen-table business, but it is a fine example of an enduring family firm.

Retail and funeral services may not seem obvious bedfellows, but the connection dates back to the origins of the company, when founder George Ford made coffins for a living.

George started the long-running business when he moved from his home in the West Country to Oakham in the 1870s and took up a job as an upholsterer for John Royce, whose premises were on Church Street.

Five years later George decided to branch out on his own using his skills as an upholsterer together with French polishing and cabinet making. George originally operated from his home in Penn Street, and it was not until the family moved to Church Street that he built his adjacent workshop on the location where the department store now stands.

Over time the business expanded to include house removals and storage, and ownership was passed down the generations.

In 1955 the family bought additional buildings in Church Street, resulting in the

With a background in marketing, including working at Joules for almost a decade, Verity has identified how her brand can develop.

Her husband has also been influential in the business, designing the logo and packaging.

“We are looking to expand across the UK and have interest from businesses in Shropshire, Newcastle and Devon. We can do own branding for corporate events or for spas and hotels or even favours for weddings.

“We would like to print our branded design on bags and tea towels. Going into accessories as well as interiors whilst keeping it an affordable luxury is where I see the brand going.”

And even if the brand takes off nationwide, Verity still hopes to work from home.

“I can convert the cellar into a studio and increase the manufacturing here. I don’t want to take away the home-made side of it.”

Local stockists: Bagel & Griff, Bunny & Clarke, The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre, and Lavender Blue. sevenscents.co.uk

current glass-fronted shop, which was built in 1967. Today the company sells a range of clothing, toys, furniture, china and gifts, whilst continuing to operate the funeral service.

Fords is now run by married couple Richard and Juliana White, who have two young boys, with Richard being the great-great-grandson of George.

“Richard has always been involved ever since he was a little boy,” said Juliana, who heads up the store.

“He always wanted to carry on the family tradition, and 10 years ago he asked me to come and work for him. We work in very different ways, but we complement each other. Richard is good with figures and financial things, and I’m better at people management and buying.”

Four years ago, Richard, who runs the funeral service, took over the business from his father Robert White and his aunt Sue Green, who is still on hand to help out.

“Auntie Sue is still at the end of the phone and is a fountain of knowledge,” said Juliana. www.fordsofoakham.co.uk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

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Two Birds Spirits Going from a home distillery to a company with a £2 million turnover in just five years is no mean feat, but it is the true story behind Two Birds Spirits.

Back in 2003 Mark Gamble set up a distillery attached to his kitchen at his home in Market Harborough. He originally produced just one product, a London dry gin, which quickly won industry awards and catapulted the brand into the limelight.

“We ended up filling up the house with gin. Then we did the Burghley Horse Trials and had a pitch and we sold mountains of it,” recalls Mark.

Realising that they had a solid success on their hands, the family invested in creating a range of products and developed different styles of gin before taking up a unit at Welland Business Park.

The company, which now also runs Union Distillers making 20 spirits for other brands, has moved four times since then, each time expanding into bigger premises on the same estate, but retaining the original, hand-built copper stills.

Mark believes the key to the firm’s growth has been the combination of creating a quality product with a great brand.

His children Simon and Francesca were instrumental in the development, design and marketing of the brand coming up with the name that represents a celebration of the English countryside and reflects their use of ingredients sourced in England.

“People don’t realise the significance of having a strong brand and a story behind it. You can have the best product in the world, but you can’t sell it on its own,” explained Mark.

The company now has 16 staff, and Mark is determined not to let Two Birds Spirits into the hands of the supermarkets who have come knocking on his door.

“We are focusing on privately run shops – farm shops, delis, wine merchants. All these people make money from our product, and we are really supportive of the people who are selling it.”

Local stockists: Two Birds Spirits are for sale at independent outlets across the region including Ashley Farm Shop, Duncan Murray Wines, The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre, and Welland Vale Garden Inspirations. www.twobirdsspirits.co.uk

All Water Solutions

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

Top start-up

tips

you are only as strong as your brand.

1 Remember Work to your strengths and bring in help to 2 support your weaknesses.

Identify a suitable work space in the home before 3 you begin.

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

Having work done on your home can be a stressful process, particularly if companies don’t respond to calls or keep you informed of progress. This is why All Water Solutions in Uppingham prides itself on offering “an old-fashioned business that puts customer service first”.

