Rutland Living September 2018

Rutland Covering Rutland, Market Harborough and the surrounding area

September 2018 ÂŁ1.50

LIVING

Be inspired by where you live

Burghley Horse Trials P L U S A RT S , F O O D , S C H O O L S , W H AT ’ S O N & M O R E

Retirement Living PLUS at Saxon Gardens in Oakham

Launc hing Winter 2018

Artist Impression

L W AU IN NC TE H R IN 20 G 18 Artist Impression

Local area

Saxon Gardens Penn Street, Oakham, LE15 6DF Our second development in Oakham in recent years, Saxon Gardens is ideally situated in the heart of town. Within easy reach of many boutique shops, local amenities and transport links, this stunning development will provide the perfect location in which to live retirement to the full.

Launching in Winter 2018, Saxon Gardens will feature a collection of 56 one and two bedroom apartments, many with patios or balconies overlooking the extensive gardens.

Call 0800 153 3050 to receive our latest news & updates. mccarthyandstone.co.uk/saxon-gardens

Typical apartment

Retirement Living PLUS for the over 70s Enjoy your own privately-owned apartment, in our brand new development which offers*.

3 Exterior Maintenance completely taken care of 3 Team on-site 24 hours per day for your safety and security 3 Homeowners’ Lounge for socialising & relaxing Additional charges apply

^

3 Domestic assistance tailored to you 3 Beautiful gardens lovingly maintained by us 3 On-site Bistro serving delicious food daily^ 3 Great location close to shops & amenities 3 24 hour call system for your peace of mind LP-RutlandLiving

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IN THIS ISSUE

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48

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Contents September 2018 FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

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18 A Life in Fashion: Gill Haynes 34 Rejuvenate!

36 Body and Soul: Yoga and Pilates in Harborough

HOME & GARDEN

28 The Kitchen Showroom 32 Outdoor Living

FOOD & DRINK

44 Wild Spirit 46 Rutland Cookery School 48 The Olive Branch: Perfect Refreshment!

Cover images this month: RL: Oliver Townend, winner of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2017, on his lap of honour, Nixon Photo MHL: The Eyewear Gallery at Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians, 18 Church Street, Market Harborough, clarkeandroskrow.co.uk (see p15), photographed by Elli Dean (ellideanphotography.co.uk)

rutlandliving.co.uk marketharboroughliving.co.uk Editor Clare Peel clare@bestlocalliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager, Rutland and Market Harborough Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 rutlandliving@btinternet.com Advertising Copy and Subscriptions Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Designer (Editorial) Calum Handley Designer (Advertising) Sarah Patterson inkdesign@virginmedia.com 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 bestlocalliving.co.uk

ACTIVITIES, CULTURE, SHOPPING, LEARNING & BUSINESS 22 52 54 59 64 66 76

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Smith Eliot Financial Management Junior Schools Senior Schools Little Living Andrew Granger & Co. Out & About

PEOPLE & PLACES 8

12 14 26 40 42 82

Artists of the Month: Oakham School Textiles Students Rutland Hero: Dr Sarah Furness Church Street, Market Harborough Willa Newton Simon Davis Barnsdale Hall Hotel: 30th Anniversary History: Clipsham’s Yew Tree Avenue

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NEWS & NOTES

6 Editor’s Page 68 UPP Property, Kelmarsh Hall’s Dahlia Festival, Smarthaus 70 Burley Appliances, Lumison Lighting, Dogs Trust Dog School 73 Tim Peake’s Space Capsule at Peterborough Cathedral, Sophie Allport, SweetGuys

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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THIS MONTH

Welcome

Goodness me, how time flies… it’s September again, which means that I’ve now been in this wonderful job for an entire year. Big thanks to all those who have made my first 12 months so amazing. The September issue is always a lovely big one for us, with lots to cover including Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (don’t miss it – there’s so much to do there), education (yes, it’s finally back to school) and a catch up with Rutland’s highly accomplished new Lord-Lieutenant, Dr Sarah Furness, who began her tenure earlier in 2018. We’re also shining the spotlight on Market Harborough’s Church Street, a charming stretch packed with independent businesses – shops, eateries, etc.

As I write, the weather has cooled down and it’s all starting to feel as if we’re heading into autumn after what has been an extraordinarily sweltering summer. I’m really looking forward to the new season starting to reveal its many exquisite colours – jacket on, scarf at the ready, it’s time to go and kick some rusty leaves at Rutland Water! Perfect.

Enjoy the read and have a super month!

C e

@rutlandliving @rutlandlivingmag

Editor’s selection On the radar this month…

RELAX SHOP

Chill out at Fika, where you can expect a friendly welcome, amazing dishes such as this avo and eggs on sourdough for breakfast and gorgeous décor, including Annie Allison’s Scandi wallpaper. fikaoakham.com On Saturday 1 September, it will be four years since Oakham’s lovely Duo boutique opened. Pop in to wish Pam and Gail congratulations and to peruse their beautiful range, including stylish contemporary brands such as Postcard from Brighton and Fransa. duoboutique.co.uk

MAP

Exciting news from local artist Katie Cardew – she’s just brought out her Rutland Map Fine Art Print, featuring a number of places suggested by the lovely listeners of Rutland Radio. Katie, who spent some of her early years in Greetham and is now based in King’s Cliffe, is on there, too – see if you can spot her (clue: she’s on a grey horse)! Each map is a signed giclée print, available framed or unframed. Prices between £40 and £170. kcillustrations.co.uk

HARVEST

The sight of a tractor up ahead of on the road may make some people’s hearts sink, but it always makes me feel rather uplifted. I love, love, love being so close to such beautiful countryside, and tractors on the roads are so symbolic of that.

They’re a little more prevalent at this time of year, of course, so this is just a little plea to be patient with them!

CELEBRATE

More birthday celebrations are in order – the Hambleton Bakery is 10 years old this September. Huge congratulations to acclaimed head baker Julian (pictured) and his team. The bakery now has six vans delivering traditional bread, cakes and savouries made using the finest ingredients, without additives and with minimal packaging, from its Exton HQ to further shops in Oakham, Stamford, Market Harborough, Nottingham’s West Bridgford and Oundle. Happy double figures! hambletonbakery.co.uk

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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EXCITING NEW JEWELLERY AVAILABLE NOW

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

natural structures beautiful oak buildings

Design | Plan | Build A natural oak timber framed building really can be awe inspiring.

At Natural Structures, we’re passionate about capturing the beauty of oak; using the skills of our architects and artisan craftsmen, we create fabulous living spaces inspired by you.

natural-structures.co.uk 01858 545 518 Main Contractor Service · Architectural Services New Builds · Extensions · Orangeries Conservatories · Garages · Garden Rooms Barns · Stables · Home offices · Car Ports

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Transformational textiles at Oakham School WORDS: CLARE PEEL PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

S

HORTLY before the end of the summer term, I was fortunate enough to be given a tour of the Textiles Department and dedicated exhibition space, The Wheelhouse Gallery, at Oakham School by Head of Textiles, Wendy Greaves. These art studios are alive with creativity and act as a showcase for a department encouraging individual expression, experimentation and invention in its pupils.

An inspirational teacher and practising textile artist, Wendy showed me the final A-level assignment work of her Seventh Formers. A number of them were there to talk through their creations, a beautifully diverse collection on the theme of “Transformation”. Each assignment comprised a detailed scrapbookstyle tome documenting the evolution of the work, and the final piece itself.

The designs were exceptional – engaging in their creativity and meticulously produced. It came as no surprise that many of the students were going on to study textiles or fashion in some form after Oakham. Let’s take a closer look.

Camille Smiley-Jones found inspiration for her transformation piece in the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Citing the work of Londonbased artist Amy Judd as an influence, Alice Warre created a delicate white-and-blue piece depicting her view of the transformation between humans and birds.

For her chair, redolent of Neptune’s underwater throne, Immy Lee painted on silk organza.

She added three-dimensional barnacles and temptingly tactile mossy elements and knitted the textured “sea” on chunky (40mm) needles.

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Cecily Atkinson’s boldly coloured, punk-inspired artwork considered transformation with respect to gender and sexuality. Accompanying the main piece seen above were “sketches”, with images intricately sewn on to a series of sheets of acetate.

Freya Alcock’s golden sculptural piece, rather like a gilded mermaid, was a stunning marriage of curves and spikes. The spine created from cocktail sticks culminated in a light, as on an anglerfish. The bodice resembled the finest of lace, and the skirt was made from patiently shredded latex.

Katie Brand’s ethereal floral dress is created from paper-covered wire and dissolvable fabric.

Embroidery adds texture and further depth.

Inspired by the story of Cinderella, with grotesque images subtly worked into the dresses of the Ugly Sisters, Millie Keir’s installation is reminiscent of a triptych. The “legs” create an impression of weight.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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Barnack

Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary... we’ll create a unique inspirational space for you.

Stamford

01780 756666 enquiries@qks-ltd.co.uk qks-ltd.co.uk 10

The highly anticipated new collection ‘THE COLOURS OF LOVE’ by the nation’s best loved artist

DOUG HYDE

is here, and now showcasing in Oakham

Doug Hyde will be in attendance on the 9th September 3-5pm at our sister gallery in Newark, so call us on 01572 722790 if you would like to attend.

Alternatively pop in and see us at Oakham, and reserve your favourite from this fantastic new collection, and have it personally dedicated by the ‘Man behind the smile’.

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

www.trentgalleries.co.uk

New fabric and wallpaper collections now in store

Coming soon our new Elizabeth Stanhope Furniture and Lifestyle store

www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk showroom@elizabethstanhope.co.uk 17a and 27 Mill St Oakham Rutland LE15 6EA Telephone: 01572 722 345

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A new chapter in Rutland’s history began earlier this year with the appointment of Dr Sarah Furness as Lord-Lieutenant. Amander Meade met Dr Furness to hear about her first six months in the role and to discover more about her aspirations for the county.

Dr Sarah Furness

RUTLAND

HERO

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

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HE Lord-Lieutenant is Her Majesty the Queen’s representative in Rutland, and choosing a new incumbent is always taken extremely seriously. The selection process is lengthy and intricate, and includes opinions garnered from key community leaders, including educators, fundraisers and the police, by the most senior of civil servants.

Dr Furness told me, “I knew I was in the running when I was interviewed one to one by the Clerk to the Queen’s Counsel (a dual role in combination with being the Prime Minister’s Appointment Secretary). When I received the news of my appointment I was thrilled and extremely honoured. The role is important in relation to local civic, business, industrial and community life. Some of my responsibilities include presenting decorations such as OBEs, MBEs and BEMs, advising on submissions for honours nominations and being responsible for arrangements for all royal visits to the county.

Supported by 15 Deputy Lieutenants, I am the first lady Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, which is so timely for 2018, the centenary of some women getting the vote for the first time.”

Sarah is originally from the south coast, but her love affair with Rutland began on her very first visit 30 years ago. When her husband Peter, a former President of the Royal College of Pathologists, was offered a job in Leicester, there was only one location on the househunting list, and the couple along with their daughter have lived in Rutland ever since.

Eminently qualified for the role, having served as Rutland’s High Sheriff in 2016, Sarah has

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worked for many years in the voluntary sector and is involved with a number of charitable organisations including For Rutland, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Warning Zone. She is a member of the steering committee for Women in Philanthropy and is a Trustee for The Sustainable Land Trust, and Rutland Grants.

“This role differs from my year as High Sheriff, in that I am able to take a much longer-term view,” explains Sarah, who will hold the title until she reaches 75 years of age. “I intend to follow the example of the modern monarchy and shine a light on those doing selfless work to improve the lives of others as well as encouraging social cohesion and altruism within our community.”

With a career history including teaching philosophy, Sarah is convinced that voluntary work is beneficial not only for the recipients but for those giving time for the good of others. “I am realistic about work/life balance for young professional people and those busy with families, but hope I can encourage those who have the time to get involved in some of the county’s great initiatives.” Determined to reach out across Rutland to those beyond her own age group, Sarah has become adept at using social media. “I’m very interested in improving mental health outcomes for young people and am Patron of Resilient Rutland – an organisation making great progress in this area.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Sarah intends to do all she can to influence improved care for the county’s elderly – especially good-

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

quality end-of-life care. “Excellent care is going to be very high on the agenda in future years, with the older population growing so fast,” she adds. Other causes close to her heart include the further development of close links with the armed forces – especially improvement of interaction between military families and the local community. As a skilled gardener and beekeeper, Sarah is also immersing herself in various conservation projects. “I walk my dogs in the magnificent Rutland countryside and would like to help increase and develop areas of wild flowers as a legacy for the county.”

Attendance at a significant number of events across the region and meeting people from all walks of life has had a significant effect on Sarah’s workload but is something she clearly relishes. “Fortunately, I have Peter’s full support, and he is still working himself with many hobbies, so I am able to devote much of my time to the Lieutenancy. In my first six months there have been memorable highlights including the RAF centenary dinner at RAF Wittering, meeting the Scouts at Stretton, attending the Curry Awards in Leicester and making poppies for the Rutland Poppy Project with the children at Catmose Primary School.

My predecessor, Sir Laurence Howard, was so highly regarded, if I can follow his example and help make Rutland a happier place I will be delighted. Rest assured I shall do everything I can to serve Her Majesty and Rutland to the best of my ability for the next 14 years.”

You can follow Sarah on Facebook, Twitter and at rutlandlordlieutenant.org

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t e e r t S h c r hu

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Dubbed “The Bond Street of the East Midlands”, this attractive cobbled stretch running from St Dionysius’ Church on Church Square in the south to the intersection with the High Street and Abbey Street at its northernwestern end offers a great range of independent boutiques, stores and eateries. Store owners describe the strong community feel here. Go along to experience it for yourselves. We shine the spotlight on some of our favourites along the street. Note that just a few of these shops close on Mondays, so do check opening hours before visiting specific places.

WORDS: CLARE PEEL PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN ellideanphotography.co.uk

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Lavender Blue

Lavender Blue has two shops on Church Street – a florists at No.15 and a Home Décor store at No.20.

Celebrating 16 years of trading this year, Lavender Blue Home Décor offers a wide range of tempting items from furniture, clocks and soft furnishings to bags, fragrances and cards featuring the work of local artists.

Their lovely florists, located just across the road, offers a bespoke approach to flowers, always with a vintage style: think hand-tied bouquets of romantic, informal flowers in carefully curated tones.

It’s great for vases and plant holders, too. There’s usually a pretty display of house plants, pot plants and flowers outside to tempt you in. Gorgeous.

Florists: 15 Church Street, 01858 466906 Home décor: 20 Church Street, 01858 419090; lavenderblumh.com

The Kitchen Range Cookshop

Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians

No ordinary opticians, this boutique optical practice nestled in the middle of Church Street and owned by husband and wife Anthony and Karen Clarke specialises in niche eyewear from some of the best independent eyewear designers from around the world. You can expect personal service and professional expertise, all in a welcoming setting.

Anthony told us: “We’re in the ‘feel-good’ business, making clients feel happy about themselves through their eyewear. We make visiting the optician an exciting and enjoyable experience. We have a small selection of frames on display in our Eyewear Gallery, with the remainder kept in bespoke cabinetry, the ‘drawers of delights’!”

The recently renovated practice provides a beautiful environment in which to find the perfect eyewear.

Clarke & Roskrow offer a unique “Eyewear Styling Consultation” – a guided journey through the process of choosing new glasses. Anthony explained: “We slow things down and work in a calm, relaxed manner so that we can get to know our clients better and fully understand their vision and eyewear needs.”

18 Church Street, 01858 462996, clarkeandroskrow.co.uk

This gorgeous, upmarket kitchenware shop is packed with everything you need for the kitchen plus all manner of things you never knew you needed! Essential kitchen tools? Tick. Giftable gadgets? Absolutely! It stocks a super stylish range of brands including Le Creuset, Emma Bridgewater, Chilly’s (their bottles have apparently been extremely popular this summer), Joseph Joseph, Stellar and Thornback & Peel. It’s all incredibly enticing! The friendly staff are always on hand to advise.

5 Church Street, 01858 433533, facebook.com/ kitchenrangecookshop/

St Dionysius

Church Street takes its name from the magnificent Grade I-listed medieval St Dionysius that crowns its southern end. St Dionysius was built in the early 13th century as a chapel linked to St Mary in Arden (Great Bowden), hence it doesn’t have a graveyard. Its soaring 14th-century, crocketed broach spire dominates the streets of the town centre as well as the view from beyond. Inside are some fine stainedglass windows.

Jacks for Women

A good independent shop offers excellent service with staff who really know the stock, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at this welcoming clothing boutique half way down Church Street on the eastern side. Owner Gill – who we interview on p18 – stocks carefully selected fashion from an enticing range of European brands, with something to suit women of all ages. There’s a gorgeous choice of scarves, hats and shoes too. Don’t forget to go upstairs – the shop spreads over two floors.

16 Church Street, 01858 431396, jacksforwomen.co.uk

Harborough Kitchens

Celebrating their 25th birthday in 2018, Harborough Kitchens has established an enviable reputation for beautiful, handcrafted bespoke kitchens and fine furniture. Every item of furniture is the firm’s own exclusive design and is built in its workshop in Market Harborough using the finest materials available – a combination of traditional handcrafting and the best of 21st-century technology.

From classic styles to the latest designer trends, the firm makes perfect kitchens and handcrafted furniture to the highest standards. Pop into the showroom and let them create your dream kitchen or interior – designed, manufactured and installed exclusively for you. In addition to this base, Harborough Kitchens also has a Rutland showroom at Gates Garden Centre, on the Somerby Road (LE15 7QB).

11 Church Street, 01858 468416, harboroughkitchens.com

Gardners Cakery

“It’s all about cake,” at Gardners, a family-run business specialising in making custom cakes for all special occasions from birthdays and christenings to weddings – including a budget wedding range. All the cakes are made at their bakery in Kingsthorpe.

8b Church Street, 01858 468042, gardnerscakery.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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t e e r t S Church Aldin’s Tea Rooms

Head Candy

On the corner of Church Street and King’s Road is Head Candy, a beautiful modern hair and beauty salon in a historic building, dating to 1645.

