Rutland Living September 13 by Best Local Living

HELPING

YOU

GET

THE

MOST

OUT

RUTLAND LIVING

LIVING

LOCALLY

Back to School

COVERING RUTLAND, MARKET HARBOROUGH & SURROUNDING VILLAGES

n o i h Fas for s d i K

£1.50 SEPTEMBER 2013 @RutlandLiving WWW.BESTLOCALLIVING.CO.UK

FOOD/FASHION/HEALTH & BEAUTY/HOME & GARDEN/LIFESTYLE 9 771741 580014 RLSEPTCOVER.indd 1

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Our experience makes yours Find your perfect holiday with your local, independent & friendly travel experts

SPOTlIGhT ON FlOReNCe W

here better to take in some warm autumn sunshine than in Florence, birthplace of Renaissance, and home to Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and the works of Botticelli and Giotto. Florence has inherited a rich cultural heritage and is perfect for a short break; even today the Florentines and their city never fail to impress.

A ‘must see’ is Michelangelo’s huge statue of David, which occupies pride of place in The Accademia Gallery, carved from a single block of marble. And Brunelleschi’s gravity defying Duomo which dominates the Florence skyline, together with the world famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the oldest in Florence which over the years has housed tanners, butchers, blacksmiths, and finally the goldsmith’s shops that still line it today. The Uffizi Gallery houses Italy’s most important collection of art, The Medici Collection and is well worth a visit. City Tours are available from £36 per adult, a little touristy perhaps, but well worth the effort. Whilst in Florence, sampling the local food and drink is a must. Try Schiacciata, a type of Tuscan flatbread for a snack or light lunch with salami and pecorino cheese accompanied by a glass of wine from the Chianti region. Gilli on Piazza della Republica is ideal for an aperitif before heading off for dinner. The region is popular for its full-bodied red Chianti wine, although there are many Tuscan white wines such as Vernaccia from nearby San Gimigano which are well worth sampling. If you have a morning free, Oundle Travel offer a visit to the rolling hills of the Chianti region and a wine estate visit from £45 per person, including a light lunch. Florence is a relatively small city and most of the hotels are within easy walking distance of the main sights and attractions. For stunning views we recommend you choose one of the hotels located on the banks of The River Arno. For a bargain break Oundle Travel recommend the Pitti Palace, a charming little 3* hotel with a unique location and delightful views from the breakfast terrace from £299 per adult travelling in October/ November 2013. Always ask us about free night offers, as these are applicable at certain times of the year. The 4* Brunelleschi is a characterful hotel hidden away from the main street in a charming courtyard, in the heart of Renaissance Florence - it remains a firm favourite with Oundle Travel clients from £345 per person for a two night stay in November 2013. Free night offers available on specified dates. • Call Oundle Travel on 01832 273600 for more information and up to date availability and prices.

01832 273600

Market Place, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EA Email: sales@oundletravel.co.uk Website: www.oundletravel.co.uk

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R UTL A N D & MA RKET HA RBOR OUGH LIVING

SEPTEMBER CONTENTS W W W . B E S T L O C A L L I V I N G . C O . U K

t is Rutland Living’s 10th anniversary next month and I am getting very excited about celebrating in a variety of ways including one off features in the October edition of the magazine as well as hosting a bit if a bash – watch this space! If you have any ideas for features or fond memories of the early editions do please let me know at rutlandliving@gmail. com or on Twitter: @rutlandliving. If your business is also turning 10 soon then I would be delighted to hear from you. It is a real testament to our brand that we are the longest serving, quality magazine in Rutland. Our success clearly comes from the dedication of our team – I shall be embarrassing them further next month, but also because we strictly follow our moral code, which is to aim to make a difference by: 1. Helping readers to get more out of their lives by pointing them to things locally that will enrich their lives.

7 Editor’s selection

Back to School

8 Fashion

Girls and Boys come out to play!

12 Health and beauty

Post-summer body blitz

15 Shops and services

18 Food and drink

Food Festival and Rutland Day

21 Food and drink

An Apple a Day….

22 Recipe

Norfolk inspiration

25 Eating out

The Nevill Arms, Medbourne and Riverside, Stamford

26 Education

Educational Change and National Curriculum Reforms

31 Education update

French for all, Leicester High School’s new head and Brooke Priory’s Open Day

32 Travel

Luxury Travel Show in Rutland and Get on your bike!

35 Travel

A Highland Fling

2. Strongly supporting local independent businesses in the belief that they have the passion, drive and original ideas that large anonymous organisations lack.

36 Design solutions

3. Creating a working environment for ourselves that enables us to work flexibly whilst maximising our individual potential.

Here’s to us!

Abigail

Cosy up for Winter

What’s on in our region this month

39 Diary dates

40 Arts and culture

Curve’s 5th Birthday Open Day

43 Shops and services

Rutland business set to change the face of insurance, Reloved Vintage, Bad Day at Black Frog Creek, Oakham Quality Market, Always Take Care and more

47 Arts and culture

Street Artist SNIK

49 Gardening

@RutlandLiving

Subscribe to Rutland & Market Harborough Living

Covers: RL: Elli Dean www.ellideanphotography.co.uk MH: David Corfield www.daividcorfield.com

Focus on Market Harborough

Adam Frost

52 Walk

A Day out in Northampton

Editor Abigail Richardson 01572 756733 Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford PE9 9FY rutlandliving@gmail.com Advertisement Manager, Rutland Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 rutlandliving@btinternet.com Advertisement Manager, Leicestershire Helen Walton 01780 754801 helen.stamford@btopenworld.com Advertising Copy & Subscriptions Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Senior Designer Nik Ellis nik@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne

Subscriptions – annual rate £20 (UK only). Please write to The Editor, enclosing cheque made payable to Local Living Ltd Or subscribe online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH Living SEPTEMBER 2013

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Barnsdale Hall Hotel

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Sarah Harding Interiors Ltd

• Professional Interior Design Service • • Re-upholstery and Soft Furnishings • • Emma Bridgewater and Cath Kidston Stockists • Furniture •

info@sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk 6 Market Place, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QH Tel: 01572 823389 - www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk

Kid’s wellies

Visit us at Burghley horse trials 5th - 8th september

Discover the widest range of outdoor clothes & wellies at the show

www.barnack.co.uk

tel:

01780 740115

Barnack, Stamford. PE9 3DY 2 miles from Burghley House shop opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm

& 5

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Beautiful summer blondes at SIMON CAWTHORNE

Created by Dedicated Colour Specialists... Consultations are always available...

A full range of Children’s Wear from Premature Babies to 8 years at affordable prices

SIMON CAWTHORNE SIMON CAWTHORNE

• Sarah Louise • 3 Pommes • Frugi • Toffee Moon • Gro-Bag • Manhattan Toys • Ickle Shooz • BOOB • Lunn Nightwear

23A Mill Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6EA

01572 722774

enquiries@simoncawthorne.com www.simoncawthorne.com

SIMON CAWTHORNE

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Maternity - Ladies Nightwear

At Swans linens you get: • Huge choice • Personal service • Friendly advice • LOYALTY CARD

Swans Linens, 17 Mill St, Oakham www.swanslinens.co.uk - Tel: 01572 724364

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E DITOR ’ S SE LE CT ION

BACK TO SCHOOL The best thing about going back to school or college or work, even, is having to buy sparkling new equipment!

• I have just bough this ‘Hello Kitty, Liberty Art London Pencil Case’ for my Kitty (daughter) from John Lewis at £10 – I doubt it will help her become more organised! • Keep them safe with this Junior Reflective Backpack, in navy from John Lewis at a bargain price of £12

• Ideal for first time university students is any of Jamie Oliver’s Cookbooks or show them his website for his ‘15 Minute Meals: www.jamieoliver. com/recipes/category/ books/jamie-s-15minute-meals

• How about this stylish Ted Baker Brogue Pen from John Lewis at £20?

• You can’t go wrong with these bright lunch bags from Fords from £8.

• For funky files, binders and pens head to Colemans on the High Street, Oakham

• For the high flying student or exec – I love this Silvia Satchel by Drift from Cavells at £99

• This ‘Nuvo Clarineo in C’ is ideal for young children wanting to get started on a reed instrument. £99 with case and tutorial materials from Music and More, Oakham. RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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FA S H I O N

Girls And Boys Come Out To Play! They say never work with children or animals! This month, Vanessa Hollander, worked with TEN!

’ve always thought that it was difficult to find children’s clothes in our local towns – how wrong I was! I was both surprised and delighted to find how easy it was to find such gorgeous and good value clothes for young or older children, right on our doorsteps! I really loved the clothes I found in Swans of Oakham. They stock a great range by Fruji which feature fleeces, T-shirts and trousers for boys and leggings, dresses and tunics for girls. They were classic and practical but with an up-to-date edge and great designs. For the teenage girls I used Baubles and Bangles, Oakham who have an ever-changing range of brilliantly priced pretty dresses and separates that my teenage models just loved! Although trousers or shorts for teenage boys were quite hard to find in small enough sizes, I found really funky t-shirts at Crucial Clothing in Oakham who have a really cool range of street wear. Also Cavells in South Street had great Superdry and Barbour t-shirts. Bubble & Squeak on the High Street in Stamford was a real find! For boys and girls, the Name It range of separates was colourful, on-trend, hard-wearing and very reasonably priced. And for girls, they stock the beautiful Noa Noa range that was just lovely.

From left to right: Max wears denim shorts, £24, by 3 Pommes and reversible fleece, £30, by Fruji both at Swans, Oakham Ruis wears Holiday t-shirt by Luke, £35, at Crucial Clothing, Oakham. Jeans (models own)

From left to right: Sophie wears checked dress by Fruji, £27, at Swans, Oakham. Ava wears dress, £26, and leggings, £13, both by Fruji at Swans, Oakham. Erin wears stripe tunic, £22, and spot leggings, £15 both by Fruji at Swans, Oakham

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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 From left to right: Lucy wears navy floral dress, £38, Baubles & Bangles Emma wears printed playsuit, £25, Baubles & Bangles Ruis wears Union Jack t-shirt by Barbour, £19.98, Cavells South Street. Jeans (models own) Abigail wears pink striped tunic, £9.99, and jeggings, £12.99 both by Name It at Bubble & Squeak

From left to right: Tobias wears mustard jeans, £18.99, and check shirt, £12.99 both by Name It at Bubble & Squeak Max wears burgundy jeans, £18.99 and green t-shirt, £10, both by Name It at Bubble & Squeak Sammy wears jeans by Name It, £17.99 and Hatley Rocket long sleeved t-shirt, £18, both at Bubble & Squeak

From left to right: Ava wears tulle skirt, £32, and cardigan, £35, both by Noa Noa at Bubble & Squeak Erin wears bubble hem skirt, £26, and striped long sleeve t-shirt, £14, both by Noa Noa at Bubble & Squeak

CONTACTS: Baubles & Bangles, Oakham, Tel: 01572 724177, www.baublesandbangles.co.uk Bubble & Squeak, Stamford, Tel: 01780 755799, www.bubbleandsqueakstamford.co.uk Cavells, South Street, Oakham, Tel: 01572 770372, www.cavellscountry.co.uk Crucial Clothing, Oakham, Tel: 01572 724255 Swans of Oakham, Tel: 01572 724364, www. swansofoakham.co.uk With thanks to: Our gorgeous models : Abigail, Sophie, Ava, Erin, Emma, Lucy, Tobias, Max, Sammy and Ruis – you were all brilliant! Our very patient photographer – Elli Dean, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk, Tel: 07932055548 RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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AUTUMN/WINTER 2013 Morley Menswear, Fords of Oakham, 8 Church Street Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AA morley1795.com 11