Set up by married couple Darron and Lisa Evans, the bespoke bathroom design and plumbing company started out as a one-man band in the spare bedroom seven years ago.

“We met through the industry and we always said one day we would have our own business together,” said Lisa, who previously worked as a showroom manager.

Darron, who started as a heating and plumbing engineer when he was 19, has worked for 30 years in the Stamford area as either a designer or hands-on plumber.

He initially set up the business on his own, working out of his van and setting up a makeshift office at home for designing and quoting, whilst Lisa looked after the children.

When their third child came along, the spare room was needed as a bedroom again, so they decided to build an extension to accommodate Darron’s office.

When their youngest child went to school, Lisa came on board, and they acquired premises in Station Road, before moving to their current showroom in Glaston Road, Uppingham, three years ago.

“This is a bit of a glimpse of what we do,” said Lisa showing us around the showroom.

“People can come in and have a chat and a look around, then Darron goes out to their home and takes a look. We have good-quality products and we do everything from start to finish. We can do bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms. We do the whole package – plastering, electrics, plumbing, fitted furniture.”

But although their combined skills bode well for the business, working together does still have its drawbacks.

“We don’t get to see each other very much.

Darron is always out and is so busy. But it is good, and the business is growing. Our middle boy would like to be involved and he can take it to another level,” said Lisa. www.allwatersolutions.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

YOU CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE! Retirement has come to be a word that divides us all.

For some, the prospect of finally leaving work for good and focussing on the aspects of life they truly enjoy is a wondrous dream. Just imagine it now; leisurely days filled with holidays, quality time with your grandchildren and the ability to embark on whatever whim takes your fancy.

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The thought of leaving behind a steady income, the inability to plan ahead and the potential of the great ‘unknown’ are quite frankly terrifying concepts. And that is not to mention long-term care fees, increasing inflation and poor performing pensions. So why is there such a huge disparity between the two views on retirement? The answer ultimately boils down to how prepared you are.

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Hi Claudia hopefully this will all work for the small advert at the back of the magazine

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OAKHAM VETERINARY HOSPITAL S

pring has sprung….well almost! The temperature will allegedly start to rise and our gardens will once again be a riot of spring flowers and lush green grass. Although this will make a very welcome change from the soggy brown mess we’ve been staring at all winter please spare a thought for your pets and make sure you can all enjoy the outside space together.

Most pets live around poisonous plants all their lives and instinctively know not to eat them.

However, inquisitive puppies might be at risk from common spring bloomers such as Azaleas, Daffodils and Rhododendrons. As the toxins are more concentrated in the bulbs it’s very important to stop them digging these out of the ground. The clinical signs that your dog might have ingested something poisonous include nausea, vomiting and collapse. Many plants can be fatal to your pets if eaten in large enough quantities so it is worth doing your research before you stock your garden.

Some species of lily are incredibly toxic to cats, just one lily leaf, if eaten, can kill them but any part of the plant is dangerous. The best advice we can give to any cat owner is not to have any species of lily in your garden or home. The first symptoms after ingestion would be depression, lack of appetite and possibly vomiting. The

symptoms will progress quickly with your cat becoming dehydrated, suffering from diarrhoea, difficulty breathing and bad breath.

If you think your cat has ingested any part of a lily or been in contact with the pollen take them to see a vet immediately.

Our Pet Club packages have been specially designed to give your pet all the preventative healthcare they need from worming and flea treatment, to important vaccinations. They can reduce the likelihood of your pet suffering from a preventable illness and represent a significant saving on the annual cost of your pet’s healthcare.

Until 31st May 2018 we are waiving the joining fee for monthly payments on all our Adult Pet Club packages. For examples of the savings you could make visit: www.oakhamvethospital.co.uk Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV) or Alabama Rot, as it is commonly known, has been in the national news recently following a spate of confirmed cases across the country since the start of 2018.

First diagnosed in America in the late 1980s the disease migrated to the UK in 2012 and since

then has killed 135 dogs, with confirmed cases nationwide. As a practice we are lucky not to have seen any cases of Alabama Rot and there have been no confirmed cases so far in either Rutland or Leicestershire. However, the disease is fatal in 9 out of 10 cases so we are advising dog owners to be vigilant. The disease is not specific to a particular age or breed of dog but many victims of the disease had been walked in muddy, wooded areas after heavy rainfall.