The team of knowledgeable stylists offer a high standard of hairdressing services for men and women – including wedding and prom hair – in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and using products from Wella. The range of special services offered here include System Professional “EnergyCode”, which creates your own unique hair profile to recommend the perfect combination of shampoo, conditioner and styling products for you.

Within Head Candy is Serenity Beauty, run by fully qualified beautician Ester and offering nail and beauty salon treatments and a full range of beauty therapy services including massage, manicures and pedicures.

26 Church Street, 01858 464395, headcandy-mh.com

Claire Simpson Interiors/ Alexander Lewis

Traditional tea rooms at the southern end of the street (entrance on Church Square), opposite Bates.

The menu includes homemade cakes, scones, sandwiches, toasties, soups and jacket potatoes.

Generous portions and very reasonable prices.

3 Church Square (corner of Church Street), 07599 256995

Moko

Bates Butchers & Delicatessen

At the Church Square end of Church Street is this traditional butchers, offering locally sourced beef, lamb, pork and poultry alongside delicatessen products. We love the dark green tiles on the exterior (look out for these at other locations across Harborough) and the old-school delivery bike with big wicker basket out the front.

4 Church Street, 01858 463400

Interior designer Claire Simpson launched her flagship showroom on Church Street this year, a stylish base for her upmarket, carefully curated selection of fabrics, wallpapers, lighting and flooring. Claire often works in collaboration with Market Harborough firm Alexander Lewis, which has moved its design studio from what is now Claire’s showroom to a much larger space just behind Church Street, on Miller’s Yard. Established in 1995, Alexander Lewis is recognised as one of the finest manufacturers of bespoke furniture in the UK thanks to elements such as outstandingly beautiful design, the greatest attention to detail and a commitment to excellent customer service.

“Building a strong relationship with customers is at the heart of what we do,” explains owner, Matthew Wright. “Our clients have very high expectations and we are delighted to try and exceed them.”

Claire Simpson Interiors: 8a Church Street, 07540 222880, clairesimpsoninteriors.com Alexander Lewis: 2 Millers Yard, 01858 434444, alexanderlewis.com

Nature’s Pantry

Run by Matt and Emma, this cafe offers healthy fast food, using fresh, natural ingredients, cutting sugars where possible and never adding any “nasties”.

It’s an excellent choice for anyone with specific dietary needs (lots of gluten-free and dairy-free options, for example).

The orange, cashew and cacao balls are the perfect guilt-free snack. It’s very child-friendly, with a big area upstairs for cooking classes and events for little ones. (Fans of our “Little Living” page may recognise the name from Emma’s recipes, which featured there over the last year.)

The menu downstairs is great for kids too.

Nature’s Pantry also sell toys, which are all sustainably made (most are wooden ones for very young children) and fair trade.

3 Church Street, 01858 468568, naturespantry.co.uk 16

Hambleton Bakery

The bakery set up by Hambleton Hall’s Tim Hart and head baker-entrepreneur Julian Carter is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. The bakery, which creates the high-quality products one would expect from the Hambleton name (all baked – and delivered by Hambleton’s vans – on the day), now has six retail outlets, including its Exton bakery and this branch (others are in Oakham, Stamford, Oundle and Nottingham’s West Bridgford).

We recommend the sourdough (this can be sliced in the shop – an invaluable service), the baguettes, the Rutland “Pippins” and the lemon tarts, but it’s all delicious.

12 Church Street, 01858 289412, hambletonbakery.co.uk

Doyles

Located in the imposing Old Town Hall – recognisable by its large, distinctive arched windows – at the High Street end of the road is Doyles fashion boutique. Founded in 1982, it stocks established designers and emerging labels.

Old Town Hall, Church Street, 01858 433279, doylesfashion.com

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Since opening its doors nearly 20 years ago, Moko has become one of the town’s most recognisable brands. The salon, which is an Aveda stockist, has expanded considerably over the years, from having just two stylists to its current 30 staff members. In terms of area, it has grown hugely, too, now boasting over 2,000sq ft of space following recent expansion.

The stylists and therapists here offer a warm, friendly welcome, plus expert, honest advice.

Moko’s Emily advised: “feel free to pop in at any time and browse the salon with no obligation or take advantage of one of our complimentary consultations.” The salon offers a huge range of services, from a last-minute blow dry right through to a full day of pampering.

2 Church Street, 01858 432525, mokohair.co.uk

Vibrant Senses

This store focuses on everything uplifting and it smells absolutely divine the moment you step inside. Brands stocked include Noble Isle toiletries (we loved Rhubarb Rhubarb and, perfect for the chillier months, Fireside), Neom Organics and chocolates from Leicester-based artisan maker Cocoa Amore. The centre of the shop is dominated by a stunning table of upmarket faux flowers, which are also a speciality of the shop. Upstairs is a gallery featuring work by owner Cathy Whitall.

10 Church Street, 01858 289235, vibrantsenses.co.uk

There’s more…

There are more businesses on the street than we can cover here. These include: Aldwinkles Coffee Shop; BetFred; Charles Kimbell; The Cow pub; James Sellicks estate agents; Mortgage by Design; The Nags Head pub; Polkadot – a gift and coffee shop; and Unique Beauty Therapy.

Three Simple Steps To Finding The Perfect Glasses If you wear glasses you know that choosing the right glasses is like trying to fi nd a needle in a haystack.

At Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians we offer you a different approach…

Individual Eyewear Design…

We travel the globe to bring you the world’s best eyewear. For glasses that are individual and different, you’ll discover exciting eyewear that you won’t fi nd in other opticians.

Professional Expertise…

Our unique “Eyewear Styling Consultation” is designed to make your quest for new eyewear as effortless as possible. You’ll discover which frame shapes and colours best suit your face shape.

Personal Service…

Glasses are not one-size-fits-all. We take the time to fi nd out about YOU. That means you’ll get effective advice and solutions because it is tailored to you.

Available exclusively at Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians.

FREE £89 Gift Certificate Call us today and mention Harborough Living magazine to arrange a no-obligation Eyewear Styling Consultation (worth £39) plus you’ll receive a Free £50 Eyewear Gift Voucher Call us on 01858 462996 to claim your free gift voucher and complimentary consultation

Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians - 18 Church Street - Market Harborough clarkeandroskrow.co.uk

01858 462 996

hello@clarkeandroskrow.co.uk 17

From the dressing-up box to Chanel’s Old Bond Street store to running her own business, Gill Haynes of Market Harborough’s Jacks for Women boutique is one of our favourite local fashionistas. Sally Stillingfleet went to find out what makes her tick

A life in fashion I

T was great to meet Gill, whose stylish clothes frequently feature in our monthly magazines, and whose warm, friendly welcome made me feel right at home. Her boutique, Jacks for Women, has an extensive offering of fashion, accessories and beautiful shoes and is a one-stop shop where customers can expect impeccable service from longstanding staff and to come out more than happy with their outfit choices, whatever the occasion.

The decision not to stock brands that have a big internet presence has ensured customers come back for more, and the stock is always fresh and exciting. Gill is also a great believer in customer service: she wants her clients to feel good, be looked after, to try lots on and to feel the fabrics and appreciate colour first hand. An independent boutique, in my opinion, is always a joy – you will get something different, you’ll feel special wearing it and you’ll treasure it. Jacks is a very special place to shop.

Tell me a little bit about how you came to have this beautiful shop?

I’m lucky and very proud to have this shop – my husband Paul and I took it over more than 20 years ago. It grew out of being a menswear shop on the first floor… We expanded into womenswear (and over an additional floor) a few years later, and we now only sell clothing for women, which is much more fun!

Why Market Harborough? What do you like about living in this area?

My family moved to this region at the beginning of the 1990s. It’s a great area, as we have the best mix of beautiful countryside on our doorstep, cities within easy reach and the benefit of living in a lovely, thriving market town.

Did you have a previous career or a background in the fashion industry?

I left school at 16 and joined a buying training scheme with Dickens & Jones in Regent Street.

I then worked for Pronuptia, selling wedding dresses for many years, before being asked to join Chanel in their Old Bond Street boutique – which was amazing!

How did your love of fashion begin?

I was always in the dressing-up box when I was very young, and, although I had no aspirations to be a designer, I always loved dressing my friends, my sister or any poor soul I could get my hands on!

How have you settled on the brands you currently sell and why did you choose them?

We choose brands that are a bit different and don’t have a big presence either on the internet or on the high street. We try to have at least three 18

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

new labels a season to keep our ranges fresh, exciting and current. Most of our brands are European, including a number from Denmark.

How does it feel to be an independent retailer and how do you set yourself apart from the high street?

I love being an independent retailer – we have the flexibility of being able to choose our collections and we can be creative with our selection. We offer a personal shopping experience where customers can talk to us about their needs for the coming season!

Which designers do you admire?

Anything Chanel! Having been so lucky to work with such an iconic fashion label, I am a huge fan of their handbags, fashion and jewellery, and

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

I love watching their fashion shows – they are so beautiful and so creative!

Tell me a bit about your customers We have such a wide range of customers, right across all ages. We get to know our ladies very well, and most will come and see us at least three to four times a season, often requesting a particular sales advisor.

Favourite local cafe or restaurant We are big fans of Boboli and The Lighthouse in Kibworth – it’s very relaxed and serves great Italian food.

Jacks for Women is at 16 Church Street, Market Harborough LE16 7AA, 01858 431396, jacksforwomen.co.uk

FEE G RAILS SHIRTS LAUREN VIDAL PRIMROSE PARK I SAY PENNY BLACK CREENSTONE YERSE DES PETIT HAUTS BEATRICE B SAVE THE QUEEN JUMPER 1234

SANDWICH YAYA VILAGALLO COCOA CASHMERE MARELLA SHOES BY UNISA, ALPE & MARIAN & MANY MORE FABULOUS BRANDS FROM AROUND EUROPE

OPENING HOURS

Mon – Fri: 9.30am – 5pm I Saturday: 9.30am – 5.30pm I Sunday: Closed

Clever Kitchen Tools to Gorgeous Gifts Le Creuset, Joseph Joseph, Robert Welch, Chilly’s, Emma Bridgewater, Stellar plus many more 5 Church Street, Market Harborough

16 Church Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7AA T: 01858 431396 l www.jacksforwomen.co.uk

01858 433533

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25 large room settings in our extensive showroom

• Contemporary, modern, traditional & handmade bespoke kitchens • Design, supply, manage & install • Affordable, quality kitchens and the latest designs on display • Over 60 appliances on show

"Overjoyed with the transformation; with the practicality of the working kitchen and the way that the project was managed seamlessly.”

Our customers can’t recommend our services highly enough, offering our vision and knowledge that becomes seamlessly transformed into a practical working living space.

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

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Fords Of Oakham

Rutland’s premier department store

See this seasons latest fashion brands in our re-launched Ladies Department

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8 Church Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AA Tel: 01572 722654 Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Fordsofoakham Now open on Sundays 10am to 4pm 21

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Thursday 30 August to Sunday 2 September 2018 Antonia Scott celebrates Stamford’s equestrian highlight of the year

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HE Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials encompasses a vast area of Stamford’s famous Burghley estate parkland. This annual international equestrian event now welcomes over 80 global competitors and an incredible 160,000 visitors, who come from all corners of the globe to enjoy the prestigious four-day event, covering the three disciplines of dressage (Thursday/Friday), cross country (Saturday) and showjumping (Sunday). There are over 600 trade exhibitors for shoppers to enjoy, all showcasing a vast array of country living home wares and the mouth-watering “Food Walk” to tempt your taste buds.

Stamford and the surrounding area have a multitude of local businesses exhibiting their products to an ever-growing international audience, offering shoppers the Best of British. For full details of exhibitors, visit burghley-horse.co.uk.

Butler Stewart Butler Stewart is an exclusive brand specialising in tailoring and tweed, creating understated British elegance for men and women. All garments are designed in-house using the finest British fabric, creating timeless, luxurious styles. “Our ready-towear collections and made-to-order service are available through our website, at shows and home or office visits. Our popular made-to-order-service allows customers to design a unique garment tailored to their individual tastes, choosing from hundreds of British fabrics and stunning trimmings. Visit our stand in the Lifestyle Pavilion near the celebrity chat zone.”

07941 513650, butlerstewart.co.uk

Fitted Furniture Company “Every piece of furniture is individually designed to the client’s own ideas and specific requirements. Our furniture is built to last using traditional methods of construction in conjunction with modern furniture technology such as soft-close drawer runners, low-voltage LED lighting systems and energy-efficient appliances. We take great pride in delivering a truly personal service, working closely with each client to exceed expectations, presenting and inspiring new ideas to achieve superb results.

01780 480080, thefittedfurniturecompany.com

Gillian Durno

Gillian Durno is a Rutland-based artist who exhibits in galleries locally and nationally in Cambridge and London. She will be exhibiting her new collection of original paintings, alongside a range of limitededition prints and cards. Framed prints of Rutland and Norfolk will also feature, as will some vibrant new original paintings of poppies. Gillian’s work has gained a loyal following, and this will be her second year at Burghley after her huge success last year. gilliandurno.co.uk

Country Traditionals “Burghley Horse Trials is a show we have been exhibiting at for many years now, and we have the same stand within the Rural Crafts Association Pavilion. It always feels like the start of our busy build up to the coming Christmas period. We have many customers who come back to us year on year to buy our wonderful Polish stoneware – they love the fact it is oven/Aga to table and microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe.

As we give customers such a massive selection from which to choose, they always end up buying a mix of items from mugs through to larger baking dishes and more. Our stand is just like a pop-up version of our Stamford and Cambridge shops!”

01780 755409, countrytraditionals.co.uk

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Heatsource

The Food Walk

Heatsource is a nationwide retailer and installer of beautiful wood-burners, stunning fireplaces and renewable heating solutions. “We will be bringing the Arc stove designed and made by Charnwood exclusive at Heatsource of Uppingham, as well as a complete new range of basketwares to the show.”

01572 829953, heatsource-of-uppingham.co.uk

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F after all that shopping your feet are weary and your tummy is rumbling, take a well-deserved seat and enjoy a veritable feast at the many food and drink stalls on the celebrated “Food Walk”. Two of my favourites are listed below, but there are plenty more goodies to sample, including from local firms The Brownie Company, Dickinson & Morris, Fen Farm Venison, The Gourmet Pie Company, Grasmere Farm and The Whiskymouse.

Hunters Interiors Hill Farm Furniture Hill Farm Furniture is a family-run business that specialises in creating bespoke, handcrafted kitchens and freestanding furniture to fit your home and your unique character. Prices start at £25,000 plus VAT. “We display a mobile showroom full of handcrafted furniture, bespoke kitchens and Victorian glasshouses.”

01636 626063, hillfarmfurniture.co.uk

“This is only our second year at Burghley and we are very excited to be at one of the country’s most prestigious horse and shopping events. We will be displaying a selection of what we can supply – sofas, chairs, occasional furniture, lighting, mirrors and decorative accessories, plus the latest ranges of fabrics, wallpapers and paints. We welcome people to come on to what will be a very comfortable stand to chat over their interior projects with us and see where we may be of help.”

01780 757946, huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk

Katie Cardew Bursting with Burghley treats, the Katie Cardew Illustrations stand – located within the Rural Crafts Association Pavilion – is a mustsee at Burghley Horse Trials. Especially appropriate to the event is local artist Katie’s popular “I’d Rather Be At Burghley” range, shown left and including prints, mugs, tea towels and notebooks. Her other designs include flamingos, Stamford maps, game birds and exotic animals and are available on a host of lovely products from chopping boards and coasters to notebooks and cosmetic bags as well as in the form of fine prints (framed and unframed).

01780 662800, kcillustrations.co.uk

Oakham Rugs “Burghley is a wonderful event for us. We love meeting customers old and new and showing them the latest collections in quality hand-knotted rugs.

We have lots of interesting pieces, both contemporary and traditional, all with our money-back guarantee.”

01572 724441, oakhamrugs.co.uk

Robinsons of Stamford

“We believe in supplying high-quality items at reasonable prices with a fantastic customer service. We’ll have the latest Country Clothing ranges from brands such as Barbour, Alan Paine and Aigle at Burghley, as well as a fabulous selection of footwear from Le Chameau and Barbour, alongside a wide range of gifts, handbags and leather goods.”

01780 755378, robinsonsofstamford.com

Peachy Belts

“I love Burghley, as it is the one local event where we see all of our local customers and we launch our new autumn/ winter range. I am most excited about this year’s range, as we have some fantastic new colours including luscious purple and green suede and orange and gold ostrich plus some really pretty new pearl buckles – a great way to dress up your belt. We also have our end-of-season sale, where seasonal colours are much reduced and you can grab a bargain! We are in the Country Living marquee, up by the scoreboard.”

01664 454994, peachybelts.co.uk

The Rutland Bookshop

“We stock a unique and wideranging selection of books relating to equestrianism, including first editions and fine illustrations alongside practical manuals and personal reminiscences.” therutlandbookshop.com

The Marquess of Exeter This Lyddington-based pub is famed throughout Rutland for its wide selection of locally sourced meat and fresh, organic produce. Head Chef and proprietor, Brian Baker, enjoys cooking a broad range of treats for visitors to Burghley, such as burgers, sausages (with meat from Launde Farm Foods) and an enormous paella dish – its delicious aroma draws in the crowds.

01572 822477, marquessexeter.co.uk

Two Birds Spirits “This is by far the best show event of the year. Visitors come ready to spend their money and start their Christmas shopping.

We will have five full-time staff on for the whole four days to meet customer demand.

Shoppers can taste our complete range of spirits before they buy.

We offer a ‘Picnic Pack’, containing a small bottle of gin, chilled tonic and two glasses. Shoppers can choose from any of our seven gins, including our new Rhubarb Gin and our Strawberry and Vanilla Gin. We also have a chilled Countryside Cocktail in a 20cl bottle with a straw.”

01858 463758, twobirdsspirits.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

Scotts of Thrapston “We exhibit at many shows throughout the year, yet Burghley is our favourite and the one show that all three generations of the Scotts family come together for. We love meeting new customers, but Burghley is also the place that keeps us in touch with our previous clients – where we have time to catch up with families and businesses to find out what life is like once their dream stables have been built. Our in-house architectural team, led by Bryn Lee, has produced a stunning display showcasing the quality of build you can expect from Scotts stables. The bespoke equestrian building, on display at BHT 2018, incorporates a 12m2 loose box, secure tack room and wash-down area. Our stables will complement any home, whether a period property or new build. We will also have a 3.9m Sun Ray Garden Room, a Newhaven Corner Summerhouse and a Burghley Summerhouse to view, so that your garden doesn’t feel left out.”

