Stamford Living January 18

Stamford LIVING January 2018 £1.50

Be inspired by where you live

Welcome to 2018!

F R O S T Y DA Y S , W I N T E R W A L K S , L O G F I R E S

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Stamford LIVING January 2018 £1.50

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Contents January 2018 FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY 11 24 28 30

Be inspired by where you live

HOME & GARDEN, SHOPPING

Welcome to 2018!

F R O S T Y DA Y S , W I N T E R W A L K S , L O G F I R E S

SL COVER JAN 2018 G-FOLD 207.indd 3

13/12/2017 13:54

Cover photo this month: Paten & Co in the snow.

Photo by Tim Berry, meonmymac@googlemail.com

www.stamfordliving.co.uk @StamfordLiving1 Stamford Living

Nadinoo Fashion What’s new for 2018 Pirrie Optometrists Health & Beauty News: Stamford Personal Fitness, The Magic of Movement, Avicenna Clinic

SpaceNK comes to Stamford New Year’s design resolutions Barnack Rd Affordable Housing scheme Through the Keyhole: Oakham prizewinning home 51 Goodwin Lettings celebrates its first anniversary 14 16 19 20

FOOD & DRINK 40 52 55 59 61

Scafell Hotel, Lake District Healthy Eating Lunch for Less 2018 Food News The George at Seaton

PEOPLE & PLACES

Victoria’s Page Ask Leo – New Year Quiz Growing up in Stamford City girl or country girl - 5 years on George Heatherington, a man who gets things done 69 Interview with Emma Smith, Head of Stamford Junior School 74 Thomas Wilkinson, Loomes & Co. 38 42 46 49 56

NEWS & NOTES

62 QKS competition winners, Sew! Drolma Buddhist sessions 65 Oundle Travel, Stamford Community Orchard, Touch Typing Courses 66 UPP Property, Johan Truter, dance classes, Quiz answers

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ACTIVITIES, CULTURE, LEARNING & BUSINESS 32 36 45 70

Youth Bridge Club Pet therapy Little Living What’s On

Editor and Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Write to Stamford Living, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY www.bestlocallivingliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager Claudia Bayley 01780 482828 claudia.bayley@btinternet.com Advertising Copy Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Designers Sarah Patterson inkdesign@virginmedia.com, Calum Handley Published by Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 9FY nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne Subscriptions; annual rate £25 (UK only). Please write to the Publisher at Local Living Ltd, with £25 cheque payable to Local Living, or go online to www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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Artist of the Month: Snik It’s not every day you get to enjoy lunch with the most talked about street artist to emerge in recent years - who also happens to be from Stamford! Victoria Magnall caught up with urban contemporary, Nik Ellis, one half of Snik, to discuss everything from the Royal Albert Hall to encouraging other artists.

How did the Snik projects come about?

I started to create street art around 2001, however it was when I met Laura Perrett that the projects evolved to what they are today. We met with the view to Laura modelling for me, however as soon as we started to collaborate we realised the scope of our venture. Our creations become larger, scalable and more efficient. In 2016, I took the leap, to focus on my art and to move away from the working hours my career as a graphic designer dictated.

How has your work been received over the years? Has it changed with your mounting recognition?

It’s great that our work has a positive impact and that it brings a reaction to the audience. However, we tend to focus on the next big thing as opposed to reflect on previous creations. For Laura and me, we are always chasing our next concept, we never truly get to a point of satisfaction as the next project beckons.

Local residents may know your work of the two kingfishers behind St Mary’s Street. How long did it take to produce from start to finish?

They are actually Bee Eaters! Yes, they get a lot of attention and have been used as backdrops for local fashion shoots! A piece of that proportion, or around 10 metres, would take around a month

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of preparation. We work by layering stencils and the pieces are incredibly intricate. Larger pieces covering whole walls of 30 metres can take one week to spray so the stencil time would obviously be a lengthier process.

Who continues to inspire you?

Of course, artists such as Pejac and Conor Harrington are hugely inspiring, but it is the wider community of fellow street artists who challenge me to push my creative boundaries. We are a group of around 10 from across the globe who meet regularly to collaborate in cities worldwide.

Wynwood in Miami is an outdoor museum for street art so attracts a lot of likeminded visionaries.

Which piece of activity are you most proud of?

