Rutland Living November 2017

Rutland Covering Rutland, Market Harborough and the surrounding area

LIVING November 2017 ÂŁ1.50

Be inspired by where you live

Remembrance

A MARK OF RESPECT

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IN THIS ISSUE

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35

10

6

21

Contents November

44

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY 13 52

Winter Warmers Hair Necessities

SHOPPING 18 35 40

Cover photography this month: RL: Rutland poppy by Andrew James www.andrewjamesmedia.co.uk MHL: Bigstock

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

44 46

Christmas Markets 2017 It’s a Wrap! Rutland Christmas Shopping Christmas Shopping in and around Market Harborough Fords of Oakham Happiness at woolroom

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FOOD & DRINK 21 26 28 31

Local Christmas Catering Going Vegan Great Food Club: 2017/18 Awards Food News & Reviews

ACTIVITIES, CULTURE, LEARNING & BUSINESS Editor Clare Peel clare@bestlocalliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager, Rutland Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 rutlandliving@btinternet.com Advertisement Manager, Market Harborough Sosennah Every 07884 124316 sos.every@gmail.com Advertising Copy & Subscriptions Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Designers Sarah Compton inkdesign@virginmedia.com, Calum Handley 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

10 62 65

Remembrance: Project Poppy Christmas Pantomimes & Family Shows Out & About

PEOPLE & PLACES 8 48 70

Rutland Hero – WWII Veteran Gerry Wells Spotlight on Uppingham History – Reverend James Adams

NEWS & NOTES 4 55 56

58

Editor’s Page Kendrew Medal Mounting and Military Tailors, UPP Property, Mind (Oakham) Burghley House Christmas Fair, 2017 Stamford Charity Santa Fun Run, Charity Santa Ride with Rutland Cycling, Winter Fair at Witham Hall School Market Harborough: Liberty PR, Katie Dell Bridal Design, Morsbags, Colemans

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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THIS MONTH

Welcome It’s a new look for us this month, following in the footsteps of our sister publication, Stamford Living. We hope you like it.

November starts with a bang on Bonfire Night, but the mood soon shifts into one of contemplation as we move towards Armistice Day. This issue of the magazine considers remembrance with an interview with Rutland WWII veteran Gerry Wells (page 8), an article on a beautiful poppy dress by Cottesmore’s Sara Atkin (page 10) and a history feature (page 70) on the Reverend James Adams, another of Rutland’s fine war heroes.

Wrap up warm, have a peaceful month and enjoy the magazine!

Local literature

Rutland author Pamela Howarth kindly sent me a copy of her book “Befriend the Bard: the inspiring story of Will Shakespeare’s Life”, and I wanted to mention it here.

I am a proud supporter of The Stamford Shakespeare season at Tolethorpe and enjoy the linguistic challenge that Shakespeare’s writing provides, so I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this biography and learning more about the person behind the works. The book is a recommended for the general reader, but it would also be helpful to students of Shakespeare.

• Befriend the Bard is available from Walkers of Oakham and online.

C e @rutlandliving

Victorian Christmas at Rockingham

@rutlandlivingmag

Life Rituals Clinic

Owned and run by Jo George, The Life Rituals Clinic recently opened on Oakham’s Mill Street and offers patients a fully personalised health assessment including lab testing in combination with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional advice. Jo has over 20 years’ professional experience in traditional acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and is looking forward to welcoming clients old and new to her beautiful new premises, which are part shop, part treatment centre. She offers organic, loose, whole-leaf teas, each with different health benefits, as well as botanical fragrances by Priddy Essentials of Uppingham, beautiful homewares, tea accessories, ceramics and brassware plus prints by Angela Harding. The decor’s to die for, too.

• Life Rituals Clinic, 24 Mill Street, Oakham LE15 6EA, 01572 818579, www.lifemedicineclinic.com.

To me Bonfire Night, when you pull on your hat, scarf and gloves and venture out into the cold dark night, is a real signal that winter is fast approaching. In years gone by it involved dad trying to ignite a damp, uncooperative Catherine Wheel in the back garden while we all stayed pressed up against the rear wall of the house; these days, things are rather more sophisticated, and there are beautifully choreographed overhead pyrotechnic displays to coo over. My family loves the annual pilgrimage to the Oakham Rugby Club for the Lions Club’s impressive fireworks display (see page 65).

Cottesmore’s Bonfire and Fireworks, at the Village Hall, also comes highly recommended.

I love the sound of Rockingham Castle’s Victorian Christmas, which is taking place from Monday 20 to Friday 24 November (11am–8pm). Imagine you’ve been transported back in time to Christmas Eve 1849…There are traditional decorations, the fires are lit, and the table in the Great Hall is laid for a sumptuous festive lunch. Guided tours take place throughout the day, the castle’s shop will be stacked full of potential Christmas gifts, and the restaurant will be open for lunch, tea and supper and for festive mulled wine and mince pies.

Perfect for getting into the spirit of the season.

• Rockingham It’s that time of year again when men are Castle, Rockingham, encouraged to hang up their razors and Leics LE16 8TH. grow their facial hair for the month to raise Victorian Christmas awareness of men’s health issues. The tickets: adults £10, Movember Foundation says the more people children £5, under growing November moustaches the merrier 4s free, grounds and parking £3/car.

– you can compare the results, compete

MOVEMBER

for donations or simply have important conversations about men’s health. The foundation highlights prostate cancer (which they advise kills 45 men every hour), testicular cancer (the most common cancer in men under 40) and mental health issues and suicide prevention (three out of four suicide cases are men).

• For more details, visit uk.movember.com.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Editor’s Selection

In more frivolous mood, we bring you the first instalment of two (continued next month) on festive gifts, showcasing what our local independent shops have on offer for Christmas (pages 35–37 and 40–41). We’ve also got gorgeous winter coats from Rutland and Stamford boutiques in our ever-stylish fashion feature, (pages 13–15) plus the low-down on Christmas markets/late-night events in the area (pages 18–19) and a feature on local Christmas catering (pages 21–22).

BONFIRE NIGHT

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FIRE & ICE From our showroom and online 5 The Maltings, Mill Street, Oakham LE15 6EA t: 01572 722666 e: heidi@heidikjeldsen.co.uk

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OA K H A M R U G S est. 1993 The finest selection of hand knotted rugs in the area.

Traditional and Contemporary. New and Old.

www.oakhamrugs.co.uk mail@oakhamrugs.co.uk OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 10.00AM TO 5.00PM 6 The Maltings, off Mill St, Oakham, Rutland. LE15 6EA 01572 724441 Oakham Oriental Rugs Ltd t/as Oakham Rugs

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Picture of the month “What more fitting a subject for this new monthly feature than the biggest tourist attraction in our area? Rutland Water is a wonderful showcase for the beauty to be found in every season, and this image , with its pale, washed-out blues, has a chilly feel to it that seems spot on for this time of year.

For me, November is a month for reflection, and the tranquillity afforded by this image invites quiet contemplation. It’s a fine advert for fishing and sailing, too – imagine the feeling of being out there on, or in, the water. Absolutely glorious.”

Clare Peel, Editor Photo by Andrew James www.andrewjamesmedia.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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RUTLAND

HERO WWII Veteran Gerry Wells This month, in the spirit of remembrance, Amander Meade speaks to Rutlander, World War II veteran and hero in the true sense of the word, Gerry Wells, about his life, loves and continuing ambitions. Portrait of Gerry by Elli Dean.

H

AVING volunteered into the army straight from school, Gerry found himself (as his father before him) part of a tank regiment in the midst of the furious fighting in Normandy in 1944. “I served between 1943 and 1947 in the Sherwood Rangers, one of five squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry, 8th Armoured Brigade. The conflict meant a whole generation was changed forever if they survived.

None of us was prepared for what we did and saw – we were trained for it of course, but you can never be prepared for what we experienced.”

In 2016 Gerry was awarded the Légion d’Honneur – France’s highest decoration – for his courageous service in Normandy. Gerry accepted the medal on behalf of his former crew, whom he tells me he thinks about every day. “They were my family as much as my blood relatives,” he says.

On a recent visit to the Armourgeddon Military Driving centre in Husbands Bosworth, Gerry was invited to board an original, reconditioned Sherman tank, which he says was a surreal experience. “Seventy three years slipped away, and I was transported straight back to those days in France as if it was yesterday.”

After the war Gerry left the army, and the next chapter of his life was more peaceful; he married 8

Mary and the couple moved to Wales, where they bought a small farm and began to raise their family. “Those were wonderful years,” remembers Gerry with a smile. “With three children and another on the way, however, we decided we needed more stable careers. We had visited and admired Rutland and Stamford, so we made the move here, and I retrained as a teacher and Mary secured a job nursing at Stamford Hospital.”

During the 1960s and 1970s Gerry taught English Literature at Stamford College and pursued his lifelong love of writing with many of his poems published in national publications.

In 1984 with their children all grown up, tragedy struck, and after 33 years of marriage Mary succumbed to cancer. “I spent the next year in shock,” recalls Gerry, “it was as though the sky had fallen in.”

Following his early retirement, Gerry’s life took another unexpected turn when he married a former colleague, Gill. The couple renovated a cottage together in the pretty village of North Luffenham, where, to their delight, Gill discovered she was expecting a baby. “I always loved being a father but having Victoria later in life meant I was able to spend lots more time with her, which was a special gift.” In 2011, Gerry was devastated once

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

again, losing Gill also to cancer, which he says “nearly finished me”.

Despite the dark periods of grief, Gerry is happy, upbeat and content with his life, which he describes as “very, very lucky”. “I was lucky enough to survive the war and have two long and happy marriages and a wonderful family.

My huge sense of the ridiculous has stood me in good stead all my life. It has got me into a lot of trouble but given me great fun too. I learned from my father ‘if you can’t change something – adapt’, which is now my personal mantra.”

These days, Gerry can be found in his cottage, busily writing his latest book. He will don his suit and medals to attend church on Remembrance Sunday, followed by a drink in the village pub, where he will raise a glass to his former comrades. One of a few remaining WWII heroes, Rutland salutes you Gerry.

Two volumes of Gerry’s memoirs “Growing up in Sussex: From Schoolboy to Soldier” and “The Look of Tomorrow”’ (History Press), plus his wartime memories “Kicking the Hornets’ Nest” (Matador) can be found on Amazon.

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Custom made to compliment your outfit or choose from a range of ready to wear pieces.

Opening Times: Mon, Tue, Thurs 9-12.30.

Appointments can be made for alternative days and times. To book an appointment please contact us on 01572 490432.

23b Suite 9, Oakham Enterprise Park Ashwell Road, Oakham LE15 7TU info@rebeccacouturemillinery.co.uk www.rebeccacouturemillinery.co.uk

www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk showroom@elizabethstanhope.co.uk 27 Mill St, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6EA 01572 722 345

A dress adorned with 600 handmade felt poppy brooches has been designed

by Rutlander Sara Atkin and produced in aid of this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. PHOTOGRAPHY: SUNNY HOYLE

Remembrance: Project Poppy

C

OTTESMORE-BASED Sara Atkin wanted to go the extra mile to commemorate the fallen this November and to raise funds for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. She created her “Poppy Dress” using a fittingly time-honoured Simplicity pattern (1195), black organza donated by Croft Mill in Lancashire, 10m of felt and 600 buttons. The project was undertaken over eight months, with the dress taking more than 300 hours to make. Sara was helped with brooch production by friend and military wife, Charlotte Towe, who is also based in Rutland. Three different types of button representing each of the armed forces have been used, and the poppies have been placed to give the illusion of the flowers falling to the ground.

Sara commented, “I make a few felt poppy brooches every year for the poppy appeal, but this year wanted to do something more to highlight the work the organisation undertakes. I’ve visited the grave in northern

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France of my great-great uncle, who was killed in action just six weeks before Armistice Day, and to see the graves of so many young men and understand the enormity of the loss of life had a profound effect on me.”

To complement the dress, local milliner, Rebecca Couture, who has a studio in Ashwell, created a dramatic hat reminiscent of a mourning veil, with a large poppy brooch.

The dress previewed at the Great British Sewing Bee exhibition at London’s Excel in September and it will be displayed in London from 28 October until 2 November (London Poppy Day). The 600 brooches will then be sold, with all donations going to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Mark Bishop, Community Fundraiser with the London Poppy Appeal said, “We were delighted to hear from Sara and her story of the Poppy Dress and all the hard work that has gone into the project. We are lucky to have such dedication and support of this kind from the public and volunteers.”

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

The dress is modelled in these photographs

by Michelle, the wife of a serving officer in Rutland. The photography, by Sunny Hoyle from Cottesmore, took place at Oakham Castle and Cottesmore Village Cemetery.

• For more details on the dress, call Sara Atkin on 01572 812867 or Mark Bishop, Community Fundraiser SW London on 07776 227405. You can also find out more on www.facebook.com/Poppydress2017/ and on Twitter, at @poppydress.

• For information on Rebecca Couture Millinery, visit www.rebeccacouturemillinery. co.uk. Rebecca’s studio is at 23b Suite 9, Oakham Enterprise Park, Ashwell Road, Oakham LE15 7TY and is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9am–12.30pm. To book an appointment outside of these times, please call 01572 490432.

• For information on Croft Mill, please visit www.croftmill.co.uk.

• For more on Sunny Hoyle’s photography, see www.sunnyhoyle.com.

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Rannveig wears Preen checked coat, £450, Arch.

Sarah wears Marie Mero blouse, £111, Marie Mero jacket, £255, both Vanilla; jeans, model’s own; Kennel & Schmenger shoes, £175, CoCo; Stars and Moon necklace, £78, Lucy Flint Jewellery.

Winter warmers

FASHION: NIKKI BEATTY AND SALLY STILLINGFLEET PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

Anna Stone Design’s studio at the Stamford Garden Centre has all the hallmarks of inspirational Scandinavian style: pared-back simplicity, upcycled furniture, blonde-wood flooring, and stunning vintage chandeliers for sale.

It’s a great backdrop for this month’s fashion shoot. Business owner and Stamford Living contributor Rannveig Stone agreed to model winter coats from Oakham and Stamford with her assistant Sarah.

➧ RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Winter warmers

Sarah wears Woolrich parka, £755, and Mads Norgaard top, £59, both Cavells.

Rannveig wears Oakwood leather bomber, £355, and Mads Norgaard top, £150, both Cavells.

Rannveig wears long navy Joseph coat, £250, Arch; white Harris Wilson shirt, £80, Attic; Burghley Boots, £200, Goody 2 Shoes.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Sarah wears white Harris Wilson shirt, £80, Attic, and Michael Kors navy jacket, £250, Arch.