01832 732366, scottsofthrapston.co.uk

Sophie Allport Homewares “We are a Stamford-based business, so Burghley is always very special, as it’s on ‘home turf’! Our offices are just up the road, our first high-street shop is on Stamford High Street, and we love seeing all our local customers and those from further afield at this annual event. We are launching six new collections, including Cheetah, Elephant, Baking, ‘Woodland’ (with The National Trust) and two new festive designs. There will also be a wide range of new products on display including new home fragrances, bags, pet products, additions to the children’s collections and gorgeous new room sprays, soaps and hand creams.”

01778 560256, sophieallport.com

The Stamford Notebook Co. “We make simply beautiful, elegant notebooks, journals and diaries using British paper and traditional craft bookbinding skills and equipment. Our stunning array of textures and colours means that there really is something for everyone. Do come and see our new range of leather accessories as well as our new home and occasion books. We are offering on-site personalisation for all items purchased from us. We will have a full range of 2019 diaries – including academic year diaries. You will find us in The Lifestyle Pavilion near the Celebrity Talk area.”

01780 762550, stamfordnotebooks.co.uk

Woolroom Sinclairs of Stamford “Sinclairs has been a family-run business for over 40 years, offering an unrivalled level of customer service. We are a major stockist of Hunter Boots, Barbour, Longchamp, Michael Kors, Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Worcester and Beswick with up to 40 per cent off the RRP.” 01780 765421, sinclairsonline.co.uk

Snuggle Sacs “Our products are unique, distinctive, high quality, fun, practical and utterly desirable, from toddlers through to adults. There are now eight different adult-size “Sacs”, one of which has a horse-print lining!”

01603 881705, snugglesac.com

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“The past 12 months have been hugely exciting at Woolroom, and we’re excited to be able to display a host of new products this year. On our stand, we’ll be proudly boasting our allnew Babywool brand, which includes a range of natural baby sleeping bags and mattresses.

In addition to this, visitors will be able to experience our new and improved machine washable bedding range – now complete with a beautiful, organic cotton outer!”

01780 461217, thewoolroom.com

The SEIB Burghley Sponsored Ride On the final day of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials - Sunday 2 September 2018 – there will be a 10–12km sponsored ride and a 3–3.5km horseless run to offer families the opportunity to get up close to fences, including the huge Cottesmore Leap plus the chance to splash around in the Trout Hatchery. burghleysponsoredride.co.uk

We bake a selection of delicious breads, savouries, cakes & desserts. Using traditional techniques and the finest ingredients we develop the real taste of our products, full of flavour with no preservatives or enhancers.

Shops: Exton Bakery, Oundle, Market Harborough, Oakham, Stamford & West Bridgford

www.hambletonbakery.co.uk

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Willa Newton

Antonia Scott spoke with Willa Newton – local Leicestershire resident – to see how she is best preparing herself and her horse for the infamous Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials that dominate Stamford over four days from Thursday 30 August to Sunday 2 September PHOTO: NICO MORGAN MEDIA

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

PHOTO: NICO MORGAN MEDIA

I

T was surely a foregone conclusion that Willa Newton would end up in the equestrian world, having grown up with parents who both hunted and were involved in point to points and eventing. Unsurprisingly, her love of riding started young, and she flourished at the Belvoir Hunt Pony Club, visiting Burghley Horse Trials (BHT) every year as a little girl, only dreaming that one day she would compete there.

Whilst at school at Tudor Hall, PHOTO: NIXON PHOTO Willa was supported by both her school and family in her determination to rise to the top level of eventing and returned regularly to her parent’s yard near Melton Mowbray to train and compete. After Willa left school, her dream of riding professionally was enabled by the supportive, loyal team around her – including her elder sister, Chloe, who also evented and competed at Burghley herself, encouraging Willa to follow in her footsteps.

In 2006 Willa acquired a horse called “Neelix” from Andrew Heffernan, and her eventing began to take off. Neelix took Willa from the Pony Club Championships to her first four-star event, and she then went on to win Team Gold at the Junior Europeans in 2008 and also represented Great Britain at three consecutive Young Rider European Championships, winning Team Gold and Individual Silver at Blair Castle in 2011. Willa’s career has gone from strength to strength, and, since finishing university in 2012, she has focused solely on eventing. Last July, she was announced as one of 13 riders to be longlisted for the British Team to compete at the European Eventing Championships.

This year will be Willa’s fourth time at Burghley Horse Trials, and she hopes that her ride, 16-year-old “Chance Remark” – a stunning 17.1 Bay – will perform to the best of his ability and carry her safely round the notorious cross-country course.

What makes BHT so special?

“It is without doubt the most testing four-star event in the world. The design and terrain of the cross-country course covering vast areas of Burghley Park is a challenge to both horse and rider. You need to be 100 per cent focused for each fence and gallop. The new combination of fences each year keeps it fresh, and Captain Mark Phillips, the course designer, definitely rewards riders when they get it right. However, make a tiny mistake, and it can be game over.”

What qualities do you look for in an event horse?

“Most importantly for me is their brain, that they really want to engage with you and train to do the job in hand. For an event like Burghley I look for a horse with thoroughbred, natural speed and stamina. ‘Chance Remark’ is a thoroughbred whom I hope should suit Burghley – he has competed there before, but I hope this year, having done a bit more with him, he will find the trip easier.”

What makes someone a good Three-Day Event rider?

“Determination, commitment, passion and drive.

You also have to be physically fit to have the strength and stamina to compete at this international level.”

Which of the three disciplines do you look forward to the most – dressage, cross country or showjumping?

“I love the adrenalin buzz of the cross country, as well as the skill and accuracy of the other two phases. However, there is no better feeling when you have come home clear and fast at the end of the cross country.”

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not riding?

“I’m really sporty and love swimming, biking and skiing when I have the time. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family when it is possible!”

Do you have a favourite place in and around this area?

“I love going to The Olive Branch in Clipsham – the food and surroundings are just wonderful. I love returning to Burghley Horse Trials each year, and Stamford provides such an impressive backdrop to this international event. I really enjoy all the people-watching – there’s always someone I know around every corner!”

What’s next?

With so much experience under her belt already, it’s hard to remember that Willa is just 28 years old and currently only in her sixth year as a professional event rider. At the start of 2018, Willa was the youngest British female rider in the World’s Top 35 Event Riders and she has her sights set firmly on Tokyo 2020 – watch this space!

Find out more about Willa at willanewtoneventing.co.uk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

The Kitchen Showroom Braunston Road, Oakham

Rachael Bull chats to Gary Noble, Commercial Director at The Kitchen Showroom in Oakham

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RRIVING at The Kitchen Showroom is a pleasure in itself.

Set away from the road between Braunston-in-Rutland and Oakham, the showroom has views that stretch over the town’s rooftops and spires to the left and the marvel that is Rutland Water straight ahead. It’s a view of the lake I hadn’t seen before and something that customers often comment on to Gary Noble, the firm’s Commercial Director, who you will meet at the showroom.

I’m a bit of a kitchen addict, always nosing around on Rightmove at the kitchens of houses for sale and in interiors magazines, so I jumped at the chance to have a tour around The Kitchen Showroom.

Manufacturing quality kitchens for over 40 years, this family business is now in its third generation, with its original family values of quality and service still at the heart of everything they do. And, as Gary explains, “being a family business is a big part of what we offer. It is our reputation that goes behind every kitchen we manufacture.”

As soon as I walked into the showroom, a huge display of thank you cards caught my eye. From a read through some of them, it’s clear to see how delighted customers are with their finished kitchens from here. Notes of gratitude and wonder and praise such as, “We’re over the moon with our new kitchen – thank you so much for your patience!” say it all.

“That’s my favourite part of the job,” says Gary. “The pleasure that a new kitchen brings to our customers. All of us at The Kitchen Showroom get great pleasure from the comments from our customers when they

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see their new kitchen installed for the first time, which all stems from the in-depth discussions throughout the design consultation process and the fact that we fulfilled all of our promises.

“We manufacture every kitchen in our own factory and we don’t subcontract the installation. Many kitchen retailers actually buy in all their cabinetry and sub-contract fitters to install it. We don’t. The team that makes your new kitchen installs it too – it gives everything total continuity, resulting in all of our customers being very satisfied and happy. This is one of the many reasons why much of our business comes by way of recommendation.”

Project management is done by Gary’s brother-in-law, Adrian. “Adrian has no grey areas in his life… it’s right or it’s wrong – but he will only accept right. You could say he’s a bit pedantic, but he’s the man I would want to project manage my new kitchen. He talks to the builder. He coordinates the electrician, the plumber, the plasterer, the tiler. He leaves nothing to chance. He’s called ‘The Organiser’.”

And what about Gary himself? Like Adrian, he has been in the business a long time. His expertise is to advise. He likes to take a blank canvas and add inspiration. “I try to advise our clients on what would be the most practical design but also add exciting ideas for their new kitchen. When someone comes to the showroom, it’s important to get an insight into their personality and their lives. It’s not just about fitting a kitchen that they like the look of in a magazine, it’s about designing for their home a kitchen that they’ll love and use for decades.

“Everyone is different. A lot of people are looking for inspiration, for ideas. A lot of people will know what they want, but you’d be surprised how many people change their mind after visiting the showroom and spending time discussing their aspirations. At the end of the day, buying a kitchen is the same sort of money as buying a car, but if you don’t like a car you can sell it. You buy a kitchen you don’t like and you’re stuck with it. It’s the heart of the home, so it’s crucial that we get it absolutely spot on. And that’s what we focus on. We will not let you make a mistake.”

What should people consider when looking for a kitchen designer, I ask.

“It’s really important to find someone you can work with, who you have chemistry with, someone to debate with. We do this for a living, so there is a lot that we can bring to the party. For us, it’s not just about saying ‘yes’ to everything we get asked to do. There are so many elements to a good design, which is why an in-depth briefing will enable a good designer, using the latest CAD technology, to produce a concept that is the start to achieving the perfect kitchen for the client.”

Having taken a tour of the 10 large kitchens on display in the showroom – ranging from the high-gloss, ultra-contemporary to the traditional farmhouse style – I cheekily comment that they all look rather expensive.

Not so, says Gary.

“It’s all about value. Our quality is second to none, as is our service, and you get a professional design all at a very competitive price. There are real misconceptions about buying from some local independents – that they must be more expensive – but it’s simply not true. We’re not on the

high street paying high-street rents. We manufacture everything on site.

And we sell and fit everything ourselves, both saving you money and controlling the quality.”

So how does one go about finding the kitchen of one’s dreams? First things first, visit the showroom on the Braunston Road. Go and see the stunning kitchens on display in different styles and colours, and get ideas and inspiration from worktops in quartz, granite and timber. You can buy a DIY kitchen for under £5,000 or a fully project-managed kitchen from £15,000 to £50,000 plus. They have something to meet all budgets.

Having spent a couple of hours with Gary, I was most impressed with the beautiful showroom and the high quality of the large displays. It’s no surprise that there were so many thank you cards from so many satisfied customers. For anyone looking for a kitchen, a visit to The Kitchen Showroom is a must.

• Visit Gary at The Kitchen Showroom, Braunston Road, Oakham LE15 8UH, 01572 722636, thekitchenshowroom.co.uk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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Bosworth’s Garden Centre September is the month to start planning and planting spring bulbs and thinking about your garden for 2019. Bosworth’s, a family-run company that opened a new branch at Elton this summer, grows over a million plants a year in its own nurseries at Burton Latimer, near Kettering, so you’re guaranteed to find fresh, healthy stock attractively displayed to help you make your decisions. If the choice overwhelms you, take advantage of the Garden Advice Service. For a one-off fee of £99, you get a home visit and a two-hour consultation to help you to decide what to plant where. For an extra charge, you can order specific plants and have them planted for you. A full hard-landscaping service is also available.

The pretty walled setting in the grounds of Elton Hall also features The Mulberry Cafe, offering a menu of breakfasts, light lunches and afternoon tea, with appetising choices such as savoury tarts, paninis, scones and cakes. The Secret Garden, an historic walled garden area, is also being brought back to life by a team of volunteers led by staff member Diane Ray. • Bosworth’s Garden Centre, Finedon Road, Burton Latimer, Northants NN15 5QA and at Elton Walled Garden, Elton, Peterborough PE8 6SH, bosworthsgc.co.uk

OutDoOr LIviNg WORDS: FIONA CUMBERPATCH

Encouraging hedgehogs

Growing in my garden now

Dahlias

They come in so many shades, from show-stopping pinks to the deepest, richest purple petals, with neat pom-pom heads to the shaggiest mops. Dahlias have long ditched their reputation as old-fashioned flower show favourites and have been reinvented as a brilliant way to beef up autumn borders, creating a show until the first frosts, when they can either be lifted or left in the ground over the winter. Lovers of light colours could try creamy Café au Lait. If you want to be bolder, “Black Jack” is a deep maroon, while “Mel’s Orange Marmalade” is a rich, spicy orange with spiky petals.

Plant in blocks of one colour for impact.

Try Welland Vale Garden Inspirations for ready-grown dahlias to plant into borders. Glaston Road, Uppingham LE15 1EU

ILLUSTRATION: FIONA CUMBERPATCH

Inspired by the outdoors As your garden transitions from summer to autumn, keep an eye out for attractive seedheads that you can dry and keep for autumn arrangements, or even squirrel away for Christmas decorations.

Poppy seedheads, alliums, nigella and some grasses look beautiful bunched together and left as they are, or spray them white (Colemans in Oakham, Oundle or Stamford stocks a selection of craft colours that are easy to apply).

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The more hedgehogs we have in our gardens, the fewer slugs there will be to munch our plants. Yet the numbers of these much-loved mammals are in steep decline. Anna Wood, a biology student at Nottingham University, has become so concerned about their plight that she has started a campaign on her home turf (Castor and Ailsworth) to encourage people to take action to preserve them.

Here are Anna’s tips: • Put out food and water. Use shallow dishes and offer cat or dog food.

Never feed hedgehogs with bread and milk.

• Choose non-toxic alternatives for slug pellets, rat poison and pesticides.

Slug pellets are particularly dangerous for hedgehogs – and for garden birds.

• Join a hedgehog highway. Linking gardens increases the area where hedgehogs can roam. Cut a 13cm by 13cm hole in fences. Ask your neighbours to do the same, and work together.

• Build a wild corner. Let nature take over and remove hazards such as netting.

• Make ponds safe. The creatures can drown in steep- or smooth-sided ponds.

Add a ramp to make an exit.

For more of Anna’s tips, visit hedgehogstreet.org

Picks for plant lovers 14–16 September Stamford Flower Show A three-day festival at St John’s Church, with glorious arrangements celebrating Stamford’s history, heritage and culture. £3 entry. stamfordflowerclub.org.uk John Clare’s Calendar: A View Through the Lens Photographs taken by Tracy Louise Photography are a selection of images from John Clare’s garden and the surrounding countryside near Helpston.

The exhibition is based on Clare’s work published in “The Shepherd’s Calendar”.

More information at tracylouisephotography.co.uk The pictures will be on display in the Dovecote at John Clare Cottage until the end of September. You can also see artist Marianna Kneller’s wild-flower paintings, also inspired by the works of John Clare.

John Clare Cottage is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays (11am–4pm April–Sept and 11am–3pm Oct–Mar); more details at: clarecottage.org

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33

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Rejuvenate!

Clare Peel dips her toes into reflexology at Creme in Oakham and asked Naomi Nails in Harborough for recommendations for pick-me-up beauty treatments

Reflexology at Creme

I

WAS four weeks into the school summer holiday when I went along to Creme on Oakham’s Mill Street for a reflexology session with therapist Jessie, so I was definitely ready for a little “me time”. Creme is very well known locally for its hair and beauty treatments, but it also offers a lovely range of holistic ones – including reiki, Chinese fire cupping, hopi ear candles, hot stone therapy – and I was delighted to be invited to try one of these.

Reflexology is a nonintrusive complementary health therapy, based on the theory that different points on the feet correspond to different areas of the body. It is suited to all ages over 16 and can be especially good for digestive issues and hormonal problems.

Jessie advised that it takes into account both physical and non-physical factors that might be affecting your well-being and, after asking whether I’d had reflexology before, she checked with me whether I had any health issues or concerns – none, actually, other than normal tiredness due to a busy life with work and two young sons and some tense shoulders from time to time due to working at a computer for substantial periods of time.

Jessie explained that she would start by applying pressure to the feet, followed by massaging them. She noted that there might be some transient discomfort – “gritty feelings” – and to let her know if anything felt uncomfortable (it never did). The experience, she said, should be relaxing.

She started working on the toes, using Espa pre-blended aromatherapy oil to help with the movement. She then systematically worked down the foot, using light pressure and gentle circular motion, then around the edges of it, up around the ankles and over the top of the foot. Just occasionally I felt little pops elsewhere in the body – a few times in my hips and some rumblings around the stomach, for example. Everything seemed to be pretty much in order, except for some impressive knots at the point on my right foot that corresponded to my right shoulder. (Clearly some signs of producing this magazine were showing…) Jessie worked her thumbs into the knots and they seemed to release, which felt extremely satisfying all round and I’m sure has freed up my shoulders.

The treatment time is 55 minutes, and I completely felt myself relaxing into the experience, finding it appealingly gentle and non-invasive yet very effective. I have to admit I find it hard to relax and take time out and it was so nice to be compelled to do so. My arms felt so heavy with relaxation that I felt I just had to let them go – I’d been planning on taking notes but there really was no chance of that… far better to go with the flow. The lights were dimmed in the room, there were lots of pretty candles dotted about and soothing music was playing throughout, so it was all very conducive to winding down. I left the therapy room feeling lighter, calmer and, definitely, less tense, and would highly recommend the treatment.

Reflexology at Creme (at The Old Church, 8 Mill Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6EA) is £45 for 55 minutes. For more details and to book, call 01572 723823 or visit cremehairandbeauty.co.uk

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Elemis at Naomi Nails

I

ASKED Naomi at Naomi Nails & Beauty in Market Harborough for her pick of rejuvenating treatments for anyone needing a little boost after the busy summer holidays. She recommended either the Elemis Biotec Anti-Pigment Brightener or the White Brightening Pigment Protector, both of which sound fabulous.