To be asked to create a piece for the exterior of the first ever street artist museum Urban Nation, in Berlin, was a very proud moment. www.urbannation.com It took a week of physical production, working throughout the day and in to the dark over a space of 30 metres.

What is success to you?

To be able to do what we love and live the life we want to live. To be able to support ourselves in a comfortable life with a roof over our head. Opting out of fame and celebrity, letting our art speak for itself.

To look at more work, visit http://www.snikarts.com

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Tel: 01780 654321 Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk www.classicstamford.co.uk 12 St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN 8

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FASHION

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2018

“Woven into the very fabric of Nadinoo is our deep love for the craft and process of making good clothes. From pattern cutting to the comfiest fit.”

I first came across Nadinoo via an Instagram post I found (isn’t technology a wonderful thing?)

When I explored further I discovered that this brand I coveted and whose posts I kept liking is local, and after several Direct Messages (DMs) we arranged to chat over coffee. Sally Stillingfleet talks to talented Designer / Maker Nadia Izruna to find out more about sustainable fashion and the wonderful freedom of designing your own clothing in a changing fashion scene.

Nadinoo ➧ STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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ADIA has relocated to Rutland with her young family and has developed her business to suit her needs and those of her burgeoning customer base.

Having studied Fashion Design at Manchester Metropolitan University, Nadia has travelled the world and has been responsible for many collections for multi-national brands.

The decision to set up her own company in 2009 to reflect her own “slow fashion” principals is clearly the driving force to communicate an emphasis on good design. Using beautiful natural fabrics her designs are made with exquisite craftsmanship. The dream to reduce waste and buy less is an ethos I love the idea of and it was great to meet someone who has experienced the flip side of commercial fashion production but has all the skills needed to pioneer her own brand ethos, cleverly turning ideas into beautiful wearable clothing. Clear design beliefs have enabled her to develop her brand’s handwriting in a fluid and personal way. The shapes she designs are straightforward, easy, and comfortable and translate into garments to cherish. Fashion, which won’t wear out as fast and sit in the wardrobe unworn.

By buying her fabrics from companies who can sell her smaller quantities waste is further consciously reduced, it also means her followers can curate their own Nadinoo wardrobes knowing not everyone is walking around in the same clothes allowing her pieces to be worn in many different ways. Developing an individual approach to dressing and layering her collections “Simplewear” was born, she explains. “My current collections feature soft fluid cottons, block prints and laundered linen.” The design beliefs she upholds have helped develop her brand’s handwriting alongside her personal fashion needs as a woman and a mother. Juggling her time and seeing every garment through from design, pattern cutting, production to the posted parcel is satisfying and works for her “for now anyway! It would be lovely in the future to have small-scale British production. It is slowly coming back.”

She is clearly passionate about what she does and loves the ability to get the “instant feedback and community feel” from her ethereal shots, mainly photographed at Rutland Water by her photographer sister. She has built up 5,000 Instagram followers, not to be sniffed at! Connecting with people via social media, especially Instagram has meant likeminded people can appreciate shared interests and passions and therefore Nadia’s brand has evolved in just the way she hoped. Each order is handmade in her Rutland based studio.

The aim is to only make what is truly needed and therefore offer a bespoke service that can be tailored to individual needs. Switch the fabric; increase the hemline or sleeve length, custom orders are well catered for.

Email info@nadinoo.com or see for yourself a small collection at Priddy Essentials, Uppingham.

Studio photography by Nadia www.nadinoo.com Sign up and receive a £15 voucher off (on orders over £100) Instagram:

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Nadinooclothing

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Rebecca Chantrell looks at Stamford’s newest, most stylish store

SpaceNK opens in Stamford PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

SpaceNK Managing Director Heather Alexander and Store manager Leanne Duffield-Gray

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TAMFORD is now officially a Mecca for all things beauty. I have been amazed since starting my column that there is such a wealth of treatment and talent on hand in the many independently-run treatment centres and salons, and now to top it all off we have a SpaceNK! Stamford is in for a real treat! And the shoppers of Stamford know it, a queue 60 strong were waiting outside on the first day of business.

It’s a beauty fanatics dream, an old school apothecary with a modern twist. The bright open space has shelf upon shelf of skincare, haircare, home scents and makeup. The buyers search far and wide to bring you supercharged skincare and quirky new beauty products.

Brands such as Eve Lom, Rodial, Kiehls, Diptyque, Sarah Chapman are just a few of the brands available. Stamford is the 59th store to open and is one of the largest stores; this means you have the full edit of products they carry.