Sarah wears brown leopard-print coat, £300, Attic.

Sarah wears grey Bellfield parka, now £60, from 23/Seven. Rannveig wears Dolce and Gabbana shearling bomber, £350, Arch, and Maison Scotch reversible scarf, £80, Energy.

Rannveig wears white Harris Wilson shirt, £80, Attic; Fransa cardigan, £69.99, Duo; and Hudson boots, now £89, Energy; with Madeleine Thompson scarf, £40, Arch.

Black patent and leather “Trudy” shoes, £90, ohwshoes.com

BIG THANKS TO: • Rannveig and Sarah for modelling.

• Anna Stone Design at Stamford Garden Centre, Great Casterton, 07900 883117, www.annastonedesign.com • Our fabulous photographer Elli Dean, 07932 055548, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk • Rebecca Chantrell, 07841 622366, info@makeup bybecca.co.uk, for the beautiful make-up and hair.

Rannveig wears long navy Joseph coat, £250, Arch; navy polo-neck, £75, Attic; Paul Green boots, £210, CoCo.

STOCKISTS: 23/Seven, 3 Stamford Walk, Stamford, 01780 238008, www.23seven.co.uk (web orders are posted free of charge) Arch Label Agency, 43 St Peter’s Street, Stamford, 01780 764746, www.archlabelagency.com Attic, 33 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, 01780 766667, atticofstamford.co.uk Cavells, 16 Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 770372, www.cavells.co.uk CoCo, 29 High Street, Oakham, 01572 757646, www.cocooakham.co.uk Duo, 29a High Street, Oakham, 01572 722116, duoboutique.co.uk Energy, 9 Ironmonger Street, Stamford, 01780 765633, www.energy-clothing.com Goody 2 Shoes, www.shoesatgoody2shoes.co.uk Lucy Flint Jewellery, 2 The Maltings, Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 723335, www.lucyflintjewellery.co.uk OHW Shoes, ohwshoes.com Vanilla, 23b Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 757577, vanillaboutique.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Inspirational Flooring Visit our showroom at Unit 14 Midland Court, Station Approach, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6RA 01572 759752 www.barefoot-flooring.biz

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Christmas Markets 2017 The historic market towns of Rutland and the surrounding area will come alive with festive cheer and community spirit for their annual Christmas shopping events. Lucy Moss finds out more.

T

HE nights are drawing in, and there is the crisp smell of winter in the air – a clear sign that Christmas is just around the corner! The Rutland area is home to some stunning market towns, and during December they are seen at their best with festive decorations, especially during their Christmas markets, when the streets are filled with shoppers or people out to enjoy the seasonal atmosphere. Here are the dates for this year’s events – not only is there plenty of local and hand-crafted produce for even the most discerning shopper, there is festive entertainment galore too.

Stamford Christmas Festival Sunday 26 November, 10am–5pm

The popular Christmas Festival will be returning to the heart of Stamford on Sunday 26 November. The town is well known for its exclusive, independent traders, and its Christmas Festival, which will be held in the centre of the town on Stamford High Street, Ironmonger Street, Broad Street, Red Lion Square and on the Sheep Market, is always similarly classy. There will be traditional craft stalls offering a wide range of popular and stylish gifts with treats and delights to excite everyone.

This community event attracts many thousands of visitors from near and far, and there will be entertainment throughout the day including festive Punch and Judy shows, performances by school choirs, a Santa’s Grotto, real reindeers and a children’s fun fair, all culminating in the switching-on of the Christmas lights. The town has free car-parking facilities on Sundays.

For more information contact Stamford Town Council at townhall@stamfordtown council.gov.uk or visit www.stamford towncouncil.gov.uk.

Market Harborough Late-Night Shopping Friday 1 December, 6–9pm Market Harborough’s Late-Night Shopping event is the only night of the year that retailers in the town stay open late. The town will be closed off, only to come alive with the community spirit for which the town is renowned.

There will be street entertainers, bands, competitions, reindeer, a snow machine and, of course, Santa Claus.

“The whole town comes together for the event and we have local volunteers that are invaluable in its running,” explains Sairah Butt from Harborough Market. “It is a great community event for all the family.”

The Harborough Indoor Market will be open from 8am–9pm with 24 pop-up traders selling everything from high-end jewellery, Turkish lanterns and crafts to furniture, antiques, pet gifts, cards and prints. The Food Hall will offer fresh meat, homemade sausages and burgers, cheese, pies, chocolates and sweets, fish and seafood, cakes, fruit and vegetables, cafes, fish and chips, and even dim sum.

In the town’s main square there will also be a farmers’ market on 7 December from 8am to 2pm, and a Food Fayre on 21 December from 9am to 3pm. For further information on Harborough Markets, visit www. harboroughmarket.co.uk.

FURTHER AFIELD Lincoln Christmas Market

Burghley Christmas Fair

Thursday 7 December 12–9.30pm, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December 10am–9.30pm, Sunday 10 December 10am to 7pm

Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 November, 9am–5pm, Sunday 26 November, 9am–4pm

More than 280 stalls will be nestled in and around the cathedral and the castle, offering everything from gifts to food and drink against a backdrop of sparkling lights and festive entertainment for all the family. Lincoln Artists’ Christmas Village will be held at the top of Lincoln High Street, on St Martin’s Square. There’ll be lots of fabulous art and crafts, with something to suit every taste and budget.

For further information, contact Visit Lincoln on 01522 545458 or www.visitlincoln.com/whats-on/lincoln-christmas-market-2017.

Burghley’s Christmas Fair will be set in the beautiful Elizabethan surroundings of the Chestnut Courtyard and Brewhouse. Stalls will offer unique gift ideas including stunning jewellery, lustrous velvet and satin scarves, and luxurious soaps and skincare. There will be a Christmas Fine Food Market in the Stable Courtyard, and entry and parking will be free.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Christmas in Uppingham Thursday 7 December, 5.30–8.30pm This non-profit, self-funded community event is organised by the Uppingham Town Partnership, local retailers and volunteers. On Thursday 7 December the town centre will become a bustling winter wonderland with an ice-skating rink, live reindeer, Santa Claus and a Christmas tree – the tree’s lights will be turned on by the Mayor at 5.30pm, marking the start of the event.

Market stalls and a craft fair will offer shoppers a variety of produce from local artisans and businesses, with stores staying open until 8.30pm. Hot food and drink will be available to keep off the cold. Street entertainers, a Christmas dance show, buskers and choirs will be performing, and there will be competitions, face painting and other activities for children.

For further information visit www.christmasinuppingham.co.uk.

Oakham Christmas Late-Night Shopping Monday 11 December, 4–9pm Exactly two weeks before Christmas, Oakham’s High Street will be filled with the scent of mulled wine and freshly cooked food, and the sound of entertainment, music and festive cheer. The High Street, Mill Street and the Market Place will all be closed off, and there will be a variety of food stalls, a bar and a fun fair to enjoy. The Rutland Radio stage will be set up as a showcase for school choirs and dance performances. There will also be a carol concert at The Buttercross next to Oakham School and the Market Place, with everyone free to join in.

The Victoria Hall and Oakham Castle will both house a variety of stalls offering local produce and some wonderful arts and crafts from local artisans – definitely worth a browse. Late-Night Shopping runs from 4pm to 9pm with many of the town’s shops opening late, and cafes and bars offering refreshments.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Oakham-Late-Night-ShoppingXmasMarket-2017-121406188192885.

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market Thursday 16 November to Sunday 24 December, daily 10am–9pm With over 120 stalls there will be something for everyone at Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, from handcrafted wooden decorations and delicate glass baubles to crystal lamps, hand-crafted leatherwork, toys and jewellery. Traditional German cuisine (such as pretzels, schnitzels and bratwursts) will be on offer, as well as drinks from Glühwein and Weissbeer (wheat beer) to warming hot chocolate. Further information is available at www.germanchristmasmarketbirmingham.com.

Oakham Country Market Every Friday, 8.15–11.15am

Now is the time to place your Christmas order at Oakham Country Market, which is held weekly on Fridays at the Congregational Church Hall in Oakham. Stock up your larder and freezer with fabulously fresh, locally grown produce, as well as wonderful home-baked goods including Christmas cakes, mince pies and savouries. Also available each week are local eggs, honey, pickles and preserves, crafts, cards, and flowers and plants. The market is run as a social co-operative and is part of a nationwide concern. A shareholding of just 5p buys membership for life and entitles members to sell produce or be a helper. Anyone over 16 years can provide goods for sale and benefit by a share in the profits, with new producers warmly encouraged. Particularly relevant to Christmas is the hamper service, with hampers made up to customers’ requirements and delivered across the country. Cakes can also be baked to order for special events.

Current Chairman and Market Manager, Jane Skipp says, “It’s never too early to place a Christmas order to make sure your freezer is bursting with delicious local fare this year.”

For more information contact Jane on 01572 722212.

Nottingham Winter Wonderland 2017 Christmas Market, Friday 17 November to Sunday 24 December, daily 10am–6pm The heart of the event will be an open-air ice rink in the city’s Market Square, with a 40ft Christmas tree at its centre. Food stalls and bars will fill the rest of the square, and covered seating areas will offer great views of the ice rink and a bandstand. Victorian-style cabins will also run the length of Long Row and Smithy Row and will offer a wide range of quality crafts and gifts in a wonderfully festive setting. The ice rink can get very busy, so booking is strongly advisable at www.nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Farndon Fields Farm Farndon Road Market Harborough LE16 9NP Tel: 01858 464838

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Local Christmas Catering The region is abundant with organic and locally sourced produce that put taste and quality at the forefront of business. Lily Canter recommends the best catering choices this Christmas to ensure you have a delicious spread to share with family and friends.

Hambleton Bakery

BREADS AND ACCOMPANIMENTS

MEAT, FISH AND VEGETABLES The beautiful Rutland, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire countryside is dotted with an array of splendid farm shops offering the best cuts of meats and freshly dug vegetables. Ashley Farm Shop in the Welland Valley is known for its free-range beef, lamb and eggs reared on its 150-acre site. The shop also sells organic turkeys plus pork, chicken and game sourced from responsible suppliers.

Quality beef, pork and lamb are also humanely farmed at Northfield Farm on the Rutland/ Leicestershire border, and its farm shop (which also has a branch at London’s Borough Market) stocks traditional Christmas meats including mutton, gammon and hogget (meat from a sheep aged between one and two years old) as well as handmade stuffing with pork.

Also in Rutland, Hambleton Farms rears its pedigree herds of Longhorn, Dexter and Aberdeen Angus on its own farm on the edge of Rutland Water. It also sources poultry, game and pork from a small, select group of farmers and suppliers and believes in buying the closer to home the better.

Turkeys can be ordered from now through to early December. Its deli, Hambletons, is also excellent for pork pies and ham and all those Christmas trimmings. Hambletons is located in Oakham’s Gaol Street – if possible, plan a trip there to coincide with the farmers’ market on the third Saturday of the month, when the street bustles with stalls selling all manner of local organic produce.

Meanwhile in Market Harborough the multi-award-winning Farndon Fields Farm Shop has a range of items that can be preordered. These include free-range Bronze turkeys and geese, homemade Three Bird Roasts and Christmas meat hampers (£20 or £30) as well as cheese boards, pork pies, ham Farndon Fields joints and homemade puddings. The turkeys are sourced from the Botterill family farm in North Leicestershire and are dry plucked and hung for 10 days to ensure the finest quality. Orders via the shop or website can be made from 1 November and close on 11 December. The farm is also hosting a special Christmas Shopping Evening on 5 November with mulled wine, live music and free samples.

If you are looking for a lighter alternative to turkey, Hobbs Fishmonger’s in Market Harborough has an amazing range of fish and seafood, which can be ordered until 16 December. Lobsters, oysters and mussels make for an impressive nautical spread, and the shop also sells a range of fresh Scottish scallops, samphire grass, lemon sole, hake fillets and more.

Whether it is a sweet or savoury breakfast pastry or an artisan loaf to accompany a hearty main meal, make sure a stop at the multi-award-winning Hambleton Bakery is on your errand list this Christmas. Its shops in Exton, Oakham, Market Harborough, Stamford and Oundle stock bread, cakes and savouries made through traditional processes from unadulterated organic flour, salt and water, which accounts for its listing in The Sunday Times and The Telegraph’s Best UK Bakeries.

A Boxing Day buffet would not be complete without its Rutland Pippin, served next to Alex James’ Little Wallop from the cheese counter at Otters Fine Foods in Oakham. Here you can also find smoked turkey and duck together with a range of gourmet cheese accompaniments including Miller Ale Chutney.

For Multum in Parvo (much in little) select your intensely flavourful salamis and airdried meats from The Rutland Charcuterie Company, which is offering free delivery on orders over £50, or take a trip to the charcuterie at Waterloo Cottage Farm Shop in Great Oxendon. For something a little more exotic to spice up the down time between Christmas and New Year head to Wistow, to The Olive Tree Company, which stocks a meze of Turkish delights, including olives, kalmata, stuffed vine leaves and grilled artichokes – perfect for nibbles or side dishes.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Local Christmas Catering CAKES AND TREATS

Harborough indoor market is a wonderful place to explore a range of sweet treats and make a difference by investing your money back into the local community. The Cake Company run by Sarah Ruth will be selling Christmas cakes packed full of fruit and brandy that range from mini personalised ones for £10 to larger cakes for £65. Sarah can also take bespoke orders to a flavour or design of your choice and will also be selling a variety of festive bakes including mince pies, gingerbread and fudge. These are now available to order via her website or market stall.

And Christmas isn’t Christmas without sugary treats. Brennan’s Candy Cabin has a huge array of chocolates and Christmas stockings enough to satisfy even the sweetest of teeth. Oakham’s wonderfully old-fashioned sweetshop, Mint, on Northgate, offers a similarly mesmerizing range of traditional sweeties (and stocking-filler toys) to tempt all the family. And if you are looking for an impressive Christmas centrepiece then The Rutland Cake Company offers a mouth-watering range of large cakes (bespoke drip cakes from £45), cupcakes, tray bakes and biscuits.

FESTIVE TIPPLES The burgeoning cottage industry of microbreweries and distilleries in the region means that it is now easier than ever to buy locally produced ales and spirits to top up the drinks cabinet.

Two Birds Spirits sells a range of 70cl and 20cl gins, vodkas and absinthes together with gift packs and vouchers for gin workshops.