These dogs then presented with skin lesions on their limbs, face or stomach, became depressed and were off food and/or vomiting. This quickly progresses to kidney failure and death if left untreated. Our advice is to wash your dog’s paws and legs after walks in muddy, wooded areas. If you notice any skin lesions on your dog which have developed for no reason these should be checked by your vet immediately.

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News & Notes

Helping you to make the most of Rutland and Market Harborough living

Barnsdale Hall Hotel: 30 years

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ARNSDALE Hall Hotel is celebrating 30 years this year, and a series of events is being held to commemorate the big anniversary. These include Bread, Cheese and Wine evenings, the first of which took place in late March and included demonstrations and talks by bakers Julian Carter and Rob Hill from Hambleton Bakery, cheese connoisseur Carl Woolley from The Veg Factor and sommelier Sammy Wilkinson from Crown Cellars. The evening raised a grand total of £500 for the East Midlands Air Ambulance, through the ticket prices of £5 per person and the raffle.

If you would like to attend the next Bread, Cheese and Wine evening or any other of the 30-year celebratory events, email the marketing and events department at marketing@barnsdalehotel.co.uk.

You can also keep up to date by following the hotel on @BarnsdaleHallHotel (Facebook), @BarnsdaleHall (Twitter) or barnsdalehallhotel (Instagram). www.barnsdalehotel.co.uk.

Julie Shaul Gardens

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S thoughts turn to gardens when the weather warms up, do you ever wish you could have your own personal “Monty Don” to advise and help you in your garden? This is exactly the service a local garden designer and gardener provides. Julie offers a tutoring service, tailored to an individual’s knowledge and their own garden situation/ aspirations. These can either be regular sessions through the seasons to a one-off visit to assist with a particular issue, or inspiration for design ideas. Julie is able to coach you in basic skills, such as how and when to prune particular plants, how to identify plants and weeds, and how to understand what plants will work best in particular situations, plus she can help with the minefield of what to choose in a garden centre.

Julie also has many contacts with wholesale plant nurseries and is able to source a wide variety of plants or trees if you are looking for something a little unusual or just a few plants to complete your own project.

Julie gained an HND in Horticulture after discovering a passion for gardening. She then worked for a large wholesale nursery before setting up her own business providing garden design, planting plans and high-quality garden services 13 years ago.

Contact Julie on 01780 720708 or email julie@julieshaulgardens.co.uk or find out more at www.julieshaulgardens.co.uk.

The Rutland County Show

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HE 2018 show, which is being held at the Rutland Showground, Oakham, on Sunday 3 June (8.30am–5.30pm), has something for the whole family. It’s a wonderful day out with fabulous displays, entertainment and local food and drink. Boasting hundreds of unique trade stands alongside livestock, equine and poultry exhibitors, the event is a showcase for farming, countryside and rural life and brings together the very best of Rutland with animals, food, shopping, fun and excitement. This year the show welcomes the delightful Shetland Pony Grand National, sponsored by Porsche, as well as the fast and furious British Scurry & Trials Driving competition. Visitors can also watch a BMX bike display, marvel at magnificent Heavy Horses, enjoy the tractor-pulling competition, a sheep show, craft fair, live music and more. There’s free parking plus a free shuttle bus from both Oakham and Uppingham town centres. Under 18s get in free; early bird tickets £10. A superb day out for all the family. www.rutlandcountyshow.com.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

The Rutland Poppy Project

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HE Rutland Poppy Project is a community art work event to commemorate the centenary of the end of The Great War. The aim is to create a magnificent large-scale sculpture formed of up to 10,000 handcrafted ceramic poppies. It will be situated in the grounds of Oakham Castle, where it will remain on display for a month in October/ November 2018. This is where you come in…

The Great Hall and the Gateway are Grade I-listed buildings, so it is not permitted to attach anything to the outside of the buildings. The display must be physically separate from the buildings, preferably on the inner banks or the undulating portions of the grounds, and nothing can be inserted into the ground larger than a standard tent peg. The rest, however, is up to your imagination, as long as it focusses on commemorating the end of World War I. The competition is open to children, adults and professional artists alike. Design ideas can be submitted in any medium, from watercolour to photography, digital to threedimensional design. Please send your designs via email at RutlandPoppyProject2018@gmail. com, or by post to Rutland Poppy Project c/o Catmose College, Huntsmans Drive, Oakham, LE15 6RP. Along with your design, please include a written description of it, taking into account the meaning of the poppy and the effect the Great War and subsequent wars have had on Rutland.