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HE ALT H & BE A U T Y

Post-summer body blitz! Over-indulged on the ice creams and mojitos? It’s time to stop lounging by the pool and start focusing on some new season fitness goals! Catherine Batkin talks to Personal Trainer Judith Ewing to find out the gentle way to ease yourself back into shape T: then don’t fret , FEELING GREA LOOKING GOOD feel completely bikini confident this year, t. Set yourself

ge to r and losing weigh If you didn’t mana to start getting ﬁtte e tim t ea gr a tter shape. Fitness is r – Septembe u get and stay in be yo lp he ll wi ich wh some top tips: some realistic goals dith Ewing offers Ju r ine Tra l na rso Instructor and Pe . st drink more liquid exercising you mu en t. ho wh y so all t re ho is be it ll en sti d even more wh • “September can have of water a day an ich es wh litr ink 3 dr st ts lea or at Aim to drink r free squash or sp ter, try a weak suga If you don’t like wa ate you. dr -hy d vitamins to re September. Aim to added minerals an start gradually in er, d mm su e th er ov e cis er Walking, jogging an . ex joy n’t • If you did thing that you en me so lar gu do d re a an on ek we n’t do it exercise 4 times a n’t work if you do t fat burners but wo cycling are all grea e time summer, now is th basis. a few pounds over on t A good pu s! ve ion at ha y pt the food tem • If you feel you ma as arrives with all ich are tm wh ris y Ch da e a for als be me is 3 to address th e: simply stick to ak int ie ow this lor kn I ca y. ur yo htest of the da tip is to cut back on ur last meal the lig yo the r ke ne ma d din d an an fat al e bigger me low in sugar and can make lunch th u yo if t bu us to seems alien s very quickly. ll notice weight los high amounts of smaller one, you wi inks contain very dr y of zz ﬁ d an ol oh alc er e you over an hour mb • Finally, reme in it which will tak ies lor is ca ss 0 Le 50 t! s gh wine ha ink, for thou sugar. A bottle of or should I say dr to burn off; food e cis er ink.” ex dr t d tan an d ns co e in foo on your sugar intak more, so cut back

FABULOUS SKIN TOO: Once you’re well on your way to achieving the ﬁgure you want, it’s time to turn your attention to getting your skin in tip-top condition. Here are my pick of the best new treatments around: ESPA Detoxifying Algae Wrap – available from Creme Hair and Beauty This balancing and detoxifying treatment involves skin brushing, gentle exfoliation and an algae envelopment rich in minerals and enzymes. The treatment is designed to boost the metabolism and speed up the elimination of toxins – ideal if you’ve over-indulged in happy hour at the cocktail bar! This therapeutic one hour treatment includes a scalp massage for total relaxation. Dermalogica Active Resurface 35 Treatment – available from The Beauty Room A 45 minute resurfacing treatment that utilises a cocktail of the most advanced cosmeceutical ingredients available to provide intense resurfacing to stimulate cell renewal and cell turnover. The hero formulation within the treatment is Exfoliant Accelerator 35 which contains the highly active skin-smoothing ingredients of Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid

to boost exfoliation and result in ultra-smooth skin; targeting premature ageing, pigmentation problems, dehydration, congestion and dryness. Elemis Cellutox Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap – available from Barnsdale Spa This seaweed based treatment is deeply detoxifying and cleansing, using a therapeutic combination of juniper and lemon essential oils to decongest and stimulate the body’s systems. This powerful synergy improves the appearance of cellulite and helps to relieve the discomfort of ﬂuid retention – a common problem in the warmer weather. The body is re-energised and skin is left silky smooth and soft. Decelor Aroma Expert Facial – available from Lalique There’s nothing better for sun-stressed skin than a relaxing facial which will re-balance and calm, targeted to your speciﬁc skin type. These customised treatments start with a relaxing back massage and then use a concentrate of highly effective essential oils and plant extracts to target certain skin conditions, whether you need to clarify oily skin or intensely rehydrate parched skin with the Hydra Floral range.

Back to School day package at Eden Spa for £49 With a timetable to suit the school run, this clever package designed for busy parents offers The Revolutionary Massage Chair and an Eden therapist will provide a relaxing scalp massage and in just 15 minutes you’ll feel like a new you! Also available is a saltwater vitality pool, water therapies, heated rooms, gymnasium, exercise and relaxation classes, relaxation lounges and chill out areas. Robes and towels are available on the day and guests can also tuck into a delicious three-course lunch. Available Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 3.00pm from September www.edenspa.co.uk Tel: 01636 525555

DIRECTORY: Judith Ewing Personal Trainer, www.judithewingﬁtness.com, Tel: 07771 866123, Twitter: @EwingFitness Facebook: Judith Ewing Fitness The Beauty Room, South Street, Oakham, Tel: 01572 755389 Creme Hair and Beauty, Mill Street, Oakham, Tel: 01572 723823, www.cremehairandbeauty. co.uk Barnsdale Spa, Barnsdale, Oakham, Tel: 01572 757901, www.barnsdalehotel.com Lalique, South Street, Oakham Tel: 01572 723950, www.lalique-beauty.com

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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FITNESS CLASSES WITH JUDITH EWING STARTING TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER

AT OAKHAM C OF E SCHOOL, BURLEY ROAD, OAKHAM.

7.15PM THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS WORKOUT - NEW CLASS!!!

HAIR DRESSING FOR ALL with

EXPERTS IN HAIRCARE & COLOUR SPECIALISTS

Our well established salon and friendly experienced staff are ready to welcome you whatever your needs.

Lose weight and fit into that frock! Got a dress you can’t fit into? This class burns fat with easy to learn moves, tightens your bum, legs and waist whilst at the same time having fun! Get ready for the party season and fit for that LBD. This class really works!

Aveda products speak for themselves and you are sure to

be impressed! Aveda colour range is like no other - 97% naturally derived and 100% damage free (kinder to your hair and the planet!)

8.15PM PILATES This class is extremely popular as it tones and strengthens your body specifically working on core stability, legs and arms and a nice relaxation section at the end of the session. Pilates will give you a leaner, stronger, toned body in only a matter of weeks. Men welcome too! CLASS PRICE: £5 per person

Aveda colours leave your hair feeling healthier, glossier and more manageable than ever before! We stock a full range of Aveda haircare as well as Cloud Nine and Macadamia Natural Oil Products

NO NEED TO BOOK JUST COME ALONG. (Classes run term time only) ALL ENQUIRIES PHONE JUDITH ON 07771 866123 or visit her website at judithewingfitness.com @EwingFitness

Open six days a week

Judith Ewing Fitness

Judith Ewing is a highly qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer and has an enviable reputation within the fitness industry. She is known for her fun and up beat approach to fitness and has 25 years experience in the industry.

Telephone: 01572 822715 and let our dedicated team of professionals enhance yourTel hairs01572 natural 822715 beauty. Proprietor Kate Giles We are 2 Crown Passage • Uppingham • Rutland • LE15 9PY

P&P is what it is

2a Mill Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6EA (formally Pomegranate) No Appointment Necessary (except where indicated*) OPI Nails File and Polish Fingers ......................................£5.00 File, Polish and Cleanse Toes .............................£7.00 French + ...........................................................£1.50 Emery Board + .................................................£1.00

Korres Facial (Double Cleanse, Tone, Hot Towels, Scrub, Mask, Moist) £10.00

Waxing Eyebrows .........................................................£5.00 Upper Lip .........................................................£5.00 Chin .................................................................£5.00 Toes .................................................................£5.00 Underarm ......................................................£10.00 Forearm .........................................................£10.00 Half Leg .........................................................£10.00 Bikini* ............................................................£10.00 Brazilian* .......................................................£15.00 Hollywood* ....................................................£20.00

Threading Upper Lip* ........................................................£5.00 ........................................................ Chin* ...............................................................£5.00 ...............................................................

Massage .........................................£7.00 Facial Pressure Point ......................................... £7.00 Arm .................................................................£7.00 Leg ..................................................................£7.00 Shoulder, Neck and Face* (Facial Double Cleanse and Moist) ...................£20.00

Make-Up Application.....................................................£15.00 .....................................................

Deluxe Korres Facial* .....................................£30.00 .....................................

With no appointment policy Faith believes that her 10 minute (approx)) essential treatments should be a weekly necessity not a monthly luxur y!!

By appointment:

Tinting Eyebrows .........................................................£5.00 ......................................................... Eyelashes .........................................................£5.00 ......................................................... Eyelashes False Strip ........................................................£5.00 ........................................................ Application.......................................................£5.00 .......................................................

Hopi Ear Candles (Facial Double Cleanse, Moist and Facial Massage)..............................................£25.00 .............................................. Gift Vouchers (available in £1, £5, £10, £20 and £50)

HD Brows £25.00

Gelcolor OPI GelColor Nails £25.00

01572 755096 | www.facebook.com/Perch-Preen 13

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LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS Specialising in treating: • Low self-esteem and loss of confidence • Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking • Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties • Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) Adult Speciality

Johan Truter

Tel: 01780 758556 www.psycholgist.co.uk Orion House, 14, Barn Hill, Stamford PE9 2AE

Child and Adolescent Specialty. EMDR Practitioner

Dr Alexandra Dent

Mbl: 07986 585270 www.alexandradent.co.uk Orion House, 14, Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE Church Street Practice, Melton Mowbray LE13 0PN

Sarah Stamp, local expert gemmologist and jeweller is delighted to have opened Denhams jewellers at 2 The Square, Market Harborough. Sarah and her team specialise in Platinum & Diamond Jewellery. Along with bespoke designs Denhams can also turn your old jewellery into something new, just pop into the store and let the team help you. Sarah’s skilled team also offer customers a range of services, including valuations, watch repairs, jewellery cleaning and insurance quotations.

THE OLD CHURCH, 8A MILL STREET, OAKHAM, RUTLAND Creme Hair and Beauty Treatments welcome you to their new salonLE15 at: 6EA

8A MILLtreatments STREET, OAKHAM, RUTLAND LE15 6EA ForTHE all OLD hairCHURCH, and beauty and appointments call

01572 01572 723823 771230

For all hair and beauty treatments and appointments call www.cremehairandbeauty.co.uk www.cremehairandbeauty.co.uk

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Greetham Valley and The Maltings, Oakham salons have now closed

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S H O P S & SE RVICE S

Market Harborough A Real Gem Vanessa Hollander includes Market Harborough as one of her top destinations

Doyles

Bebooted

t was certainly no surprise to me that Market Harborough was recently named by The Sunday Times as one of their top 100 places to live. With its luscious countryside, eclectic selection of shops and cafes, and scenic canal network, it’s one of the ‘best of the best’ of market towns I know (and before you ask, no, I don’t live there!). Add into that the quality of schools in the area, the relatively low cost of housing and the excellent rail links to London and the rest of the Midlands, then you have yourself a gem of a place to live, let alone visit. However, visit is what I did recently and I began just outside the town centre at Farndon Fields Farm Shop. Lunch was high on the list of priorities so we decided to eat at their café serving well priced and incredibly fresh, home produced food with ingredients straight from the farm. Yet again, it was absolutely delicious! Everything about Farndon Fields Farm Shop shouts quality and freshness. Their 550 acre farm is within a couple of hundred metres of the shop and fruit and vegetables are picked daily to sell there. What they don’t grow themselves they buy from around 50 local suppliers in Rutland, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and their butchery selection is also second to none. All in all, an amazing place to visit, to eat and buy incredible, high quality, fresh food. Lunch over; it was then just a short drive back into the town centre to continue our wander. The first stop was T J Thornton (3 Coventry Rd), a family run jeweller priding

themselves on tradition and style. Owned and run by Tim Thornton, a renowned local and international jeweller with over 18 years experience, TJ Thornton sells modern and antique jewellery of premium quality. Not only this, but Tim also offers a design and custom-made service also. So if you have some stones from, say, earrings that you want to make into a ring, Tim will help you design and create the piece for you, just as you want it. Also worth a mention are the vintage watches and pocket watches he sells from the 1940s to 1970s – a perfect special gift for a birthday, wedding or anniversary. Next it was onto the small, but perfectly formed Bebooted at 7 Church Square. This shop is just full of stylish clothes from the likes of Odd Molly, ByTimo and Myrine. They also sell their own label range of gorgeous knitwear in cashmere, merino, cotton and jersey that are brilliantly designed and great value. What I also loved was their range of layering pieces from ByTimo. With just one pretty, lace trimmed slip at just £69.95 you can refresh and build upon your wardrobe – a definite must have. Cot ‘n Togs was just around the corner at 3 Church Street. This great little shop is packed full of toys, dress ups and clothes for children from 0-8 years. It’s a great place for new baby gifts, party presents and dressing up clothes as well as their own range of handmade girls’

dresses. Also worth a mention is their fabulous range of puppets! Jacks for Women (and also now men) is at 14 Church Street and is a must visit for all fashion lovers. There’s always a lovely atmosphere in the shop and customer service is second to none. They sell a range of brands from Esprit (men and women), Elisa Cavaletti, Derhy, Max Mara Studio to Save The Queen, YaYa and French Dressing jeans. Upstairs you’ll find more formal wear – perfect for weddings, parties and special occasions. Asked for an insider tip on their forthcoming autumn/winter stock, I was told of an ‘amazing’ range of Unisa boots which had just hit the shop – you heard it here first! Pretty much diagonally opposite on Church Street is Doyles, one of the best places I know to shop for designer fashion. Doyles specialise in contemporary womenswear, from simple tees through to occasion wear. New and exciting designers sit alongside classic collections to create a fashion lover’s dream and all on offer within a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Having been named as one of the Top 100 Boutiques Outside of London by Vogue, Doyles sits perfectly in Market Harborough and is a definite go-to place for anyone visiting or shopping in the local area. For autumn/winter Doyles has just announced new collections BLK Denim, Avelon and Eileen Fisher and these will sit perfectly alongside collections like Diane