For something fruity try the Strawberry and Vanilla Gin or settle a stuffed Christmas dinner belly with a glass of After Dinner Mint and English Vodka. Or why not order a selection of SuperHop ales or an 18 pint bag of fresh bright beer from Market Harborough Brewery, which opens its doors on Saturday mornings from 10am. And for a great selection of wines, spirit and beers, many locally sourced, try Duncan Murray Wines in Harborough. Although their wine is from further afield, the independent shop stocks a range of Northamptonshire ales from Langton Brewery, Hart Family Brewery, Nobby’s Brewery and Phipps.

In Oakham, The Grainstore Brewery does a gift box containing three 500ml bottles of its real ales that is sure to be well received. Wine merchant Bat and Bottle, meanwhile, based in the Oakham Enterprise Park on the Ashwell Road, is a specialist importer of Italian wine, offering everything from a celebratory Prosecco to a bottle of red to go with the turkey or an Italian dessert wine, for example a glorious-looking vin santo, to accompany your figgy pudding.

For soft drinks, keep it local by stocking up Belvoir Fruit Farms’ stylishly presented beverages; their Chardonnay Pressé, Rosé and Shiraz are non-alcoholic alternatives that pair well with a range of dishes (for pairing tips, see their website) and come “without the hangover”.

CATERING CHOICES For a completely carefree Christmas there are number of private catering options. Wistow Event Catering covers festive parties in the home and their bistro is available for private hire. Or why not hire a chef to take on the strain of preparation, cooking and clearing up whilst you sit back with a Two Birds gin and tonic. Professional caterer Sara McAllister mainly covers the Leicestershire and Rutland areas (although she Wistow Event is also happy to travel further Catering afield) and will take into account Photo: Dorte Kjaerulff tastes, budgets and venues for her seasonally inspired dishes for all occasions, whether a hot or cold buffet, a themed dinner party or a traditional Christmas meal (see her website for sample menus). Other local catering companies include Rutland Gourmet and Zest Catering, who will also provide services from party canapés to multi-course dinner parties.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

The Cake Company

DIRECTORY Ashley Farm Shop, 01858 565722, www.ashleyherbfarm.co.uk Bat and Bottle, 01572 759735, batwine.co.uk Belvoir Fruit Farms, 01476 870286, www.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk Brennan’s Candy Cabin, www.facebook.com/candycabin1 The Cake Company, 07535 653479, www.sarahruth.co.uk Duncan Murray Wines, 01858 464935, www.duncanmurraywines.co.uk Farndon Fields, 01858 464838, www.farndonfields.co.uk The Grainstore Brewery, 01572 770065, www.grainstorebrewery.com Hambleton Bakery, 01572 812995, www.hambletonbakery.co.uk Hambleton Farms, 01572 724455, www.hambletonfarms.co.uk Hobbs Fishmongers, 01858 464025, www.hobbsfishmongers.co.uk Market Harborough Brewery, 01858 461682, marketharboroughbrewery.co.uk Mint, 01572 720251, mintofoakham.com Northfield Farm Shop, 01664 474271, www.northfieldfarm.com The Olive Tree Company, 0116 259 3441, www.olivetreecompany.co.uk Otters Fine Foods, 01572 756481, www.ottersfinefoods.co.uk The Rutland Cake Company, 01572 723185, www.rutlandcakes.co.uk Rutland Charcuterie, 01572 724655, www.rutlandcharcuterie.co.uk Rutland Gourmet, 01572 747909, rutlandgourmet.co.uk Sara McAllister, 07778 227734, www.saramcallister.co.uk Two Birds, 01858 463758, www.twobirdsspirits.co.uk Waterloo Cottage Farm, 01858 467158, waterloocottagefarm.co.uk Wistow Event Catering, 0116 259 3756, wistowevents.co.uk Zest Catering, 07739 523456, www.cateringandeventsbyzest.co.uk

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Every November World Vegan Month is celebrated across the world with events of all kinds in support of the veganism. Last summer 16-year-old Tasha Meade decided to embrace a vegan lifestyle. Tasha discusses her decision and offers her advice to anyone considering making the same change.

Going Vegan

Nature’s Pantry. Photo: Elli Dean

The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre. Photo: Elli Dean

What inspired you to change your diet?

I had been considering going vegan for a while. When I watched a couple of compelling documentaries about the benefits of vegan living, in particular “What the Health” (whatthehealthfilm.com), my mind was made up.

What exactly is the definition of veganism?

According to the Vegan Society, veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. There are many ways to embrace vegan living, but essentially it’s a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish and shellfish), dairy, eggs and honey – as well as products such as leather and any tested that are on animals.

What are the benefits?

Everyone will have a different reason for considering a vegan diet; for me the impetus was moral, but for others the reasons might be nutritional or medically inspired. There are many benefits to veganism including those based in animal welfare, environmental concerns or health issues. The most important thing is to do what fits your lifestyle – it might suit some people to follow a vegan diet for part of the week, for example. There are no rights or wrongs; individuals must be true to their

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own conscience first and foremost, without feeling pressured.

Is the vegan diet restrictive?

I haven’t found it difficult at all. I have really enjoyed discovering different recipes and ingredients and have been cooking and preparing delicious and healthy food at home.

It is true that eating out is more difficult, although with a little planning most places are very accommodating, and we are lucky in Rutland to have some brilliant places to eat where vegan food is part of the staple menu and not simply an “add on” or compromise.

The Lean Pantry Co. (branches in Oakham and Stamford) and Fish Tank Sushi (Bakers Yard, Oakham) are my favourites. Nature’s Pantry, in Market Harborough, is also good.

How have you made sure your nutritional needs are met?

The most commonly asked question is “Where do you get your protein?” It is very easy for a vegan diet to meet the recommendations for protein. Nearly all vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds contain some protein, and often lots of it. I had already dropped meat and fish from my diet, so it was less of a big step for me to move away from dairy products.

Anyone considering changing their diet should consult their GP. I also went to see Lesley Harris at Natures Dispensary Ltd (7 Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 771231, natures-dispensary.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Fish Tank Sushi

com) and she gave me some great advice and recommended a B12 supplement, which I now take daily. There is lots of great information available on line too.

Any regrets?

None at all. I am really enjoying this way of eating and can’t see myself ever going back on my decision. Good planning is the key to make sure I don’t miss out or go hungry. I would recommend veganism to anyone who is keen to give it a try.

TASHA’S TOP TIPS • Great sources of information include nhs.uk, vegansociety.com and peta.org.uk, who offer a free vegan starter kit, packed full of recipes and tips on making the switch.

• Browse the supermarkets for great vegan products – there are lots more out there than you might imagine.

• Try recipes from the best-selling “Deliciously Ella” by Ella Woodward, available at Walkers Bookshop in Oakham or Uppingham Sports & Books. It has been my cooking bible.

• If you are dining out in a more mainstream restaurant, phone ahead to ask if there is a vegan dish on the menu or if the chef can prepare something for you. It’s much better to plan ahead than to be disappointed or end up compromised if the restaurant is too busy to prepare something imaginative.

The judging is over. Here are the winners!

Results of the Great Food Club Awards 2017/18 PRODUCER CATEGORY

T

HE large but pleasurable task of judging the shortlisted businesses in the 2017/18 Great Food Club Awards is complete. The Awards shortlist was created by online vote throughout summer 2017. Votes were cast mainly by Great Food Club members (they could vote for any independent food/drink business they liked) and well over one thousand people took part. Voters were presented with five categories – Producer, Pub/Restaurant/ Cafe, Shop, Street-Food and Food-and-Drink Experience. The top five vote winners in each category made the shortlist. Multiple votes from single IP addresses were discarded.

From there, with 25 businesses on the shortlist, it was over to the Great Food Club writing team. We visited and spoke to each business and judged them to the best of our ability. We scored each out of 5, 10 or 20 in several areas (such as service, setting and food quality), and the business with the highest final score won. We were hugely impressed by the quality and passion demonstrated by all of the contenders.

Shortlisted businesses • Freshly Spiced, Nottingham • Hambleton Bakery, Exton, Rutland • Harker’s Farm Shop, Clipston on the Wolds, Notts • Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, Gainsborough, Lincs • Yorkshire Dama Cheese, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire

WINNER: REDHILL FARM FREE RANGE PORK, GAINSBOROUGH, LINCS

Redhill Farm Free Range Pork takes its pigs from birth to table. The animals are free range and lead fabulously natural lives amongst the farm’s trees and pastures. Redhill Farm demonstrably takes huge care to reduce stress in its animals’ lives, including at the point of slaughter. It does all its own butchery, plus smoking, pie-making, bacon curing and more at its well-equipped, modern production unit on the farm.

As a result of all this, Redhill Farm Free Range pork is, in our opinion, the best-quality pork you will find anywhere. Moreover, rather than chasing commercial success at the expense of animal welfare, this producer has kept its integrity. It has also shown commitment to “local” over many years, selling mainly to Lincolnshire farmers’ markets. Its new butchers shop on Bailgate in Lincoln is a fantastic addition to the city.

RESTAURANT/PUB/CAFE CATEGORY Shortlisted businesses • The Bewicke Arms, Hallaton, Leics • Hambleton Hall, Hambleton, Rutland • Kavanagh’s Tea Room, Oakham, Rutland • Nourish at No 44, Belper, Derbys • The Royal Oak, Evesham, Worcs

WINNER: NOURISH AT NO 44, BELPER, DERBYS

This was a fiendish category to judge, with just two-and-a-half points separating all five contenders. Shading it, however, is this cafe/bistro in the market town of Belper, Derbyshire. The team here show just how much can be achieved by hard work, passion, an eye for detail and a love for well-cooked, locally sourced food. Nourish at No 44 works incredibly hard to beat gravity and rise above the status of generic town centre cafe to become something far classier. And it’s this heroic effort to do something special, and to do it with pride, that convinced us that it should win against some truly brilliant opposition. By day Nourish at No 44 is a pleasant cafe, but it’s on weekend evenings that it really shows its quality through local sourcing, impressive cooking, excellent service and a wonderful dining atmosphere.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Get the 2017 Handbook The Great Food Club Handbook 2017 is out now.

With over 100 pages, the new Handbook is a handbag- or glovebox-sized publication with one simple aim: to guide you to some of the best independent restaurants, pubs, farm shops, breweries, food producers, delis and cafes. It is available to buy now for £4.95 including postage.

Go to www.greatfoodclub.co.uk, scroll to the bottom of the home page and click “Buy the Handbook”.

SHOP CATEGORY Shortlisted businesses • Bulwick Village Shop, Bulwick, Northants • Christopher James Deli, Leicester • Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Market Harborough, Leics • Waterloo Cottage Farm, Great Oxendon, Northants • Welbeck Farm Shop, Welbeck Estate, Notts

WINNER: BULWICK VILLAGE SHOP, BULWICK, NORTHANTS

In many ways, this is the perfect village food store, offering high-quality produce, welcoming staff and tasty surprises. The birthplace of The Pickled Village’s award-winning pickles and preserves, it’s enticing from the minute you see the front door and it stays that way all the way to the back of the shop. Alongside more exotic treats are staples such as milk, tea, bread, cheese and sweets. Amid the decline of so many village stores, this one shows just what’s possible, which is why it wins our award. It’s an example that proves there’s life in the village shop yet!

STREET-FOOD CATEGORY Shortlisted businesses • The Garage Bakehouse, Market Harborough, Leics • Homeboys, Nottingham • Nanna Mexico, Cambridge • Steak & Honour, Cambridge • Vivia Crump, Rutland

WINNER: STEAK & HONOUR, CAMBRIDGE

This category was also a challenge to judge, with each shortlisted business impressing. In the end, though, Steak & Honour won through thanks to doing what it does to near perfection and with a flourish. This minimalistic burger restaurant (it has vans, too) in central Cambridge takes the humble burger and hones it, hones it again, and then delivers something close to the ultimate meat-in-a-bun experience. On our visit, we wolfed down a perfectly cooked medium-rare burger (beef sourced from The Art of Meat in Cambridge). It was topped with jalapeño peppers and other good stuff, and placed between a halved brioche bun (baked by Dovecote Bakery in Cambridge). Unlike some brioche we’ve tried, the bun was not too sweet. We loved the carefully chosen range of canned craft beers on sale, too. With Steak & Honour, less is more: it is simple but devastatingly effective!

FOOD-AND-DRINK EXPERIENCE CATEGORY Shortlisted businesses • 45 West Gin School, Nanpantan, Leics • The Bristol Food Tour, Bristol • Hobby Cooks, Northampton • The School of Artisan Food, Welbeck, Notts • Seasoned Cookery School, Catton Hall, Derbyshire

Join Great Food Club With its new editing team, Great Food Club is on a mission to unearth brilliant food and drink gems in your area and beyond. We currently recommend around 320 pubs, restaurants, producers and food shops, and around 200 of them run exclusive offers for Great Food Club members. Offers include 10% off at Stamford Cheese Cellar, 10% off at The Tobie Norris, a complimentary cocktail when you dine from the à la carte menu at The Olive Branch, 10% off at The King’s Arms in Wing, and 25% off at The Fox & Hounds in Exton. It is completely free to join and get a membership card – no catches – and we never share your data – sign up at www.greatfoodclub.co.uk

WINNER: THE SCHOOL OF ARTISAN FOOD, WELBECK, NOTTS The sheer quality of teaching and equipment, alongside the passion and skill of the tutors, are the major reasons behind our decision to award the School of Artisan Food this title. Students are able to visit The School and leave with a deep knowledge of and appreciation for their chosen subject, whether that is baking, cheese making, butchery or one of the less hands-on courses. The School of Artisan Food is a beacon for the transmission and continuation of valuable food skills and provides a satisfying, educational experience for those who attend.

About the writer Matt Wright founded and runs Greatfoodclub.co.uk, a Leicestershire-based website that celebrates and promotes local food and drink. His Great Food Club Handbook 2017 is out now.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Now taking bookings for Christmas

The George at Ashley

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?

Choice of 3 roasts all served with the traditional trimmings £9.95 for one course up to £15.95 for three courses

Curry Night

Christmas at The George, Ashley

1st Thursday of every month.