The deadline for submissions in Friday 25 May, and shortlisted candidates will be notified the week beginning Monday 11 June.

For more information and updates, see www.facebook.com/rutlandpoppyproject or Twitter @rutland poppy project

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News & Notes What to buy – new build or existing home?

This month our local property advisor and owner of UPP Property David Crooke throws some light on the conundrum many of us face when looking to buy property either as a home for ourselves or as an investment… Do we buy a new build or an existing home?

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The Magic of Motown

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OW seen by over a million people, The Magic of Motown is one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history. What better way to experience it than at Burghley House, one of the most beautiful outdoor venues that the UK has to offer?

Prepare yourself for 40 back-to-back classic Motown hits, glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and outstanding musicianship. The timeless music of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson and more, are sensationally recreated by the cast and band.

This concert spectacular takes you on a musical journey through favourite songs such as Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Signed Sealed Delivered, Grapevine, Get Ready, Dancing in The Streets, My Girl, Blame it on the Boogie, Uptight, Endless Love, My Cherie Amor, All Night Long, Heatwave and many, many more.

The Magic of Motown on Saturday 9 June at Burghley House. Tickets available online from www.livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk.

Burghley Game and Country Fair

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HE Andy Singleton arena at Burghley is packed with action this year, with must-see attractions including Shetland Racing, Horse Boarding, the thrilling Scurry Trials & Driving, the Parade of Hounds and more.

Among the highlights of this year’s event are the special displays organised by the Shire Horse Society. They will appear twice daily with displays in the large Andy Singleton Arena, depicting Shires through the Ages.

The Falconry displays promise to be another of the highlights of this year’s event. Watch these stunning birds of prey as they swoop and soar above the Countryside Arena. There is a whole new set of displays for 2018 under the management of Ben Long Falconry.

Another big draw is the World of Dogs, where you can see the Shadowquest Dog Display Team demonstrating the brilliant talents and skills of police, service and protection dogs. You can also watch and learn from gun-dog trainer and handler Paul Makepeace, as he demonstrates how a young gun dog can be taken from puppyhood to a welltrained gun dog.

A fabulous day out for all the family.

Burghley House, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May, 10am–6pm. Admission: adults £14, over 65s £13, children £4. To find out more and book tickets, visit www.burghleygameandcountryfair.co.uk 62

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

CCORDING to the National House Building Council (NHBC), more than 14,400 new homes were registered to be built in the East Midlands last year, an increase on 2016 levels of 12,200 dwellings. Great news when you consider it is one of the highest number of new builds in the region since the pre-recession levels of the credit crunch.

So, why is it that often a new build property is a lot more expensive than a similar existing one? Statistics show there IS a real difference in the Rutland property market when it comes to new versus existing homes and the prices paid. The following graph shows the average price paid for an existing property versus a brandnew home since 1996, and it makes interesting reading.

Yet possibly nothing is ever that straightforward to read, as there are issues with these statistics. The overall average for the whole Rutland County Council area for the “new build premium” (new build premium being the additional price a buyer pays for buying a new property compared with a second-hand one) over the last 21 years has only been -0.76% (although these have ranged between 43.6% in 2002 to as low as -28.4% in 2012). These statistics actually show that it is problematic to compare like with like because it is impossible to completely separate all the different factors of type, accommodation, location and structure, etc, concerned.

For a fair comparison, a mirror image or duplicate of the existing home would need building adjacent to the existing property, and then one would need to calculate which of the them homebuyers or buy-to-let landlords would pay more for! What I do know is that my statistics of the Rutland property market show that new build apartments are worth more to people than their second-hand equivalents, whilst the difference is negligible between new build Rutland detached houses and second-hand Rutland detached houses.

However, I believe the really important lesson in all these statistics is the fact that the new build premium for new-build versus a second-hand property was higher in the boom years of the mid-1990s and early 2000s. So, if you want to buy new, and the only consideration is money – as you can see from the graph – now might be a good time.

For professional advice on buying, selling, renting and managing your homes and property investments, please call UPP Property Sales & Lettings on 01572 725825.