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S H O P S & SE RVICE S

The Little Big Bra Shop

In Heaven at Home

The Barber Gallery Von Furstenberg, J Brand, Armani, Paul Smith and Missoni to offer customers the very best in fashion! A few doors along on High Street, you’ll find Lime House. Another lovely women’s fashion store that has a fantastic mix of quality brands such as Ted Baker, Second Day, Custommade, Indi&Cold, Rutzou and jewellery from Hultiquist that are all really well priced. Inside you’ll find friendly and helpful customer service and a lively, busy shop that has recently celebrated its first birthday. It should definitely be added to the ‘one to visit’ list! If you’re looking for beautiful home furnishings, artwork and gifts then you must go to In Heaven at Home. It literally is ‘heaven’ if you love gorgeous things for the home. With new stock constantly arriving, you’ll find the likes of Avoca throws, china and candles, beautiful vases and mugs by Rob Ryan and linens and cushions by Thornbeck & Peel to name but a few. Upstairs is The Barber Gallery where there is a fantastic collection of photographic prints plus posters by Spineless Classics (books like Charlie & The Chocolate Factory are reproduced in total to form a picture within their words) from £24 upwards. One of my personal favourites was their pictures created from vintage playing cards, all

of which can be made to order with a personal message – perfect for a wedding or special gift. Next on this visit was Denhams Jewellers who only opened in June. Devastatingly for owner, Sarah Stamp, the shop was badly affected by the recent floods but they’ve worked hard to restore it and have carried on trading throughout. Sarah has worked in the jewellery industry since she left school and is a qualified gemmologist. Her passion is diamonds and buying them to set them in bespoke pieces for her customers. Denhams pride themselves on giving excellent customer service and offer a large range of gold and silver jewellery. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the market for something gorgeous or sparkly! Other shops of note and to put on your ‘to do’ list include GorGeous Shoes in Sulley’s Yard, just off Adam and Eve Street, which stocks a great range of men’s and women’s shoes by brands such as Converse, Fly, Fit Flop and Emu. The Little Big Bra Shop in Adam and Eve Street is great for lingerie and swimwear of all types and for all sizes. Whether you’re looking for every day basics, lingerie to impress or are breast feeding or have recently had a mastectomy, there’s something to fit your size and budget. The atmosphere in the shop is super friendly and the owner Karen Forbes is

the most experienced of fitters. As you now realise, I’m a real fan of Market Harborough. There are so many lovely independent shops and cafes that it’s hard to include them all. I’ll just have to go back for another visit! Featured: Doyles, Church Street, Tel: 01858 433279, www. doylesfashion.com Lime House Clothing - High Street, Tel: 01858 432915 BeBooted, 7 Church Square, Tel: 01858 469200, www.bebooted.com The Little Big Bra Shop, Adam and Eve St, Tel: 01858 465592, www.thelittlebigbrashop.co.uk Cot‘n’Togs, 3 Church St, Tel: 01858 468568, www.cotntogs.co.uk GorGeous, 2 Sulley’s Yard, Adam & Eve Street, Tel: 01858 465118, www.gorgeous-online.com In Heaven at Home, 30 High Street, Tel: 07767 754267, www.inheavenathome.com TJ Thornton, 3 Coventry Rd, Tel: 01858 468858, www.tjthornton.com Farndon Fields, Farndon Road, Tel: 01858 464838, www.farndonfieldsfarmshop.co.uk Jacks for Women, 14 Church Street, Tel: 01858 431396 Denhams Jewellers, Tel: 01858 410395

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

Dower Hall twinkle Silver&daisy pendantrings from £120 £120

Spigold tfire silv er & enamel 18ct diamond clustercufflinks earrings £105 £1750

Amber silver pendants Edwardian pendants from£150 £50 from

£1350 band 18ct goldRuby floralring diamond by Ungar & Ungar £2500

Antique silver pocket watches 18ct diamond withgold chains from cluster £300 ring £2200

Wedding rings in gold, platinum and palladium

A lifestyle store selling a unique collection of furniture, home accessories and gifts

Upstairs The Barber Gallery features affordable art.

30 High Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7NL

Tel: 01858 467075 | info@inheavenathome.com | www.inheavenathome.com 17

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food & drink

Rutland Food Festival Sponsored by RUTLAND LIVING

Many people in Rutland are very conscious of sourcing local produce and reducing food miles. We are extremely lucky to have such a rich cross section of producers on our doorstep, all of whom will come together in celebration at this year’s Food Festival

he Rutland Food and Drink festival together with Rutland Day is back again for the 4th year. The event takes place on Saturday 14th September on the shores of Rutland Water at Sykes Lane, Empingham from 10am till 6pm and promises to be bigger and better than ever. The 2013 Rutland Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of all the wonderful high quality food and drink on offer in and around Rutland. From small family run farm shops to traditional bakeries and award winning butchers to specialist producers of curry sauces and cordials. News of the event has travelled far and this year at special request will be an exhibitor from Norfolk Food is one of Rutland’s greatest passions, and is highly regarded for the range of pubs and restaurants in the area. Locally renowned top chefs are back again by popular demand and will be sharing their recipes in entertaining live cookery demonstrations throughout the day and featuring for the very first time, the Great Rutland Cook off! An event not to be missed!

Funk Soul Brother

Rutland Day

Rutland Shorelink Bus

Rutland Day is on the same site as the Food Festival, and is a great day for everyone of all ages to enjoy. As well as a great line-up of live music on stage, there’s plenty of entertainment for children and a range of stalls for adults to browse around making it a fantastic family day out in Rutland.

Exploring is easier than ever before thanks to ‘Shorelink’, an exciting new tourist bus service linking sites around Rutland Water with Oakham and Uppingham. This bus services operate 7 days a week between 9am and 7pm. The service connects Rutland Water to the market towns of Oakham and Uppingham with affordable travel starting at just £2.50 for adult tickets along with family tickets and extended discounts available. Passengers are able to take their bikes and dogs onto these specially designed buses. Shorelink visits Oakham - Barnsdale - Whitwell - Empingham - Lyndon - Uppingham – Oakham via Normanton, Edith Weston, Preston, Gunthorpe and Egleton. See www.rutland.gov.uk/shorelink for further details.

Line up for the Live Music: Sounds Of Simon Sounds Of Simon are a pitch perfect Simon and Garfunkel tribute act who perform the full range of Simon and Garfunkel’s career together as well as drawing extensively from Paul Simon’s solo career. Headliners: Funk Soul Brother Funk Soul Brother is one of the UK’s best funk, soul and party bands. A line up of nine talented musicians who recreate a funktastic mixture of classic and contemporary dance tunes. Expect tunes by James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Jamiroquai, Curtis Mayfield and more.

Sounds Of Simon

There will also be other local performers including Uppingham Jazz & Soul Band and host will by Rutland Radio’s favourite DJ, Rob Persani. Entry to Rutland Day and the food festival is free, but there is a car parking charge of £5 per car. Alternatively you could catch the Rutland Shorelink bus to the event. • For more information on the event and to see a full list of exhibitors logon to: www.discover-rutland.co.uk.

Come and find us at the Rutland Living Stand! 18

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Alfresco eating made easy

Need a picnic, or are you entertaining? Pre-order platters of succulent charcuterie, naturally oak smoked fish, or the very best cheeses; or our delicious homemade savoury tarts, pâtés and cakes to make your event just that bit more enjoyable!

Have you discovered Otters ‘Eat-In’? NOW with outside dining area

19 Mill Street, Oakham 01572 756481

info@ottersdeli.co.uk www.ottersdeli.co.uk Michelin Bib Gourmand Award & Inspectors Favourite 2012 & 2013 Melton Times Business Award Best Eating Experience 2011

Open:

Monday & Tuesday 10am to 5.30pm Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm

MEMORABLE CUISINE FOR YOUR PERFECT DAY

DELICIOUS FOOD BEAUTIFULLY SERVED • Fully tailor-made and refined menu • Advance menu tasting • Fixed price quotation • Site visit included • Pay bar and Bar staff available • Supply your own wine – no corkage charges

For further info call Sarah Rivett on 01572 747909 or 07970 576882

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Room to Live

Image of Local installation by QKS

Showroom Cherryholt Road, Stamford, PE9 2EQ

Creators of finest quality bespoke Orangeries & Conservatories

Tel: 01780 756666

Orangeries Lanter n Rooms Conservatories

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm,

Windows Doors Folding Sliding Door Systems

Sat 10am-3pm

Vertical Sliding Windows Roofline Products Porches

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B R I N G I NG L OCA L FOOD T O LIFE

An Apple a Day… Enjoying a chilled glass of cider brewed in Stamford is a good way to enhance your day...

s we enjoy an Indian summer, a cold glass of cider is just the ticket. Happily, Stamford has its own cider – Jollydale – which is pressed and fermented just off West Street, not far from the Jolly Brewer. The man behind Jollydale is Simon Dale, who is also a horseshoe manufacturer (he is the proprietor of Pegasus Horseshoes, also based in Stamford) and the owner of Westside Health Club. Quite a combination! Simon has been making cider since 2002, when he started to pulp and press apples grown in his orchard at home in Woodnewton, Northamptonshire. These pictures show what I found when I visited Jollydale not so long ago…

Jollydale men Chris Sanders (left) and Keith Long are both from Stamford. They also work in Simon’s horseshoe factory, which is located just a few yards from the apple pressing area.

Apples, grown in Shropshire and the Fens, are put through the pulping machine in Stamford. The tipping device was designed and built by Simon Dale (below).

After being pulped, the flesh is layered onto cloth between wooden panels. The panels are then squeezed by the crushing machine, which extracts the juice.

The apple juice is siphoned off into fermentation vats where it is left to ferment for around six months before eventually being blended into Jollydale cider. Waste apple flesh is compacted and fed to animals.

Simon’s Stamford horseshoe factory is next door to his cider-making plant. Today you can buy bottles of Jollydale at a variety of places, including The Jolly Brewer, Stamford Garden Centre, Mama Liz’s and Peterborough-based online shop The Ale Room.

About the writer Matt Wright founded and runs Greatfoodmag.co.uk and Greatfoodclub.co.uk, two Leicestershirebased websites that celebrate and promote local food and drink. His Great Food Club Handbook 2013/14 is out now.