Two course menu with selection of starters, followed by three homemade curries £10.95 a head

Friday Lunchtime Special

2 Portions of Cod, Chips and Mushy Peas for £10 Tue, Wed, Thur 12pm – 11pm (Food 12pm – 2.30pm/6.30pm – 9.30pm) Fri, Sat 12pm – 12am (Food 12pm – 2.30pm/6.30pm – 9.30pm) Sun 12pm – 6pm (Food 12.30pm – 3pm).Closed Mondays

LAST ORDERS WILL BE TAKEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE FOOD IS STOPPED SERVING

14 Arnhill Road, Gretton | Northants, NN17 3DN

Tel: 01536 770268 www.thehattonarms.com

www.naturespantry.co.uk

Nature’s Pantry 3 Church Street Mkt. Harborough LE16 7AA

Tues

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12 noon - 1.30pm Members Lunch Club

01858 468568

3.45 - 4.45pm After School Foodies (5 - 11 yrs)

10.30 - 11.30am Little Foodies

12 noon - 1.30pm Members Lunch Club

2.00 - 3.00pm Little Foodies

10.30 - 11.30am Little Foodies

12 noon - 1.30pm Members Lunch Club

2.00- 3.00pm Foodies

10.30 - 11.30am Little Foodies

12 noon - 1.30pm Members Lunch Club

11.00 - 12 noon Little Foodies

12.30 - 2.00pm www.naturespantry.co.uk Members Lunch Club

Thurs Fri

Sat

This Menu is available from Friday 1st December to Saturday 23rd December Christmas Parties available up to 24 Persons.

Pre-order required for tables of 8 and over

Warm Pea, Basil and Tomato Tart, Parmesan Crisp, Pea Shoots, Chestnuts - V Celeriac, Pear and Cote Hill Blue Cheese Soup - V GF Pearl Barley Risotto, Confit Duck, Wild Mushrooms Roast Turkey, Smoked Bacon, Leek Parcel, Parsnip, Cranberry, Brussels - GF Halibut, Curried Kale, Mussels - GF Venison Loin, Cocoa, Pomegranate, Butternut Squash - GF Roast Winter Vegetable Linguine, Truffle Cream, Crispy Artichoke - V Warm Figgy Pudding, Christmas Pudding Ice Cream

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Foodies Little Foodies Would you like to gain a little know how in Children learn about food and nutrition in a fun the kitchen? We can help you make the and engaging way. Making healthy food to eat perfect pesto, fantastic freezer fudge and and great recipes to take home for the whole simplify recipes. family to enjoy.

Block of 4 week classes £40 Block of 4 week classes - £24 Saturday Taster - £6 Memberships Want to take the stress out of eating out? Become a member and enjoy our purpose built space designed to keep the littles ones busy for a nice relaxing lunch. Safe in the knowledge that no one will ‘tut’ at you and you won’t have to put “Paw Patrol” on to finish your wrap! ...bring up to two non-member friends too!

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(Reservations Essential)

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10.30 - 11.30am Little Foodies

2 Courses £18 / 3 Courses £25 We are booking now for Lunch and Dinner

Dark Chocolate and Almond Tart, Tangerines Tunworth, Cote Hill Blue, Bosworth Ash, Cobblers Nibble, Grapes

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The low-down on some of the fabulous places to eat and drink in our region.

Food News & Reviews

Lunch at The Sun Inn in Cottesmore The Sun Inn is the archetypal picture-postcard English village pub, with whitewashed walls and beautiful thatched roof, and it always looks enormously inviting on the drive through Cottesmore. With its fire blazing, the pub hit the spot on the chilly autumn day that Rutland Advertisement Manager and I went along for lunch. There was an equally warm welcome from Christian and Gemma, who took over the pub in May 2017.

The excellent hospitality extended to our waitress, who talked us through the menu and was keen to stress that if we had any food intolerances or allergies, they could willingly be accommodated.

We started with a sharing platter of charcuterie, which was a huge wooden board with an enticing range of salami, ham, gherkins, tangy pickle and homemade toasted olive and rosemary focaccia. It was as delicious as it looked, and our only caution was to watch the amount we ate to leave room for two further courses.

Tracy followed this with the pie of the day, which was jam-packed with chicken breast and ham in a rich, creamy leek sauce and topped with light, fluffy pastry. Delicious homemade chunky chips and a great big bowl of vegetables (your five a day in one) came too. My main was one of the specials – a sweet, succulent fillet of halibut on a kingsized bed of linguine with a scrummy, wellbalanced butternut, pea and herb sauce.

This left space for lemon posset with berry compote and a shortbread biscuit. The lemon was soft and light and slipped down nicely after the substantial mains, while the tart berry sauce offset the posset’s sweetness beautifully. There wasn’t quite room for the biscuit, which went home for the kids – they were very grateful and said it was “yummy”!

With its attentive new team at the helm and all the winning elements of an archetypal English country pub, The Sun Inn is a great place for a classic, hearty pub meal, and it’s brilliant for anyone with a big appetite. We enjoyed a delightful lunch and I’m planning on heading back with the family very soon (there’s a £4.95 children’s menu for a kid’s main dish plus ice cream). Words: Clare Peel.

The Sun Inn, 25 Main Street, Cottesmore, Rutland LE15 7DH, 01572 812321, www.facebook.com/thesuninnrutland Our sincere apologies to The George in Ashley for the error over the chef’s details on page 25 of our October 2017 issue. As the review on this page states, owner Chris Hand is also the chef at The George.

Just a reminder that The Olive Branch, one of our favourite local restaurants, is now open all day, every day, and has increased its range to include breakfasts for non-guests, plus afternoon snacks and afternoon teas.

What better excuse to head over to picturesque Clipsham!

Main Street, Clipsham, Rutland LE15 7SH, 01780 410355, www.theolivebranchpub.com

Glorious gourmet at The George in Ashley Our features writer Kirstie Mitchell and Market Harborough Advertisement Manager Sosennah Every went to try the “Autumn Tasting Menu” on a gourmet night at The George.

This sell-out dinner was much anticipated by all, as owner and chef Chris Hand only runs these special events with a sixcourse tasting menu and wine flight once every season.

The evening started with a chilled glass of Prosecco and a convivial atmosphere. Our amuse-bouche was a beetroot borscht, a traditional Polish soup, served in an espresso cup with a hint of vodka and crème fraîche. It had a sweet and earthy taste that was a perfect palate warmer. Following was a rocket and ricotta raviolo with grilled radicchio and a white wine sauce, which all paired well with the crisp, zesty Eric Louis Sancerre 2016. The dish had a sweet and sour intensity to it due to the radicchio’s subtle bitterness and the sweet rich Italian cheese.

Our third dish – a sweet-tasting poached brill with girolles, with nutty and peppery notes – was our absolute favourite. The full-flavoured sauce of fish stock, chicken jus and a slight hint of lemon juice packed a punch to our taste buds.

Chris continued to delight us all with the main dish of a medallion loin of pink venison accompanied by a “Crown Prince”– a mini venison shepherd’s pie, with a rich venison jus that encapsulated all the flavours of autumn. The quarters of quince on the side added a tangy bite to each mouthful. The dish was paired with a Kim Crawford Pinot Noir, but we opted to stick to a fabulous English Pinot Blanc from Stopham Estate, West Sussex.

Our first dessert was an excellent plum sorbet served on top of a warm plum and berry compote with a small slice of pistachio cake, while the final assault on our senses was a double delight of apple – this was a hot apple beignet topped with frozen crunchy apple compote and an apple crumble with a terrific shortbread biscuit base. Those on the wine flight thoroughly enjoyed the Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling 2016 with their desserts.

Chris is a very talented chef who serves interesting and varied pub meals but can also push the boundaries for a wonderful culinary experience.

Words: Kirstie Mitchell.

The George, 21 Main Street, Ashley, LE16 8HF, 01858 565411, www.thegeorgeatashley.co.uk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Advertisement Feature

HARBOROUGH MARKET Everything you need for the perfect Christmas all under one roof.

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his Christmas season, why not give the supermarkets a miss and support your local, independent market traders? Buy local products, support local traders, and buy handmade items that often can’t be found on the high street.

If you haven’t visited the market before, you may be surprised by the variety and quality of goods on offer.

Harborough Market is open Tuesday to Sunday and features a weekly Tuesday Makers Market, a Thursday Craft Market and an Antiques Market each Wednesday and Sunday.

Whether you are Christmas shopping for your mum, dad, partner, friends or even pets, it seems as if there is something for everyone at the Market.

Anyone would be delighted to receive a gorgeous Turkish lamp from the fabulous Wee Bazaar. They are simply stunning and look the part in any room.

How about one of the luxury brandy, gin, or whisky gift packs from Bundled Up, a festive jumper from Sita Vig Fashion or a DVD from Andy Goode?

Stress-3-IT have a great range of new and refurbished laptops starting from only £125 as well as fabulous little stocking fillers like novelty USB sticks. Perfect for the teens in the family.

If you are really looking to push the boat out for that special someone, Selvey & Co Jewellers has a huge range of beautiful jewellery and watches to suit every pocket.

Let’s not forget the food! Pick up a turkey from John Ross and Son butchers, cheese and speciality pies from Sues Cheese, chocolate from Brennan’s Candy Cabin, Christmas cake from Sarah Ruth Cakes and fresh fish from Routs Fishmongers.

There’s just too many gift and foodie ideas to list…

You really do need to visit the market to see what great finds you can make. A perfect time to visit is on Friday 1st December 5pm to 9pm for the latenight Christmas Fayre.

So how about it?

Will you be supporting local traders this festive season and buying all of your Christmas gift shopping at Harborough Market?

We definitely will be!

Harborough Market is operated by Market Place and is open 8am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm for the popular Sunday Antiques Market www.harboroughmarket.co.uk

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Christmas Parties 2017

‘The Study’ – one of Hambleton’s fabulous private dining rooms is perfect for Christmas parties of 6 to 16 guests. We are offering parties a Special Limited Choice Menu, Sunday to Thursday, £65.00 per person for 3 courses. (£80 per person for 4 courses) Hambleton Hall is one of Britain’s finest country house hotels, overlooking Rutland Water the hotel provides the most wonderful setting for a Christmas Party.

Terrine of Sea Bass & Artichoke Foie Gras Chicken Liver Parfait with Fig Wild Mushroom Risotto, Parmesan & Tarragon

Log fires, a beautiful Christmas tree, sensational Christmas

decorations and lovely bedrooms to rest your weary head.

At the end of the evening why not stay the night?

If you would like to stay after your Christmas Party and book two or more bedrooms on a Sunday to Thursday, we are offering a special rate of £240.00 per night, based on 2 people sharing one of our Standard double bedrooms, including full Hambleton breakfast & vat.

***

Middle Course Offer - the best fish catch of the day *** Fillet of Turbot, Cockle, Clams & Cucumber Merryfield Duck, Caramelised Endive, Cucumber & Plum Jacobs Ladder, Smoked Potato, Horseradish & Red Wine Jus *** Prune & Armagnac Soufflé Golden Chocolate, Passion Fruit Sorbet Lime Meringue Pie & Lime Leaf Ice Cream *** Coffee, Chocolates All menus are subject to a discretionary service charge of 12.5%

HAMBLETON OAKHAM RUTLAND LE15 8TH T: 01572 756991 E: hotel@hambletonhall.com W: www.hambletonhall.com

LUNCH SPECIAL OFFER Wednesday to Friday.

Two Courses for £12.50 STEAK NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY Two Steaks (Ribeye, Fish or Gammon) & Two glasses of house wine for £30

OUR FESTIVE MENU WILL BE AVAILABLE LUNCHTIME AND EVENING THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

For pre-booked groups of eight or more we are also offering a Christmas Party Menu 2 courses £17.95 / 3 courses £19.95 Book now to celebrate New Year’s Eve with us and enjoy a delicious five course Gala Dinner including prosecco on arrival for just £45.00 per person WE OFFER

www.exeterarmsbarrowden.co.uk

All funds from ticket sales go to the Rutland Air Ambulance.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 3rd Thursday of the month.

Talented local musicians playing Live Music from 8pm

OPENING HOURS

A Warm Welcome I A Selection of Real Ales I Premium Lagers and Quality Wines Seasonal and Varied Menu I Parties and Functions Overnight Accommodation I Children and Dogs Welcome

More information and our current menu on our website

QUIZ NIGHT First Thursday of the month £5 per team of four.

Prize for the winning team.

Tuesday - Thursday 12noon - 3pm & 6pm - 10.30pm Friday 12noon - 3pm & 5pm - 11pm Saturday 12noon - 3pm & 6pm - 11pm Sunday 12noon - 6pm Monday Closed

T: 01572 747365 E: info@exeterarmsbarrowden.co.uk 33

Gifts for Home, Garden and Lifestyle

GEORGE HALLS CYCLE CENTRE 10-12 Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leics, LE16 9HE. 01858 465507 www.georgehallscycles.co.uk georgehallscycle@aol.com

Designed in Rutland Ski-tripper t-shirt

1 Crown Walk, Oakham LE15 6BZ 01572 723204 helen@albarsden.co.uk 34

Ski-tripper - a fun, light-hearted shirt for ski fans everywhere.

Available in different cuts - womens, mens, and sweatshirt.

You can see the whole T-lab range - including more ski and winter designs - at www.t-lab.eu

www.t-lab.eu

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It’s a wrap!

Abro metallic bronze handbag, £209, from CoCo

Finding just the right gift for that special someone should be a joy!

To help you decide, here’s our selection of ideas from some of Rutland’s fantastic independent retailers. Happy shopping.

A Lotus Cassia grey wedge ankle boot, £65, from Marcia May

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WORDS: AMANDER MEADE PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

Kilim bag, £78, from Oakham Rugs

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Unisa suede and patent long boot, £149, from CoCo

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Silk printed cushion, £67, from Oakham Rugs

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER

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It’s a wrap!

Rose gold Filofax, £37, Ice Velvet notebooks, £8.99 each, and Ice Velvet pencil case, £7.99, all from Colemans

Cherry red oval cufflinks handmade in sterling silver, from £235, and diamond and oval fire opal in 18ct gold, from £1,950, all from the Fire and Ice Collection by Heidi Kjeldsen

Children’s Frog bike in pink (seven other colour options and various sizes available), £300, from Rutland Cycling

Bath, body and home fragrance selection by Neom.