I asked Heather Anderson, the Managing Director of SpaceNK why they chose Stamford.

“It’s such a lovely town, there’s nowhere like it. We have had an amazing reaction from locals”.

One of the best things about the shop is the staff; well trained and incredibly knowledgeable, they have no alliance to any particular brand. They will simply guide you in a relaxed manner and help steer you towards products that suit your skin, lifestyle and budget!

Huge makeup stations encourage you to

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play and explore. The makeup brands in store are popular with top makeup artists because of the quality and array of colours. Available are brands such as Nars, Laura Mercier, Chantecaille, Hourglass to name a few. Book in for a makeover or look out for special events like makeup master classes with one of the Makeup Pro Team who travel all over the UK. At the opening day they had an engraver, engraving candles and fragrance bottles. Jini Head of PR said “We often have special things happening on occasions like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day for customers”.

Alison Dunford, a loyal customer said “I used to go to Nottingham to buy my Eve Lom and

By Terry. We live in Oakham so I’m very happy - it’s ideal it’s local now. I’ve tried lots of things over the years thanks to specialist advice; they encourage me to try different brands. It’s a very nice addition to Stamford.”

Jo and Jayne, who are sisters were having, a good mooch. “It’s nice to have something

different and find products you can’t get in Stamford, it’s so up market. Before we were only able to buy things online and in London. I love coming in to see products, smell them and feel them.”

One of the brands you can find in very elegant green bottles is Votary.

I spoke with Arabella Preston the Co-founder.

The Votary journey started when Arabella (a makeup artist and beauty editor at the time) had a eureka moment when using a cleansing oil she was trialling for work. The oil was full of cheap bulking ingredients and whilst brilliant at removing makeup, the ingredients were known for clogging pores, causing breakouts, redness and sometimes causing sensitivity. So, Arabella set about making her own oil with all-natural plant oils; she received such positive feedback that it hydrated, absorbed quickly and left skin amazingly soft. With her friend Charlotte the pair launched Votary in 2015 in Liberty London.

The line started with 4 simple products - the Cleansing Oil with Rose Geranium and Apricot which you massage in and remove with a hot flannel and 3 face oils, Rose, Neroli and Ylang Ylang all for different skin types. Now new additions have been introduced and the line is growing; thanks to being small, they are able to respond quickly to customers, listening to feedback and developing products that they would like and need. They launched the Super Seed Facial Oil which is fragrance free, and with 21 oils in total it’s great for people who are sensitive, hormonal or showing signs of ageing. Watch this space…this January Votary will launch Super Seed Face Cream Exclusively in SpaceNK. 63 High Street, Stamford, PE9 2AW 020 3931 8601

Interior Design

Emma Cutmore Gifts & Home

L i ve b e a u t i f u l l y

4 St Mary’s Passage, Stamford, PE9 2HG 01780 482870 www.emmacutmore.co.uk

& Upstairs

The Dress Agency Pre-owned Fashion

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

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New Year’s Resolutions The beginning of a brand-new year is a great time to take stock and make changes for the better.

Resolutions don’t necessarily have to involve breaking bad habits and adopting a healthier lifestyle to shift the extra pounds gained over Christmas.

While packing away the Christmas decorations, posting thank you cards and hanging up the new calendar, why not think about the ways you can enhance your home and improve your quality of life in other ways. Read on for some home and style ideas to bring you joy as we look forward to another year. Rannveig Stone

Calke Green No.34, Estate® Emulsion, Farrow & Ball (available from The Sack Store, Stamford Garden Centre)

Wallpaper ‘Samphire’ BP 4004, Walls – Wevet No.273, Estate® Emulsion, Woodwork – Wevet No.273, Estate® Eggshell, Floor – Pavilion Gray No.24, Modern® Eggshell, Farrow & Ball (available from The Sack Store, Stamford Garden Centre)

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MBRACE this year’s new trends while rejuvenating your home; doing a little bit of updating each year stops you from falling into that ‘My whole house is really dated – but it’s too big a job to tackle’ trap.

The soft blush pinks which have been so popular are being replaced by more peachy pink and violet hues.

‘Neutral’ can also contain colour; beautifully subtle, neutral schemes can be created with palettes of soft mint greens and peachy pink tones. These colour palettes can be used throughout the home and work particularly well in bedrooms.