Make your own! Inspired by my visit to Jollydale and by a cider-making course I attended at the School of Artisan Food in Welbeck, last winter I pressed my own apple juice. I used apples grown on an allotment in Waterfurlong, Stamford. The juice has now fermented into cider that I’m currently enjoying. For my full step-by-step guide to making your own cider at home, visit www.greatfoodmag.co.uk and type “how to make your own artisan cider” into the search box located at the top right of the home page.

Join Matt’s food club – Great Food Club – free of charge and discover the very best local food and drink. Members can enjoy special offers at over 80 handpicked independent pubs, restaurants, producers and farm shops www.greatfooodclub.co.uk/join RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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S E A N ’ S KIT CHE N CONFIDE NT IAL

Norfolk Inspiration Sean Hope heads to the coast to source the finest lobster and also toasts an outstanding achievement… Pictures by Robin Stewart (Www.Realfoodphotography.Co)

he other day we were chatting in the kitchen at The Olive Branch and came up with a plan. How could we get the freshest, most keenly priced lobster on the menu? Suddenly it came to us – go straight to the source! Rather than call up the seafood salesman, why not drive to the Norfolk coast and buy from the fishermen?! So it was I found myself getting up at 4.30am to drive to East Runton village near Cromer. The dayboats start to land with their catch from around 6am, so getting there early was a must. But my family and I often spend weekends on the Norfolk coast and I love the place, so believe me, this was no chore! On arrival, accompanied by Oakham-based photographer Robin Stewart, I met up with Kevin Jonas from Jonas Seafoods. We chatted, got a feel for his fishing operation and drank in all the wonderful sights of the Norfolk coastline – the lobster pots, blue skies and sandy beaches. I also visited the crab room, where teams work 12-hour shifts preparing crabs for market. The work starts at midnight and it’s relentless but fascinating to witness. Needless to say, I collected plenty of lobster, crab and more besides, and worked out a deal with the fishermen to supply The Olive Branch with regular batches of fresh Norfolk seafood. The trip was a breath of fresh air and gave me lots of ideas to take back to the kitchen. Two special East Runton lobster dishes inspired by the Norfolk coast are now available at The Olive Branch. The dishes are: 1) Classic grilled lobster thermidor. Summer salad, saffron vinaigrette, lobster bisque, pub chips or Boston new potatoes from Abbey Parks Farm, Boston. Half: £15. Whole: £30 2) Fresh lobster claw and tail meat (no shells). Foaming basil butter, lobster tortellini made in-house with knuckle meat, chopped tarragon and scallop mousse, summer vegetables, fresh chervil from the Olive Branch’s new pub allotment. £26.50 One final thing. We are absolutely thrilled to be named UK Pub of the Year by The Good Pub Guide 2014. When we took on The Olive Branch in November 1999 our primary aim was to open a really good pub – a place that served good food, good wine and good beer in a comfortable, relaxed environment. This award shows we’ve achieved something like that. We put the award down to the incredible hard work put in by our wonderful team.

New Olive Branch allotment Not content with just cooking, I’m now gardening too. The team and I have created a vegetable patch behind the pub that’s producing a variety of herbs and vegetables such as chervil and baby carrots. The new pub allotment means we can cook with produce that’s even fresher and tastier… and nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing you’ve grown it yourself.

Hearty congratulations to The Olive Branch on winning the accolade of Pub of the Year in the Good Pub Guide

The Olive Branch, Main Street, Clipsham, Rutland, LE15 7SH Tel: 01780 410355 www.theolivebranchpub.com

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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Open for lunch & dinner every day

New Summer Menu The Nevill Arms, a traditional Inn at the heart of Medbourne. It appeals to a wide range of customers and you can be assured of a very warm welcome. • Open for breakfast from 8am every day served from the Nevill Cafe & Deli in the courtyard • A La Carte dining • Riverside location • Real ales and a selection of fine wines • Private function facility • Weddings • Nine well appointed rooms

Barristers’ Chambers

e are a well-established, friendly and approachable multi-disciplinary practice of barristers based in Leicester but with a nationwide presence. In addition to accepting instructions from solicitors throughout the UK we also welcome direct access clients and undertake a great amount of such work whether from individual members of the public or from companies and other organisations looking for advice and representation from specialist advocates and lawyers. We offer professional expertise in many and varied areas of the law including:

· Agricultural and Equine Law · Commercial, Company and Partnership Law · Coroners’ Inquests · Courts Martial · Crime · Education Law · Employment Law · Equine · Family Law and Care

· Immigration · Insolvency · Landlord & Tenant and Land Law · Licensing, Betting and Gaming · Personal Injury · Planning · Professional Negligence · Regulatory Law · Sports Law

You can contact our Clerks to discuss your needs and requirements or if you prefer by email: clerks@newwalkchambers.co.uk New Walk Chambers, 27 New Walk, Leicester, LE1 6TE - Tel: 0116 2559144

Please visit our website www.thenevillarms.net and call 01858 565 288 Nevill Arms Inn and Restaurant Waterfall Way, Medbourne, Market Harborough Leicestershire, LE16 8EE

www.newwalkchambers.co.uk 24

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Eating out

Nevill Arms Inn and Restaurant, Medbourne Nicholas, Helen and Abigail enjoy a working lunch al fresco

icholas and Helen raved about the Nevill when they reviewed previously, so I was looking forward to our lunch and what a destination – a Grade 11 listed building, rebuilt in 1863 in a Tudor style and such an idyllic setting alongside the river. You can dine outside, on the terrace, in the bar, in the restaurant or at café Nevill – a smaller bistro style affair offering Light-Bites at the back, and with its own deli. Once settled and drinks ordered, we perused the menu and Helen ordered Smoked Salmon, lemon crème fraiche with date and walnut bread (£6.95) followed by Crab Cakes, hollandaise, capers and gherkins (at £6.95 for a starter portion) – both beautifully presented and delicious but such generous servings that she couldn’t finish either! Great value for money. Nicholas had more of an appetite and ordered the Tempura King Prawns with grilled lime, garlic and chilli mayonnaise (£6.95) followed by the Whole Dressed Cromer Crab, spiced lemon mayonnaise and pomme frites (£14.95) and he had no trouble polishing off the lot – ‘superb’! I opted for Seared Scallops, Stornoway black pudding, pea puree and crispy Parma ham (£7.95) followed by another starter of Grilled goat’s cheese bruschetta with sun dried tomatoes and a pesto dressing –(£5.75). Again the portions were huge and one would have done but, boy, did I enjoy them both! The Goat’s cheese was so ripe it was almost blue and the scallops were out of this world. Nicholas insisted that we had dessert so we ordered the Assiette for 2 to share (£6.95), which when it arrived looked like 3 normal

portions and consisted of a chocolate brownie, chocolate bread and butter pudding and banana and chocolate ice cream in a brandy snap basket. The bread and butter pudding stole the show, for me with the Nevills own freshly baked brioche forming the base. Helen particularly enjoyed the ‘exquisite’ chocolate brownie. Coffee and a chat with the chef, Anthony Difazio, who had recently created the menu that we were sampling – paring it down to simplify the offerings – it still looked pretty

extensive to me! Anthony also makes his own label produce for the deli and is head chef not only at the Nevill but also at The White Horse in Stoke Albany. One would never know as the attention to detail, the quality sourced produce and the excellent service make this place a very classy set up – and hard to beat. I thoroughly recommend. • Contact: 12 Waterfall Way, Medbourne, Market Harborough, LE16 8EE Tel: 01858 565288 www.thenevillarms.net

Riverside Tapas Ashley Marin tries out Stamford’s latest tapas offering

nce Quayhole Kates, now known as Riverside - The Venue is part of Thierry Daugeron’s burgeoning local foodie empire, which also includes the Stamford Cookery School and an outside catering business. If variety is the spice of life then Riverside offers those seeking out food and a drink a plentiful choice. Depending on the time of day, there are three dining areas to choose from: the Riverside Café open from 9am; the Chandelier Restaurant upstairs; and a Wine and Tapas Bar. It was to the latter that we ventured on a splendid summer evening. The tapas menu had a choice of 10 homemade and freshly cooked dishes and offered, we thought, value for money at £3-£4.50 per dish. We opted for six dishes: a meat platter with red onion chutney, mussels with chorizo, pan fried prawns with garlic and chilli, scallops flambé with whisky on ratatouille, toasted brioche with pan fried foie gras, and rocket with sundried tomatoes - plus bread. The ‘hot’ pan fried prawns with garlic and chilli were for us the highlight along with the delicate scallops flambé with whisky on ratatouille. Riverside offers a choice of 34 wines and has also introduced ‘wines of the month’ in which it singles out a white, rosé and red sourced from a particularly country. I enjoyed a refreshing unoaked Chardonnay from The Listening Station (£5.30 a glass), while Helen opted for a rosé from the Turkey Flat Vineyard (£7.50 a glass). The ‘short’ tapas menu is to be welcomed as it makes for an easy choice of dishes - which are changed regularly by head chef Neil Collins, a recent recruit by Thierry Daugeron, who has been in business in the Stamford area for 12 years. Dishes are in fact changed so frequently that there is no printed tapas menu, but a chalkboard highlighting what is available. • The Riverside Wine and Tapas Bar is open Wednesday to Sunday 5.30pm-11pm. Riverside Wine and Tapas Bar, Wharf Rd, Stamford, Tel: 01780 766651 RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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E DUCAT ION

Educational Change:

A period of flux or good foundations for the future? Abigail Richardson asked some local head teachers what changes, if any, they would like to see over the coming years with reference to the government’s proposals for change in our future education system

n 20 January 2011 the Secretary of State for Education announced a review of the National Curriculum in England for both primary and secondary schools with the aim to give schools and teachers more freedom to decide how to teach this most effectively and to design a wider school curriculum that best meets the needs of their pupils. Michael Gove then declared in June 2012 that, “We will work closely with the teaching profession over the coming months to determine exactly how the new National Curriculum will be enhanced and assessed Our guiding principle will always be to learn from the highest-performing schools and give special weight to the experience of those professionals who have done most to raise attainment for all students and who have helped the disadvantaged most of all”. Recently Gove has also published his proposals for future changes in the ‘AS’ and ‘A’ level examinations which will be implemented for teaching from September 2015. Private schools and academies have more freedom as they are not compelled to follow the National Curriculum and often opt to teach to the international qualifications (the IGCSEs and the IB – International Baccalaureate) but of course any change in a National Curriculum is bound to have repercussions in both state and private schools alike.

Nigel Lashbrook, Headmaster, Oakham School

“The educational landscape is always evolving, but at the moment there are seismic shifts. As an independent school we are able to ride out some of these changes, as we have more freedom to choose the curricula that best suit the needs of our students. We are able to extract the parts that we like and add to them with a spectrum of additional learning opportunities (both inside and outside the classroom). However, as with all schools, we are constrained by the assessment of GCSEs. Over the past few years, Oakham has chosen to use International GCSEs for all of our core subjects. These provide more academic rigour, which is right for our students. We feel that the content is more appropriate, challenging and indeed far more exciting for students to learn. In all these debates about educational reform it is often forgotten what the purpose of education is for. It should be to create an intellectual curiosity and appetite for learning beyond school that stays with pupils for life; it is not just about learning enough to pass exams. Having a broad and engaging curriculum that goes beyond the four walls of a classroom is fundamental. The National Curriculum is, by definition, a

structure that sets out the essential knowledge and skills that all children should acquire. At Oakham we strongly believe that knowledge should not just be acquired for the purpose of passing exams. We are increasingly focused on how our students learn and how we can help them to enhance their learning journey. As a result, our new Learning Habits programme focuses on teaching pupils to understand the way in which they learn which will ultimately enable them to use their knowledge and develop their skills. We looked at a wide variety of educational research in order to develop our Learning Habits programme. We are investing in training and development work for our teachers which will enable us to integrate the habits into the academic and wider curriculum at Oakham. We see this as a long-term commitment from which all our students will benefit. Again, we are only able to do this because of our independence and our ability to take a longterm approach to our education, rather than being confined to any current political whim. We do welcome the potentially more challenging subject content and more rigorous assessment structures, as they are right for our students. However, looking at the 16+ education system as a whole, a wider view needs to be

taken and more thought needs to be given to how the needs of different types of children can be met. Not all students are suited to an academic path and, equally important but wider, more coherent vocational opportunities should be available to ensure that all our young people are prepared for an ever changing and more competitive world.”