Body and hand wash, £16, hand lotion, £20, candle £45, diffuser, £38, all from Vanilla Gold Tree Collection, £12 for a set of eight decorations, available online from Catesby’s, catesbys.co.uk 36

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER

Dansk Smykkekunst scarf, £44.90, and Pia Rossini burgundy suede gloves, £32.99, both from Duo

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Dansk Smykkekunst necklace, £39.90, and matching bracelet, £29.90, both from Duo

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Pendant, £95, leaf/acorn necklace, £95, and matching earrings, £105, all from the Elizabeth Terzza Acorn range at Made Gallery

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Embroidered clutch bag, £18, Star pom pom hat, £21, and black gloves, £12, all available in several colours at Baubles and Bangles

Paw Patrol sea patrol toy, £69.99, from Fords

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A Decléor gift box, £41, from Ellique

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER

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THE GUILD OF MASTER CHIMNEY SWEEPS Powering chimney sweeping into the 21st Century

AVONDALE SWEEPS • NO FUSS – NO MESS

• FULLY RECOGNISED CERTIFICATES ISSUED • FULLY TRAINED & QUALIFIED TO A HIGH STANDARD • HETAS REGISTERED RUSSELL PEACE…01536 510865 MOBILE – 07725 795394 EMAIL– russell.peace@virgin.net www.chimneysweepnorthants.co.uk

www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk

My life My home My cuppa, just the way I like it Home & live in care from Bluebird Care

Find out more information on our home and live in care service.

Email the Bluebird Care team: peterborough@bluebirdcare.co.uk or call us on 01780 480881

bluebirdcare.co.uk/ peterborough-rutland 38

Looking for a new dentist? We’re welcoming

new NHS and private patients! r l Offe a i c e Sp t this

Open 6 days a week ` for your convenience!

n Prese receive n a ent rt d adve ng treatm ni white for only

£159

Ditchfield Dental Practice, 49 Fairfax Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HF T: 01858 466 663 E: ditchfield.dental@nhs.net www.hanjidentalcare.co.uk

LUXURY 6 BEDROOM VILLA L O C AT E D I N P L AYA B L A N C A , L A N Z A R O T E

Private heated pool I Hot Tub I Games Room I Air conditioning I Sea View Terrace I Sleeps up to 14 people

PRICES STARTING FROM £2500 PER WEEK I LATE AVAILABILITY FOR 2017 I NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2018

CONTACT INFO@VILLAOASISLANZAROTE.COM I 07989 168256 W W W. V I L L A O A S I S L A N Z A R O T E . C O M 39

Letter notepads, £6 each, Keals, www.keals.net

“Jamm Scoot” aqua racer ride-on, £62 (£67 including construction), Nature’s Pantry, naturespantry.co.uk

Pashley “Britannia” bike, £675, George Halls Cycle Centre, georgehallscycles.co.uk

Christmas shopping in and around Market Harborough

Here’s a selection of enticing presents for friends and family from some of the excellent independent shops in Market Harborough and its surroundings. WORDS: CLARE PEEl. PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk

18ct white gold, topaz and diamond ring, £3,250, TJ Thornton, www.tjthornton.com

Chocolate shoe filled with six handmade chocolates by Cocoa Amore, £20, Vibrant Senses, www.vibrantsenses.co.uk

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Mapex Tornado drum kit, £329 (free set up and tuning if you collect in store), MH Music, www.mhmusic.co.uk

Glitter resin necklace, £29, Ada Gallery, www.adagallery.co.uk

The Langton Brewery three beers gift set, £9.99, The Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre, www.langtongreenhouse.co.uk

“Doggy” light, £159, Harborough Lights, www.harboroughlights.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Ring Pull bird feeder, from £9.50, Eyebrook Wild Bird Feeds, www.eyebrook birdfeeds.co.uk

Wacoal “Embrace Lace” bra, £45, briefs, £26, and chemise, £52, The Little Big Bra Shop, www.thelittlebigbrashop.co.uk

The Bubbles & Truffles Hamper, £38, The Meat Lover’s Hamper, £25, and The Ginger Hamper, £25, all from Farndon Fields Farm Shop, www.farndonfields.co.uk

Baker Boy flat caps, £18 each, Keals, www.keals.net

Le Creuset salt and pepper mill, £28 each or £40 for two, The Kitchen Range Cookshop, www.facebook.com/kitchenrangecookshop

Floral arrangement (with artificial flowers), including vase (but not candles, candle holders or bowls, etc), £300, double peonies start at £12, Home of Angels, www.homeofangels.co.uk

Rainbow hot-air balloon, from £48.50, Hanworth Interiors, www.instagram.com/ hanworth.interiors

Concrete letters, £4 each, Lily Loves Shopping, www.lilylovesshopping.com

Hand-painted bespoke bauble, £14 including firing, The Paint Pottle, www.thepaintpottle.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Senses

Vibrant

A brand new luxury gift shopping experience has opened in Market Harborough Luxury brands include Neom - Wellbeing range Noble Isle - Britain in a bottle Cocoa Amore - Handmade chocolates Charles Farris - Chandlers 1845 Rathbornes - Chandlers 1488 So Cosy - Blankets Cathy Whittall - Art gallery

www.vibrantsenses.co.uk 10 Church Street, Market Harborough Tuesday - Saturday 10 am till 5 pm 01858 289235 info@vibrantsenses.co.uk

Quality garden birdseed at farm gate prices Visit our award winning conservation farm for unique Christmas gifts for all the family including bird tables & feeders, seasonal mixes, merry mealworms & festive suets for the birds to enjoy!

Stock up on all your garden birds need for the winter period.

Great Value 20kg Mixed Seed ÂŁ10.00

@Eyebrook_Birds

Open Friday & Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 9am – 12pm

You are welcome to collect at anytime but please phone to ensure we are here to serve you. Rectory Farm, right of Church, Great Easton. Tel: 01536 770771

www.eyebrookwildbirdfeeds.co.uk 42

Dower & Hall twinkle rings

Spitfire silver & enamel cufflinks £105 9ct white gold topaz and diamond

fromgold £120 diamond triple cluster 18ct white £1550

Antique ANTIQUE&AND Modern y MODERNJeweller JEWELLERY

Amber silver pendants from £50

£825

Ruby ring £1350

18ct white gold topaz and diamond £3250

Edwardian 15ct gold sapphire and diamond £199

3 COVENTRY ROAD,

3MARKET COVENTRY ROAD, HARBOROUGH, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE16 9BX. MARKET HARBOROUGH, TEL: 01858 468858 LEICESTERSHIRE, LE16 9BX. TEL: 01858 468858 tim@tjthornton.com

18ct gold diamond cluster ring £2200

Wedding rings in gold, platinum and palladium

Edwardian 9ct gold peridot and pearl £450

1920’s 18ct gold Columbian emerald and diamond £4950

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This year Fords of Oakham celebrates an impressive 140 years in business, and we’d like to wish them many congratulations! Clare Peel takes a little look at the firm’s history. Photography of the store by Elli Dean.

Fords of Oakham

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HE story starts with George Ford, who moved from his home in the West Country to Oakham. He worked for five years as an upholsterer for John Royce, whose premises were on Church Street, before deciding to branch out on his own in 1877, using his skills as an upholsterer, and offering French polishing and cabinet-making. He originally operated from his home in Penn Street, but he built his first shop when the family moved across town to Church Street. Over time, the business expanded to include house removals and storage, and (still offered today) funeral services, which, like removals, used horse-drawn wagons.

After George’s death in 1914, his wife and four sons continued to run the business, and in 1953 it passed to Heugh Ford. His daughter Rosemary and son-in-law, John White, joined the business in 1955, and under them the firm’s expansion continued, most notably with the construction in 1967 of the current glass-fronted shop on the site of the original cottage and shop, as well as with the addition of more products and services.

Today, Fords is run by Rosemary’s son, Robert White, and daughter, Sue Green, along

with Robert’s son, Richard, and a team of more than 30 staff. Major construction works have provided new offices and a stockroom and enabled the expansion of the toy and housewares departments (both excellent). Fords also offers lingerie and sleepwear, menswear, bedding, china and gifts, with the newest addition being a childrenswear department, stocking brands including Blue Seven, Kite and Knot so Bad. The store’s wide range of high-quality goods, its ever-welcoming staff and its unique charm are repaid with great loyalty by its customers, many of whom (including myself) come back again and again. If you’re not already a regular, why not go in and become part of their story – regulars and newbies alike are just in time to wish them a very happy birthday!

Fords of Oakham, 8 Church Street, Oakham LE15 6AA, 01572 722654, www.fordsofoakham. co.uk. Open: Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 10am–4pm. The store will open 9am–9pm on Monday 11 December for latenight shopping and from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 December until 6pm; on Sunday 24 December it will be open 10am–4pm.

Robin pinafore dress in sizes 3yrs up to 8yrs, £32; bauble cardigan, from £28; Robin blouse 3–6m and 6–12m, £20, 12–18m, 18–24m, 2–3yrs and 3–4yrs, £22; Robin spotty tights 0–6m, 6–12m, 12–24m and 2–4yrs, £11; all by Kite.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Nimbus Snowsuit in sizes 3–6m and 6–12m, £45, 12–18m, 18–24m, 2–3 yrs and 3–4yrs, £47; star fleece hat in sizes 0–12m and 1–3 yrs, £10 (also available in pink); all by Kite.

Fords Of Oakham

Rutland’s premier department store

The home of

Christmas Come and browse our great selection of gifts

SAMUEL ROBSON FINE ART LTD

MIXED WINTER EXHIBITION

Fashion | Children’s Wear Lingerie | Accessories Home & Gift | Cook Shop Toys | Luggage & more…

8 Church Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AA Tel: 01572 722654 www.fordsofoakham.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Fordsofoakham

Joan Gillchrest, Cornish Harbour, oil on card

Friendly & relaxed classes • Tutor with 20 years experience No confusing technical jargon • Mix of theory & practical S TA M F O R D

Beginners Photography One-Day Masterclass Workshop ISO settings • aperture settings • shutter speeds • white balance • camera modes • depth of field • on- board flash • light readings • file formats Sun 26th Nov & Sun 14th Jan

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£ 75. 00 per person

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Night Photography Workshop Our bestselling workshop. A fun hands-on evening learning how to capture stunning images in low light conditions. Long exposures, car trails, shooting fireballs, painting with light, using fill-in flash and much more. N.B you will require a tripod for this workshop.

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Fr i 2 4 th Nov & Sun 19th Nov £ 60. 00 per person

Ful l Day : £250

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Please see: www.dslrlearning.co.uk for dates and booking.

PERFECT XMAS GIFT GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Saturday 2nd December and

Sunday 3rd December 2017 12pm – 4pm and by appointment thereafter

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Private Tuition The absolute best way to learn. A day tailored specifically to your needs enabling you to massively enhance your photography skills and confidence in a very short space of time.

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CHAMPAGNE OPENING

44a Main Street, Empingham, Rutland LE15 8PS 07894 086836 email: sam@samuelrobsonfineart.com www.samuelrobsonfineart.com 45

Take a minute to think about what makes you happy? It could be spending time with loved ones, reading a good book or it could be getting the best night’s sleep possible. Kirstie Mitchell talks to Chris Tattersall, Managing Director of woolroom, about the company’s exciting new brand campaign.

This is what happy feels like…

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ID you know that we spend on average 27 years of our lives sleeping?

It has been well documented in health publications that it is important to our health and well-being to ensure we get the right amount of quality sleep.

“The [woolroom] firm’s dream was to use the finest British wool to make something wonderful and to create a natural, healthy, handcrafted range to let you feel the way you always dreamed of feeling.”

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OCATED in a converted farm outbuilding on the outskirts of Empingham in the heart of the beautiful Rutland countryside is the head office of woolroom. The firm was created in 2008 to bring healthy, natural, affordable wool products to everyone. The local store in Stamford displays their beautiful, luxurious wool bedding and accessory products, from beds and mattresses to duvets and even bedding for babies.

There was an animated buzz in the office on my visit to meet Chris – this fast-growing, local company is embarking on an enthralling journey. Back in 2012, with just three staff, Chris wanted to push the boundaries and widen the scope for the business. He set to work developing new, sustainable, innovative wool products that no other company was offering. Take that outdated image out of your head of infuriatingly scratchy, itchy wool jumpers, and think instead of natural wool that is free of chemicals, luxurious, sustainable, tactile and washable.

Chris brings 16 years of business experience in textiles and homeware to woolroom and he exudes energy and passion, bringing to the table an exciting wealth of knowledge, aspiration 46

and leadership. He has been responsible for the rollout this October of a new campaign strategy to encourage consumers to discover the benefits that wool can bring in the modern world.

The head office of woolroom has expanded with nine staff plus 22 in their five stores in the UK. Along with the rebrand of the company, the firm has also launched a new US and Canadian website to cater to the increased demand for British natural, sustainable, luxurious wool bedding products overseas.

Stamford was an important wool-trading hub in the Norman era, so, with this in mind and a desire to keep things local, Stamford-based creative design agency Strawman was chosen to create and implement a complete rebrand of the woolroom business, with brand design, a social media campaign and web development.

Building on woolroom’s existing brand values, Strawman designed and produced a new vision for the firm. “This is what happy feels like” is the brand’s new mission statement, reflecting the end goal for woolroom – to help people feel happy by experiencing the touch of its beautiful, high-quality natural wool products as well as by enjoying the improved quality of sleep they offer.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Bedding from woolroom is: • proven to facilitate 25% better sleep • cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cool • hypoallergenic • renewable and sustainable • machine washable • naturally fire retardant – no chemicals • naturally absorbent • durable • naturally resistant to mildew and mould • supportive of British farmers The firm continues to develop its product range, scouring the UK for the finest wool fibres. Chris explains: “Our consumers want chemically free, natural, healthier products for the modern home. We can provide a whole range of innovative, yet luxurious, wool products that are affordable – although when we spend a third of our lives asleep, you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep!”

It is important to mention that half of the wool used for all of the company’s bedding products is sourced from in and around Leicestershire and Rutland, helping our local sheep farmers stay in business. The firm also believes that its work educating customers about wool is essential and will continue to work alongside Prince Charles and The Campaign for Wool in support of this.

The future is certainly looking bright for woolroom, with new products being launched this season including organic bedding and naturally upholstered wool bedsteads. Chris says: “Beautiful doesn’t mean sacrificing healthy, and quality is definitely within your reach.”

For more details, contact woolroom Stamford at 8 Star Lane, Stamford PE9 1PH, 01780 767927, www.thewoolroom.com

UPPINGHAM & LONDON

Sales

Cleaning

Restoration

Bespoke

‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of Yarns in many different fibre types.

VISIT

30 North Street East, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9QL Nov 1st & 8th, 1 - 6pm Open W arehou se, Lon don — An�qu e Triba l Rug Ex hibi�on at The Rug Stu Uppingh dio, a m Sat 11th - Sat 25 th Nov 2017

The Rug Studio Shop: 2 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9PZ The Rug Studio - Workshop/Warehouse: Unit 8, 3 Walmgate Rd, Perivale, London, UB6 7LH Tel: 01572 829927 Email: info@therugstudio.co.uk www.therugstudio.co.uk

01572 823747 ONLINE SHOP www.wools.co.uk

Opening Hours: Shop:- Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm Warehouse:- By Appointment

Natural wool bedding Sourced from British farms For cosiness throughout the seasons

LET YOUR BODY BREATHE 8 Star Lane, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1PH www.thewoolroom.com 01780 767 927

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Spotlight on Uppingham In the first of a series of articles focussing on the towns and villages across our region, Susannah Johnston-Weir shines the spotlight on her home town of Uppingham.