The Biotec Anti-Pigment Brightener (60 mins) is an illuminating treatment that dramatically tackles the appearance of uneven skin tone, discolouration and age spots. A unique combination of brightening actives, ultrasonic peel and light therapy reveals a youthful and translucent complexion. The White Brightening Pigment Protector (60 mins), meanwhile, restores even skin tone, targeting areas of pigmentation. Encapsulated vitamin C acts as a potent brightener, inhibiting future pigmentation. The result is a more even, colour-corrected and illuminated complexion.

Naomi Nails are offering £10 towards any product purchased on the day of any Elemis facial treatment in September. Please do quote the magazine in conjunction with this offer.

Naomi Nails & Beauty, 14–16 Manor Walk, Market Harborough LE16 9BP, 01858 469222, naominailsbeauty.co.uk Biotec AntiPigment Brightener

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35

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Body and soul

Yoga and pilates are as good for the mind and soul as they are for fitness. Isabella Hamnett says “Namaste” to three instructors in the Market Harborough area and discovers what inspired their passion

RK Yoga & Pilates

R

UTH Kelly has been teaching pilates for over eight years, having practised yoga and pilates during her teenage years (when she was a competitive runner) in New Zealand.

“After my first child my abdominal muscles severely split – what is known as diastasis recti. Following seven months of physio, I was dismissed and told that in order to have a functioning core I would require surgery to sew the muscles back together – a tummy tuck! Instead of undergoing surgery, I researched, discovering that pilates helped to strengthen and repair many cases. I also learnt that about 70 per cent of women suffered from split abdominals during or after pregnancy. My own positive results inspired me to share my knowledge of pilates. It took me a year to gain my Body Control Pilates qualification as I juggled learning with two small children.

“Yoga is something I have practised for years and has always physically and mentally complemented my pilates. Yoga is often viewed in two different lights: hippy spiritual practice or Instagram-worthy headstands… both of which it can be. If ‘finding yourself’ is what you are hoping to achieve in yoga, then it can connect you with your inner self and detach you from worry, bringing you into the present moment – brilliant for managing depression and anxiety. If your aim is to stand on your head, then with the right practice you can also achieve that. Yoga is about unlocking your true self both on and off the mat. Physically both yoga and pilates are excellent for flexibility, strength and balance.

“Today, I’m lucky to be able to share my knowledge with wonderful people, teaching small group and individual classes in and around Market Harborough. My youngest student is 19, and my eldest is 89!” rkwellness.co.uk

Samyama Yoga

Hot Yoga with Harry

UCY Jervis teaches yoga and meditation as well as offering gong baths, Indian massage and retreats from her studio in East Farndon.

“I found yoga when I hit rock bottom after a few devastating life events. I was crawling through life feeling lost, but on finding yoga I had not only a reason to get up in the morning, but an excitement in doing so. The way that yoga makes you feel – the positivity, clarity, happiness, self-discovery and self-love it encourages – is true medicine, akin to nothing else.

“I’m now blessed to be able to teach it and share this passion every day. Providing a form of medicine that I truly believe in to every single person who walks into my beautiful, tranquil studio. I am fortunate enough to have been gifted this by my mother, an artist – it was her former art studio and is a very meaningful space to me.

“My classes aim to nurture the body and soul, clearing the mind and helping people to rise above anything negative that they are experiencing or holding on to, as well as starting to feel good in their own body. Getting to know yourself physically and improving your strength, openness, fitness and flexibility are key.

“I welcome complete beginners as well as experienced yogis. The Samyama Yoga family is ever expanding and consists of some of the most wonderful people in Market Harborough and the surrounding area.” facebook.com/samyamayogaleics/

ARRY teaches the Bikram series and has recently qualified as an Inferno HIIT Pilates teacher (full body HIIT workout using pilates principles).

“I worked in the trades as a bath-tub restorer for 15 years. I suffered from a bad back, was clinically obese, smoked 20 a day, was a heavy drinker and took no physical exercise. A friend gave me a voucher for hot yoga in London; it took me until April to stop laughing at the idea! Despite my size and lack of fitness, I quickly realised I had discovered something that resonated.

“I found the postures immensely challenging at first, but then it was explained to me that it’s about doing as much as you can – the right way. It was this non-competitive approach to health and fitness that really appealed.

“Hot yoga not only sorted out my back problems and helped me lose weight, but its effect on my mental well-being was what surprised me most, providing me with mental clarity and a more optimistic outlook on life. I love its inclusivity. I had thought that yoga was only for flexible people, but, if anything, the complete opposite is true! Being inflexible is a reason to DO yoga, not a reason NOT to do it!

“Ten years ago my wife was concerned that I would never be able to run around after our children. Now, one of my favourite parts of the day is a yoga routine my 4-year old son and I do before breakfast. I am also studying to become a Nutritional Therapist and after 4 years of study will be entering clinical practice in July 2019.” hotyogawithharry.com

L

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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39

Ultramarathon runner Simon Davies speaks to Lily Canter about shin splints, mosquitoes and sleep deprivation, as he takes on his biggest challenge to date

Simon Davis

PHOTOGRAPHY: ICE IMAGES: MIKKEL BEISNER JUNGLE IMAGES: WILL ROBERTS

I

MAGINE running 145 miles across a bleak Arctic landscape with nothing to see but the carcasses of frozen reindeer and endless ice on the horizon. Then imagine running the same distance in 100 per cent humidity, unable to digest food, scrambling through rainforest rivers and muddy ravines.

And if that wasn’t enough, picture running 160 miles across a scorching hot desert under the blazing heat of the African sun.

This is just what Mowsley dad Simon Davies is attempting this year in a bid to raise £25,000 for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED… After the birth of his son Morgan two years ago, Simon decided he wanted to combine his love of marathon running with fundraising for a children’s charity and was “blown away” by the work of Rainbows Hospice.

“I went to visit them, and I was quite nervous, as I thought it would be horrible and morbid.

But it was actually the opposite – full of kindness and hope and love.”

Once he had selected his charity, Simon knew he had to set his sights on an extreme challenge in order to raise a large amount of money.

“These are the three hardest races out there. Each one is about 150 miles in five days in pretty hostile environments. No one has done all three in one year before. They are also self-sufficient races, so you have to carry all of your own equipment and food, which weighs about 10kg.”

Simon is paying for each of the three trips out of his own money or corporate sponsorship, meaning that every penny he raises goes directly to Rainbows Hospice. He has a range of business sponsors including The Training Shed, RS Components, Market Harborough Building Society, Burton McCall, Effects and Second Sight Video.

STAGE 1: ICE The 42-year-old took on the ice race first, travelling to the Arctic Circle in Sweden in February to battle minus 40-degree temperatures and mile upon mile of white expanse.

“I felt a huge amount of pressure to succeed when I went to the ice. So many things can go wrong, and I just wanted to complete it.

“One of the hardest things is that everything freezes up and stops working. You are given boiling water in an insulated flask, and within 30 minutes it is frozen. At night it is the hardest, as it is so cold, and you can’t sleep.”

And although the area is known for wolves and bears, Simon said he saw nothing other than a dead reindeer due to everything being in deep hibernation.

“It is beautiful, and there is no noise – just

40

silence and emptiness. But it is monotonous, and there is not a lot of stimulus. You start thinking about home and then you get homesick.”

Added to the mental challenge was the pain of shin splints, which Simon had never suffered from before.

“Running in snow shoes on the ice changes your gait, and it’s not something I could really train for. After a day my shins were in agony.”

But despite the gruelling conditions Simon managed to get through the race and finish in sixth position.

STAGE 2: JUNGLE Returning home, he kept up his fitness by doing 20-mile runs on a Saturday and Sunday, then strength and conditioning training at lunchtime during the week, and running home from work in Enderby, where he is a partner at marketing agency Makalu.

Then in June he slipped, tripped and clambered his way through a punishing course deep in the Peruvian jungle. This time the battle was against giant bugs, sharp plant life and intense humidity, not to mention the rocky, mountainous route and running up to 15 hours a day.

“It rained on the first day, and everything got soaked. Because of the humidity nothing got

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

dry all week, which was really uncomfortable. It was like a steam room. The team hacks a path through the jungle, but there are roots, rocks and lots of things biting you. You are slipping and falling over. You don’t feel welcome by the nature there.

And sleeping at night wasn’t any easier, with a small clearing filled with 60 hammocks of snoring, restless runners.

STAGE 3: DESERT Now back on more solid ground, Simon is looking ahead to his final race in November whilst continually fundraising and promoting the work of Rainbows Hospice.

“The Namibian desert is the furthest distance, and the last day is a 56-mile run, which is pretty terrifying. It will be 50 degrees, and I don’t like running in the heat.”

But for now, Simon is looking forward to some gentler exercise of swimming and cycling, before ramping up the training regime in the autumn.

“It never feels like you are doing enough, and it has taken over my life. I will be relieved when it is finished, but I hope to continue raising money for Rainbows in other ways.”

To sponsor Simon via his JustGiving page, visit icedesertjungle.com

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41

There are few such beautiful settings as the one enjoyed by Barnsdale Hall Hotel, right up on Barnsdale Hill, with glorious views over Rutland Water and across to the Hambleton Peninsula. The view is not the only reason for celebration - this year the hotel is marking its 30th anniversary. We went to find out more about the hotel past, present and future…

Barnsdale Hall Hotel: 30 Years WORDS: CLARE PEEL

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

I

N 1890 an imposing hunting lodge was built for the 6th Earl Fitzwilliam on the south-facing slopes of the Vale of Catmose and the Gwash Valley to designs by Edward John May. (At the time, Rutland’s reputation as excellent hunting country was fiercely strong, due to hunts including the Belvoir, Cottesmore and Quorn.) The hall attracted some of the most glamorous aristocratic names of the day, such as Edward, Duke of Windsor, and Wallis Simpson.

In the post-war years, the hall fell into disrepair, passing through the hands of several owners.

During the 1970s, when the valley was flooded to create Rutland Water, the old hall had front-row seats, and its new waterfront location presumably played a not-insignificant role in attracting investment. Fast forward to 1986, when the hall, complete with grounds and stable block, was purchased by Derek Penman, whose family still own the hotel. Renovation of the main building ensued, including the laying out of roads and sewers. A number of Swiss-style lodges (now known as “retreats”) were erected, and in August 1988 the hotel opened. In 1989 a leisure centre/spa was added, with more apartment blocks and a conference suite built over the next decade.

The hotel today The complex is impressively extensive, spreading across the hillside, with superbly landscaped gardens and a network of sheltered paths meandering through it. The hotel’s offering is equally huge, ranging from rooms in the old hall and two additional hotel accommodation blocks (with 66 rooms) to stays in one of the retreats (there are now 49 of these, offered on a stay-per-night rental basis as well as on a longer-term timeshare ownership) to corporate breaks, which combine fantastically well with the wide range of activities such as cycling and WELL-BEING DAYS water sports available at Rutland Water. It’s an extremely popular venue for weddings, too, with two licensed rooms inside the hotel, a 18 September licensed venue in the grounds, taking full advantage of the gorgeous 10.30am Arrival 10.30–11.30am Welcome views, and lots of room to house guests. There’s an on-site spa and Presentation – Herbal teas, beauty salon – perfect for all wedding hair and make-up needs. Then teas and coffees (book in there are conferences, spa breaks, dining options and special events. beauty treatments for the The hotel’s leisure facilities include a pool, crazy golf, pitch and putt, following day) tennis, squash, fitness classes and a well-equipped gym. Many locals 11.30am–12.30pm Yoga – inside have membership of the leisure centre as part of a five-year retreat or outside, depending on the weather package. This enables you to enjoy one week per year in one of hotel’s 12.45–2pm Lunch retreats – or, as the hotel is part of the RCI group, at an equivalent 2–3.30pm Check in and RCI destination – in addition to year-round membership of the leisure free time centre. Lots of excellent options…

3.30–5pm Nutrition talk 5–6.30pm Free time 6.30–9.30pm Dinner at 6.30pm, talks on yoga, nutrition, health, fashion, etc, from 7.30/8pm

19 September 7.30am Early morning walk 8.30–9.30am Breakfast 9.45–10.15am Check out 10.30–11.30am Pilates 11.45am–1pm Pool, leisure time 1.30–2.30pm Lunch 2.30pm Beauty treatments 4.30pm End of session

42

Birthday celebrations So, 30 years on, the hotel is celebrating its big birthday with a number of special events, including Bread and Wine nights in conjunction with Hambleton Bakery, themed dining evenings, well-being days, a gin evening on 27 September and, at New Year, a glamorous 1920s’ ball – further details are given in the boxes (left and right). It only remains for us to wish Barnsdale Hall Hotel very many happy returns!

Barnsdale Hall Hotel, Near Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AB For more information on any of the anniversary events or to book dinner, a room or a retreat, tel 01572 757901 or visit the hotel’s website: barnsdalehotel.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

DATES FOR THE DIARY Throughout August: Barnsdale Hall Hotel is running a competition throughout the month to win a seven-day self-catering holiday in any of the RCI exchange holiday destinations throughout the world. See the hotel’s website and social media for details.

18–19 September Well-being days with yoga, pilates, an overnight stay and healthy-eating dining options (see box opposite for fuller details) 27 September Gin Evening, hosted by Rutland Radio’s Lydia Meredith and with canapés and charcuterie 26–28 October Long Halloween Weekend 28 October Wedding Fair, 10.30am–3pm December Christmas festivities plus glamorous New Year’s Eve 1920s-themed ball

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Wild spirit WORDS: DEBORAH PENNELL

I

AM a massive fan of sloe gin and make gallons of it each year, but there are so many delicious liqueurs to be created from the fruit found in our hedgerows. In my world, September is the month to start restocking the store cupboards for the winter ahead, and, I am afraid to say, alcohol plays a very important part in this plan. We are not talking a boring bottle of claret here – this is serious alcohol… home produced, using a basic spirit such as vodka, gin, whisky or brandy, which is converted into a delicious liqueur, to warm the cockles and see you through even the coldest winter days.

September is a month of plenty. In the hedgerows there is an abundance of fruit that is ripe and ready to be foraged, and, for me, my favourite quince tree is normally drooping under the weight of its enormous pear-shaped fruit.

The children heading back to school after a wonderfully long summer break is a catalyst. I have time on my hands to pick, preserve and restock our dwindling supplies of chutney and pickles, and, most importantly, to create some much-needed winter warmers. In September the hedgerows are stuffed with wild sloes, and, if you are lucky, you will find damsons, bullaces (wild plums) and crab apples too. All of these fruit are free to forage, and, when mixed with a basic spirit such as gin, vodka, whisky or brandy, create a fine tipple. Finished liqueurs can be mixed into cocktails with Prosecco or Champagne, drunk as a refreshing long drink topped up with tonic or soda, or for the hardcore (and I come into this category), just drunk neat, as a shot!

When picking foraged fruit, my advice would be to never take more than you need, and make sure you leave some fruit for the birds, as all these fruits are an important part of their winter diet.

Ask the expert: Tiffany Gwinnett

For help and advice on producing the best homemade liqueurs, I always head to my “Wild Spirit” guru, Tiffany Gwinnett. Tiffany, grew up helping her father to make sloe gin and elderberry wine, and also has a brother who professionally brews beer in Sweden, so she always seems to have the answer to my questions.

Continuing her father’s legacy, Tiffany makes sloe gin that is renowned and much enjoyed by friends, family and teachers lucky enough to have been given a bottle as a present. Tiffany says, “I began to make my own sloe gin years ago and more recently have experimented using other varieties of spirit and fruit. All the liqueurs I make create lovely presents for people, and we always take a bottle with us when we are out for dinner, as a house present. They also go down well at school as teachers’ presents.”

I asked Tiffany for a few tips: Where do you source your base spirits?

I have done some research into the base spirits in the past and I am not convinced a more expensive base spirit bears any reflection on the end product once the fruit and sugar have been added and it has steeped for several months. So, I tend to buy one of the cheaper spirits.

How long does it take to make a liqueur?

A minimum of two months, but preferably longer – certainly quince brandy needs at least four months steeping to fully develop the flavour. I would generally say, the longer left the better.

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How many different liqueurs do you make?

I make about 15 types, from both home-grown and foraged fruit, but only a few bottles of each, although I always make masses of sloe gin.

Last year I had fun perfecting the recipe for a new addition to my repertoire: elderflower and blackberry gin.

What would be your favourite fruit?

It has to be the vermillion-coloured crab apples I scrump from a friend’s tree – the crab apple brandy I make from this fruit is a stunning colour, and the taste is sublime. My favourite tipple has to be crab apple brandy.

Where are you most likely to find the fruit you need?

I grow a lot of my own fruit – cherries, apples, blackcurrants, rhubarb and more – but in my free time I am always out in the countryside foraging and picking from the hedgerows.

Do you ever experiment with new combinations?

I find myself experimenting all the time. I add botanicals such as cinnamon, nutmeg and others to marry up flavours and impart a slightly original twist. I have never followed a recipe to the letter, but instead have adapted several recipes to create my own.

If you had any advice to offer about making wild spirits, what would it be?

I would encourage people to start by making sloe gin, as it is easy to make, and it does not matter if you add too much sugar. In most other recipes the balance of fruit to sugar is key. And do not rush the steeping process – the spirits need time to develop flavour, so a minimum of two months (preferably a lot longer) is necessary.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Sloeberry Spirits I also paid a visit to local business, Sloeberry Spirits, who produce a plentiful range of liqueurs and some of the most delicious sloe truffles. Their beautiful products make excellent gifts (lovely for Christmas).

Owner Andy Hoyle took over the running of Sloeberry Spirits in 2011 and has spent the last seven years adding new lines and expanding production.

After leaving education at 18 years old, Andy worked in the dairy industry for most of his career, with a short period of time doing data collection in property conveyancing, before acquiring Sloeberry Spirits.

Where are Sloeberry Spirits produced?

All our liqueurs are produced from a small unit at Northfield Farm, just north of Oakham. Here on the farm I gather sloes and wild damsons from the hedgerows.