See also www.upp-property.co.uk.

Discover the true value of your fine jewellery!

Book an appointment today for our popular Jewellery Valuation Day, 9th May 2018 A professional Portfolio from our Registered National Association of Jewellers Valuer is made up for you for a fee commensurate with the expertise of our valuer.

Call: 01572 722666 Email: heidi@heidikjeldsen.co.uk

63

Out & About

Amander Meade selects some of the best entertainment in the region this month.

Throughout May to Saturday 2 June EXHIBITION: Page 17 Market Harborough Library is proudly hosting an exhibition of contemporary embroidery produced by the Market Harborough branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild.

Harborough Museum Admission is free Friday 4 May CONCERT: Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, 7.30pm Fine Arts Brass Ensemble is one of the longest-lived, most innovative and most highly acclaimed British brass ensembles. They have performed throughout the world and are coming to Rutland as part of Oakham School’s professional music series. Their programme will feature lively works arranged for brass ensemble, and the ensemble will be joined

by Oakham School Chamber choir for a special collaborative performance of Hubert Parry’s “Blest Pair of Sirens” and “I was Glad”.

Oakham School Chapel Tickets £10 (free for school-age children) from boxoffice@oakham.rutland.sch.uk, Walkers of Oakham and wegottickets.com Saturday 5 May, 7.30pm CONCERT: Il Destino and Janette Monroe A fundraising concert towards church repairs and heritage projects. Janette Monroe has worked with Russell Watson and Joe Cocker and sings light classical songs from the musicals and popular songs.

Il Destino is comprised of platinum-selling classical recording artist Jon Christos and West End and Broadway star Adam Lacey, and the duo perform all over the world. Early booking is advised.

St Peter’s Church, Church Langton Tickets are £15 (to include a glass of wine and canapés), available from Peter Oppenheimer on 01858 565392/07770 607674

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Monday 7 May, 10am to 4pm EVENT: Braunston May Fayre The annual Fayre includes a street market, children’s fairground, family games, crafts, classic cars, a dog show, live music and the crowning of the May Queen followed by maypole dancing. Refreshments all day.

Monday 7 May, 10am–4pm EVENT: Hambleton Open Day Hambleton Village is hosting an Open Day to raise funds for the church and village hall. There’ll be a number of gardens open to visitors and some artisan stalls setting up too. Last year, visitors were impressed by the new Ferrari and Lamborghini on show, and there will be similar super cars to ogle at this year. As usual, drinks and homemade food will be available at the village hall all day. Works by local artists will also be on display.

Admission is £5 per car Wednesday 9 May, 2.30pm EVENT: Meet the Author – Cathy Mansell Best-selling writer Cathy Mansell will talk about her popular family sagas such as “Where the Shamrocks Grow” and “Dublin’s Fair City”. Cathy’s work faithfully depicts the lifestyle and hardship of Irish families in past days, woven through with criminal plots.

Oakham Library Tickets £2 (includes refreshments), from Oakham Library, 01572 722918 Wednesday 9 May, 7.30pm TALK: Another Icarus? The Story of Percy Pilcher Roy Smart is the guest of Market Harborough Historical Society for his talk about Britain’s aviation pioneer. Percy was the first Englishman to die in the cause of “the conquest of the air” when on the cusp of becoming the most famous name in aviation history. Roy presents this magnificent man, his flying machines and the historic, but as yet unheralded,

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

achievements of his sister Ella, who helped him in his work.

The Roman Way Community Centre, Market Harborough Admission is £3 for non-members Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 May, 7.30pm COMEDY: Dara O Briain Catch Dara O Briain, one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, as he goes back to his day job as a world class stand-up comedian. Dara returns to the stage with his eagerly awaited brand new standup show “Voice of Reason”.

De Montfort Hall, Leicester Tickets from £20 on 0116 2333111 or at demontforthall.co.uk Saturday 12 May, 12 to 2pm EVENT: Plant Sale Raising funds for Medbourne Village Hall Restoration Fund and Bringhurst Primary School, this sale offers the chance to buy home-grown plants and cuttings donated by local gardeners. Perennials, vegetables, shrubs, houseplants, herbs and annuals all available.

If you have plants to donate or would like help potting up surplus plants, please call Rebekah on 01858 565200 for more information.

Homemade refreshments available.