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

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ICTURESQUE Uppingham is the smaller of Rutland’s two market towns and maintains a friendly rivalry with the county town of Oakham, six miles north. With its mix of creamy yellow Ancaster stone and red ironstone buildings and a clutch of delightful pubs, secondhand book shops, antiques shops, art galleries and coffee shops, Uppingham is a popular destination for daytrippers or those overnighting in one of the town’s three delightful hotels (The Falcon, The Lake Isle and The Garden Hotel).

Uppingham School

Uppingham’s public boarding school provides the architectural backdrop, dominating the town with its historic buildings and boarding houses, some of which featured in the Harry Potter film series. The school was founded in 1584 by Archdeacon Robert Johnson, who established Oakham School in the same year. It’s grown rather since then and is now home to around 800 boys and girls aged between 13 and 18 (it went co-ed in the 1970s), all but a handful of whom are full boarders.

Famous alumni include world land and water speed record holders, Sir Malcom Campbell and son Donald, actors Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, William Henry Pratt (better known as Boris Karloff) and Sam Riley, Carphone Warehouse co-founders Charles Dunstone and David Ross, broadcasters Phil Spencer and John Suchet, explorer Ed Stafford and chef Rick Stein, among many others.

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Other architectural highlights

The rest of the town is an attractive blend of late medieval to Victorian buildings, rustic shoplined streets and labyrinthine alleys. Visitors can get a flavour of the highlights by walking the Uppingham Heritage Trail, a short tour following a map available at shops (including Uppingham Sports & Books, 9 High Street East) and eateries in town, or to download at uppinghamheritagetrail. org.uk. Highlights on the Heritage Trail include the largely 14th-century parish church of St Peter and St Paul, whose tower rises over the Market Place (look out for the 1887 Queen Victoria Jubilee fountain), the elegant Georgian post office also on the square, and the Old Grammar School.

Shopping

Stall holders fill the Market Place every Friday – Uppingham was given its market charter in 1281, and traders have been coming ever since. As well as the regular purveyors of fresh fish, cheeses, farm shop produce, pies, hats and gloves, bread, Indian dishes, household goods, fruits and nuts, flowers and garden plants, there are visiting stallholders selling jewellery, linens and clothing.

Elsewhere in town, shopkeepers do a bustling trade from Monday to Saturday. There are two butchers (Nelsons and Culpin & Son) and two ironmongers (D. Norton & Son – look out for the plough above the door – and A.E. Bilsdon) on the town’s High Street – impressive for a town of this size. Uppingham’s streets are almost entirely

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

graced by independent shops selling everything from menswear and ladies’ fashions to wool, woodburning stoves, antiques, vintage clothing, secondhand books, flowers, delicatessen, fabrics, jewellery, gifts and homewares. These include Earthworks florists, Goodwin and Belle, Heatsource, Lolawood, Made Gallery (jewellery), The Rug Studio, The Rutland Bookshop, Sarah Harding Interiors and Uppingham Yarns, to name but a few. For beauty, there’s Thomas Hairdressing in an imposing building on the Market Place.

Eating and drinking

Whether you are eating out or in, you are spoilt for choice. Flanking the Market Place, former coaching inn The Falcon Hotel has been renovated and has an award-winning garden to the rear, with various menus to suit the occasion. Directly opposite, the stone-fronted Vaults pub and neighbouring Don Paddy’s brasserie have seating on the Market Place and between them serve food all day. The Lake Isle , a stylish hotel on the High Street East, is a good choice for a treat for lunch or dinner, and the Crown Pub opposite The Lake Isle serves traditional pub grub. On the southern outskirts of town, on the Glaston Road just off the A47, the Welland Vale Garden Inspirations garden centre is a place of pilgrimage for the green-fingered and popular for its relaxing Orchard Café.

In the evenings, Red India makes curry that draws customers from far afield and Choi’s is a popular destination for Chinese food. If you are

PHOTO: CHARLES RICHARDSON

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

Fatstock Show On the 29 November 2017, Uppingham’s bustling market square will be transformed into a traditional livestock show. One of the most prestigious events in the town’s annual calendar, the “Fatstock” brings local farmers together to exhibit their prize livestock. Dating back to 1889, the tradition sees prize sheep, pigs and cattle displayed in temporary pens, and it is the only event of its kind in the UK still to be held in a town market square. It has been cancelled only by war and the two national out-breaks of the foot and mouth epidemic. The regular weekly fatstock market finished in 1954, with the ending of wartime controls, but the annual Fatstock Show has continued here. Nowadays, the aim is to celebrate the farming industry and encourage people to buy British. Things kick off at around 7am, judging begins at 10am, and the prizegiving ceremony is at 11.30am. The farmers congregate in The Falcon Hotel afterwards.

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

Cultural and sporting attractions

The local arts scene in Uppingham is thriving, with a variety of galleries (including The Eyebrook Gallery on the High Street East and Goldmark Gallery on Orange Street) and local artists tucked away in studios dotted around the town. Uppingham School’s magnificent Chapel and Memorial Hall are open to the public for a number of musical events during the year, and Uppingham Theatre (www.uppthearts.co.uk) on Stockerston Road is on the international touring circuit, featuring a vibrant programme of events throughout the year. There are free concerts organised by Uppingham School’s music department every Wednesday lunchtime in Uppingham Parish Church, a film night on the second Thursday of the month in the Town Hall on High Street East (£5 including soft drinks and homemade nibbles) and a French Cinema night

held monthly at Don Paddy’s. There is a thriving amateur dramatics group, several adult choirs and the award-winning Uppingham Children’s Choir (www.uppinghamchildrenschoir.com), plus an amazing array of arts, crafts and music courses on offer for a market town.

Like neighbouring Oakham, Uppingham benefits from all the attractions of Rutland Water (about eight miles away), where watersports, climbing, cycling, bird-watching and even a bug zoo pull in the crowds. It is also close to the picturesque Eyebrook Reservoir, another internationally renowned bird-watching mecca.

PHOTO: ELLI DEAN

staying in, the Silver Fish Bar on North Street provides delicious fish and chips, Zorba’s does kebabs and pizza, Red India and Choi’s do takeaway, and there are two further Chinese takeaways – Wing’s and Fortune Corner.

For a coffee, try The Courtyard Deli, tucked away in Printer’s Yard, or Coppergate or the stylish Scandimania Coffee House, which are both on High Street East. On High Street West, the traditional family-run Baines Bakery (est. 1867) is not to be missed for its delicious bread and cakes and quaint 17th-century building.

Five key dates in the Uppingham Calendar 1) Uppingham Musical Winter Safari (February, day tbc). A range of venues open up to host music of all kinds.

2) Uppingham Feast Day (17 June 2018).

Entertainment, food and stalls for all the family.

3) Uppingham Fête, Flower & Produce Show (August, day tbc). A traditional family fête.

4) Uppingham Fatstock Show (29 November 2017). Annual livestock show.

5) Christmas in Uppingham (7 December 2017).

Annual festive event with late-night shopping.

• For more information see www.uppingham towncouncil.gov.uk/key-events.html

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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Nationally on average a lady will change her hairdresser every 4 haircuts.

HOWEVER 75% of ladies will have the same/similar hairstyle for 75% of their adult life.

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Strange facts if you think about them, suggesting people prefer to stay “safe” and have a familiar style, yet are happy to change by whom the style is created.

In my experience working here in Oakham, in London, on location and looking around other salons, I can see how both ladies and gents have in their mind the ideal style for them, and that for whatever reason the “new style” often gets lost in translation, if you will. Therefore the end product, whilst always nicely cut, beautifully finished and in its own right lovely, is NOT the style initially dreamed of by the client. Some clients may bring in pictures, others simply ask for our opinion or advice, but fundamentally it all hinges on an understanding between the stylist and client.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO? If this all sounds very familiar, there are other things you can do.

Below are a few tips to help you avoid becoming a slave to what’s “normal” or what’s “been done before”.

Come in for a FREE consultation on a normal day with your hair done as you would do it at home and show the stylist your daily hair routine. If your hair is due a wash, that’s great - your hair in its natural state will give the stylist an idea of how you deal with your current style. Weather permitting, take a hand mirror outside to look at the colour - natural sunlight is always the best clue as to your natural pigments, and anything artificial will give off certain tones.

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Create two collages, a minimum of 10 pictures in each. Firstly one of hair you like, which may not necessarily be the entire cut or colour- it might be a fringe, it might be how it falls or even just its texture. The second collage of hair you don’t like. Include old pictures of yourself if possible, maybe show your previous stylists mistakes that were made. Include how you have struggled to control certain areas or pictures from magazines you feel are aging or dated.

Why not go for a BLOW DRY LESSON? Most salons offer this service and you can learn how to get the most out of your new style!

A new style won’t sit like your old one and won’t require the same products nor the same drying system.

Forget your old ways, forget your old products, forget your old brushes and embrace the change!

I hope this helps and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Thomas Oakham 01572 756561 Uppingham 01572 822555 Melton Mowbray 01664 566812 Email: thomas@thomashairdressing.co.uk

www.thomashairdressing.co.uk 51

HEALTH Hair necessities & Should you go brunette or ravishing red? What products can prevent your hair succumbing to the elements?

And how can you ensure your locks stay party-ready throughout the festive season? If you’re “dying” for a new look for winter, read on for top tips from our local hair experts. By Catherine Varney.

Going back to your roots Believe it or not, one of the top trends for the winter season is “dirty roots” , with colour achieved by adding a darker tone to the roots, so that it looks as if your natural hair colour is coming through, the team at Creme Hair and Beauty told me. Sounds easy, right? Not quite. The key is to make it look natural and effortless, and this unfortunately takes some serious background work. Letting it grow out naturally can cause too much of a dark/light contrast, so it’s better to ask your hair stylist to lift your base by one shade, so the transition is more gradual. Once it’s done, it’s pretty low maintenance though, and you can go longer between colours because your own re-growth will just blend in with the dark base at the roots.

And as a busy mum who hardly ever has time to make it to the salon, it’s good to know my natural look is back in!

Curly girls “The winter hair trends will see a move towards natural curl and tumbling waves,” Salon Manager Leah Burnell at Head Candy told me.

“Unlike the previous ‘mechanical’ curls from the use of a wand or straighteners, the fresh look of undone tousled waves can be created using large, barrelled curling tongs.” Arguably the best on the market are the GHD Curve Soft Curling Tongs, which have a 32mm large barrel to give big, bouncy, beautiful curls. And they also have innovative technology to protect the condition of your hair, containing patented trizone breakthrough ceramic technology that guarantees the right curling temperature of 185°C. This is maintained with six sensors in the tri-zone barrel that ensures the optimum temperature is delivered constantly and evenly all along the barrel of the tong, delivering lasting curls that are formed fast and stay locked-in, while respecting the health of your hair.

Feeling flat?

If you’re fed up of having straight hair that just seems to “hang”, Thomas Potts from Thomas Hairdressing has some advice: “As the weather turns chillier, we are seeing people wanting more texture in their hair, as it makes it easier

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING

to style. This can be done by adding more layers or alternatively by breaking up the outline of the cut.

The stylist must always take care not to over layer or to disconnect any layers, as this may cause them to become too short and take away from the overall style.” Try the Paul Mitchell Extra Body Shampoo for adding volume to lifeless locks. It gently washes away impurities whilst adding thickness to worn-out strands, repairing damage and transforming fine hair into healthy, bouncy hair that’s full of shine and life.

Thomas Potts

& BEAUTY Favourite party looks

ELEGANT: The chignon (à la Audrey Hepburn) is still the stylists’ top pick if you’re going to a sophisticated black tie do. A timeless up-do such as this looks stunning with a statement necklace and jewellery.

MODERN: Going somewhere that requires a fresh, contemporary look – where you want to look polished but not as if you’ve tried too hard?

A sleek, low ponytail, secured at the nape of the neck, is this season’s coolest look and has been seen on catwalks everywhere this autumn.

DISCO: If you’re hitting the dancefloor, you won’t want your hair getting sweaty and sticking to your face. Leah at Head Candy recommends a subtle bouffant with a headband for a style that will stay looking perfect all evening.

ROMANTIC: Are you trying to dress to impress? If so, you can’t go wrong with bouncy waves, whether you have short or long hair. The key to this look is all about condition – no-one looks good with straw-like curls, so make sure you use a moisturising treatment a few days beforehand.

Creative colour If it’s a fresh colour you want, then head to William Wheelwright’s salon and book in with stylist of the moment, Sophie Evie. Sophie is a L’Oreal Pro Colour Expert and has been tending to the tresses of “those in the know” in Oakham for the past couple of months. Producing beautiful brunette balayages with her freehand colour techniques and stunning baby blonde highlights, Sophie is adept at transforming hair, whilst ensuring it stays glossy and healthy.

Happy customer Toni told me: “I love my new look! My hair before was really long and dark but very dry, as I’d hadn’t had a cut for over a year. Sophie was great; she listened to what I wanted and did a stunning caramel balayage. I really couldn’t ask for more.”

Pretty plaits If you’re looking for a quick hair pick-me-up, then book into the braid bar at Glow hair salon at Barnsdale Lodge. Here, you can choose from five signature braids, which cost between £5 and £10 – absolutely perfect if you want something pretty for your hair but don’t want the structure (and expense) of a formal up-do. You can either book as an individual service or add it to the end of your regular hair appointment for the perfect finishing touch.

DIRECTORY • Creme Hair and Beauty, The Old Church, 8 Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 723823, www.cremehairandbeauty.co.uk • Glow, Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham, 01572 720611, www.glowhairandbeauty.co.uk • Head Candy, 26 Church Street, Market Harborough, 01858 464395, www.headcandy-mh.com • Thomas Hairdressing, The Maltings, 15 Mill Street, Oakham, 01572 756561 and 7 Market Place, Uppingham LE15 9QH, 01572 822555, www.thomashairdressing.co.uk • William Wheelwright, 16 Church Street, Oakham, 01572 757137, www.williamwheelwright.co.uk

Your guide to creating salon looks at home

1

As with anything, to get a professional finish you need the right tools for the job. The best way to get that bouncy blow dry generally comes down to the brush, as this is where you’ll be able to get plenty of volume and shine into your style. I like the Moroccanoil 55mm round brush – created from the latest ceramic and ionic technology, it helps to condition the hair, speed up drying time and give lots of root lift to medium and long hair.