Focus on friends and family If you’ve made a resolution to spend more quality time with friends and family, make it a priority to revamp your reception rooms ready to do some entertaining.

All it takes is a little investment in fresh, up-to-date cushions, throws and accessories which can be found in some of my favourite haunts in Stamford, namely; You Living, Sack Store, Chez Soi and Nook.

Consider purchasing a rug to delineate the seating area or dining table. Think about the layout of the furniture; try to create zones that encourage conversation, rather than just watching the television.

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We are seeing more two-tone kitchens rather than all-white spaces.

Spruce up your shared spaces Gold and brass are superseding copper; but you don’t have to ditch all your copper accessories – simply mix some gold items in with the copper.

Combining all of these metals will create a warm feel on the cool grey and white palettes that have proved so popular in interiors.

If you’re doing up your bathroom or kitchen this year, consider installing gold taps.

Enhance rooms with fresh blooms

Alternatively, if you don’t need to undertake a complete refurbishment, but would like to inject some warmth and luxury, simply replace your silver and chrome taps with gold.

Interiors will see an injection of nature and traditional handcrafts, to balance out our everincreasing reliance on technology. Think about using rustic shelving, plant walls, dark woods for warmth and textured floors such as herringbone in your home.

Treat yourself to fresh flowers every now and again, just for your own enjoyment. When entertaining, why not commission a stunning floral centrepiece for the dining table, or a fragrant arrangement for an entrance hall or lounge.

We deliver regular seasonal flower arrangements and vases in and around Stamford on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Having plants, succulents, cacti and orchids in communal areas is a great way of adding life and soul to your home through colour and scent.

Sarah Haefeli, Floral Designer, Sprigs & Stems

Buy some art which brings you joy Art speaks to the soul; investing in a statement piece which sparks joy in your heart every time you look at it is one of life’s greatest privileges.

Gallery walls are being replaced in favour of extra-large statement artwork where budget allows. If you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, but will know it when you see it, spend some time exploring the local auction houses, like Bateman’s. Browse around St Martin’s Antiques, where you might discover the perfect addition to your home. Visit the Robert Fogell Gallery for inspiration and consider investing in a timeless piece from one of our many very talented local artists. There are also some great local secondhand dealers – like Second To None – with 1000s of items in stock for you to explore online and if you like vintage, quirky, retro pieces, have a look at the Smithers of Stamford website listed below.

Fineshade Wood by local artist Lizzy Standbrook.

SUPPLIERS/CONTACTS: Bateman’s Auctioneers & Valuers, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1XF; 01780 766466; info@batemans.com; http://www.batemans.com Nook Furniture Co Ltd, 3 Sheep Market, Stamford, PE9 2RB; 01780 751029 Sack Store, Stamford Garden Centre, Road End Farm, Great Casterton Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 4BB; www.sackstore.co.uk; Second To None, www.SecondToNoneStamford. com; 07989 133362; neil@secondtononestamford.com Please note: Viewings & collection by prior appointment only, Stamford Garden Centre, Road End Farm, Great Casterton Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 4BB Smithers of Stamford, www.smithersofstamford. com; 01780 435060; info@smithersofstamford.com Please note: Viewings & collection by prior appointment only, Stamford Etton, Cambridgeshire, PE6 7DA Sprigs & Stems, Sarah Haefeli – Floral Designer, www.sprigsandstems.com, office@sprigsandstems. com; 01780 592338; 07725 103 803 St Martin’s Antiques Centre, 23a High Street, St Martin’s, Stamford, PE9 2LF; 01780 48115; info@ st-martins-antiques.co.uk; www.st-martins-antiques.co.uk You Living & Giving, 01780 765001; www.youstamford.co.uk Chez Soi, 1 Stamford Walk, Stamford, PE9 2AY; 01780 482845 Hoptroff & Lee (antiques), 4 Cheyne Lane, Stamford; www.stamford.myshopislocal.co.uk/ collections/hoptroff-lee Lizzy Standbrook, water colour, inks and pen artist; FB @lizzystandbrookart, lizstandbrook@ hotmail.com, www.LizzyStandbrook.com Rannveig Stone is Director of interior design firm Anna Stone Design Ltd, based at the Stamford Garden Centre, Great Casterton, PE9 4BB. www.annastonedesign.com; 07900 883117.