Stephen Roberts, Principal, Stamford Endowed Schools

“I would hope for a system which has more rigour than currently and will be allowed to develop over a decade. This is the attraction of IGCSEs which have more content than GCSEs and hence are a better preparation for ‘A’ level and will remain largely unchanged for a number of years. At GCSE, I feel terminal exams are better than modules (IGCSE does not have modules) since pupils have to acquire a larger body of knowledge and less teaching time is lost due to examination preparation. Coursework has a role in some subjects (for example in practical creative subjects and the assessment of practical work in the sciences) and is, I think, preferable to controlled assessment though ensuring that it is the pupil’s work can be a challenge.”

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Laxton School

Director of Curriculum, Mark Worthington suggests that we place, “Less emphasis on a ‘knowledge-based’ curriculum where only the learning and memorising of facts is tested at GCSE/A-Level and focus more on the skills our children to face the work place in the 21st Century and for these to be assessed throughout a child’s education. This would mean a radical look at how we set our exams. Learning to learn should be part of the curriculum where meta – cognitive habits are ‘taught’ within the timetable, thus enabling children to recognize themselves what it takes to be an effective learner (5 Rs – Resiliant, Responsible, Reasoning, Reflective, Resourceful. There should be a greater emphasis on IT skills such as learning code (an introduction to programming), App development et al. Local Authorities should be encouraged and incentivised to have closer links with Independent Schools so that best practice and resources can be shared more easily. I would foster a less of the ‘Us and Them’ mentality”.

Copthill School

Deputy Head, Helen Schofield states: “We are all different. The new curriculum must give us the freedom to do what we think will be of benefit to our children. A ‘one-size fits all’ curriculum does not prepare individuals for the world that lies outside the school gates and it certainly does not engage and excite our children. How we teach and in what context, should be the responsibility of the school. We know our children best. At Copthill, we have carefully identified what we consider to be the knowledge, skills and attitudes we want our Y6 children to demonstrate when they leave us to head off to the next stage of their education. We have called this ‘The Copthill Learner’. We are preparing our children for jobs that haven’t been invented yet. We want our children to be able to solve problems that we don’t even know are problems yet. One expert in the field of education, Ian Gilbert, has written a book entitled Why Do I Need a Teacher When I’ve Got Google?... It’s certainly worth a read.”

Richard Harman, Headmaster, Uppingham School

“The single most important reform that the Secretary of State could introduce is one that ensures the highest standards of rigour, reliability and resilience in the marking and assessment of exams, with a proper system for appeals where necessary. At present this is the biggest flaw in our examination and assessment system and it must be fixed urgently, for the sake of the children who sit these exams across the whole country and in whatever type of school.”

Charles Welch, Witham Hall

“My thoughts centre around the importance of having a curriculum that -in encouraging high levels of engagement, knowledge and understanding- sets a benchmark for basic standards in reading and writing, a curriculum that rewards all types of personalities to flourish, a curriculum that, alongside academic talent, encourages and measures talent in creative arts, performing arts and sport, a curriculum that encourages children to think independently and develop critical and analytical skills- especially in a technology driven society where information is just a touch of a button away!” RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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Learning for life Co-educational boarding and day school offering A Levels and the IB

oakham.rutland.sch.uk To find out more contact our Admissions team on 01572 758758 admissions@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

BROOKE PRIORY SCHOOL Oakham, Rutland

I.A.P.S. Preparatory School for boys and girls aged 2 - 11 years

OPEN MORNING Saturday, 28th September, 2013 9.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.

Outstanding according to Ofsted and I.S.I. – come and see why! For further details contact Wendy Bromwich, Registrar

Tel: 01572 724778

e-mail: wb@brooke.rutland.sch.uk

website: www.brooke.rutland.sch.uk

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he Carisbrooke team offer a lifelong approach to providing dental care and treatment to patients. They have an exceptional reputation both with patients and dentists in and around Leicestershire who refer many of their own patients to the practice for specialist care. “I wanted to thank you very much for your excellent work on my teeth. Some people might prefer to buy shoes or clothes, but I know my teeth are twice as beautiful and will outlast them all. I never thought I would love and cherish my own teeth so much, but I want to keep them looking as lovely as the day you finished work on them. They are my pride and joy, and I know no matter what else is happening in my life, I have fantastic looking teeth”. Ms H, Leicester

· General and family dental care · Orthodontic treatment for children and adults · Dental implant treatment · Complex Restorative treatment · Periodontal treatment for gum disease · Endodontic treatment for root canal therapy

Visit our web site www.carisbrookedental.co.uk for more information about our extraordinary services 29

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Open Day Saturday 5 October 10.30am-1pm • A small, friendly, independent school for pupils aged 3-18 years • New Junior School Building • In ‘The Independent’s’ Top 100 Schools • Excellent GCSE and A Level results • Bus services from Kettering, Market Harborough, Towcester and Northampton Town Centre • Childcare Vouchers accepted

Your child’s next move? 01604 880306 office@pitsfordschool.com www.pitsfordschool.com

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E DU CAT IO N UPDAT E S

French for Everyone

New Headmaster for Leicester High School for Girls Mr Alan Whelpdale shares his vision for a school at the heart of its community Q: A Headmaster at a girls’ school…isn’t that a bit unusual? A: No, not in the 21st Century! I have worked in girls’ schools for much of my career; I know several male Heads of girls’ schools and was Acting Head for a year at my previous school – another all girls’ school - Durham High. The ability to lead is not gender based – indeed, equally, I know several female Heads of all boys’ schools. Q: What attracted you to Leicester High? A: It’s a fantastic school both academically and pastorally. I love the sense of community and this is exactly what the High School is – a community. Above all, there is a real sense of belonging; everyone is someone and I feel privileged to be joining the community. Q: Why do you feel it is so important for the school to be at the heart of its community? A: We are currently the best performing school in the City in terms of examination results. There is much expertise to be shared. For the last two years we have offered Gifted and Talented Masterclasses for Years 4-6 girls in primary schools throughout the county and the city, and I would like to see this develop further. We have outstanding facilities here, particularly in the new building where we have 6 wonderful science labs. To coincide with my appointment we are delighted to have secured an Ogden Trust Sixth Form Physics Scholarship. This will allow a scholar who is bright and keen the opportunity to join the High School and take advantage of all that it offers. The school is as vibrant and diverse as the city it inhabits, and we have so much to give, and gain, by being involved in the life of our community.

If you or your children are struggling with any aspect of French for GCSE, A level, International Baccalaureate or university, or if you simply enjoy learning or improving your French, then help is at hand. Marie-Ange is a French native speaker, born, brought up and educated in the South West of France. As part of her Master in English she spent 1 year at Sheffield University where she met her future husband (a local dentist) and they have been living in Rutland for the past 23 years. Marie-Ange has been successfully tutoring students and adults of all levels over the past 15 years. She runs several weekly small groups for adults from complete beginner to advanced level as well as one-to-one sessions for students and adults. • For more details, contact Marie-Ange on Tel: 01572737555 or email her at marieangefabrermartin@yahoo.co.uk or visit her website www.marie-ange.co.uk Lessons restart week commencing September 16th 2013

BROOKE PRIORY SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Saturday, 28th September, 9.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Says Elizabeth Bell, headteacher, “The early years of your child’s education are vital, providing the essential foundation for future life. Brooke Priory sets out to educate its children in the broadest possible way. Academic excellence will always be the highest priority, but education must also include a rich diet of music, art, drama and sports. Above all, school must be enjoyable and a place to foster friendships. We aim to provide our children with a wide range of opportunities and to encourage their individual talents. When the time comes to leave Brooke Priory we hope to see confident, successful and well-prepared children moving on to their chosen senior schools.” • Contact: Brooke Priory School, Station Approach, Oakham, LE15 6QW Tel: 01572 724778

Q: What will your priority be in your first term? A: I plan to talk and listen to the girls and their parents, and learn from them about the school, and how they see it. I am also very interested in making links with the business community because I think we can help each other. We have bright, hardworking and ambitious girls here, and businesses can offer career opportunities and expertise. I am fortunate to be joining a strong team of experienced staff at Leicester High, which will allow me to develop links with the community. The first term will also be a great opportunity for me to meet prospective parents on Open Day on Saturday 12 October, 9.30am-12.30pm when I look forward to meeting everyone. RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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T R AVE L

Rutland’s Luxury Travel Show Savvi Travel brings luxury travel to Rutland on the 29th September from 11:00am to 3:00pm at Barnsdale Lodge Hotel • £500.00 to be won on the day to be spent with one of the tour operators • Exclusive show offers • Complimentary Canapés & Bubbly – from Otters Smokehouse deli and Wines from around the world by The Wine Emporium of Oakham Travel Consultants include:

Silversea Cruises known as the best luxury cruise line on the water. Beachcomber Tours specialising in the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles. Seafarer the leading specialist in yachting holidays and small ship cruises. Indus Experiences a leader in Special Interest Tours in Indochina. Classic Collection Holidays an award winning specialist tour operator offering luxury tailormade holidays to a range of destinations including the Mediterranean, North Africa and Bermuda.

ITC Classics for luxury worldwide travel. Cox & Kings offering tailor-made private travel and escorted small-group tours. Kirker Holidays offering city breaks for the discerning traveller as well as longer holidays to cities, coastal and countryside locations. Africa and Beyond specialising in hand-crafted holidays to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Madagascar, the Indian Ocean Islands and the UAE.

1st Class Holidays an independent, award winning tour operator offering the widest selection of holidays to Canada, New Zealand, Australia and America. Journeys Latin America offering flexible custom made holidays to Central and South America. Azamara & Celebrity Cruises one of the youngest, most innovative fleets at sea, who employ visionary architects and top interior designers.

Discover Egypt one of the UK’s leading specialist operators to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Sandals the Caribbean all inclusive specialist for couples and honeymoons. If Only specialists in Dubai. Explore Adventure Travel featuring a huge variety of exciting and inspiring small group tours all over the world. Club Med offering a ‘Premium All Inclusive’ holiday experience at 80 locations around the world. Titan Travel offering worldwide tours and river cruising.

OUT & ABOUT

Friendly Evening Cycling

Rutland Ride and Stride 14th September

here has been a quite revolution taking place at Oakham Cycle Centre recently. Local cyclists of all abilities have been meeting there to take part in a gentle social ride through the countryside before finishing at the Grainstore pub for light refreshment. Recent rides have seen as many as 50 cyclists of all ages turn out for a gentle ride round Rutland. Shop Owner Brian Cooper explained the ethos behind the rides: “Many of our customers who are new to cycling have been keen to join other cyclists on a group ride. Unfortunately many of them have been put off by the competitive nature and speed of local club rides. We thought we would give people the opportunity to ride safely and leisurely with other cyclists and have some fun. In essence it’s just about enjoying the freedom a bike can bring you.” • The rides leave from Oakham Cycle Centre every Thursday from 18.15 and any person on any bike is welcome. You can call the shop on Tel: 01572 757058 or visit their Facebook page if you have any questions.

utland Ride and Stride is a sponsored event for cyclists, joggers, walkers, and for the first time people with restricted mobility who wish to use a car. The event is held in Rutland once every two years in order to raise money for the preservation of the county’s beautiful and ancient church buildings. Participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can by their chosen mode of transport and at the same time raise money to support the work of the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust and the church of their choice. How do you take part? Either 1. Actively participate on the day by cycling, walking, etc. Get sponsored by friends, family and colleagues for a church building of your choosing in the weeks before. Or 2. Sponsor your friends or family members who are actively participating. www.JustGiving.com/ rhcpt or cash Or 3. Offer to help out in a church of your choosing by checking in visiting cyclists, walkers, etc. • To find out more go online at www.RutlandRideAndStride.org.uk

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T R AVE L

A Highland Fling Amander Meade and family head north and discover a wealth of stunning scenery and great days out in the Scottish Highlands Pictures courtesy of James Byham and Aviemore National Park

arlier this year, we headed north to visit family near Inverness. Daunted by the thought of such a long drive, we opted for the train and were pleasantly surprised by the price - £200 for four of us (return to Inverness from Peterborough using a Family & Friends Railcard) which certainly compared favourably with the cost of fuel. The additional benefit was the delightful unfolding of the landscape as we travelled the East Coast line and watched the ordered green farmlands of the Midlands give way to the wilds of Northumberland and finally the glens and mountains of Scotland. If you do take the train, take plenty of snacks and reading matter – the journey takes eight hours and our particular train ran out of sandwiches at York! Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and indeed the Scotland of Hollywood - the purple hills of ‘Braveheart’ and the plunging valleys of ‘Highlander’. Inverness was once the stronghold of the Picts, a group of Celtic tribes who withstood the Romans, but now it’s a provincial city straddling the River Ness and is the perfect base for excursions.