Medbourne Village Hall Saturday 12 May, 2pm EVENT: Lyddington Fete Plenty of stalls, children’s face painting and games, nearly new fabrics, a raffle, a fun dog show and a barbeque at the Marquess of Exeter. Gretton Silver Band will perform, and there will be a display of vintage vehicles plus free access to Lyddington Bede House between 2pm and 4.30pm. Proceeds from the fete help to support St Andrew’s Church, the village hall and other village projects.

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65

Out & About

Amander Meade selects some of the best entertainment in the region this month.

The Ministry of Biscuits

Saturday and Sunday 12 and 13 May, 10am to 4pm EXHIBITION: Aspects of Stitch A fascinating exhibition of textile work by members of the Market Harborough branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild, including a display of Travelling Books.

Scout HQ, 31 Coventry Road, Market Harborough Admission is free Wednesday 16 May, 7.30pm THEATRE: The Ministry of Biscuits London, 1948, and The Ministry of Biscuits casts its sinister shadow over every tea-time and elevenses in the land, prohibiting fancy biscuits everywhere and sparking confectionery rebellion. Drawing inspiration from 1940s’ British Light Music, Orwell’s dystopian classic “1984” and the great, quintessentially British Ealing comedies, this satirical musical fantasy is an absolutely ripping wheeze. Suitable for ages 7+.

South Luffenham Village Hall Tickets £10 from 01780 720687/720112 Saturday 19 May, 10am to 5pm EVENT: The Catesbys Brocante This is the first gathering of brocanteurs, designer makers and artisans at Catesbys’ headquarters in Exton. Proprietors Neil and Jonathon will be unveiling their new showroom, filled with old and

The Rutland County Show

new decorative finds from their travels through France, with a marquee filled with their creative friends and stalls dotted throughout the grounds.

Food and drink will have a distinctly French flavour, including homemade beignets, quiches and tartines.

For more information see catesbys.co.uk.

Yew Tree House, Exton Park, Exton, Rutland LE15 8AX (follow the signs to the parish church from Oakham Road) Admission is £3 at the gate. There is ample free parking at the venue.

Wednesday 23 May, 7.30pm TALK: The History of Oakham School Jon Wills, the archivist of the school, will give the talk to members and guests of the Great Easton History Society.

Great Easton Village Hall Admission is £3 Sunday 27 May, 10.30am to 3pm EVENT: Plant Fair Held by the Rutland group of the Hardy Plant Society, this plant fair claims to be the best in the area and offers homemade refreshments available all day.

Fox Cottage, Cottesmore Road, Ashwell LE15 7LJ Admission is £2, accompanied children free.

More details at hpsrutland.btck.co.uk

Tuesday 29 May to Sunday 8 July MUSICAL THEATRE: Guys and Dolls This all-time favourite romantic musical and huge Broadway and West End hit tells the story of Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit, whose every day is an opportunity to hustle, and every dispute can be settled with a roll of the dice. Lady Luck is on their side – until one night they both take a chance on love. A spectacular score featuring well-known hits.

Kilworth House Theatre Tickets from £32 on 01858 881939 or at kilworthhousetheatre.co.uk Sunday 3 June, 8.30am to 5.30pm EVENT: The Rutland County Show The Rutland County Show is one of the oldest agricultural shows in the country and takes place in the purpose-built showground on the edge of Oakham each year. Visitors can expect a very traditional feel with livestock classes, horse and pony showing, British Showjumping and main ring entertainment as well as a host of other classic show attractions. Fabulous local food and drink, great shopping, entertainment and plenty of surprises. A fantastic day out for all the family.

The Rutland Showground, Barleythorpe, Oakham, LE15 7TW Tickets for adults £10 in advance and £12 on the day, children under 16 admitted free. Free parking.

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www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk 66

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ESSENTIAL LIVING 2018-19

OUT IN JUNE

Your Guide to the very best the region has to offer Essential Living is our stunning annual publication that covers Stamford, Rutland, Market Harborough, Oundle & Peterborough.

It inspires people to get the most out of the region - to explore new places, to try out new things, to shop locally, to enjoy the best.

You will find it free at high visibility footfall places across the region – hotels, cafés, health clubs, hairdressers, libraries and meeting places.