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IMAGINE THE DIFFERENCE CLADDING COULD MAKE... "making you feel warm inside" Alfred Poppins is a family run business based in Stamford specialising in the supply and fitting of Wood Burning Stoves, Multi Fuel Stoves and Fireside Accessories.

We have many stoves in our shop on live display.

Our range of stoves include...

Woodwarm, Town & Country, Parkray, Cleanburn, Hunter and more...

FASCIAS, SOFFITS AND GUTTERING

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Full replacement (no over cladding) Full underfelt eaves tray (no flimsy DCP) Bird guard protection at all eaves All soffit at eaves - fully ventilated 50 year manufacturers guarantee

CLASSIC ROOFLINE

12 St Leonards Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk Tel 01780 654321 • www.classicstamford.co.uk Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

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Unit 4 West Street Business Park Stamford I Lincolnshire I PE9 2PL 01780 753979 I 07871 322780 I 07581 322069

www.alfredpoppins.co.uk

The Burghley estate first provided affordable housing for Stamford citizens in the 16th century and its new development on Barnack Road continues the tradition. Alysia Anderson takes a tour

Jubilee Villas

Gemma Leonard and Poppy

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ESPITE the grand name, Jubilee Villas is a new estate of affordable housing tucked away on Barnack Road, in a peaceful location opposite Burghley Park. It was created by Burghley Estate, the development’s landlord, in conjunction with builders Morris Homes and South Kesteven District Council, which worked closely alongside Burghley during the tenant selection process. The result is an impressive enclave of attractive red-brick homes with high-spec kitchens, decent-sized gardens and two, three or four bedrooms with views towards the river Welland and the spires of Stamford. The houses surround a central courtyard featuring benches, bike racks and landscaping, all of which contribute towards a welcoming, communal feel. The new inhabitants arrived in mid-November, giving them the opportunity to spend Christmas in their brand-new homes.

James Tusting, assistant agent at Burghley Estate, said: “We wanted to create high-quality housing for people in need in the town and we are very excited about the finished development. We worked closely with SKDC to choose a good mix of tenants, from single mums with children to young couples and older families, with the aim of creating a balanced community here. We interviewed about 35 prospective tenants on the SKDC housing list. The final 20 tenants were then invited to a site visit just prior to the project’s completion.”

Cllr Nick Neilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, commented: “It has been a pleasure working with Burghley Estate and to see their willingness to be involved in delivering affordable housing in Stamford. We are delighted both with the quality of the housing and with the approach by Burghley Estate. We are keen to see more diversity in the development of new homes across South Kesteven and we look forward to working with partners who are similarly positive about investing in their communities.” The new development continues a tradition of the Burghley estate providing homes for local inhabitants in need, such as the 16th-century almshouses of the former Burghley Hospital on Station Road. Endowed by Lord Burghley in 1597, the

riverside homes still provide charitable housing today for local men and women. The almshouse inhabitants had to wear long blue cloaks; no longer a requirement, tenants will be relieved to hear!

With Stamford town centre a short walk away across Albert Bridge, a bus stop on Barnack Road, and the green space of Burghley Park within a stone’s throw, the new tenants at Jubilee Villas have everything they need on the doorstep. Young couple Gemma Leonard and her partner Josh Mitchell have a six-month-old daughter Poppy and were allocated a two-bedroom home on the estate. They urgently needed to move from their upper-floor flat in town to a home with access for a pram and space for a growing child. Gemma said “We had to carry the pram up a flight of stairs so we are looking forward to having a house that is much more practical with a baby. We wanted to stay in Stamford as Josh has lived here all his life and is reluctant to move away.” Another tenant, Veronica Hutchinson, a single mother of three, was attracted by the estate’s quiet location. “We live near a busy road and my autistic son finds the noise quite distressing, so I’m looking forward to living somewhere quieter”, she said. Although her new home is in a row that backs on to the railway line, efficient double glazing means the homes are both quiet and warm.

Jubilee Villas is accessed from Barnack Road via Edgar Gardens, where Burghley Estate has also added a quartet of new three-bedroom homes for private rental. Why the name Jubilee Villas? The new homes were completed in 2017, the year of the Queen’s sapphire jubilee.

Marking 65 years on the throne, she is the only British monarch to reach this milestone, eclipsing Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign. “Other houses nearby were built during the year of the Coronation” explained James, “so it seemed appropriate to choose a name related to that theme”. Homes with a royal seal of approval, it seems.