Things to Do… You can take a boat trip on nearby Loch Ness – a stunningly beautiful location where I harbored a secret hope that Nessie might just show herself but in this I was disappointed. Another disappointment here as in other tourist hotspots was the quality of the food – my advice is to find a decent deli and stock up on picnic goodies as the cafes and tea shops were expensive and the food abysmal. The Strathspey Railway was closed in 1965 under the Beeching Plan but thanks to the efforts of volunteers, it re-opened and you can now ride a steam train on the nostalgic twenty mile round trip along part of the original Highland Railway through woodlands and by great sweeps of the River Spey with the Cairngorm Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop. Inverness Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness. The sand stone structure evident today was built in 1836 on the site of an 11th

century defensive structure. Today, it houses Inverness Sheriff Court so the castle itself is not open to the public but the grounds are. Run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, North Kessock Dolphin and Seal Centre offers one of the best opportunities in Europe to observe dolphins and seals in their natural habitat. Listen to the dolphins through the unique underwater microphone system and learn about the marine environment.

Highland Hiking As you would expect, many head to the highlands for the walking and outdoor pursuits. The walk to Craig Phadraig, an iron-age fort above the city, is a classic. Inverness also sits within reach of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and marks the start of one of Scotland’s most beautiful walks, the Great Glen Way which runs seventy three miles south to Fort William. Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is surrounded by breathtaking scenery and is a major highland holiday resort. An all year round destination with a wide range of winter and summer activities to choose from, Aviemore offers an impressive selection of accommodation from big international hotels to welcoming B&Bs and cottages. Most famous for its skiing, the national park also offers some of the best mountain biking in the UK and fabulous walking – with or without a guide. Regardless of your age, fitness or ability there’s something for you here. Accompanied throughout by Mack, a born and bred Highland hound, we did plenty of walking and it can be hard going if you go off the beaten track. With each step ankle deep in bracken and heather we certainly earned the chocolate we had packed for regular energy boosts and the views were always well worth the climb. • For more information on holidays in the Highlands see www.visithighlands.com • For more information on Aviemore see www.visithighlands.com RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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D E SI G N S O L UT IONS

Getting Cosy for Winter As summer draws to a close and Christmas decorations appear in John Lewis, Nicola Hardy feels the necessary urge to ‘cosy up’ her living room: “I want to add warmth - not only with colour but texture too. I’m not talking a major refurbishment here, just swapping various elements to create a lush environment”…

Fiona enthusiastically regaled me with background information on the types of rugs she sells - all handpicked and predominately from Iran (Persia) and Afghanistan. It began to dawn on me how uniquely beautiful each one is, and the extraordinary length of time they take to complete is staggering. A family of females (the males work the fields) can spend up to six months making one rug. The designs are passed down through generations, mostly from memory. Patterns range from traditional Kilim and Tribal to contemporary and are available in both subtle and vivid colours.

first approached ‘Oakham Oriental Rugs’, as rugs are the ultimate accessory for comfort and homeliness. I met Fiona in her Pandora’s box of a shop, a plethora of woven delights adorning every surface.

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Top Tips: • Bright lights can make a room harsh and uninviting so replace light switches with dimmers or swap bulbs for a softer wattage. Gentle pools of light are infinitely more appealing than one central overhead light. • Candles, and preferably those imbibed with aroma, are an absolute must as they instantly add atmosphere. Home Image stocks a delectable selection of candles of all sizes with a variety of scents and assorted colours. • Rearranging furniture for winter months can also make a huge difference. Pull your sofa and armchairs forwards around a focal point or fireplace thus creating a more intimate ambiance. • Overall, it’s surprising how minimum effort can produce such wonderfully cosy results!

There are different thicknesses to the rugs as well as a variety of sizes but all are so hardwearing, they will last you a lifetime. You might choose a thick, richly toned Persian rug for winter, whilst a softer hued and lighter weight Needlepoint/Aubusson rug would better suit summer. The Needlepoint rug designs are copied from Louis XIV Tapestries and are irresistibly elegant. They are perfect partners to the Louis XIV furniture you can find in Swans; the effect equals effortless, French chic. I found the Antique over dyed collection particularly gorgeous. Vintage rugs are treated to a process that neutralises the colours, and then they are either left subtle with a tea stain dye or enhanced with vibrant dyes such as orange, pink and turquoise. They also come in patchwork designs, which look fabulous! This trend is extremely popular in London and is gradually filtering through to other parts of the country. Do take a look at these if you desire something a bit different.

Another effective way of warming up your living room is by changing your cushions. Store your flowery, stripy and lighter toned cushions and swap with fake fur, velvet, felt and woolly ones. Rich accents of colour and tactile fabrics absorb light and sound, softening the room and cocooning the inhabitants. Elizabeth Stanhope, Sarah Harding Interiors, Furleys and John Lewis all stock a delightful array of such cushions. Add textured or fake fur throws for extra warmth and luxury. Tom of ‘Swans’ suggests swapping lampshades for an instant colour and mood change His advice is to invest in statement lamp bases whilst opting for interchangeable classic lampshades. Put a deep red shade where a white one sat and the whole room instantly feels cosier. They stock a good selection of bases and shades and Tom is on hand to offer advice.

If you are looking for a totally individual rug, then why not design your own? The bespoke Nepalese collection offers this novel service. There are templates to choose from (if you can’t come up with a design of your own), a wide range of rug colour samples, a selection of fabric compositions and finishes and, best of all, you dictate the size. A good place to begin a design is by picking out a pattern or motif from your sofa, curtains or cushions - keep it fairly simple and then match the colours from the sample boxes. Fiona will advise and assist you in this process. Prices start at £600 and allow six months for delivery, not bad for creating your own masterpiece! RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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D IA RY DAT E S

What’s On Amander Meade selects some of the best entertainment in the region this month Throughout August until Tuesday 10 September EVENT: Barnsdale Gardens Summer Exhibition Barnsdale Gardens is delighted to announce the extension of their outdoor art exhibition for this summer due to popular demand. Exhibits feature work by students from Creative Arts at New College Stamford and include sculpture, painting, ceramics and more. Barnsdale Gardens, Exton For information on all the events and courses at Barnsdale Tel: 01572 813200 or visit www. barnsdalegardens.co.uk Saturday 7 September, 7.30pm MUSIC: Alexandra Dariescu – Piano Music in Lyddington presents Alexandra playing Beethoven, Scarlatti and Schumann. St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington Tickets are £14 (students £2) from Music & More or Uppingham Sports & Books. More information at www. musicinlyddington.co.uk

and forensic reports, with the help of Catmose College drama students. Guess whodunit and try our fun book quiz. Ann Cleeves (author of the Vera Stanhope series) has written this special script for all lovers of Agatha Christie and classic detective fiction. Oakham Castle Tickets £3 (£2 concessions) from Oakham Library, Tel: 01572 722918, to include refreshments. Thursday 26 September, 7.30pm EVENT: Nina Conti – Dolly Mixtures Multi-award winning comedian and BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Nina Conti brings you her unique mixture of ground-breaking ventriloquism and mischievous stand-up. Nina introduces her daughter, her handyman, her gran, her oldest friend and a stray dog in a show that refuses to go as rehearsed. Bracingly funny and thoughtfully meditative. The Core at Corby Cube Tickets from £17.50 Tel: 01536 470470 or www.thecorecorby.com Friday 27th September EVENT: Taste of France Gourmet Evening Enjoy a seven course dining extravaganza hosted in a private dining room. Head Chef, David Ellams, will present a gourmet dining experience inspired by all things French. Each course will be served with its own unique French wine. Stapleford Park Country House Hotel Tickets are priced at £99 per person Tel: 01572 787000 Sunday 29 September, 10.30am to 3pm EVENT: Wedding Fair Meet some of the region’s most popular wedding suppliers from caterers and musicians to bakers and photographers. Barnsdale Hall Hotel

Tuesday 10th September, 7.30pm EVENT: Rutland Hardy Plant Group The Rutland Hardy Plant Group welcomes Kevin Hughes, well known nurseryman from Hampshire and excellent lecturer. Kevin will speak on the topic ‘New and Uncommon Shrubs and Trees suited to most Gardens’. Visitors very welcome. Uppingham Methodist Church Admission £3 to include refreshments Sunday 22 September, 11am to 3.30pm EVENT: Wedding Fair Supporting local businesses with brand new, fresh exhibitors you won’t have seen anywhere else. Complimentary Bucks Fizz and canapés for all visitors. The Whipper-In Hotel, Oakham More information from Kate Tel: 07909 901 980 Wednesday 25 September at 7.30pm EVENT: Murder Mystery Evening Use your little grey cells to solve an Ann Cleeves mystery from witness statements

Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 September EVENT: Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials More than just an equestrian event, there is plenty to keep all spectators entertained including incredible shopping. Thursday and Friday are dressage days; the fearless cross country sporting action takes place on Saturday and the competition comes to a rousing conclusion on Sunday with the final show jumping phase. Many of the competitors this year won medals at last year’s Olympics – see them in action and start spotting the stars of tomorrow. For information and bookings visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk Burghley Park, Stamford

Book early for.... Christmas at the Curve Friday 29 November 2013 to Saturday 11 Jan 2014 MUSICAL THEATRE: Chicago With seduction, scandal, showbiz and all that jazz... Chicago has been announced as the Christmas show at Curve this year. Set in the 1920s, Chicago tells the story of scintillating sinners, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, their crimes of passion and their outrageous pursuit of fame and celebrity. But murder, adultery and corruption are no match for their manipulative, smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn. Booking through the Ticket Office Tel: 0116 242 3596 or at www.curveonline.co.uk

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a rts & culture

Curve’s 5th Birthday Open Day Leicester’s Curve theatre has revealed details of the action-packed programme for its celebratory 5th Birthday Open Day on Saturday 7 September – with free activities, workshops and live performances for the Leicestershire community to enjoy from 10am – 6pm

Guinness World Record Attempt - Richard III, 10am 11am THEATRE To get the birthday celebrations off to a momentous start and to mark Leicester’s unique Richard III story, from 10am Curve will be attempting to break a Richard III inspired Guinness World Record for ‘The Most Number of People Wearing Paper Crowns’. The only criteria required by the Guinness Book of World Records to break the record is for all participants to wear a paper crown but Richard III themed costumes consisting of wigs, capes and other regalia are also encouraged for the fun familyfriendly event. During the world record attempt, Curve will be staging Leicester’s largest ever mass reading of William Shakespeare’s Richard III’s iconic opening speech, filling the huge auditorium with tremendous sound – and hundreds paper crowns! Fiona Allan, Curve’s Chief Executive commented: “Everyone across Leicestershire has been inspired by the discovery of Richard III here in our city and this record breaking moment is our way of marking this moment of Leicester’s history in our 5th Birthday celebrations. The record we are attempting to break currently stands at 749 people, but we know that our community can do even better! So, if you want to be able to tell all your friends and family that you are a world record holder - come to join in the fun.”