F

RUITS to forage, which can all be added to a base spirit with sugar and botanicals to create wonderful winter warmers:

Sloes

Damsons

Was there a gap in the market for this type of product?

There has always been an interest from people in local and homemade. With Sloeberry Spirits you are buying an original product, which has its own identity, and this appeals to people.

What liqueurs does Sloeberry Spirits make?

Our range of products includes our popular sloe gin, as well as whisky and wild damson, vodka and blackberry, gin and damson, gin and raspberry, and vodka and elderflower, plus others, and some amazing sloe gin truffles.

Bullaces (wild plums)

Where do you source your ingredients?

I find some of the fruit in the hedgerows on the farm itself and other fruits I source locally.

Where are Sloeberry Spirits sold?

Several farm shops in the area stock our products, and we have a good website for online sales. We also attend Food & Drink Fairs around the region and can be found at the Christmas Markets in Oakham, Oundle and Stamford.

Crab apples

What is your most popular product?

By volume, the sloe gin wins hands down, but, for popularity, the gin and raspberry would take the top spot.

Can you suggest a great drink using a Sloeberry product?

Our vodka and strawberry added to cream soda is a great drink. It is sweet, and, for me, the flavour brings many childhood memories flooding back. Any of our products can be used to make delicious cocktails.

And, finally, a random statistic…

It will take Andy 48 dry days to pick all the sloes required to make a year’s worth of sloe gin.

Quinces

For more information about the great range of Sloeberry Spirit products, visit their website at sloeberryspirits.co.uk

Crab apple brandy Deliciously tart crab apples turn a very average bottle of brandy into a luxury tipple using this great recipe: • 500g crab apples • 70cl bottle of brandy • Juice of half a lemon • 50g sugar 1. Wash the crab apples, remove the stalks and cut them into half. Put them into a large bottle or jar with a well-fitting lid. Add the brandy, lemon juice and sugar. Swirl the ingredients around to dissolve the sugar and leave in a dark place for a month. Once a week give the brandy a gentle shake to help extract the flavour from the fruit. After a month, taste it to check for flavour and sweetness.

Blackberries Elderberries

2. The flavour of the crab apple brandy will vary from year to year, as the fruit flavour is swayed by so many natural factors. You can easily sweeten the liqueur by stirring in some extra caster sugar. Likewise, if there is not enough apple flavour, add some extra apples and leave for another week or two. When you are ready to bottle the brandy, remove the fruit and strain through a very fine mesh sieve or muslin. The crab apple brandy will improve with keeping.

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WORDS: CLARE PEEL PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBIN STEWART

Rutland Cookery School

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UN by chef Robin Stewart, whose impressive CV features the kitchens of The Dorchester The Connaught and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Vong, Rutland Cookery School is located in purpose-built kitchens within the Oakham Enterprise Park, a short drive outside of Rutland’s county town. Opened in January 2017 and having built up an excellent reputation since then, it offers courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced cooks on an array of enticing subjects – these are generally either skills-based or cuisinefocused. There’s bread making, finger food, fish, knife skills, macarons and patisserie plus courses on a wide range of global cuisines (French Classics, Indian Street Food, A Taste of Italy, Middle Eastern, Spanish Tapas, to name but a few). Robin also runs Adult and Child Cookery Workshops and Tuesday Supper Club nights plus seasonal courses such as “Stress-Free Christmas Dinner” (6 December 2018, 10am–4pm).

Four-hour half-day courses (10am–2pm) are £66, while full-day courses (10am–4pm) are £99; this includes all ingredients, equipment, a recipe booklet to take home and, of course, tuition. There’s a maximum of nine people on each course, and, on the day I attended – an excellent “Taste of Thailand” full-day workshop – three out of the nine of us had done at least one of Robin’s courses before, which speaks volumes in terms of how highly attendees rate the School.

You follow Robin’s demonstration (his calm, intelligent delivery is a delight to experience and very unintimidating), learning practical skills and picking up insider tips. Robin noted that a key aim was for us to go away with a greater understanding of how the flavours work – in the case of our Thai cooking, the hot, sour, salty and sweet ones – and how to tweak and balance them. It’s all about learning to be a more confident, knowledgeable, successful cook, with great enjoyment along the way.

We started with visually stunning betel leaf wraps, before making a light, fragrant prawn and ginger soup with a lovely sweet and sour tang.

Robin then demonstrated how to make a refreshing papaya salad that

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we would all share as part of our lunch, before we set about making our main dish of the day: Thai red chicken curry. After much pounding of spices and all manner of fragrant leaves with a pestle and mortar, each of us had a generous portion of smooth curry paste, meaning there was some to take home. It was probably the most deliciously succulent chicken I’ve ever cooked and definitely a dish I plan on making again and again. This was served with sticky rice (fabulous learning how to make this, as the kids LOVE it). Each of us tweaked own own curries according to personal preferences: more heat, more lime, more fish sauce for depth and saltiness, etc. We finished with a Thai rice pudding – I’m generally not a huge fan of rice pudding, but this one had a coconut milk base and it was really, really tasty. Our final dish was Thai spring rolls – not the heavy, deep-friend Chinese version, but light, herb-packed rolls in delicate, see-through rice wrappers. These proved to be most people’s biggest challenge – the wrappers are fiddly to work with – but they provoked great amusement within the group, which was fun.

A highlight was tucking in to our culinary creations at lunch – a huge part of the pleasure in food is the social side, after all. I have to confess I ate rather more than I expecting to – apologies to those I was planning on sharing with back at the ranch, but I promise to make the dishes again very soon.

I really couldn’t recommend it highly enough, whether for yourself, with friends or perhaps a partner, or as a gift (several members of our group had been gifted their day). Team-building days for work groups also sound like a great idea. A fantastic experience offering excellent overall value for money. We are most fortunate to have Robin and the School in Rutland.

Rutland Cookery School is at 16c (Gate 2), Oakham Enterprise Park, Ashwell Road, Oakham LE15 7TU. For more details on courses, dates, prices and the School, call 07391 679208 or visit the informative website, rutlandcookeryschool.co.uk

M NEW EN U! Lorraine Roxburgh, new General Manger of The Old Plough at Braunston-in-Rutland near Oakham, and new Head Chef Karl Johnstone (previously of an award-winning inn) are putting this historic pub back on the map, making it a destination for food lovers.

Using an abundance of fresh produce – much sourced from local farmers – they aim to provide sophisticated comfort in an inviting, friendly-family environment. The food is all lovingly and freshly prepared in house, and there’s a great selection of beverages, including local beers, to complement it.

In addition to the classic, cosy bar, there’s an attractive 40-seater glass conservatory and a relaxing, generously sized beer garden, plus five recently renovated rooms if you’re staying overnight or longer.

Lorraine and Karl look forward to welcoming you soon!

Bar Mon - Sun, 12noon - 11pm Food Mon - Sat, 12noon - 2pm, 6pm - 9pm Food Sunday, 12noon - 3pm Breakfast Mon - Sun, 8am - 10am Happy Hour Mon - Thurs, 3pm - 7pm - £3.90 Draught Beer, £6.75 250ml House Wine

The Old Plough 2 Church Street Braunston Near Oakham Rutland LE15 8QT

Tel 01572 722 714 www.oldploughnearoakham.co.uk

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If you thought The Olive Branch was only about food, you’d be wrong. These guys love a good drink, too!

By The Olive Branch Team

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Perfect refreshment!

ETTING the drinks right is critical for any pub! We take lots of care over ours, from commissioning our very own beer – the ultra-quaffable Olive Ale, brewed by Oakham’s Grainstore – to compiling our wine list and making a unique range of pub cocktails. We produce our own rhubarb gin and have come up with an Olive Branch Pimm’s mix too – Pimm’s No. 1 combined with gin and seasonal fruits, which we leave to steep for two weeks before straining and bottling.

One of our favourite bevvies of the summer has definitely been Witham Wines of Grantham’s Sparkling Elderflower Wine. It’s a delicate, floral and full-flavoured wine with hints of elderflower.

At 13% ABV, this is a proper drink to be enjoyed with a bowl of strawberries as an apéritif, or even

with a summer dessert. Whatever you choose to have it with, it’s perfect for sipping on our terrace!

Another fantastic, locally made drink is our Summer G&T Cocktail. This contains Warner Edwards Honey Bee Gin (distilled in Harrington, Northamptonshire), honey liqueur, sugar syrup, blueberries and Fever Tree tonic. From a little further afield is a cracker from our wine list – “Pet Nat Brut”, made by Davenport Vineyards of Sussex. This is an organic natural sparkling wine made from nothing but grapes – no added sugar, no added sulphites, no added yeast, no added anything. It is sparkling because it’s bottled half way through its fermentation, so it finishes fermenting in the bottle, thereby producing the fizz. The flavour is a clean mix of fruit and yeast – totally refreshing for an Indian summer!

Salad of baby vegetables, honey vinaigrette, goats’ cheese Here’s a fabulous starter or side dish that goes perfectly with any of the drinks mentioned above. Serves 4.

Baby salad leaves • 1 goats’ cheese – we use Golden Cross goats’ cheese from East Sussex • 8 heritage carrots • 4 baby fennel • 4 baby leeks • 4 baby beetroot • 4 asparagus spears

Assembly: 1. Dress salad leaves in the honey vinaigrette.

2. Dress vegetables in the vinaigrette too.

3. Place the salad leaves on the plate, then add the baby vegetables, making sure each plate gets a few of each.

4. Crumble over some goats’ cheese to finish.

We grow heritage carrots in The Olive Branch allotment

1. Blanch each of the baby vegetables separately in salted boiling water.

2. Plunge into ice-cold water to stop them cooking. Each vegetable will take a different amount of time – as a general guide: carrots, 3.5 minutes; leeks, 3 minutes; beetroot, 10 minutes; fennel, 5 minutes.

3. For a different texture for the asparagus, roast it in the oven. Pre-heat oven to 200ºC. Lay the asparagus on a tray and sprinkle with rapeseed oil, season with salt, pepper and grated lemon zest. Roast for 10 minutes.

Honey vinaigrette • 1 shallot • 1 clove of garlic • 50g balsamic vinegar • 50g white wine vinegar • 150g water • 80g grain mustard • 2x bay leaves • 20g Rutland honey • 1 pint vegetable oil • Few sprigs of thyme

There’s far more to Witham Wines’ Sparkling Elderflower Wine than elderflower. Italian wine “must” is mixed with an elderflower infusion (picked and made by Charlie), and this is turned into a sparkling wine using the traditional method – similar to the process used to make Champagne. The wine is then stored in bottles, kept upside-down and “riddled”, carefully turning them to loosen the sediment that forms during the second fermentation. It is this inbottle fermentation that gives the wine its depth of flavour. It has a soft sparkle and just a hint of elderflower, which keeps it well balanced and fresh rather than overly floral.

Witham Wines has got a great back story, too.

It is run by married couple Gemma and Charlie, who launched the business after producing the wine and beer for their own wedding party! The response from their guests was so positive that they simply had to bring their drinks to a wider audience. In April 2017, at Melton Mowbray Cheese Fair, they sold the first bottle of their Elderflower Wine – and Witham Wines was born.

Here are a few of the unique cocktails that we serve at The Olive Branch:

This salad goes brilliantly with fish dishes

1. With a hand blender, blend together all the ingredients except the oil, for about one minute.

2. With the hand blender still switched on, slowly add the oil. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Put into a clean bottle (will keep in the fridge).

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How Witham Wines makes its Elderflower Wine

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Olive Branch Pimm’s Traditional Pimm’s, gin, raspberry rose cordial, framboise, topped up with ginger ale Country Bumpkin Brazilian rum, brown sugar, lime, summer berry syrup. Served “dirty” or “clean” The Pink Lady Rhubarb gin, ginger syrup, lemon and apple juice, egg white and grenadine Spiced Summer Berry Bramble Seedlip Spiced, lemon juice and wild summer berry syrup

Christmas Parties 2018

‘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, £70.00 per person for 3 courses. (£90 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.

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 £245.00 per night, based on 2 people sharing one of our Standard double bedrooms, including full Hambleton breakfast & vat.

Pan fried fillet of Seabass with a bouillabaisse jus Terrine of Carrot with star anise ice cream Wild Mushroom raviolo with grappa ***

Best fish catch of the day *** Poached fillet of Turbot with leek, potato and watercress Roast Guinea Fowl with artichoke and sweet corn Madeira jus Jacob’s Ladder, smoked potato, horseradish, red wine jus *** Tiramisu Almond soufflé with quince ice cream Terrine of Pear and Blackberry Caramel ice cream *** Coffee and 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

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We are delighted to announce that our NEW MENU is available, offering a selection of Indian and Nepalese dishes created by our talented chef’s.

Exclusive Sunday Buffet from 1pm - 4.30pm All you can eat.

Adults £9.95 Children £5.95

Banquet Night Every Wednesday Three course Meal £12.95 Choose from our A la carte menu

Early Bird Offer Sunday to Thursday (Excl Wed) before 7.30pm

One course £8.95, Two courses £9.95 Three courses £10.95

Monday to Thursday - 5pm to 11pm | Friday & Saturday – 5pm to 11.30pm | Sunday 1pm to 10pm Large car park available at rear.

113 St Mary’s Road, Market Harborough, Leicester LE16 7DT Tel: 01858 462 752 www.avatardining.com

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WE OFFER

A Warm Welcome I Selection of Real Ales Premium Lagers & Quality Wines I Seasonal & Varied Menu Roaring Log Fire I Large Garden I Parties & Functions Accommodation I Children & Dogs Welcome

LUNCH SPECIAL OFFER Wednesday to Friday Two Courses for £13.50 TAKE OUT TUESDAY Fish & Chips £8.95 per portion WICKED WEDNESDAY Two Steaks (Ribeye, Fish or Gammon) & two glasses of house wine £30 THIRSTY THURSDAY HAPPY HOUR £3 a pint or 175ml glass of house wine between 6pm and 7pm FAMILY FRIDAY Children’s meals half price whilst you enjoy a drink between 6pm and 7pm

OPENING HOURS

Tue: 6pm - 10.30pm Wed & Thur: 12 noon - 3pm, 6pm - 10.30pm Fri & Sat: 12 noon - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm Sun: 12 noon - 6pm Mon: closed.

More information and our current menu on our website

www.exeterarmsbarrowden.co.uk

QUIZ NIGHT 1st Thursday of the month £5 per team of four. Prize for the winning team. 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.

T: 01572 747365

E: info@exeterarmsbarrowden.co.uk 51

Situated in Oakham’s Market Place in the centre of the town, Smith Eliot’s offices have a friendly greeting on the sign outside, inviting you to call in and say hello. Amander Meade took up the invitation and spoke with Practice Manager, Simone Harley, about what sets this financial firm apart

Discover the difference – Smith Eliot Financial Management

PHOTOGRAPHY: SONARA

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HANKS to their ongoing success, the Smith Eliot family has expanded significantly in recent years and now numbers 15, including long-standing industry experts in investment planning, mortgages, retirement planning, tax and trust work. The family reference is quite literal, as directors Stephen and Oliver Smith are father and son, with Oliver’s brother Jonny in charge of operations at Smith Eliot’s sister office in Stamford, and Stephen’s wife Lisa handling a key advisory role in Oakham.

“We feel our strength is in de-mystifying the complicated world of financial planning.

Our whole team live locally and are invested in achieving the best possible results for every single one of our clients,” explains Simone.

She goes on to say that potential clients sometimes wrongly assume that significant wealth is required in order to benefit from the team’s advice, when nothing could be further from the truth. “For example, we have a very strong mortgage team, who are highly skilled in sourcing and negotiating the best deal for house buyers, from those wanting to buy their very first home to those already on the property ladder. We can manage the whole process in house, including liaison with solicitors, which our clients find reassuring. Our aim is to help young people successfully obtain their first mortgage and retain them as clients all their life – ideally all the way to planning their pension. The Smith Eliot mission statement is to grow and preserve clients’ long-term wealth – always putting their interests first, which is how we operate day to day.”

The team pride themselves on making things as convenient as possible for clients by offering weekend and evening appointments, with advisors always available by telephone.

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The Stamford office opens on Saturdays, with Oakham soon to follow suit.

Pension planning also forms a substantial part of Smith Eliot’s portfolio, and the firm is proud of the significant number of new clients referred or recommended by friends. “Our business is driven very much by traditional family values such as honesty, respect and trust. We are transparent and friendly to deal with and place as much emphasis on developing personal relationships as we do on providing the very best advice. This means we can help each individual client plan more effectively for their future and help deal with life’s challenges.”

With challenges in mind, members of the Smith Eliot team have been personally affected by some of life’s toughest situations, which is why they are committed to giving something back to the local community. “As well as individual initiatives, the company supports a range of charities and good causes throughout the region.

This year we raised funds for Sunflowers – a support group for families with a child with special needs – and another event is planned this November on behalf of The Harley Staples Cancer Trust, which supports families with a child

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

affected by cancer. It has been a privilege to learn more about these brilliant organisations and to help raise awareness for them.”

To hear more about what the team provide, readers are invited to attend the next Smith Eliot Pension Planning Seminar at The George hotel in Stamford. “These events are a great introductory opportunity to talk to our specialist advisors, meet the support team and listen to our guest speakers. Designed to offer additional information and support to potential and existing clients in a relaxed and informative way, they have proved very popular, with several more planned this year.”

Whether you are new to financial planning, an experienced investor or seeking assistance with your first mortgage, Smith Eliot will have an expert to help. Taking professional advice today could make the world of difference tomorrow.

To book a place for the October Pension Seminar or to arrange an informal meeting, contact the team at 35 Market Place, Oakham LE15 6DT, 01572 759759 or 3 Ironmonger Street, Stamford PE9 1LP, 01780 437500, smitheliot.co.uk

• INVESTMENT PLANNING • RETIREMENT PLANNING • INHERITANCE TAX PLANNING • MORTGAGES • PROTECTION • TAX AND TRUST WORK*

THROUGHOUT LIFE’S FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, WE’LL BE THERE FOR YOU. THAT’S A PROMISE.