Once your hair has been styled, keeping it in place is no mean feat. Thomas Potts told me: “the party season is here, and our clients need a product that will keep their hair looking great until the early hours. We recommend a salon favourite, which is Paul Mitchell’s Stay Strong hairspray. It has none of the fumes associated with normal aerosol sprays and it has an added perfume, which makes it delicate on the senses but strong enough to keep any style in place, no matter how long you stay on the dance floor.”

Hair dry and damaged? Now there’s an at-home treatment that REALLY DOES make a difference! Olaplex Number 3 Hair Perfector is a deep treatment that reconnects bonds in the hair that have been broken by colouring, lightening or excessive heat styling. By multiplying and rebuilding the hair’s bonds, it eliminates breakage whilst making colour last much longer, resulting in healthy hair that is protected from on-going heat damage at home.

2 3

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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hOME

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54

News & Notes

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

Kendrew Medal Mounting and Military Tailors

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EBBIE McMahon’s skill with a needle was spotted early on when she was asked to do some sewing for a local dressmaking shop at just 14 years old. During her marriage to a serving soldier in the British Army, Debbie was able to use her skills as a seamstress to learn military tailoring and, more recently, framed medal mounting.

Debbie was employed as a specialist military tailor by the British Army for several years in Germany before returning to the UK in 2005, when she decided to start her own business and moved into premises at RAF Cottesmore (now Kendrew Barracks).

Having trained in framing and with the help of her partner, Danny, who makes her frames, Debbie offered her medal-framing service to military personnel. The service has proved so popular that she is now framing all kinds of other memorabilia, including police, fire service and prison service medals and even an Olympic gold medal.

“Each client is different, and I can advise on individual display, as there is often a montage of items, which can include cap badges, photographs, cuttings or regimental badges, as well as medals. Framing these precious items is a wonderful way to preserve them, keep them

Is the Rutland property market slowing?

This month our local property advisor David Crooke, owner of UPP Property Agents, shares his thoughts on the current position of the Rutland property market.

H

ISTORICALLY, during the summer months rents often increase, as demand for property surges, and tenants are normally prepared to pay more to secure the right property in the right location. This is particularly good news for local landlords, as average rents have been on a downward trend recently. On average, rents in Oakham for new tenants moving in have risen 1% for the month, taking overall annual Oakham rents 3.2% higher for the year.

However, some local landlords have also expressed their apprehension about a slowing of the housing market in our area.

This negativity may be exaggerated, as the other side to property investing is “capital values” (which will also be of interest to all homeowners as well as landlords). I believe the local property market has been trying to find some level of equilibrium since the New Year.

According to The Land Registry, property values in Oakham are 12.36% higher than they were 12 months ago. In reality, the number of Rutland properties on the market has risen by 15.05% this year, and that will have a dampening effect on values. As tenants have had less choice, buyers now have more, which will temper local property prices as 2018 nears.

Even with this uplift in the number of properties for sale, property prices will remain resilient in the medium to long term. The number of properties on the market today is well below the peak of summer of 2008, when there were 194 properties for sale compared with the current level of 107 (if you recall, prices dropped by nearly 20% during the credit crunch years of 2008 and 2009).

Compared with 2008, today’s lower supply of properties for sale will keep prices relatively high, and they will continue to stay at these levels for the medium to long term. Fewer people are moving than a few years ago, resulting in a shortage of property on the market as a whole. This keeps prices relatively high, but the situation is also due to a number of other underlying reasons. Firstly, buy-to-let landlords tend not to sell their properties as often as owner-occupiers, thereby removing the property from the cycle. Secondly, stamp duty is much higher compared with 10 years ago, triggering increased moving costs. Next, with a scarcity of local authority housing, demand for private rental property remains buoyant. Then we have the UK’s maturing owner/occupier population, who are less likely to move. Add to that the lack of new

safe and to honour them by exhibiting them with respect.”

To find out about medal framing, contact Debbie McMahon on 07519 162249 or visit www.kendrewmedals.co.uk.

Mind, Oakham

Do you have a little time to spare?

The Mind charity shop in Oakham needs volunteers and would love to hear from you. The team there also needs stock, so if you’ve had, or are planning on having, a clear-out, or even just have an item or two to donate, do think of them.

If you can help, please contact Tracy Palmer, on 01572 868558.

Mind is located at 40 High Street, Oakham, and is open Monday to Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 10am–4pm.

homes being built in the country – the UK needs 240,000 houses building every year, and we are currently only building 145,000 a year! And, finally, the new mortgage rules introduced in 2014 stipulating how much a person can borrow on a mortgage has also curtailed demand.

There may still be some decent buyto-let deals to be had as we approach the end of the year. One place to learn about these, irrespective of which agent is selling, is David’s informative property blog: www.rutlandpropertyblog.com.

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.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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News & Notes 2017 Stamford Charity Santa Fun Run

T

Burghley House Christmas Fair

HE Eleventh Stamford Santa Fun Run, organised

by Stamford Burghley Rotary Club, will be held on Sunday 10 December in Burghley Park. The race starts at 11.30am. Last year, 750 runners, including 190 children, entered the event. Some 64 teams took part, raising important funds for their own selected charities or for good causes.

Once again teams are invited to enter. Remember, you get to keep all the sponsorship money that you raise as a group. Alternatively, enter as an individual and raise sponsorship money for three local good causes chosen by the Rotary Club: MIND in Memory of Wendy, the mental health charity; Team George at the Stamford Endowed Schools; and Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.

The event is for all ages and abilities and is a thoroughly enjoyable day for participants and spectators alike. Joggers, runners, walkers and wheelchair users are all most welcome – even dogs (with their owners, of course!) can enter. Following the success of the “Santa Doggy Competition” in 2016, there will be a repeat event in 2017.

Entry fees are £14 for adults and £7 for children aged 12 years and under. The fee includes a free Santa Suit, inclusive of hat and beard, which is yours to keep.

Children aged 4 and under are free to enter, but no suit will be issued. All entrants will receive a medal on completion of the course.

For full information and to sign up, visit www.stamfordsantafunrun.com.

T

HE Burghley Christmas Fair, taking place from Thursday 23 November to Sunday 26 November (9am–5pm except Sunday, which is 9am–4pm; free entry), will bring together talented makers and designers from across the UK for four days of stylish shopping in the Brewhouse and Chestnut Courtyard at Burghley House. There will be over 50 stands selling fashions, accessories, candles, ceramics, Christmas decorations and quirky homewares, alongside festive chalets, mulled wine and the Burghley Christmas pop-up shop. The Burghley Fine Food Market displays tasty treats from more than 35 local suppliers in the Stable Courtyard. Refreshments will also be available from The Orangery Restaurant.

For further information, please contact the Rural Crafts Association on 01428 684494 or visit www.ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk.

Winter Fair at Witham Hall School

Charity Santa Ride with Rutland Cycling

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UTLAND Cycling will be holding their annual charity Santa Ride, in aid of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, on Sunday 17 December. The ride, which will be a gentle pedal suitable for all the family, departs from Rutland Cycling’s Whitwell store at 10am, heading to Giant Store Normanton for refreshments and mince pies, then back to Whitwell. Cost is £5 per family, with all proceeds going to Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough. Bike hire is available at a reduced rate of £5 when booked in advance. Fancy dress is optional for both participants and their bikes! There’ll be a prize for the best fancy dress and the best dressed bike. Come along and join the ride and help raise money for Sue Ryder – hope to see you there!

To book, please email: rcrides@rutlandcycling.com.

For more details visit www.rutlandcycling.com/rides.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Make room in your diary for Witham Hall’s Winter Fair on Saturday 11 November. Taking place from 10am to 4pm it’ll offer over 50 stalls providing great shopping opportunities and lots of ideas for Christmas presents. Entry is free, and there’ll be a café with drinks, cakes and soup. Craft events and face painting will be available too, and there’ll be a fashion show from Oakham’s Cavells at 11am.

Witham Hall School, Witham on the Hill, Stamford, Lincs PE10 0JJ, 01778 590222, www.withamhall.com.

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Day Spa Packages

Want to live life feeling lighter and brighter? Homefield’s day spa packages offer more than just a pamper – they’re designed to offer the perfect kick start to better ways of eating, thinking and living. Running every day, seven days per week from 10am to 2pm, just a few hours at our discreet and stylish boutique spa venue will help you feel relaxed, recharged and rejuvenated – ready to take on your world.

Our friendly co-ordinators will be happy to help you make the right choice for you, ring us on 01536 712219, Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm daily.

www.homefieldgrange.co.uk

The ‘DETOX ME’ package

Get yourself a brand new body and try out our ‘DETOX ME’ package with two hours of detoxing therapies: full body brush, back scrub, G5 lymphatic massage and a wonderful Decleor Aromatherapy massage, which will leave you feeling clean, inside and out.

Why not get a head start with better ways of

eating with our 2 course detox lunch and take a break from the caffeine, sugar and alcohol?

Use our gym, infra red sauna, enjoy our beautiful countryside venue and chill out for a few hours.

Enjoy unlimited herbal teas, purified water, curl up in your fluffy gown and take time to remember what’s important in life – you!

The ‘TREAT ME’ package And exhale… How about some precious “me time” that helps you refocus on yourself and your body.

Enjoy a few hours of a ‘temptation free’ day that offers the perfect kick start to putting yourself first for a change.

Two wonderful treatments are included:

a Decleor Aromatherapy massage and a Decleor Vitamin Glow facial.

Plus a super cleansing two course lunch, infra red sauna, herbal teas, purified water, curl up and snooze in a fluffy dressing gown and slippers…

It’s the perfect gift to yourself.

The ‘SHRINK ME’ package

Kick start your weight loss regime with some weight loss included treatments, including a G5 Lymphatic Cellulite treatment, a massage to improved toxin removal and an intolerance test to identify what foods may be holding you back from weight loss.

Use our gym if you like, or simply chill out, (lowering stress levels helps the body lose weight faster).

Use of dressing gowns, 2 course lunch, slippers, towels, toiletries, hairdryers all provided.

All packages £199 inc vat

01536 712219 I enquiries@homefieldgrange.co.uk Homefield Grange, Manor Road, Rushton, Nr Kettering, Northants, NN14 1RH

www.homefieldgrangeretreat.co.uk

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News & Notes M A R K E T

H A R B O R O U G H

Morsbags

M

Liberty PR celebrates expansion

J

UST months after opening its doors in Market Harborough, Liberty PR, an independent communications agency founded by David Watts and Lisa Jolly with its roots in high-value retail and consumer PR, has expanded its team and moved from Harborough Innovation Centre to larger premises in the town centre. The agency has welcomed Laura White as Account Director and Tom Silk as Account Manager.

Lisa said: “Liberty PR has enjoyed a fantastic start and we are thrilled to be in a position to expand already. We’re in our infancy but we feel we’ve taken a huge step forward in our growth.

Laura and Tom are former colleagues of ours. They have settled in seamlessly and enabled us to bring structure to the team. Our bigger, brighter office feels like a fitting environment for a vibrant new agency.”

Lisa, a former news editor for publications including the Rutland & Stamford Mercury and Rutland Times, moved into PR in 2013, and David has spent over 25 years running full-service marketing agencies. He said: “I have always been an advocate of PR taking the lead in marketing strategy. Liberty PR works across all aspects of PR, social media and search. Our no-nonsense approach puts clients at ease and is delivering tangible results. Lisa and I worked together for four years and we found that our combined experience enabled us to cover all angles.”

For more information, contact the team at libertypr.co.uk.

Katie Dell Bridal Design

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UR Langton’s Katie Dell Bridal Design, launched in July 2017, is a forward-thinking brand with two luxurious collections to offer the modern bride. Katie designs stylish wedding dresses, which are showcased in her chic studio. Inspired by the “unique essence of women”, fashion trends and luxury style, she has devised two main ways of choosing a wedding dress. Her collections include “The Margot”, with pieces that you can mix and match, or “The Waverley”, which is ready to wear. Katie also offers brides a service enabling them to change the fabrics, add sleeves, and choose whether to have a style as a dress or as separates, and many options besides, to create something absolutely unique.

The young designer hopes to offer a fresh take on bridalwear, with contemporary styles and traditional ones too, so that the bride can look gorgeous in an outfit that is true to her personality. Katie offers an appointment-only service, with 90-minute slots giving the bride plenty of time to try on the collections. Prices go from £1,600.

Katie Dell Bridal Design is based at The Manor, Main Street, Tur Langton, Leicestershire LE8 OPJ. Book your appointment by calling 01858 810108 or emailing info@katiedell.com. You can also visit www.katiedell.com. Katie is offering 15% off your order if it is placed before 29 December 2017. Terms and conditions apply.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

ARKET Harborough folk are often seen carrying their shopping in a cloth bag with a distinctive “morsbags.com” label on the outside.

Keep an eye open for these bags – they shouldn’t be too hard to spot, since the industrious Harborough Morsbags group, called Harborough HIT Bags (part of the former Harborough Improvement Team), has made and given away for free some 15,000 of them since it started in 2010.

Founded three years earlier, the main Morsbags group is a worldwide organisation that makes cloth bags out of recycled material and gives them away in its quest to reduce the usage of environmentally damaging plastic bags. Since the group started, plastic carrier bag usage in England has plummeted, helped hugely by the 2015 legislation that required large shops to charge for single-use plastic carriers.

Harborough HIT Bags meets on the third Monday of every month at Roman Way Community Centre from 6.30 until 8.30pm. Alternatively, you can simply visit the Morsbags website, download the pattern and get cracking at home.

If you could donate material, please do get in touch. Material can be dropped off at Pressing Appointments (Coventry Road) and the Council House (Adam and Eve Street).

For more information, contact Cyndy Claydon at cyndy.claydon@btinternet.com. You can also visit www.morsbags.com or www.facebook.com/ HarboroughHITBags for more details.

New Colemans store

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The new store’s opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm. For more information, call 0333 600 1969 or visit www.colemans-online.co.uk.

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Pantomimes & Family Shows Amander Meade highlights some of the best festive theatre in the region this winter.

Beauty and the Beast Saturday 18 to Thursday 30 November, evening and matinee performances FAMILY SHOW: Scrooge the Musical Join Ebenezer Scrooge on a spellbinding journey through Christmas past, present and yet-to-come.