Paul Kerryson: 5 Years of Curve interview with Jonathan Lampon, 11am STUDIO Join Artistic Director, Paul Kerryson, in the Studio, where he will be reliving some of the finest moments from Curve’s past five years and giving a rare insight into life working in one of the country’s technically advanced nationally acclaimed producing theatres in an interview with BBC Radio Leicester’s Jonathan Lampon at 11am. Visitors will be able to join a member of Curve’s team for an exclusive personalised free back-stage tour to gain a unique insight into their day to day lives at Curve, departing every half an hour during the day.

Comedy for Kids with Ian Billings, 11.30am 12 noon THEATRE Wonderfully wacky and fantastically foolish, top international kid’s comic and poet Ian Billings presents his hilarious children’s show, Dumbs

Up! Be prepared for gurgles of delight, sniggers of joy and the occasional burp as the comic ponders and puns his way through school life, parents… and plenty of strange noises!

Technical Demonstration, 12.30pm - 1pm THEATRE Join the technical team on the main stage for a demonstration of lighting, sound and automation.

Sabras Radio, 1.30pm 2.30pm THEATRE Join presenters Kash Kumar, Rishi Modi and Tina Kaur as they present their show live from Curve’s stage. Complete with audience interaction and Leicester’s Bollywood dancers, the show will also feature live music performances.

2Funky Dance Explosion, 3pm - 3.30pm THEATRE Featuring some of the finest dance artists from across Leicester, this show is packed full of the funkiest and freshest moves covering a range of styles, from solo freestyle, street dance and break dance to the dynamic impact of larger dance crews. Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival has been entertaining audiences from all over the city for almost 20 years. Continuing their successful partnership with Curve, Britain’s longest running comedy festival returns to the theatre to help celebrate in style with a one-hour performance from a number of well-loved comics, including a 15 minute set from the hilarious Boothby Graffoe.

A Play In A Day - 4.30pm - 5.15pm STUDIO Have you ever wondered how long it takes to stage a play? As part of the 5th Birthday members of the local community will block, rehearse and perform seven five-minute plays… all in eight hours! Written by members of the recently launched Writer’s Programme, this brand new project will be brought to life by Leicester based young director, Chris Hill, who has previously worked with West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Lowry in Salford and Birmingham Rep. • All Theatre and Studio performances, guided tours, workshops and events are free of charge but booking is recommended. Tickets can only be booked in person at Curve’s sales kiosk in Highcross, the Ticket Office at Curve or by calling Tel: 0116 242 3595. • For more information on Curve’s full 5th Birthday Open Day programme visit: www.curveonline.co.uk

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Wedding Marquee and Venue Fair

Sunday 22nd September 2013 - 10am - 6pm at Tugby Orchards, Wood Lane, Tugby. LE7 9WE (9 Mins from Uppingham and 15 mins from Leciester)

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Unique Marquees for Weddings, Parties, Festivals & Corporate Events This event is showcasing: The Orchard Fields Wedding & Event Venue

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We understand just how important our role is to your special event and are fully committed to getting it just right for you. Come and see the unique styles of marquees and internal furniture available from Funky Tents, all set in a fabulous venue location at Tugby Orchards. Marquees on show can provide enough space from a simple 40 person party up to a wedding or event for 600 people. weddings | parties | summer balls | corporate | festivals Ample parking and refreshments will be available

Tel: 0843 506 5001 | www.funky-tents.co.uk www.tugbyorchards.co.uk

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L OCA L NE W S

SHOPS & SERVICES How to buy painted furniture Painted furniture for the home has never been more popular. Laura Harvey, founder of Rutland-based painted furniture specialists Reloved Vintage tells us what to look for. From TV adverts to high street shop windows, painted furniture is everywhere. More and more people are growing tired of the ﬂat-pack, throwaway culture and opting for more solid, traditional pieces with a contemporary twist. Some high street chains sell new, mass-produced furniture, designed to look old (despite being made in a factory in the far east), but if you want a genuinely vintage piece of furniture that has been re-loved, there are a growing number of independent sellers to choose from. So how do you know that the item you’re buying is of good quality? What telltale signs of shoddiness should you know about and how can you tell if your ebay ‘bargain’ is going to be more trouble that it’s worth? HERE ARE THREE KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU’RE BUYING PAINTED FURNITURE, TO ENSURE YOU BUY A TOP-QUALITY PIECE THAT WILL LAST YOU FOR YEARS TO COME. • Has the paint been protected? This is vital. If the paint has a chalky or rough feel, it has not been protected with a varnish or wax – this means your new chest of drawers will soon be chipped, stained and basically ruined. The ﬁnish should feel smooth and spilt water should simply bead off. If buying online, always ask what wax or varnish was used. • What’s it like inside? Are there scruffy paint marks where the interiors has not been masked off during painting? Have the drawers been lined? Is there dust on the shelves? Do the drawers stick? All these point to a careless attitude. • Are there drips or brush marks? The paint should have been applied carefully, so as not to drip and leave ugly blobs. If the paint has been slapped on in one thick coat, you’ll see nasty streaks and bare wood showing through.

Rutland business set to change the face of insurance Simon Jackson has built a business based on his belief that the EU Gender law, which legislates that insurers can no longer offer reduced rates of car insurance to female drivers, is unfairly penalistic. After thirty years working in high-level roles in the insurance industry, Simon, a Chartered Insurance Broker and one of only 900 accredited Chartered Directors in the UK, felt so strongly about the new legislation that he set up Girls Drive Better, a niche brokerage focused on female drivers. Simon said, “Understanding what was happening in the market, together with seeing my 22 year-old daughter’s insurance premiums escalate, convinced me that female drivers were facing ridiculously high insurance costs, regardless of their driving habits. I set up Girls Drive Better to provide insurance cover speciﬁcally designed to offer female drivers a fairer deal.” Last year, Simon set up Policywise, a sister company, designed to provide specialist insurance cover for high value property, contents and vehicles and cater for individuals with non-standard requirements. Simon’s extensive experience, knowledge of the UK Personal lines insurance industry and established network of contacts means that Policywise and Girls Drive Better are well placed to offer innovative insurance products and a fresh approach to client / broker relationships. Simon explained, “We offer a tailored, personal service that alleviates the hassle and frustration associated with the big corporates and overseas call centres.” • Contact: www.policywise.co.uk, Tel: 0845 512 1231 or www.girlsdrivebetter.com, Tel: 0845 512 0731

Bad Day at Black Frog Creek.

Rutland-based Reloved Vintage sells one-off pieces of furniture, restored and painted with care and individuality – and has satisﬁed customers from Dubai to the Royal Albert Hall! Reloved Vintage can also source speciﬁc items for customers, painted in a colour and style of your choice. Reloved Vintage has a showroom at Finders Keepers, upstairs at Lollyrocket, 54 Gold Street, Kettering and also sells online at: www.relovedvintageinteriors.co.uk. Tel: 07716 899343, facebook.com/relovedvintage, twitter.com/relovedvintage

Cottesmore Village Players last performed this 13 years ago and having watched a recording of it recently, which left them all in tears of laughter, they felt it was time to bring it back. The Muldoon Mob are riding back to town to recover their booty from Diamond Tooth Lil, only to be thwarted by Old Ma Treacle, Big Brad, Filthy Frank Chisholm, Yippee Brown and Angel Delight. Along the way there is fun, terror, songs and more fun. Get yer Stetsons out and mosey along to join in! • Market Overton Village Hall will become the Saloon in Black Frog Creek between Wednesday 11th and Saturday 14th September 2013, starting at 7.30pm. Holler them on Tel: 01572 768040 or send them a telegram on alanlynnlane@yahoo.co.uk for tickets which cost £7.00 each. RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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L OCA L NE W S

SHOPS & SERVICES Oakham Quality Market Rutland Events Company is delighted to bring an exciting new shopping experience to the heart of Rutland. Sundays at eleven will see The Victoria Hall, Oakham bursting into action with our Oakham Quality Market. Shoppers will be able to buy direct from high quality local stallholders that represent cottage industries, craftsmen and small local businesses all carefully selected for each market considering quality and overall product balance. Held in the glorious setting of The Victoria Hall, the monthly Oakham Quality Market will be the perfect antidote to the dull ubiquity of chain stores or faceless shopping on the internet. On entering the Quality Market, shoppers will discover around 30 stalls, all carefully selected to give visitors a range of varied and high quality products to choose from. Gorgeous interiors and country lifestyle products to beautiful jewellery and vintage ﬁnds to tantalizing cheeses, breads and scrumptious cakes, all tastes will be catered for. All goods on offer will be locally produced/sourced or environmentally friendly; so visitors can be assured that they will also be doing their bit to support local Rutland small businesses, whilst at the same time picking up some unique products and having a great day out in Oakham. • The ﬁrst market is on September 1st, with the mayor is attending at 11.30. Future dates for the diary are Sunday 13th October and Sunday 1st December.

Always Take Care Always Take Care has been successfully established for over eight years and now cares for 40+ clients nationwide, with 200 trained carers (CRB/reference checked) on their books. They have recently relocated from Cottesmore to 9 High Street in Oakham. Always Take Care offers one-to-one live-in care to clients who wish to remain in their own homes, maintaining their independence and way of life for as long as possible. The Agency recognises the vast range of needs of their clients – what suits one person will not necessarily suit another. Perhaps you need short-term care rather than long term, due to circumstance, for example post-operative care. Take Care offers three levels of care, including specialist care, for individuals and couples. Each level is well described in their brochure. They produce an extremely comprehensive care plan for each client, and detailed information about the carers chosen; and all aspects of the individual case will be liaised fully before a proﬁle of the carer is given to a client for consideration. Once a carer is in place, a 24 hour Helpline is available 365 days a year. • Please contact Heather or Bridget if you would like to learn more. Telephone or visit www. alwaystakecare. com or call into their ofﬁce between 9am – 5pm MonFri for advice or a brochure. Tel: 01572 869138

New Book - Burma Railway Man, Secret Letters from a Japanese POW Written by local author, Brian Best from Exton, Rutland, ‘Burma Railway Man’ is being released to coincide with a major new blockbuster ﬁlm ‘The Railway Man’ starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman later this year. Synopsis: Charles Steel had the immense misfortune of participating in two of the greatest disasters ever to befall the British Army; Dunkirk and the fall of Singapore. Shortly before the latter, he married his sweetheart, Louise. Within days of being captured by the Japanese, Charles began writing weekly letters to his new bride as a means of keeping in touch with her in his mind - for the Japanese forbade all such writing. Over the next three years he somehow managed to write and conceal almost 200 letters. This unique and harrowing correspondence describes the full horror Charles experienced, working as a slave on the infamous Burma Railway and, in particular, the Bridge over the River Kwai. • Look for it in local bookstores or Tel: 01226 734222 for a copy.

COMPETITION

Rutland Living has 5 books to give away to the ﬁrst 5 entries answering the question: Who will star in the ﬁlm ‘The Railway Man’ this year? Answers to: rutlandliving@gmail.com or Tweet: @ rutlandliving. Deadline: 30th September 2013.