CALL US TODAY ON OAKHAM 01572 759759 OR STAMFORD 01780 437500 to arrange an informal meeting - at a time and a place to suit you.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

35 Market Place, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6DT | 01572 759759 3 Ironmonger Street, Stamford, PE9 1PL | 01780 437500 www.smitheliot.co.uk | Simone.Harley@sjpp.co.uk Smith Eliot Financial Management Ltd represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and service, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/ 53 products. The title ‘Partner Practice’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. *‘Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority’.

s l oo h c S r Junio Nelson Mandela called education “the great engine of personal development” and firing up that engine in the earliest years in a child’s learning journey sets the wheels in motion for years to follow. It’s incredibly important to find the right junior school for your child, and we are lucky with this, since there are many excellent ones locally.

We look at a range of local independent schools

Photo: Peter Mason

Brooke Priory School Since the school opened its doors in 1989 – initially at Brooke, before moving to its present location in 1996 – Brooke Priory has always been proud to lead the way in the educational field through innovation. Today, it is one of the most forward-thinking schools in the area, but it still holds at its heart the traditions and values that are part of the “hidden curriculum”, although not always upheld in today’s society, such as courtesy, respect and good manners.

In the classroom, ERIC (Everyone Reads in Class) was introduced in lessons last September, and, to further promote the reading programme, this daily reading time will be increased from 15 minutes to 30 minutes every day at the start of the new academic year for the children in the EYFS setting to children in Form VI. Mr Bancroft, Head of English, confirmed that “the introduction of the daily reading in class time has significantly improved the reading outcomes of the children throughout the school. At Brooke Priory School, we believe that reading is the key to learning, and it underpins everything that we do in school.”

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With a new “accelerated reading programme” also being rolled out at the start of the new academic year this September, the children and staff are looking forward to using the new state-of-the-art BPS Resources Centre, which will combine books and technology and be used by the whole school community. The Headmaster, Roger OutwinFlinders, commented: “we are all so excited to use this new facility, which will transform the use of the school library and the teaching of ICT. In addition, and in conjunction with our new reading programmes, I hope that Brooke Priory parents will also be keen to support their local libraries with their children.”

Learning is fun at Brooke Priory School, and there are exciting times ahead!

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Open Morning: Thursday 4 October, 9.30am.

Station Approach, Oakham LE15 6QW, 01572 724778, admissions@brooke.rutland.sch.uk, brooke.rutland.sch.uk

Witham Hall A co-educational day and boarding school for children aged four to 13 years, Witham Hall is located in beautiful countryside near to Bourne.

Its reputation for inspiring children to achieve both in and beyond the classroom has gained the school a much wider geographical reputation. Many of its 250 pupils travel from afar to make the most of its home-from-home flexi-boarding experience, which starts at Year 4 and is underpinned by a strong family ethos and a lot of fun.

Alongside the striking Queen Anne building and the beautifully maintained sports pitches stand purpose-built modern teaching facilities including science and IT labs, music and performance rooms, a highly reputed art department and a state-of-the-art sports centre.

A range of after-school clubs and activities starts from the Pre-Prep onwards, and be it from these, educational visitors, theme weeks or the annual school play, children are encouraged to build their selfreliance by trying something new. Charles Welch, Headmaster, says “When people meet our children, their lively intelligence and kind heartedness are what impress.”

Academic confidence and success are nurtured in students to enable them to progress to their senior school of choice. These include Oundle, Uppingham, Oakham, Repton and Rugby, with some going further afield, such as to Eton.

Witham on the Hill, Stamford PE10 0JJ, 01778 590222, withamhall.com

Stamford Junior School Part of the diamond-structured Stamford Endowed Schools (SES – see p61), this is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for children aged four to 11. There is nursery provision for two- to four-yearolds. The Nursery and Junior School currently have 407 children, of whom 394 are day pupils and the remainder are boarders (from Year 3) The boy/girl split here is almost exactly 50 per cent.

The school performed outstandingly in its latest ISI inspection, receiving the highest grade in all areas. It nurtures the academic and social growth of its children, whilst enriching them with values that emphasise community and responsibility. In an interview with Stamford Living, Headteacher Emma Smith said, “I like the magic and sparkle of this school; pupils should bounce in and bounce out of their school day. At this stage in their learning career it’s all about establishing a good work ethic and nurturing a love for learning.”

The school provides for children with a range of needs and aims to develop their intellectual curiosity and to achieve their best, believing that every child shines in different ways. Whilst the school follows the National Curriculum, it prides itself in taking this much further. There are plenty of opportunities in modern languages (Spanish and French), music and sport (a thriving area, with the children benefitting from the use of the Senior School facilities). Co-curricular activities include creative writing, chess, tinkercad, iMovie and Formula 1 car building, among many others.

The Good Schools Guide reads, “Parents didn’t need to tell us that this is a happy school; we could see it for ourselves… A joyful place, offering a happy, positive start to education.”

Open Day: Saturday 13 October (to book, visit stamfordschools.co.uk).

Kettering Road, Stamford PE9 2LR, 01780 484400, ses.lincs.sch.uk

Maidwell Hall

Copthill

Founded in 1911 and in its present idyllic location in the Northamptonshire countryside since 1933, Maidwell Hall is a boarding and day preparatory school for boys and girls aged 8–13.

The school offers a traditional, holistic education that encourages children to enjoy the great outdoors, to grow in self-confidence and independence, and, something that Headmaster Robert Lankester is keen to stress, to shine as individuals.

Around 80 per cent of Maidwell Hall’s students are boarders, but day pupils are fully integrated into school life and extra-curricular activities. The school works very much in conjunction with parents – children see a lot of their families during term, on “leave outs” (long weekends), and parents are encouraged to attend school events in between those times.

The Good Schools Guide summarizes Maidwell Hall as follows: “Small enough for everyone to know each other but big enough to offer a first-rate, all-round education, the school encourages pupils to work hard, get lots of fresh air and have fun along the way.”

Maidwell, NN6 9JG, 01604 686234, maidwellhall.co.uk

Founded in 1969 and located in Uffington, close to Stamford, Copthill is a thriving purpose-built school for 300 boys and girls aged between two and 11 years old. It is situated on 350 acres of farmland in the Lincolnshire countryside. Safe access to extensive woods, a river, fields, tracks, farm animals and archaeological sites all make outdoor learning a daily reality for its pupils.

The school’s emphasis is on health, exercise, inspiration, confidencebuilding and engagement, aiming to provide children with a “truly wellrounded education” that combines tradition with innovation. The ISI inspection in May 2017 rated Copthill “excellent” in all areas. The school’s Headteacher, Helen Schofield, describes Copthill as “a thriving, busy, happy place to learn” and writes, “At Copthill, we are committed to putting the child at the heart of their education. We challenge and support them to be confident in recognising their own, and each other’s, strengths and talents, and instil in them the curiosity, excitement and drive to seize every opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

Barnack Road, Uffington, Stamford PE9 3AD, 01780 757506, copthill.com RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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Junior Schools

Bilton Grange With excellent specialist teachers, amazing facilities and some of the smallest class sizes in the area, the co-educational “BG”, as Bilton Grange is popularly known, is a school at which children truly fulfil their potential, grow their confidence and unlock their talents. Design technology and science are taught by specialists in fully equipped labs. Top musicians provide specialist tuition, and children can take part in a range of choirs and instrumental ensembles as well as drama productions in the wellequipped theatre. Swimming is taught in the school’s 25-metre indoor pool, and there’s even a school course where pupils can learn to play golf.

They can also engage in further sports such as horse riding as well as

adventurous training including Cubs and Brownies in the school’s woodlands and beyond.

But Bilton Grange (offering day and boarding, with around 300 pupils aged four to 13) is more than just a school: it is a vibrant community.

Parents pop in and out, supporting sports matches, enjoying coffee in the conservatory and afternoon tea in the gallery. With a strong track record of scholarships to top senior schools, space to play and room to learn, children enjoy a fantastic education and an idyllic childhood here.

Open Morning: 6 October, 10.30am Dunchurch, Rugby CV22 6QU, 01788 818246, biltongrange.co.uk

Stoneygate School

Leicester Grammar Junior School

A “modern yet traditional school” is how Headmaster John Dobson describes Stoneygate, a co-educational day school (a “Prep School Plus”) for pupils aged four to 16. Since May 2016, Stoneygate – which was founded in 1856 – has been a member of the Leicester Grammar School Trust’s family of schools.

Stoneygate, which is set within extensive grounds in an attractive rural location in south Leicestershire, welcomes pupils with a broad range of abilities and aims to provide a wellrounded, holistic education, nurturing each child’s individual talents. Small class sizes, committed teachers and a close-knit school community are key to this, and children thrive in the happy, caring environment. In addition to the academic focus, the school offers a fantastic array of extra-curricular activities.

Sports and music are especially strong areas.

Open Morning: Saturday 27 October, 9.30am–12.30pm.

London Road, Great Glen, Leics LE8 9DJ, 0116 259 2282, stoneygateschool.co.uk

The Junior School for Leicester Grammar (see p60) offers an outstanding educational experience for boys and girls aged 3-11. (The Senior School on the same site has pupils aged 11–18.) Founded in September 1992, the school moved to its present purpose-built, well-facilitated building in 2008.

The school provides opportunities for pupils to grow and learn in a stimulating, supportive and secure environment, producing well-rounded, motivated children with a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. There’s strong emphasis on pastoral care, and the dedicated team of staff work with the children within a nurturing community based on Christian values to enable the moral and spiritual well-being of each pupil to grow and thrive. A healthy balance between academic rigour and fun ensures that the academic potential of each child is maximised and that standards here are high.

Junior School pupils have access to the Senior School for subjects including music, science and sport. Their familiarity with these facilities helps to create a very smooth, straightforward transition into Year 7.

Open Morning: Saturday 3 November, 9.30am–1pm. London Road, Great Glen, Leics LE8 9FL, 0116 259 1950, leicestergrammar.org.uk

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s l oo h c S r Senio Choosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions that parents have to make. From grammar school to boarding school, here’s an overview of the educational offering at senior level across our region

Uppingham School Established in 1584 (as was Oakham School), Uppingham is a co-educational boarding school, a “seven-days-a-week school” (only about 10 students out of 795 are day pupils). This gives a single focus that enables remarkable depth and diversity of curricular and extra-curricular opportunity. The school, which enjoys an attractive situation in the thriving market town that shares its name, takes pupils from the ages of 13 to 18 and, in addition to its strong academic reputation, is renowned for music and the performing arts. Its contribution to the local community in terms of musical events is exceptional. It also runs a very successful summer school for local children.

Headmaster Dr Richard Maloney says, “Today, the value of an all-round education, in which each individual and their talents come first, is fundamental to the Uppingham experience… Uppingham values people.

Ours is a warm, compassionate community where pupils explore their creativity and discover their passions.”

Visiting Days: 15 September (Sixth Form); 29 September (Fourth Form). Uppingham LE15 9QE, 01572 822216, uppingham.co.uk

Robert Smyth Academy Robert Smyth was founded in 1607 as the Market Harborough Grammar School and has served the community of Market Harborough and surrounding villages ever since. Now co-educational and part of the Tudor Grange Academies Trust, it offers a continuous “all-through” education to pupils from 11 to 19 and has a “Good” rating from Ofsted. Principal Dan Cleary writes that pupils are offered “continuity, security and a support network to promote their well-being and enable them to become successful learners”.

Burnmill Road, Market Harborough LE16 7JG, 01858 440770, robertsmyth.tgacademy.org.uk

Photo: Elli Dean

Bourne Grammar School Bourne Grammar School is a large and highly successful mixed selective school for pupils aged 11 to 18. Recent expansion has enabled children from further away to attend, so many students now go there from Stamford, Spalding, the Deepings and Peterborough as well as the areas around Bourne, from which the school has traditionally recruited.

Jonathan Maddox, Headteacher since 2005, has focussed the school on “Atmosphere, Support and Results”, very much in that order. Students are bright and well motivated; they grow up and learn amongst others with similar values and aspirations. Alongside a modern academic curriculum – which includes 27 A-level subjects in the Sixth Form – there is a very full programme of sport, music, drama, clubs and a particularly vibrant Duke of Edinburgh award programme. Pastoral care throughout the school is exceptional, ensuring that all students feel safe and well supported as they progress through their education.

Admission to Bourne Grammar is by the Lincolnshire 11+ examination, which children at over 100 primary schools take at the beginning of Year 6. Achievement of Photo: Elli Dean a qualifying score means that a student is in the top 25 per cent by academic ability. The school is inevitably oversubscribed – there are more qualified students than the 240 places on offer – so places are allocated according to distance criteria.

The school is very well equipped; the estate was developed impressively during an expansion phase, and a £4m science block, containing 15 laboratories, opened in 2017.

South Road, Bourne PE10 9JE, 01778 422288, bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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Â

Senior Schools

Catmose College Catmose College is a large, oversubscribed, co-educational secondary academy school in Oakham, with most of its students (aged 11–16) drawn from the county town and surrounding villages, although many are attracted from a wider area including Leicestershire and Melton. The College is one of the highest achieving in Rutland and Leicestershire, with a sterling reputation locally. The Ofsted report in February 2012 rated the college “Outstanding” in all categories. The school offers a broad range of experiences beyond the classroom to build independence, resilience and leadership skills that are critical for success in adult life.

Principal Stuart Williams writes, “Our primary aim is to encourage each student to become a mature, independently minded individual who has the necessary skills and knowledge to be of value to themselves and society.”

Open Evening: Wednesday 19 September, 5.30–7.30pm Catmose Campus, Huntsmans Drive, Oakham LE15 6RP, 01572 770066, catmosecollege.com

Oakham School Oakham is well known and loved for being a friendly and unpretentious school for boys and girls aged between 10 and 18. Whilst the school is proud of its 400-year heritage, its priority is always to be at the forefront of educational developments: to be educational innovators.

Oakham was one of the first independent schools to move to co-education in 1971 and it was also one of the first schools to introduce the IB Diploma, alongside A-levels. It continues to look to the future to ensure that it equips its students with the knowledge, aptitude and skills to thrive in the world beyond.

“Whilst academic excellence lies at the heart of everything we do, our focus goes far beyond just encouraging our students to achieve outstanding results in their examinations,” says Nigel Lashbrook, Headmaster. “Our genuinely holistic approach to education means that learning is never just confined to the four walls of a classroom.”

As a large school, with just over a thousand students, Oakham is able to offer a staggering range of opportunities, and, vitally, all pupils have the chance to take part, or to develop their talents, in all areas of school life. Students can choose from over 130 activities in which they can take part every week. There are five major drama productions every year and over 500 individual music lessons each week. Additionally, it offers 30 different sports to students of all levels – from enthusiasts to elite athletes. Students can choose to board, flexi-board or to be a day pupil. They all benefit from being part of the school’s unique, age-specific house environment, which is underpinned by exceptional pastoral care.

Open Mornings: Saturday 15 September and Saturday 6 October (Lower School); Saturday 29 September (Middle School); Thursday 20 September (Upper School).

Chapel Close, Market Place, Oakham LE15 6DT, 01572 758500, oakham.rutland.sch.uk

Leicester Grammar School Leicester Grammar School is one of the UK’s top-performing co-educational HMC independent schools for pupils aged 11-18. It is based on a purpose-built 75-acre campus, opened in 2008, and there is a Junior School on the same site (see p56). The school’s aims are: to develop the academic potential of each pupil; to enrich its pupils’ experience through music, sport and other activities; to allow the moral and spiritual well-being of pupils to grow; and to nurture the individual, with a Christian ethos. The Headmaster, Mr King, describes the school as being one where “the individual can develop his or her talents to the full”, both academic and personal. The many opportunities here equip pupils “with the confidence that they can meet the challenges of the modern world”.

Open Morning: Saturday 3 November, 9.30am–1pm. London Road, Great Glen, Leicester LE8 9FL, 0116 259 1900, leicestergrammar.org.uk

Harington School Adjacent to Catmose College and also part of the Rutland and District Schools’ Federation, is Harington School, a coeducational 16 to 19 academy. Harington opened in 2015 (moving into its new building in November 2016) and has already established an excellent reputation, including a rating of “Outstanding” in its January 2017 Ofsted report.

The report states “Teachers’ expectations of students are very high, and they are unrelenting in their pursuit of student success…”

Harington offers A-level provision – stating that it is “suited to those learners who wish to pursue an academic pathway”. The school also provides access to a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, including Duke of Edinburgh awards and a full sporting programme supported by an onsite leisure centre.

Open Evening: Tuesday 9 October, 6pm Catmose Campus, Huntsmans Drive, Oakham LE15 6RP, 01572 772579, haringtonschool.com

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Casterton College, Rutland Located in the village of Great Casterton, this co-educational academy headed by Principal Carl Smith takes up to 900 pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is especially renowned for its maths department, which in 2017 was named top in its category in the National Teaching Awards – a fantastic achievement. The prospectus tells us that this is “an educational environment where staff and students strive every day to be better than they were yesterday”. Facilities include an Enterprise Centre where pupils learn maths, ITC and business. Music and business are well catered for, too, and after-school pursuits range from fencing to Young Chamber.

Ryhall Road, Great Casterton, Rutland PE9 4AT, 01780 762168, castertoncollege.com

Pitsford School

Stamford Endowed Schools The Stamford Endowed Schools (SES) are made up of the diamond-structured Stamford Junior School (see p55), then, at senior level, Stamford School, Stamford High School and a Sixth Form. While the Junior School is coeducational, at age 11 boys begin at Stamford School and girls at Stamford High School.

The boys school was established in 1532, while the founding of the girls’ school dates to 1870; both schools have strong reputations for success, from academic excellence to outstanding achievements in music, drama, sports and adventure. Most students are day pupils, but a number do board – flexi-boarding and weekly boarding are popular options.

The Sixth Form is co-educational, with pupils sharing lessons and facilities across the campus. This encourages a very collegiate environment, helping pupils to prepare for the next stage of their lives. The Sixth Form currently offers pupils 26 A-levels, two BTECs and a comprehensive enrichment programme.

Students have access to a wealth of facilities, including a new sports centre with a 25-metre pool and state-of-the-art fitness suite, plus a Performing Arts Centre. Beyond the classroom, there are trips around the world to broaden cultural horizons and regular field trips.

Will Phelan, Principal of SES, explains: “Stamford provides a huge range of opportunities, experiences, influences and support. We inspire our pupils, light fires in them and enable them to become who they really want to be.”