Or read it online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk It includes sections on: Shopping Discoveries Fashion, Health & Beauty Home & Garden Food & Drink Eating Out Out & About Kids’ Learning & Activities Education

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Harborough’s fighting hero Love it or loathe it, boxing has a huge following with prize fights raking in bucketloads of hard cash! And Market Harborough has produced several fine fighters – so seconds out, as Caroline Aston zeroes in on Jack Gardner.

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ACK was undoubtedly one of Harborough’s finest sons. Born in 1926 he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1945, aged 19. Five years later he had become one of the youngest Colour Sergeants in the Guards serving under the youthful Elizabeth II and had also developed a passion for pugilism.

In full uniform he made a most imposing figure, but he was built to box – he stood around six feet one, weighed anything from around 200–220 pounds, and his reach was a massive 78 inches. A natural talent and athleticism produced a heavyweight champion. His professional debut came in 1948, and he won all 13 of his fights with knock-outs. After winning the Army and Imperial Services titles he represented Great Britain at the 1948 Olympic Games, though no medals came his way. In fact, the British tally for the whole Games was just two silver medals!

Fast forward to July 1950. Leicester boxing aficionados were buzzing with excitement, anticipating a fine contest between Gardner and Johnny Williams. Held in the main arena of the now-demolished Granby Halls, this was to be an eliminator match for the British Commonwealth title. Williams had turned pro about two years before Gardner and was known for his scientific approach to his ring appearances, a stark contrast to the brute strength attitudes of many of his contemporaries in the boxing world of the 1940s and 1950s. Welsh-born Williams was a gentle, affable man, and these qualities tended to lead to him being overshadowed by other bigpunching gentlemen of the ring. He’d learnt his craft the hard way: aged three he had moved to Rugby and, unable to speak English, had used his fists in the school playground. At 10 he graduated to fairground boxing booths as a way of earning himself some spending money. He was the same age as Gardner and knew the Leicester boxing venues well – in fact his first two fights had been at the Cossington Street Baths (recently reopened as a state-of-the-art sports centre) in February 1946 (both wins), and he had drawn at Granby Halls in the October of that year against the much older, more experienced Jim Greaves.

By nature Williams was a self-effacing, friendly character, but even his greatest fans often felt he was too cautious in the ring, sometimes to the point of seeming almost timid. However, no one present on that Leicester night in 1950 could have accused either him or Jack Gardner of lacking courage or commitment.

The Gardner/Williams bout has gone down

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in boxing history as a legendary confrontation – and a pretty brutal one too. The Granby Halls arena was sweltering in those pre-air con days, the air misty with cigarette smoke: the crowd had come to see a competition and that was precisely what they got. The match was to go down as “Fight of the Year”, and what a battle it was. Gardner and Williams literally beat each other to a pulp. They went the full 12 rounds, before Gardner was declared winner on points.

The two battered boxers were helped from the ring – and then taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where they spent the night in the same ward!

Big Jack Gardner had made his mark – the victory over Williams made him a contender for the national title, and, that same year, wounds healed, he became British and Empire Heavyweight Champion after beating Yorkshireman Bruce Woodcock at Earls Court on a technical knock-out in the eleventh round.

Woodcock retired from the ring the following day – repeated bouts had led to old eye cuts that reopened easily, and he’d already suffered a detached retina and wanted to avoid any further eye damage.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING MAY 2018

In March 1951 Jack Gardner added the European title to his honours by defeating Austrian Jo Weidin. Eight months later he lost it to six foot five German giant Hein Ten Hoff in a 15-round Berlin battle (a distance banned in 1982), ending in a decision on points, and his British title went the same way in March 1952 to none other than… Johnny Williams! Jack subsequently announced his retirement from the ring, but 1953 saw a comeback with a straight run of five victories.

Two years later he laid the ghost of his defeat by Williams. On June 16 1955 these two formidable opponents met again at Nottingham Ice Stadium, and this time Gardner made no mistakes. In round 5 he floored Williams – a knock-out – and finally had his revenge. At the grand old age of 29 Jack Gardner retired for good, with a record of 28 wins (23 by knock-outs) and 6 losses. He became a farmer and a well-known Market Harborough character before dying from a brain tumour on 11 November 1978 at the relatively young age of 52. His 1955 Ice Stadium bout with old adversary Johnny Williams can be viewed on YouTube – a fitting tribute to a great athlete and sportsman.

BRITISH MADE, BRITISH WON

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