Burghley Estate Office: 01780 752075; www.burghley.co.uk South Kesteven District Council: 01472 406080; www.southkesteven.co.uk/housing

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STEP

INSIDE

Real Transformation

Amander Meade meets the owners of a Rutland home shortlisted for the Real Homes Magazine Transformation Awards 2017, which showcase the best home renovations in the UK. PHOTOGRAPHY: DUG WILDERS

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TEWART and Fiona MacDonald purchased their Rutland home in 2012, having fallen for the county’s lifestyle benefits as they enjoy sailing and cycling. Not for the MacDonalds the easy option, however, when they decided to completely remodel and update their new house in collaboration with architects Paul Testa. The innovative design has unlocked the building’s full potential by transforming a maze of small, dark rooms into a series of bright, open-plan spaces with a glorious relationship to the garden. The exterior was also completely overhauled to revive the home’s tired appearance and improve its kerb appeal.

The main objectives were to improve the amount of light and put an updated stamp on the interior decor. Plans were approved for the major changes, which included adding on a front porch and creating an interior so completely altered that all the interior walls came down. Additionally, a new roof now accommodates two newly created rooms that were formerly dead attic space. “The house was just a shell with absolutely everything stripped out – the staircase was moved from a central position to the front of the new interior,” explains Stewart. A major feature of Paul Testa’s design is the impressive full-height hallway staircase that runs through to the second floor and is illuminated with plenty of natural light; a selection of contemporary light fittings by local firm Lumison enhances this feeling of light.

The ambitious project took 18 months, which was longer than planned, but, as Stewart acknowledges, not unusual or unexpected with such a large project.

The couple moved in just before Christmas 2016 and say that their completed home is now everything they could have wished for and more. Downstairs a large, open-plan kitchen flows seamlessly into a dining area and relaxing seating space. Upstairs Stewart and Fiona both have offices on the expanded second floor, meaning that their work areas are clearly defined from the rest of the house and making it easy to leave work behind at the end of the day.

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For Fiona the living space comes into its own when she is entertaining, “I’m no longer shut away in the kitchen on my own but can now be at the centre of things while I cook. Our children are grown up, but they visit frequently to sail and cycle, so the house retains its family feeling.”

The couple describe the house as a joy to live in and they love to watch the seasons changing through the full glass door that frames their expansive rural view to the rear of the house. “All the hard work was worth it; we love it here and couldn’t be happier with the house and have absolutely no plans to move.”

About the architects…

Paul Testa Architecture is a practice of active, outdoor people with a passion for architecture and the built environment. “We’re especially interested in the way buildings are made – the nuts and bolts of the process – and we’re passionate about every project we undertake. We take our values of good design and fundamental sustainability to offer clients good-value, healthy, flexible and useful buildings. Architecture is, above all, about people, and we aim to create buildings in which people enjoy living and working.”

CONTACT LIST: Architect Paul Testa, 07930 637379, paultestaarchitecture.co.uk Bathroom fixtures by Utopia at Pochin, 01572 756240, pochin.com Building work by DVD Building, 01733 358 822 Lumison Lighting, 01572 724600, lumisonlighting.co.uk Oak flooring by Ultra-Interior, 0116 275 2791, ultra-interior.com Rational Kitchens, 0114 399 9802, rationalgb.com

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

Sitting room red sofa and dining chairs by Carl Hansen and table by the Aram Store

AFTER The architect added lots of little pockets of interest to prevent the ultracontemporary styling from looking too clinical

Kitchen units by Rational with Miele appliances

A high, contemporary drop-light fitting by Lumison adds personality to the staircase, making it a key feature of the house

A stylish, sleek bathroom by Pochin looks clutter-free and chic STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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CONSERVATORY TOO HOT IN THE SUMMER AND TOO COLD IN WINTER?

Classic have the answer to this problem and you do not even have to change the existing windows or doors, although you can.

Fantastic low U-Value of 0.18 and structurally very very strong which means your new sun room meets full Building Regulation Approval.

Plastered ceiling, LED lighting, Velux roof vents and choice of tile type and colour.