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L OCA L NE W S

ART Street Artist SNIK recognised for Prestigious UK Contemporary Arts Prize From over 3500 entries, one half of street art duo ‘SNIK’; Nik Ellis, has been chosen to showcase in an exhibition at the Mall Galleries in Central London

he Threadneedle Prize is the leading competition for excellence in figurative and representational painting and sculpture. At £30,000, it is one of the UK’s most valuable art prizes. For the first time in its history, ‘Urban art’ has been acknowledged for its contribution with the shortlisting of an artist predominantly recognized for his on-street works. “Maybe they didn’t realise that was my background, or maybe they did and wanted to diversify the prize? Who knows, and really, who cares” Leading stencil artists, SNIK have been painting on and off the streets for the past 10 years, travelling worldwide to expand their artistic boundaries and knowledge of the trade. In 2011 they announced their inaugural solo show in London and since that time their profile has been steadily rising, with each new piece more impressive than the last. Their works are characteristised by portraits of people and animals with a focus on melancholic, sometimes haunting images of women. Rendered with spray paint, these stenciled pieces can be as intricate as up to 9 different layers. Threadneedle Prize, shortlisted sculptor (2009) Tim Shaw comments on Nik’s work...”His work is well crafted.... above all, it has enough power and presence to draw in and engage the viewer. This, together with the Interesting, original use of materials, has the thumbs up from me” ‘All in forms’ is the title of the accepted submission for this years prize, a 5 layer stencil with spray paint on cardboard. The image is a portrait of a young girl looking straight out towards the viewer and will feature in the Mall Galleries (near Trafalgar Sq) Wed 25 September - Sat 12 October 2013. For Nik this was a separate piece away from the SNIK title, and not taken very seriously when entering. “I never expected to get even past the first stage of judging, let alone to the actual final gallery exhibition”. The selectors response on why this piece was chosen for the Mall Galleries Exhibition. “I chose the painting because the face has a compelling quality that draws you in. I wasn’t thinking about the style or medium - the fact that it’s spray-painted doesn’t stop it being figurative.... It’s a strong image, it’s art, it’s figurative and it has a mystique about it like

a young Mona Lisa without the smile. In short, it was a worthy candidate for selection - what more can I say?” Previous winners and shortlisted artists include Nina Murdoch, now represented by Marlborough Fine Art, and Rose Wylie (currently on show at Tate Britain). The Threadneedle Prize committee claim that their intent is to encourage debate about the growing relevance of ﬁgurative and representational art; to promote deeper thinking and fresh ideas to identify value where others may overlook it. With the acknowledgment of Street/Urban aesthetics into the realm of accepted and respected art-forms; one can almost start to believe that this is the case. Visitors to the exhibition can cast their vote for Nik to win an extra £10,000 in the Visitors’ Choice Award. The ﬁnalists will be announced Thursday 15th August 2013. • For more info on SNIK view their website at www.visualdirt.co.uk or you can purchase works at www.delamainarts.com RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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GAR DE NING

Adam Frost

ocal gardening talent, Adam Frost has an impressive cv, having worked with many of the garden design greats, including our dearly loved, Geoff Hamilton at Barnsdale Gardens. Adam also recently stepped into the limelight of BBC’s The One Show with Christine Walkden, to mentor a competition winner at Hampton Court Flower Show. Adam then won an incredible fifth Gold Medal at this year’s Centenary RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with his Homebase sponsored garden entitled, “Sowing the Seeds of Change”, which featured inter-planting of flowers and vegetables, fruit trees, alpine strawberries, a bee hive and dipping ponds to encourage wildlife.

ADAM SAYS: “What I love more than anything about my work is the way it allows me to bring together my passion for plants with my love of design, to create special places for people to enjoy. Gardening is something I believe grounds us all by getting your hands in the soil and giving you an awareness of the future and understanding of the seasons. I love the rhythm that a garden gives, it’s a job that carries on throughout the year but doesn’t have to be a chore. We live in a world where we never have enough time, but you will be surprised by how much you can achieve in your garden if you just allow yourself 10-20 minutes now and then. I hope to help people enjoy their gardens and encourage all ages and abilities to get their hands dirty and their fingers green!” SEPTEMBER: For me, September is normally a month that I just don’t want to end. Although you can feel the days drawing in, it generally tends to be good weather wise, so there’s still lots of fun to be had outdoors and a time to start your spring planting. Having coaxed your plants through the summer heat, it’s time to get ready for the start of the next season. Plants, Ponds and Lawn Care: It’s a great time to do a little planting if you have a few gaps in your borders and there are some lovely plants this month to choose from. Grasses are looking great, I especially love the ‘Stipias’ and also perennials like ‘Rudbeckia’ and ‘Sedum’ but for me, the ‘Asters’ are my stars as they can carry on until November - and if I have to choose one, it would be ‘Aster x Frikartii Monch.’ September is a particularly good time to plant as the heat of a good summer will remain in the soil for some time, which, with the addition of moisture, is great for roots to get away before the onset of winter. Also, because the days are shorter and cooler, it gives you a less stressed plant. Now is the time to plant spring bulbs - get daffodils in by mid-September, along with ‘Fritillaries,’ ‘Crocuses’ and Grape Hyacinths.’ Tulip bulbs are best left until November. Keep your bulbs in a cool, dry place – the mice love them! The tail end of the month is a good time to dig and divide your perennials to sort out your borders. I’m looking at my ‘Iris Sibirica’ which needs to be divided this year. When you are dividing it’s a good time to have a look at the plant out of the ground. Make sure you keep the stronger and younger part of the plant. Remember when you re-plant you can put in

some organic matter or a little fertiliser and cut back foliage at the same time. It’s also a lot nicer now, to clean out your pond and get your blanket weed divided from your plants. When the children have gone back to school, it’s an ideal time to give your lawn a face lift with a good scarifying and top dressing with a little seed and top soil mix. You can also give your hedges a final trim before winter sets in. Vegetable and Fruit Gardens: It’s probably the busiest month for harvesting your vegetable garden - reaping the rewards of all your hard work: French beans, runner beans, peas, cucumbers and courgettes are probably coming to an end, however, there are new crops to harvest such as pumpkins, squash, marrows and delicious sweetcorn. Start to think about planting onion sets as they’ll be ready almost a month before those planted in spring. I also like sowing rocket now as sometimes it can be even better as it does not ‘bolt’ and if you’re lucky, you can even get it through the winter. Now is also the time to enjoy the last of the summer fruits – apples, pears, plums, damsons and blackberries are all perfect for pies and jams. Now is the time to plant new strawberry runners for cropping next year. If you choose varieties that fruit at different times of the year (early, mid and late season), you can get strawberries all summer long. Wildlife: All these plants are great for the insects that are finding it harder to survive in the wild. Migrant birds such as swallows and house martins will begin flying south for the winter, so try and keep bird feeders and birdbaths topped up to encourage more birds to visit your garden as autumn sets in.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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A Day Out In…

Northampton

ART & CULTURE

The recent creation of a ‘Cultural Quarter’ in the Guildhall Rd and Derngate reflects the city’s growing appeal to visitors. The jewel in the crown is undoubtedly 78 Derngate, which is the only Mackintoshdesigned house in the UK. This is reason enough on its own for a visit to Northampton. See our focus article. Also of considerable interest is the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery on Guildhall Rd. In recognition of the town’s heritage, the museum houses the largest collection of objects charting the history of shoes in the world. The ground floor is dedicated to the display of footwear from ancient Egyptian times through to the present, which gets everyone talking (‘how did they stand on those?!’ or, ‘Oh my, I remember wearing shoes like those…’) The Shoe Lounge showcases current designers and manufacturers. Entry is free, Tue-Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 2pm5pm

Northampton Market

Not many people we know would consider Northampton as a destination for a ‘day out’. But with its impressive Victorian & Edwardian architecture and a history as the UK’s shoe-making industry centre in the 19th and early 20th century, there’s lots to see and do in Northampton, as Nicholas Rudd-Jones discovered WHAT TO SEE AND DO

The town centre is based around St Giles St, The Ridings, The Guildhall and The Market Square with an array of independent shops and cafés and impressive architecture. The most impressive Victorian building of all is The Guildhall, Built in 1864 by Edward Godwin in the ‘Ruskinian Gothic’ style, it’s now the offices of the Northampton All Saints’ Borough Council and is also Church available for events/weddings. All Saints’ Church, George Row. There’s been a church on this spot for the past 1000 years, but the one you see now only came into existence after the great fire of 1675. Charles II contributed 1000 tons of timber from the Royal forests of Salcey and Rockingham for its re-building. To the rear of the church is Northampton’s War Memorial, designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, who also designed the Cenotaph. Find out more at www. allsaintsnorthampton.co.uk

Heading west on foot towards the station, you will come to St Peter’s, described as one of ‘the most outstanding Norman churches in the country’. The east end was rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1850s and the whole church was re-roofed at that time (see www.fostp.org.uk for more info). It is no longer used as a place of worship but is open for visitors and is well worth visiting. The most distinctive feature of the church is the original Norman intricately carved stone column capital heads, each unique and hand-carved in the 12th century by artisan stone masons. Opening times: Wed-Sat 10am to 4pm, during which times there are volunteer guides available to give information about the history of the church and Northampton Castle, which was destroyed in The Civil War and stood nearby.

P T Above: Jellie shows – The iconic jelly shoe created by Juju of Northampton Right: Guildhall

If you fancy a longer walk, why not head across Becket’s Park (which you see from 78 Derngate) to the River Nene (don’t forget to pronounce it ‘Den’ hereabouts) and then perhaps west along the Nene Way to the Grand Union Canal Northampton arm.

RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013

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SHOPPING DISCOVERIES

Northampton Market dates from the turn of the 12th century and is one of the largest in England. Lots of good food & vegetable stalls, and much else besides. Open Mon-Sat. St Giles St has a whole range of interesting gift and art shops – worth a good browse, especially Abraxas Cookshop at 40-42 and J. Lawrence & Co Traditional Bakers at 35-37

PIT STOPS Dream Coffee Lounge, 59 St Giles St. People love the friendly service here and delicious light snacks. Are You Being Served? 62 St Giles St. A genuine local café, always very popular. 78 Derngate A Really delightful tea room, overlooking Becket’s Park. Drinks are served in vintage crockery, and the homemade cakes are to die for.

GETTING THERE AND PARKING

It takes about an hour down the A43. The road system is fairly simple to understand and there are several car parks. Albion Place Car Park (NN1 1UD) is convenient both for 78 Derngate and the centre of town. A good website for finding out more about the town is www.lovenorthampton.co.uk

Focus on 78 Derngate – The Mackintosh House

St Giles St has a whole range of interesting gift and art shops – worth a good browse The Seafood Café, Giles St Tel: 01604 627989 We had a light lunch here and loved it. A cross between a simple restaurant and a takeaway, I can safely say ‘the best fish and chips that I have ever had!’ And there are many other seafood choices, including lobster, crab & oysters for the more sophisticated palate.

ES C A L P T TO EA

Les Olives Tapas, 18B Sheep St (just north of the market) comes highly recommended for its range of delicious tapas dishes and fun atmosphere. Evening Only Dang’s Vietnamese, 205 Wellingborough Rd Tel: 01604 607 060 gets a mention in the Michelin guide; “Passionately run, food is fresh, tasty and good value,”

78 Derngate is a Grade II* listed Georgian house, originally built in the 1820s. It was re-modelled in 1916 and 1917 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for its forward-looking owner Mr. WJ Bassett-Lowke, a wellknown local businessman, model maker and advocate of functional modern design. It is Mackintosh’s only significant work in England. Pamela Robertson, Professor of Mackintosh Studies at the Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, says: “78 Derngate is of major importance in Mackintosh’s career. In terms of creative content, it is his most significant piece of design work after leaving Glasgow. The interiors strikingly and successfully combine visual impact with, for its day, high-tech infrastructure and the efficient and hygienic use of space.” We went on a tour, lasting just over an hour, which was a delight from start to finish. The house, although small, has something of interest in every room, and the guide has many quirky stories to tell. It is the Dining Room and Guest Bedroom that will take your breath away, not least for their sheer feel of modernity. Next to the house there is now a visitors’ centre, comprising art gallery and café/restaurant, also both recommended. Tue-Sun 10.00am 5.00pm. Last entry 4.30 pm. Closed Mondays, (except Bank Holidays). Guided tours are recommended but not mandatory. Call ahead to book 82 Derngate Northampton NN1 1UH Tel: 01604 603407 www.78derngate.org.uk

Dining Room Guest bedroom

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