Open Days: Saturday 6 October (Stamford School and Stamford High School); Wednesday 10 October (Sixth Form); book at stamfordschools.co.uk. Brazenose House, St Paul’s Street, Stamford PE9 2BE, 01780 750311, ses.lincs.sch.uk

Pitsford School is a small, friendly, independent co-educational day school for pupils aged four to 18. Set in 26 beautiful acres, alongside Pitsford Reservoir, the Junior and Senior schools share the same grounds, and there’s a smooth transition between the two. School buildings are surrounded by green open spaces, inspiring a relaxed, positive attitude to study.

Pitsford aims to educate the whole person and sets, expects and maintains high standards in all its disciplines and in the wide range of extra-curricular activities it offers. The curriculum draws on the best of the grammar school traditions of the past, makes them relevant to today’s needs and ensures that they are applicable to the demands of the future.

Small class sizes ensure individual attention.

Pitsford offers a full range of academic subjects through to GCSE and A-level and achieves some of the best academic results in the country.

Open Morning: Saturday 29 September, 10.30am–1pm. Pitsford Hall, Pitsford, Northants NN6 9AX, 01604 880306, pitsfordschool.com

Uppingham Community College

A successful co-educational 11–16 secondary school for 900 students on the outskirts of Uppingham, UCC – as it is more familiarly known – offers a holistic approach to education, focussed on the core values of respect, honesty and kindness. Providing what Headmaster Ben Solly describes as “a broad and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of each individual”, the college (rated “Good”

by Ofsted) puts the student at the heart of everything they do. The vision is: “To ensure everyone at UCC thrives, making excellent progress in their learning”.

There’s a high degree of parent satisfaction here, too – in the college’s most recent Ofsted report (2017), a whopping 95 per cent of parents advised that they would recommend the school – something that speaks volumes.

London Road, Uppingham LE15 9TJ, 01572 823631, uppinghamcollege.org.uk

Welland Park Academy Welland Park is an oversubscribed 11–16 co-educational Community College in Market Harborough with an “Outstanding” rating from Ofsted. Principal Miss Julie McBrearty writes, “We pride ourselves on the family feel of this small school, which operates a purposeful and safe learning environment with consistently high standards of conduct. We… empower our students to become caring, competent and responsible in their contribution to the community.”

Welland Park Road, Market Harborough LE16 9DR, 01858 464795, wellandparkacademy.co.uk

Oundle School Very much the beating heart of the beautiful market town that shares its name, the co-educational Oundle School (est. 1556), has long been associated with the very best of independent boarding education. It is the third-largest independent boarding and day school in England, with 860 full boarders and 250 day pupils, attracting children from more than 120 feeder prep schools across the country and around 12 per cent of its pupils from over 20 countries overseas. A key feeder school is Laxton Junior School, a day school in East Road for children aged four to 11. Applicants sit an entrance exam and normally enter at 11+, 13+ or in the Sixth Form.

Church Street, Oundle PE8 4HG, 01832 277122, oundleschool.org.uk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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A small, friendly, independent school for children aged 4-18 years

Open Morning Saturday 29th September 10:30am–1pm

• Small class sizes to ensure individual attention

Come and see the school in action

• School Bus Network • Free wrap around care from 8am – 5.20pm • Wide range of extra-curricular activities offered

Call 01604 880306 to book a place

pitsfordschool.com

Places available from September 2018 • Purpose built pre-school with garden and outside teaching area • 3 Outside Play areas • Separate baby unit • Home-cooked meals • High quality childcare from specialist staff

Day Nursery and Pre-School

Open 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday Overton House, 42 Cold Overton Rd, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6NT

01572 723 810 www.scallywagsoakham.co.uk 63

A liTtlE WAteR SPorTs

Keen to make the most of those warm early autumn days? Why not take out a canoe on Rutland Water? The scenery is gorgeous around the reservoir as we head into the new season. I took my boys (aged 6 and 9) a few times over the summer, and it was brilliant for the kids and adults alike. You can hire boats of different sizes – four of us took out a katakanu, which seats up to six and is incredibly easy to keep upright (reassuring if you have younger children and are worried about them staying in the boat). Everyone has a paddle and off you go – great fun. Canoes (up to three people) and stand-up paddleboards are also available, as are rowing boats. An hour on a katakanu costs £28 per craft, including buoyancy aids, wetsuits if required, plus helmets. Rowing boats are the same price, while stand-up paddleboards are £10 per craft per hour. anglianwaterparks.co.uk/rutlandwater-park/watersports

A liTtlE HIstOry

Hallaton Museum celebrates 40 years this year and to commemorate the landmark it is hosting the exhibition “Hidden Histories”, which reveals unexpected tales of witches, windmills and the infamous Mrs Whigham, founder of the museum back in 1978.

This free exhibition is running until Sunday 7 October. The museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank holidays from 2.30–5pm. In addition to the exhibits there are activities for the young and young at heart including bike trails (of varying lengths) following the stories around featured villages. hallaton-museum.co.uk

LIttLe livIng Clare Peel takes a look at some child-friendly offerings across the region as we head into the autumn

A liTtlE GAlaCtiC ADveNtuRe

A liTtlE MEal ouT

One of the UK’s finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys and original cinema posters is currently on display in a cool exhibition entitled “May The Toys Be With You” at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery. When the first movie broke box office records in 1977, no one could have predicted that the merchandising would go on to earn even more than the film itself, with fans young and old. From 1977 to 1985 an estimated 300 million action figures were sold, and this is a chance to discover the role Leicestershire (Coalville) toy company Palitoy played in this incredible global success story.

An unmissable opportunity to view many rarely seen Star Wars treasures. Young Jedi may even have an opportunity to dress up and wield a lightsaber themselves! leicester.gov.uk

Dining out with children can have mixed results – some days it’s life-affirming, some days it can be a little testing! Here, to help achieve the former, are some tried-andtested child-friendly local places (thanks to my two: Frank and Ned – seen chomping away at Fish Tank, right), with menus designed with young diners in mind.

• Fish Tank Sushi If your children are willing to venture outside the usual comfort zone and transition from fishfingers to sushi, why not check out the kids’ menu at Fish Tank in Oakham.

Sticky chicken skewers and Japanese ice cream are good options to try. Kids get their own special pincer-style chopsticks (fun!), but if they’re still too fiddly to manage, they can just use fingers. My boys enjoy setting each other a “wasabi challenge” to see who can consume more of the fiery green stuff! fishtanksushi.com • Gallone’s Most children love ice cream, and this family-friendly place (on Harborough’s Adam and Eve Street), one in a mini Northamptonshire chain that has been in business since 1895, does a fabulous range to suit all preferences.

The chocolate/fudge/rocky road fondue is guaranteed to keep the kids good for a few minutes! Great waffles, pancakes and sundaes too. gallonesparlours.com • The Lodge Country Park and Café It’s always relaxing bringing the kids to the café at The Lodge in Market Overton, as there’s lots of space to run around in the playground adjacent, complete with zip wires, wooden trains, climbing frames and space for football. You can sit inside or outside, there are loos, and there’s a good-value children’s menu. A great place to support, too. lodgetrust.org.uk • Pizza Express This place is usually a winner, with paper hats to colour in, dough balls, enticing pizzas, plus desserts including excellent ice cream sundaes (you can only hope the kids are full by that point, so you can “help them out”).

In our experience, the staff at the Stamford branch are ever-patient, too.

• Wildwood The Oakham branch of Wildwood is brilliant for children – there’s an appealing menu for them, a playroom upstairs (no boring sitting waiting at the table) and even a candyfloss maker at the front. The booths make for fun seating. There’s also a branch in Harborough. wildwoodrestaurants.co.uk

Louise Mercieca’s “How Food Shapes Your Health” (£14) is a new book on children’s nutrition, illustrated by Market Harborough artist Mikki Longley and featuring child-friendly superheroes to inspire youngsters to follow Louise’s excellent advice on healthy eating. Order at local bookstores or at louisemercieca.co.uk

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Want to sell your house? Think local, say Andrew Granger & Co WORDS: KIRSTIE MITCHELL

Director of Residential Sales Peter Buckingham

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UYING a house is the most significant financial transaction most of us ever make, so it’s important to get it right. But should you go for the familiarity of a well-known chain or choose an agent with expert local knowledge and a more personal investment in the area?

The team at Andrew Granger & Co have always been proud of their local connections. Founded by Andrew Granger, who has lived in the area most of his life, the agency has been helping people buy, sell and let their property since it was founded in 1989. However, the company’s roots in Market Harborough go back more than 120 years, making it a constant presence as the town has evolved from small market town to a thriving community that has retained its character despite expansion.

LOCAL ROOTS, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, LOCAL NETWORK The Market Harborough team use their expertise in the local property market to provide a bespoke service. The sales office is now led

by Director of Residential Sales Peter Buckingham, who joined the company in 1994 and has over 35 years’ professional experience in the local area.

Peter explains: “National chains may move managers and staff around the country. In contrast, most members of our sales and lettings teams have lived in the area for many years and know it well. That level of local knowledge and wide community network is invaluable when assessing properties for the market. Our team know what will sell well, what kinds of properties people are looking for and the locations and types of properties that will attract different types of buyers. They also know all about the local amenities that matter to people such as schools, leisure facilities and transport links.”

PRICING IT RIGHT It’s all about getting the right price for your property, so accurate valuations based on practical experience rather than online statistics and national trends are key. With decades of local expertise behind them, the sales team at Andrew Granger & Co use this knowledge to make sure their clients’ properties are marketed to achieve optimum prices.

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Some people choose a national chain of estate agents in the belief that the company’s larger size means that they offer lower fees or greater exposure, but this is not necessarily the case. Peter Buckingham comments: “We believe that independent agents offer a better-valuefor-money service than national chains because not only are our fees highly competitive but we also use our in-depth local knowledge to offer a personal service – and ultimately achieve the best-possible selling price.”

Many household-name agents direct their clients to their chosen solicitors and mortgage advisors who may not be based locally.

In contrast, Andrew Granger & Co has long-standing professional relationships with trusted local solicitors and mortgage advisors.

This means that not only can you be sure of a high-quality service, but that the money you spend is reinvested in the local economy.

LOCAL BASE, INTERNATIONAL REACH Like most local estate agents, Andrew Granger & Co market properties on all the popular platforms such as Rightmove and OnTheMarket, as well as on their own website. This means that your property details will be widely accessible to anyone who is thinking of buying a home in the area, which is important, as Harborough is an attractive choice for many London-based workers looking to move out of the capital and commute.

“In recent years, we have been delighted to sell many Harborough homes to newcomers to the area, many of whom are attracted to the town because of its relatively cheap property prices in comparison to London,” Peter explains. “As members of the London Mayfair Office, which is comprised of 300 expert local estate agents and operates from central London, we are perfectly placed to advise those looking to relocate from the capital.”

All in all, when it comes to buying a local home, there are huge advantages to using a local agent.

Andrew Granger & Co specialise in residential sales and lettings, rural property management, commercial property, planning and development, new homes and surveys and valuations. For more information call 01858 431315, email sales@andrewgranger.co.uk or visit andrewgranger.co.uk

SOFAS | BEDS | MATTRESSES Visit our Stamford showroom on Bath Row opposite Adnam’s Wine Store 01780 762579

WWW.DELCOR.CO.UK 67

News & Notes

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

UPP Property sell lettings division to focus on property sales

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Kelmarsh Hall’s annual Dahlia Festival

PHOTO: SARAH VIVIENNE

AVID Crooke, owner of Stamford- and Rutland-based estate agents UPP Property, has sold the lettings division of the business to Leaders Romans Group, one of the leading lettings and property management specialists in the UK. Moving forward, David and his wife Lottie will continue to be proud local business owners but will now focus all of their attention on the development and growth of their sales offering to their clients.

David said “It’s a very exciting and positive time for us. The Stamford and Rutland property market continues to expand as a result of our micro-property markets, local area regeneration, government ‘help to buy’ incentives, superb local education authority schools and a wealth of outstanding private day and boarding school alternatives that all contribute to energising property sales and boosting relocation figures. However, we sincerely believe that a buoyant property market shouldn’t make for marketing complacency. In fact, with a strong market comes the need to offer homeowners more creative marketing solutions as they plan to sell their home or investments. My team and I know there is a better way to sell property, and we want to offer our clients something different to what’s currently available, such as advising our clients on how to make their house stand out from its competition and suggesting practical ways to help them maximise on their home’s value.”

As UPP continue to strive forward, David and Lottie are well supported by a strong sales team with shared values, with Janet Cottis (sales manager), Lorna Bright (sales negotiator) and newcomer to the team, local Rutland resident Ben Schofield (sales valuer).

Moving on and moving UPP! For more information, call 01572 725825 or visit upp-property.co.uk

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ELEBRATE the late summer season with spectacular colours when this popular event returns to the Northamptonshire country house this year. In recognition of the impressive collection of dahlias at Kelmarsh Hall, a programme of specially themed activities will take place on both Sunday 2 September and Sunday 16 September.

The historic walled garden is home to a wonderful, varied display of dahlias, with over 100 varieties planted throughout the uniquely shaped heart of the gardens. There will be garden tours led by the Craft Gardener and garden volunteers, flower-arranging demonstrations and a chutney tasting to enjoy the produce from the vegetable garden!

A special dahlia clinic is also running, plus the Grade I-listed Hall will be open for visitors to view at their leisure. With all these events and more, make sure Dahlia Festival is in your diary this September.

The opening times are 11am to 5pm, and there will be a single-entry fee to the hall, gardens and all the events during the Dahlia Festival: £9 for adults, £4.50 for children aged 5–14, free entry for under-fives. Due to this being a special event, other membership cards cannot be used, including the Kelmarsh garden season ticket, and those planning on visiting the tea room only will be required to pay the full admission fee.

For more details call 01604 686543 or visit kelmarsh.com. Kelmarsh Hall is located on the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire border, just off Junction 2 of the A14.

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Smarthaus

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MARTHAUS of Kettering have been creating stunning contemporary German kitchens for over 20 years, and their name has become synonymous with beautiful style and outstanding service. Explains Dan Greasley, Senior Designer: “Our role is to take our customers on the journey to creating a kitchen that is truly at the heart of their home.”

That journey begins right at the heart of the Smarthaus showroom, where, surrounded by inspirational displays, samples, worksurfaces, colour palettes and all things to inspire you, customers sit down with the Smarthaus expert designers to explore all the surfaces, floors, appliances, cabinets, etc, available.

Clients would normally meet the team two or three times, and this one-to-one approach means that Smarthaus are there every step of the way right through to install with their in-house teams. “Whatever the budget or the space we welcome clients to pop in and see us.

Technical knowledge, attention to detail and an eye for layout are key to delivering great projects, and we have the experience having designed hundreds of kitchens for delighted customers, with each kitchen uniquely built to individual requirements.”

It’s this level of personal service and passion that has seen the business go from strength to strength, leading to the official launch this month of a brand new second-floor showroom featuring brands such as Villeroy & Boch and Matki, as well as Wellingborough company Cifial.

“We’ve been offering bathrooms for some time, and a showroom was the natural next step. We are so excited because the opening follows what has proven to be a busy 2018 so far, and it’s just ahead of us exhibiting at the Birmingham Grand Designs in October.”

And with plans to introduce a full range of stunning Italian large-format tiles, it’s definitely time to step into Smarthaus for your next project.

“Ultimately, we just want to help homeowners create a kitchen or bathroom that they simply love for years to come. That’s what we are good at”.

For more information call 01536 514800 or visit smarthaus.co.uk

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01858 467716 www.harboroughlights.co.uk

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News & Notes See the Light with Oakham’s Lumison

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Keep the Home Fires Burning

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HE popularity of wood-burning and multifuel stoves continues to rise. There are an estimated 1.5 million stoves currently in British homes, with around 200,000 being sold every year! Chris Astley-Stone is Customer Services Manager at Burley Appliances and offers his tips to make sure your wood burner is in prime condition before the colder weather is upon us.

• Make sure you clean out your stove, removing last year’s deposits, and vacuum out most of the ash.

• Have your chimney or flue professionally swept once a year (find a sweep via the National Association of Chimney Sweeps, Sweep Safe or HETAS.) Ask you sweep to check the condition of your stove’s glass, seals, flue and door rope seals as well as all the internal fire bricks – replacing if necessary.

• Only purchase well-prepared logs from an accredited scheme such as “ready to burn” and ensure your log store is well ventilated. Never dry logs on or next to stoves.

Remember, all good stoves need good fuel.

• Test your alarms. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working and aim to check them weekly.

• Educate yourself on general stove safety, including the supervision of young children around stoves, in order to prevent injury. Purchase a fire guard to be safe.

The team at Burley Appliances are committed to designing a range of highquality stoves. These are proudly made in Rutland with British Steel and components sourced in the UK. Burley stoves are up to 89.8 per cent efficient – the most efficient in the world.

For further information on their products, visit Burley Appliances Ltd, Lands’ End Way, Oakham, Rutland, call 01572 756956 or download a brochure at burley.co.uk

UMISON Lighting is an independent lighting design consultancy based in Oakham, Rutland. Providing lighting design solutions for all, the firm is commissioned by home owners, architects, property developers, and interior designers to create exceptional new lighting schemes for residential and commercial projects in the UK and abroad.

Lumison’s James Morrison has a wealth of experience within lighting design and manufacture, and his technical expertise has helped countless customers to achieve their perfect lighting scheme. “Our technical knowledge guarantees correct light levels, compliance with current regulations, bringing you the look and feel that you want, but saving energy and money as well. When you are installing lighting and all the wiring that comes with it, you want to do it once, and do it properly, as future changes can be complicated and are often costly. As independent designers we choose products that bring your spaces to life but also offer great value for money, absolutely working with you and your budget.

Our team will ultimately speed everything along, saving you considerable time and effort doing research and heading off unforeseen headaches.”

To complement Lumison’s design service, they have a beautiful showroom with an extensive range of inspirational and stylish lighting to inspire you. Design experts are always on hand to give advice and recommendations from the vast collection on offer. The showroom is on the corner of Mill Street and South Street in Oakham and is open from Monday to Saturday 9.30am– 5.30pm. They look forward to seeing you. A selection of their most popular fittings is also available on the firm’s online store.