Will the miserable humbug cancel Christmas or can he learn the error of his ways, in this heart-warming story with a fabulous score? Recommended for ages 8 years plus.

Curve, Leicester Tickets from £10, 0116 242 3595, curveonline.co.uk Tuesday 28 November to Saturday 2 December, morning and afternoon performances FAMILY SHOW: The Snow Dragon Billy has everything a young goat could need – and more besides. On New Year’s Eve, he is looking forward to the annual visit of the legendary Snow Dragon, who will bring him even more goodies. When he bumps into some hungry wolves in the forest, however, New Year’s Day seems a long way off. Toetapping songs and lots of laughs for everyone aged 3 years and up.

Curve, Leicester Tickets from £10, 0116 242 3595, curveonline.co.uk Saturday 9 December to Sunday 14 January, afternoon and evening performances FAMILY SHOW: George’s Marvellous Medicine Most grandmas are lovely, kind, helpful old ladies, but George’s one likes to gobble up slugs and bugs.

When his parents leave him alone with the grizzly old grunion, George takes his chance and sets about creating a brand new medicine to cure her of her cruelty. Bags of frothbuggling family fun.

Recommended for ages 5 and upwards.

Curve, Leicester Tickets from £12, 0116 242 3595, curveonline.co.uk

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Friday 15 to Saturday 23 December, morning and afternoon performances FAMILY SHOW: Christopher’s Christmas It’s Christmas Eve and Christopher Nibble and his family are putting the finishing touches to his tree when their festive fun is interrupted by a shocking radio announcement. Father Christmas is lost! The guinea pigs gather together and hatch a plan to save Christmas… but everything they do seems to cause chaos and calamity. Does Christopher Nibble have the seasonal spirit to save the day? Recommended for ages 2–7 years.

Curve, Leicester Tickets from £12, 0116 242 3595, curveonline.co.uk

Saturday 16 December to Sunday 7 January PANTOMIME: Beauty and the Beast TV presenter Richard “Dick” McCourt – of Dick and Dom fame – will star alongside Heartbeat’s David Lonsdale and Leicester’s very own Sam Bailey.

Also returning again is everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, the hilarious Martin Ballard, from BBC Radio Leicester. Sam said “I’m so excited to be back on home turf again this year. I absolutely love Beauty and the Beast too, so it’s a double bonus for me.”

De Montfort Hall, Leicester Tickets from £12.50, 0116 233 3111, demontforthall.co.uk

Friday 15 December to Thursday 21 December, afternoon and evening performances PANTOMIME: Cinderella Join Melton Mowbray’s pantomime favourite Stuart Earp with an all-star cast to follow the rags-to-riches tale with a special invitation to the Ball. Watch with amazement as Cinderella’s pumpkin is transformed into a beautiful coach in arguably the most magical fairy tale of them all.

Melton Theatre Tickets £14/£12.50, 01664 851111, meltontheatre.co.uk

Saturday 23 December What really happened between the wolf and his three porky friends? Why was Goldilocks wandering in the woods? How did the goats overcome a mighty troll? These perplexing question raised by fairy tales are explored and explained by the wonderful Theatre of Widdershins with the help of fun, laughter, some gorgeous puppets and a soundtrack that will stick in your head long after you’ve left the theatre.

Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford Tickets from £6.50, 01780 763203, stamfordartscentre.com

Friday 15 December to Sunday 7 January, afternoon and evening performances PANTOMIME: Dick Whittington Arriving in London, Dick and his faithful cat discover that the pavements aren’t paved with gold as they had expected. Does Dick have any hope of becoming the next lord mayor of London? Beautiful costumes, stunning scenery, lively song and dance routine and lots of laughs.

Little Theatre, Leicester Tickets from £12.50, 0116 255 1302, littletheatre.net

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 January Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale The Arts Centre’s pantomime is the story of the girl with the long locks kept high up in a tower.

Join them for this magical tangled tale by Polka Dot Pantomimes and find out whether Rapunzel manages to make her escape.

Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford Tickets £13/12, 01780 763203, stamfordartscentre.com

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Out & About

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

Friday 3 November, 7.30pm THEATRE: Harvest A compelling Yorkshire farming saga, this darkly entertaining comedy tells of one family’s tireless fight for survival in a changing agricultural landscape over two world wars and several generations.

Rutland County Museum Tickets £10 from Oakham Wines, wegottickets.com and on the door.

Saturday 4 November, 2pm to 4.30pm EXHIBITION: Great Easton Art Group A chance to see and buy original works of art by local artists. Afternoon tea and cakes will be served.

Great Easton Village Hall Admission is free.

Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, 4.30pm to 6.30pm FAMILY EVENT: Big Bonfire Party A bonfire, hog roast and hot dogs plus free sparklers for every family. This is a no-fireworks event – perfect for children who do not like loud noises.

West Lodge Rural Centre, Desborough Tickets are £3.50 each and will allow entry from 4pm (excluding indoor play). Children under 2 years admitted free.

Saturday 4 November, gates open at 6pm FAMILY EVENT: Firework Spectacular Organised by the Rutland Lions, this is Rutland’s premier firework extravaganza with all proceeds donated to local charities. There will be a quieter, child-friendly display at 7pm, followed by a larger, musically choreographed display for all the family beginning at 7.45pm. Hot food and a licensed bar.

No dogs or sparklers please.

Oakham Rugby Club, The Showground, Burley Park Way, Oakham

Tickets in advance from Fords of Oakham and Uppingham Sports & Books, priced £5 for everyone over 5 years old, £16 for a family of 4 and £20 for a family of 5. Tickets on the gate are £6 for everyone over 5 years.

Disabled parking at the Showground, otherwise at Lands’ End or MECC Alte on Lands End Way.

Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm CHARITY EVENT: An Evening of Opera Starring Rozzana Madylus, who graduated from the Royal Academy Opera in 2014, this fundraiser for Hope Against Cancer includes a three-course dinner.

The City Rooms, Leicester Tickets £60, 0116 270 0101, hopeagainstcancer.org.uk

Thursday 9 November, 6.30pm EVENT: Family Film Night This month’s film is Beauty and the Beast – a classic family favourite.

Uppingham Town Hall Tickets £5 on the door. Complimentary soft drinks and home-made nibbles will be served.

Sunday 19 November, 7.30pm EVENT: An Audience with General Sir Mike Jackson The former head of the British Army is known for his tough talking. The evening gives a soldier’s take on recent conflicts, both military and political.

Uppingham Theatre Tickets £16/£14 available at the box office, 01572 820820, uppthearts.co.uk

Rozzana Madylus

Wednesday 22 November, 7.30pm TALK: Local History Harborough Movie Makers will be entertaining members of Great Easton & District Local History Society with two films: “Tresham’s Houses” and “Memories of a Land Girl”.

Great Easton Village Hall Admission is £2 for guests and visitors Saturday 25 November, 7.30pm THEATRE: Edith Cavell: Facing the Silence It is 1915 and English nurse, Edith Cavell, has been captured by the Germans and accused of treason.

Set in Edith’s prison cell, this one-woman play written

by John Mangan and performed by Judi Daykin is a life-affirming celebration of a woman whose trailblazing story will never be forgotten.

Harborough Theatre Tickets £10, available at the box office from 9.30am to 11.30am on Tuesday and Saturday mornings (cash or cheque only) or harboroughtheatre.com

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

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➧

Out & About

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

The Rutland NSPCC Christmas Carol Concert

Wednesday 29 November, starts about 7am EVENT: Uppingham Fatstock Show Champion pigs, sheep and cattle are primped and preened for this event held in the Market Square.

Rutland farmers show off the best of their stock with the aim of encouraging people to buy British and support the industry. The only event of its kind in the UK still held in temporary penning in a town market square and one of the most prestigious events in the town’s calendar (see page 49 for more details).

Uppingham Market Place Thursday 30 November and Saturday 2 December, 7.30pm THEATRE: The Crucible Arthur Miller’s play is a text inspired by true events in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692/3. When a group of girls falls ill, complaining of hallucinations and seizures, hysteria ensues. This sudden wave of illness is attributed to the Devil, and the small, rural Puritan community is ripped apart by accusations of witchcraft.

Uppingham Theatre Tickets £12 available at the box office, 01572 820820, uppthearts.co.uk Friday 1 December, 6pm to 9pm EVENT: Market Harborough Christmas Fair A traditional Christmas shopping event in the town centre, with food and craft stalls, music and dancing and wonderful entertainment for all the family.

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Friday 1 December, 7.30pm; Saturday 2 December, 2pm and 7pm and Sunday 3 December at 3.30pm (performances at Great Easton Village Hall). Saturday 9 December at 2pm and 7pm (performances at St Columba’s Church Hall, in Corby) PANTOMIME: Sleeping Beauty Great Easton Little Theatre’s pantomime this year is the ever-popular Sleeping Beauty. Lots of fun for all the family with this local company’s take on a classic fairy tale.

Tickets are priced £10 for adults, £5 for children, £25 for families (two adults, two children), available from Great Easton Village Shop

Suite after the concert. Entry is free to all concert ticket holders for the chance to dance to the classic tracks from that decade until the early hours of the morning.

The Broadway Theatre, Peterborough Tickets are priced from £20 available from The Visitor Information Centre, Bridge Street, Peterborough, 01733 452336, The Broadway Theatre box office or seetickets.com

Monday 4 December, 7pm for a 7.30pm start FUNDRAISING CONCERT: The Rutland NSPCC Christmas Carol Concert This concert is always immensely popular and a key event in Rutland’s social calendar. This year sees the usual stellar line up of celebrity readers, including Lars Tharp, Rosemary Conley, Anne Davies and one or two celebrity surprises. Launch the festive season in support of the work of the NSPCC – the concert has so far raised around £200,000 to help abused and neglected children.

All Saints Church, Oakham Tickets are £15 each from Don Paddy’s in Uppingham and James Sellick’s in Oakham Saturday 9 December, 7.30pm MUSIC: Alexander O’Neal live in concert With a music career spanning more than 30 years, Alexander O’Neal is an accomplished R&B and soul singer who came to prominence in the middle of the 1980s as a solo artist, releasing 14 Top 40 singles in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s. As an added attraction the theatre will host an “after-show Classic ’80s Soul and Funk Party” in the Broadway

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For this month’s history feature Caroline Aston remembers the Reverend James Adams, one of Rutland’s fine war heroes.

A local hero O

N 30 September 2007– a mellow early autumn day – the churchyard of St Mary’s, Ashwell, was looking its peaceful best. Pale sunlight lit up the serried ranks of tombstones, each commemorating long-vanished members of the village community, but one headstone in particular was the subject of a very special ceremony that day. Standing just outside the church door this particular memorial had deteriorated so badly over the previous 100 years or so that its carved dedication could hardly be read, and, if left, the grave and its occupant would soon have become unidentifiable. However, this plot contained the earthly remains of a most unusual man and that Sunday ceremony ten years ago was staged to mark the unveiling of the restored stone and a new memorial tablet. In the month of remembrance perhaps it is fitting that we revisit the extraordinary life story of the occupant of that almost-forgotten grave – the Reverend James Adams, VC. Adams was born in Cork, Ireland, on 24 November 1839. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, and took Holy Orders in 1863, eventually becoming an Army chaplain and serving in India. In 1879, aged 40, he was working in the Bengal Ecclesiastical Department of the British Indian Army, attached to the Kabul Field Force. At the time, the second Afghan War was raging. To this day the very word “Afghanistan” evokes strong emotions in the hearts of soldiers: to many the name means impossible warfare where temperature, terrain and tribes combine to create hellish conditions, challenging to even the most battle-hardened combatants. Back in the 19th century this was perhaps even more true.

December 1879 found the Reverend Adams at the Sherpur Cantonment (camp), located about a mile from Kabul. Three months earlier Sir Pierre Cavagnari, British Resident in Kabul, had been savagely murdered and his European colleagues and army guards massacred by mutinous Afghan troops. The only British soldiers then in the country were those of the Field Force to which the cleric was attached. They were led by General (later Field Marshal) Frederick Roberts, a personal friend of Adams’ and one of the most successful military commanders of the time, destined later to lead Britain to victory in the Second Boer War and be the last ever Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, a post abolished in 1904. Strengthened by reinforcements, the Field Force had enjoyed a series of victories, and Kabul was taken on 13 October, an event reported by the London “Daily News” correspondent, Howard Hensman.

By 11 December Roberts had decided to break out of the Cantonment and try to inflict a decisive defeat on the Afghans. Approximately a mile from a place called Killi Kazi the General’s troops, numbering 214 men, suddenly found 70

On 1 December 1881 Queen Victoria pinned the Victoria Cross on Reverend James Adams’ chest at Windsor Castle. He is one of only five civilians to receive the honour and the only clergyman.

they were facing the full enemy might of over 10,000 men, who were on the point of defeating another force led by General Massey. Roberts, with Reverend Adams accompanying him, came upon this desperate scene, and it was against this blood-soaked backdrop that the clergyman gained immortality. He saw a badly wounded soldier staggering towards him, dismounted and tried to lift the casualty onto his own horse, which bolted away. Undeterred, Adams supported the man back to his comrades and then saw that two or three cavalrymen had plunged into a water-filled ditch and lay trapped underneath their horses. Adams, an extremely tall and strong man, plunged waist-deep into the ditch. Using almost superhuman strength he managed to pull the terrified horses off the troopers and drag the exhausted men to the top of the slippery ditch, all the while under heavy fire. General Roberts anxiously watched his padre, calling out to him to take great care of himself, but Adams struggled on with the enemy getting perilously close. He eventually completed his rescue mission and had

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING NOVEMBER 2017

to make good his own escape on foot, as his horse had disappeared.

Just under two years later, on 1 December 1881, Queen Victoria pinned the Victoria Cross on the Reverend James Adams’ chest at Windsor Castle.

He is one of only five civilians (ie not a soldier) to receive the honour and the only clergyman.

He continued to serve in India and Burma until his retirement in 1886, after which his career flourished: he was a Royal Chaplain between 1900 and 1903, also becoming Rector of Ashwell from 1901 to 1903, when he died aged 64, a martyr to rheumatism. His old friend, by now Lord Roberts, travelled to Rutland to attend his funeral.

Ten years ago Adams’ great-granddaughter and only living relative, Mrs Judy Doulton (married to a member of the famous pottery family), stood proudly beside his restored grave as 78-year-old former Lancer Harry Whitwell played “The Last Post” and “Reveille”. Placed on the memorial plaque was a card that read, “To the memory of a very gallant clergyman. From the PCC. The Lord WAS his shepherd.”

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