Lumison Lighting, 1 South Street, Oakham LE15 6BG, 01572 724600, lumisonlighting.co.uk

Dog School The Dogs Trust Dog School runs subsidised, community-led training classes for all types of dogs – puppies, adolescents, adult and rescue dogs – at Cottesmore Community Centre near Oakham on a Saturday morning (9–10am and 10–11am).

The courses are part of an initiative by the Dogs Trust to reduce problem behaviour in dogs through prevention, and to help increase the bonds between dogs and their owners.

Anyone interested can email emidsdogschool@dogstrust.org.uk or call 01509 882316. More information also at dogstrustdogschool.org.uk

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News & Notes Tim Peake’s space capsule at Peterborough Cathedral

S

EE Tim Peake’s Soyuz TMA-19M space capsule, accompanied by Space Descent VR, in the magnificent setting of Peterborough’s 900-yearold Cathedral. The spacecraft endured temperatures of more than 1,500ºC and travelled at Photos: © 17,000 miles an hour during Peterborough its journey to and from the Cathedral/ International Space Station.

Matthew It carried astronauts Yuri Roberts Malenchenko, Tim Kopra and Tim Peake on their Principia mission, returning to earth on 18 June 2016.

As part of the exhibition you will be able to see Tim Peake’s own Sokol KV-2 emergency spacesuit, which he wore during the launch and return to earth. The magnificent 25-metre diameter parachute deployed in the descent of the spacecraft to earth will also be on display. And don’t miss the opportunity to take a photo posing in the “selfie spacesuit”!

At a special launch night for the installation of the spacecraft, Tim Peake was asked questions by children who had won the chance to do so via a Heart FM competition.

The questions were as follows: Alex (aged 8): Can fish survive in space in a tank? Would they be able to swim and how would gravity affect them?

Tim: I’ve never been asked that question before! Yes - they can actually thrive in space.

In 2012, there was a Japanese experiment where three generations’ worth of fish were bred in space.

Oscar (aged 8): Did you listen to Ed Sheeran and can you eat popcorn in space?

Tim: I didn’t listen to Ed Sheeran in space (maybe next time, if I’m lucky enough to go again), but popcorn is good to eat there. The worst things are crisps and biscuits because the crumbs go everywhere!

Charlie (aged 7): How long will it be before we can live and go for a holiday on the moon?

Tim: That’s hard to predict, but many people are working right now to make it a reality.

I wouldn’t like to live there forever, but I’d definitely like to visit the moon.

Rosie (aged 8): If your spacecraft broke down in Space, who would rescue you?

Tim: There are normally two Soyuz craft docked on the Space Station at any one time, so we should be ok. But if we did encounter problems, we’d have to rely on someone coming from earth to help us out.

The exhibition is on an eight-venue UK-wide tour, presented by Samsung and the Science Museum Group. Peterborough Cathedral won a national competition to become the sixth venue on the tour. The exhibition will remain in Peterborough until Monday 5 November. Entry is free of charge.

More information at peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/soyuz

Sophie Allport and the National Trust

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OCAL homewares and lifestyle brand Sophie Allport has collaborated with the National Trust on a new collection, entitled the “Woodland”, celebrating woodland creatures and the mighty oak tree.

Sophie explained; “I was inspired to design the new Woodland range from my many visits to National Trust places, both as a child, and now with my young family. The collection reminds me of those magical happy times.”

The new range has 26 products, with prices starting from £8 and including fine bone-china items, kitchen textiles and products such as a quirky owl doorstop, an ironing board cover and a knitted statement cushion.

At least £10,000 will be donated to the National Trust from the sale of the Woodland collection, to support the charity with the ongoing conservation of the places in its care. Clare Brown, Head of Brand Licensing for the National Trust, comments “The fact that Sophie’s collection is deeply rooted in her childhood experience of nature and the National Trust, shows how important it is that these places are protected for future generations.

“With every item purchased we can continue to ensure that our houses, garden, parks, coastline and countryside inspire children and families for many years to come.”

Sophie Allport has a store at 26–27 High Street, Stamford PE9 2AY and an online store at sophieallport.com

SweetGuys

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ROVIDING luxury, hand-made gift hampers, wedding favours and party treats, SweetGuys is a new local company catering for those looking to add an extra special touch to their event. After months of searching for a company that could provide personalised sweet gifts for the members of her choirs, founder of SINGS choirs Brooke Peverell enlisted the help of her partner Jordan, who has experience in the industry, to create a local company that can provide luxurious sweet gifts for all occasions.

SweetGuys can provide sweet treats for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, corporate events, christenings, and much more. If you are looking for an extra special gift, SweetGuys can create a totally unique gift hamper, based entirely on your choice of sweets, with free personalisation and bespoke hand-written notes.

If you have an event or special day coming up, you can get in touch on 07772 055935, or alternatively see the Facebook page, sweetguysuk RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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Out & About

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

Thursday 30 August to Sunday 2 September Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is a premier equestrian and social event in the international sporting calendar and a focus for the best horses and riders in the world. The parkland of Burghley provides a perfect setting for the 4-Day Event competition and a stunning location for the popular shopping village of more than 600 exhibitors – tempting all ages and tastes.

Burghley Park, Stamford Tickets and information at burghley-horse.co.uk Thursday 30 August to Wednesday 26 September, 10am to 4pm Mixed Media Exhibition Rutland-based artist Vilma Nyss will be exhibiting her latest work, together with that of Josette Carroll.

Both are known for using a variety of media in their work to express their distinctive styles. The techniques they use bring interesting dimensions to their very creative and innovative artwork. One of the artists will be in the gallery of the Arts Centre throughout the exhibition. Most work is for sale.

Stamford Arts Centre Admission free Friday 31 August and Saturday 1 September, doors open 7.30pm Movies under the stars at Oakham Castle The Star & Mouse Picture Show is screening The Greatest Showman (Friday) and Notting Hill (Saturday) at Oakham Castle, with garden games and live music beforehand. Wrap up warmly.

Tickets are £15 (includes an unreserved seat and a headset). Doors open 1.5 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the film – note that the start time may shift, if it’s not yet dark enough for a clear image to be projected.

1 September, 8pm SwimRutland Night Swim Experience the thrill of swimming in open water underneath the stars. The team will be on hand to

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ensure your safety whilst giving you the freedom to explore the environment at night. There are two looped courses: the main one is approximately 650m, while a beginners’ loop is 250m. Everyone wears glow sticks. Finish by 9.30pm and be rewarded with food and drink. An incredible experience.

Rutland Water (Whitwell, next to Rutland Water Sports) Entry fee for participants: £36 (entry deadline: 8pm on 26 August 2018), therutlandmarathon.co.uk Wednesday 5 September, 1.30pm to 1.50pm Music at Lunchtime As part of the series of weekly lunchtime concerts held at All Saints in Oakham, Peter Davis will play piano pieces by Chopin and Schumann.

All Saints Church, Oakham Admission free Thursday 6 September, 7.30pm to 9.30pm Cinema for Rutland This month’s film is “Finding Your Feet”, starring Celia Imrie and Imelda Staunton. The story is a poignant comedy that demonstrates how life can shock and surprise us – sometimes with unexpected consequences.

Rutland County Museum Tickets are £5 each, available from Oakham Wines or on the door Friday 7 September, 7pm for a 7.30pm showing Lyddington Film Night This month’s film is the highly acclaimed “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing” starring the Oscarwinning Frances McDormand as a mother who rents three billboards to call attention to her daughter’s unsolved murder. Lyddington Village Hall Admission is £5 on the door Saturday 8 September, 10am to 5pm The Catesbys Brocante – French Vintage and Antiques Fair The Catesbys Autumn Brocante promises a day of discovery and delights as the team bring together their favourite dealers in everything French, both old

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

and new. The showroom will be stocked with the latest decorative finds, whilst the cafe invites you to savour the flavours of autumn with delicious food and drink.

Yew Tree House, Exton Park Free entry and ample parking Saturday 8 September, 7.30pm Drama for Rutland presents Burning Books A powerful and humorous look at an education system buckling under government cuts and targets.

A story about protest and the teachers who chose to fight back. Burning Books is an adaptation of a music and poetry show of the same name that toured nationally in autumn 2015.

Rutland County Museum Tickets £10 from Oakham Wines or wegottickets.com More information at a4r.org.uk Wednesday 12 September, 1.20pm Lunchtime Concert No.750: Andrew Kennedy and special guests Old Uppinghamian and lauded tenor Andrew Kennedy is joined by a multitude of familiar faces to celebrate Uppingham’s landmark 750th lunchtime concert in a performance of the music of Percy Grainger. Current students and staff are joined by an incredible roster of Old Uppinghamians, including Elizabeth Atherton, Robin Blaze, Timothy Robinson, Jonathan Bungard, James Liang and more.

Uppingham Parish Church Admission free Wednesday 12 September, 6pm Beating of the Retreat Always a popular and well-attended event, the Beating of the Retreat ceremony this year will feature the Band of the Gurkhas. Rutland’s LordLieutenant, Dr Sarah Furness, will take the salute.

The ceremony is free to attend, and there is a ticketed reception in Oakham Castle after the salute.

The ceremony is in Oakham’s Market Place. Tickets to the reception can be purchased on 01159 572103.

All donations will go to the Army Benevolent Fund – The Soldiers’ Charity

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Out & About

Classico Latino

Thursday 13 September, 7.30pm Classico Latino The award-winning Classico Latino will perform as part of the Oakham School Professional Music Series. The group seamlessly blends the techniques and sounds of classical music with authentic Latin American rhythms and melodies.

Oakham School Chapel Tickets £10 (free for school-age children) from Walkers of Oakham and wegottickets.com Saturday 15 September, 7.30pm Music In Lyddington This month’s concert features baritone Roderick Williams, winner of the 2016 Royal Philharmonic Society Singer Award. Roderick will be accompanied by his long-standing collaborator, Iain Burnside. Ian has appeared in recital with many of the world’s leading singers.

St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington Tickets are £16 or £5 for students available at Uppingham Sports and Books or Oakham Wines.

More information at musicinlyddington.co.uk Sunday 16 September, 10am–4.30pm Rutland Marathon and Half Marathon Rutland’s full and half marathons are being held for the fourth time. Enjoy stunning views and trafficfree running along well-marked, fully marshalled 13.1 mile and 26.2 mile marathon routes. There’s also a team running option. Minimum age is 18 for the full marathon and 17 for the half. For full regulations, see the website.

Starts at Sykes Lane, Rutland Water Entry fee for participants: £40 (full) or £30 (half), therutlandmarathon.co.uk Sunday 16 September, 6.15pm for 7pm The Levy A local Market Harborough five-piece band will perform memorable melodies with their unique acoustic rock with a soulful feel. Proceeds will be donated towards the upkeep of Ashley’s church and Lakelands Day Care Hospice.

Ashley Church Tickets are £15 to include a glass of wine and

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Pam Ayres

canapés. Children aged under 16 are admitted free.

Tickets available on 01858 565110 Tuesday 18 September, 7.30pm An Evening with Pam Ayres Pam has been making the nation laugh for more than 40 years. Funny and warm, her charming understated manner belies a rare comic precision.

Pam’s eye for the absurd details of everyday life, and her unforgettable turn of phrase, combine to make her a true national treasure.

Curve, Leiceseter Tickets are £22, available at curveonline.co.uk or on 0116 242 3595 Saturday 22 September, 7.30pm to 1am The Barnsdale Lodge Opera Ball A fabulous black-tie evening of opera arias, musical theatre and popular song performed by international tenor Richard Coxon, West End musical star Katie Hall and pianist David Harrington. Champagne and canapes on arrival, a four-course meal and dancing.

Barnsdale Lodge Hotel Tickets £80 per person, barnsdalelodge.co.uk Tuesday 25 September, 7pm to 9pm Paint and Prosecco Professional artist and tutor Sue Bagshaw will hold an evening of fun and painting in her garden room studio. Enjoy a glass of Prosecco or a soft drink and create your own artwork in acrylic paint. Places are £20 each to include materials, refreshments and step-by-step tuition. No experience necessary.

Garden Room Studio, 22 Blacksmith’s Avenue, Oakham To book or for more details contact Sue on 07801 063008 Wednesday 26 September, 7.30pm Time Team in Leicestershire Guest speaker this month at the Great Easton History Society’s meeting is Peter Liddle, former County Archaeologist, who will give a talk on the work of the Time Team in Leicestershire.

Great Easton Village Hall Admission £3

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

Thursday 27 September, 7pm to 9pm Gin-Tasting Evening As part of its 30-year celebrations, Barnsdale Hall Hotel is holding a gin-tasting evening in aid of For Rutland hosted by Rutland Radio’s Lydia Meredith.

Barnsdale Hall Hotel Tickets: £20 including five gins, canapés and charcuterie from Rutland Charcuterie. 01572 725157, info@forrutland.org.uk, barnsdalehotel.co.uk or forrutland.org.uk Sunday 30 September, 3pm Recital Competition Final Adjudicated by Ian Wilson, Professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Head of Woodwind at Eton, Uppingham School’s premier Recital Competition is keenly contested by five talented Upper Sixth pupils – Sam Abbott (Clarinet), Millie Felix (Soprano), Hugh Davies (Oboe), Amanda Schrem (Violin) and Amy Clark (Clarinet).

Uppingham Parish Church Free admission, no ticket required Tuesday 2 October, 7.30pm Rutland Natural History Society Autumn Season Talks The new season of talks hosted by the Rutland Natural History Society begins with a talk by Phil Rudkin and Dave Needham. The title is “A Season with Woodpeckers” and will take you through a year with these fascinating birds in sound and pictures.

Anyone of any age with an interest in nature is welcome to come along.

Talks take place at the Voluntary Action Rutland building on Lands’ End Way. Admission is free for members and £2 for visitors Wednesday 3 to Saturday 6 October Burghley at Twilight Save the date for this magical experience, allowing visitors to walk through the state rooms as darkness begins to fall. Live music adds further to the atmosphere. The event begins with a glass of Prosecco in the Old Kitchen.

Ticket information: 01780 752451, burghley.co.uk

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Clipsham’s Yew Tree Avenue Already the rich green foliage of summer has started to dull a little, and the tinge of bronze that hints at autumn’s arrival has begun to tint the leaves. Beautiful as our trees are in their natural form, they have been used for centuries as the basis for the amazing sculptures that we call topiary, and Rutland is home to an outstanding and quirky example of the art. Caroline Aston explains further…

F

IRST, some history! This highly skilled trimming of box, yew and holly dates from antiquity. Pliny the Younger, a lawyer, magistrate and author of Ancient Rome, was born in the year 61. His garden at Laurentum, an oasis of seaside peace west of Rome, was famed for its beauty. There were fig and mulberry trees, the air was scented with violets, and there were borders of box and rosemary. Pliny tells us that there were ornate animal shapes cut into the hedges using knives and shears; the garden design punctuated by other architectural patterns too. It must have been quite a sight, with the salty sea breezes playing in the surrounding pine trees and myrtles.

The art was revived in Europe during the Italian Renaissance: in France and Italy there were formal “bosquets” or “boscos”, plantations of at least five of identical species planted with a rigid regularity, so that their trunks lined up as people passed by on either face. Twelve villas and two gardens spread across the Tuscan landscape in Italy bear witness to the influence of the powerful Medici family. Their garden “boscos” were rich with topiary: centaurs, sailing ships and bosomy siren figures tumbled out of dense plantings and stood guard over formal parterres, elaborate plantings connected by pathways.

These design ideas finally arrived in England via the Low Countries in the 17th century, when the art of topiary really took off. Hedges were cut into lollipops and battlements, while nursery

businesses set up shop in Chelsea and Fulham and did a roaring trade in ready-cut set pieces to enable instant garden gratification to the rich.

However, that most famous of gardeners Capability Brown and his legion of followers were not fans of this leafy art form. They preferred their trees to be more natural, and so the 18th century saw topiary largely relegated to cottage gardens, with varying degrees of success. It was the Victorian Arts and Crafts and Aesthetic movements that rehabilitated the art in the 19th century: once more, hedges were transformed into fat doves, swans and peacocks, while new urban parks sported clipped centrepieces in their vivid formal planting displays.

CLIPSHAM HALL

All of this finally brings us to Rutland, home to an intriguing example of the art. Clipsham Hall, an imposing house named for the village in which it stands, was bought in 1865 by John Handley. The new owner had been Liberal MP for Newark since 1859 but lost his seat in the same year he bought the hall, which was approached along an imposing 500-m (1,640-ft) avenue lined with 150 yew trees.

Back in 1870 the head forester at Clipsham, Amos Alexander, who lived in a small, stone lodge at the entrance to the drive, decided to try some ornamental trimming as a hobby. The yews gave him ample scope, and the squire was very taken with it. By then John Handley’s daughter Diana and her husband William Davenport were living

at Clipsham, and they were hugely impressed. In fact, they liked the new additions so much that Amos was commanded to cut EVERY tree in the same way, specifying that the patterns should be inspired by things of local interest and events in their family! The trees sported traditional birds and animals on the top, but over the years their sides began to record all kinds of events, local, national and international. When Amos died, his shears were taken up by his son Charles, who was later succeeded by a Mr Beecham who lived in the village. But World War II led to neglect and overgrowth, and the avenue fell into disrepair.

RESTORATION

In 1955 the Forestry Commission took the avenue over and began to restore the topiary. A leading light in this work was ace topiarist Frank Cornell, whose initials appeared on one of the trees: Amos Alexander was commemorated too with an “AA” motif on another. Cornell added some new designs of his own, and clipping usually took place in September. The year 2010 saw Forestry Enterprise undertaking the Clipsham project, but these famous yews, over 200 years old, are now suffering a degree of neglect due to budgetary constraints. Blurred though the patterns may now be they are still a remarkable survival, and the Clipsham Yew Walk is a great place for a sunlit stroll, not to mention a truly living memorial to Amos Alexander, the lover of all things leafy who started the whole thing.

Photo: ©Forestry Commission

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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2018

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WHITE CHRISTMAS MADE AT CURVE IN ASSOCIATION WITH JAMIE WILSON

IRVING BERLINʼS

BASED UPON THE PARAMOUNT PICTURES FILM

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NIKOLAI FOSTER CHOREOGRAPHEDBY STEPHEN MEAR

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