CLASSIC WARM ROOF

12 St Leonards Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk Tel 01780 654321 • www.classicstamford.co.uk Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

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D E SIGN TO SU IT YOU R TA S T E INSP IRATIO NAL, I N N OVAT I V E & UN I QUE

START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS DESIGNED BY US CREATING STYLISH, BESPOKE AND INSPIRATIONAL INTERIORS ALL YEAR ROUND SUPPLIERS OF Paint | Wallpaper | Lighting | Home Accessories | Furniture | Curtains & Blinds | Flooring | Interior Design VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP Visit our showroom six days a week including Saturdays:

A16 Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD or telephone: 01780 757 946 www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk

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HEALTH & What’s happening in the New Year in Stamford on the health and beauty scene?

Rebecca Chantrell brings you up to speed with a whole raft of new health & beauty offering this New Year

Stamford Weight Loss Sarah Gillespie is a Clinical Weight Loss Coach dedicated to helping you to reach your healthy weight loss goal. If you’ve struggled with diets in the past, she can help you to develop a way of eating and exercising which fits in with your lifestyle.

Sarah says, “Developing a more relaxed relationship with food with the right support and advice means long-term weight loss is easier than you think; once you’ve found the right approach”.

The 6-week weight loss programme includes hourly coaching sessions each week. The sessions include practical advice, goal setting, food and exercise planning, coaching, which all aim to encourage new ways of thinking.

New to The Ivy Lodge in 2018 Following on from the huge success of the beauty salon which opened in July 2016, owner Emma Sheehan is delighted to announce that they will be opening Ivy Lodge Hair in early 2018. The new salon will also be located within the grounds of Stamford Garden Centre and will include nail bars and other express beauty treatments.

Emma is also thrilled to confirm the addition of new, highly effective treatments inclusive of The Collagen Pin & Agera Skin Peels.

The Ivy Lodge will be the only known salon in Stamford to offer The Collagen Pin (Percutaneous Collagen Induction Therapy). This ground-breaking treatment involves a procedure which kick starts the skin to produce its own collagen, elastin, and growth factors. Emma says, “The results are clearly visible and highly effective and are proving very popular with celebrities and beauty professionals worldwide”.

The second new addition will be the launch of the revolutionary Agera Skin Peels, which are non-irritating, pain free and cause no down time from the skin shredding. These unique treatments cause significant fibroblasts (anti-ageing factories) deep within the skin for dramatic results.

The various peels will be targeting acne, scarring, pigmentation, lines and wrinkles. Each peel treatment will be £50 READER OFFER: Book in for an Agera Peel during January and February and receive a 10% discount (please quote Stamford Living at the time of booking) Ivy Lodge Stamford 01780 766583

Call Sarah on 07962 260340 to book your free 1/2 hour consultation.

READER OFFER: Email stamfordweightloss@gmail.com to explain in less than 30 words why you should be chosen to win a 6 week weight loss programme! Reader offer closes at end of January 10th 2018

Elysia Health and Beauty Elysia recently upgraded their laser technology to Lynton Lasers: A British-based company, used and trusted by the NHS. All training is with the University of Manchester, so you can be assured of top class, professional treatments.

Starting hair removal in winter is always a smart move when naturally wearing more layers!

Hair removal using laser means you don’t have to wax or shave again.

Lisa says “It’s very popular for men and women and we can treat most body areas. Quick, easy, no messy wax and no in-growing hairs. We can also treat red veins and rosacea. I’m probably asked most about this by my clients, we can treat very successfully with between 1-4 treatments”.

Also available at Elysia this year is Skinade a beauty supplement that works from the inside out! As we lose collagen at a rate of 15% per year we have a loss of plumpness which causes ageing. Skinade is carefully

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

formulated with the optimum ratio of liquid to active ingredients and contains key nutrients that are essential in the healthy production of collagen and the optimisation of skin functions. Skinade increases collagen in the bloodstream by adding 7000mg of hydrolysed marine collagen from each bottle (daily dose). Lisa has found her customers have been delighted with the results.

Skinade from £105 at Elysia Elysia Health & Beauty, Tansor, Oundle, PE8 5HP 07879 620196

& BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

Dorothea Mills Life Coaching

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates

Tried and tested Andrew Serene Massage Andrew offers a unique approach to massage by taking time to get to know his clients beforehand. Prior to meeting I completed a comprehensive questionnaire about my overall health and wellbeing. I then met Andrew for my much-needed massage, his passion, enthusiasm and sincerity made me feel immediately relaxed. The session started with a consultation going through my questionnaire with a fine-tooth comb. By doing this he was able to body map exactly where I had tension but also the reasons why. For me, it’s achy shoulders due to having a small child attached to my hip most days. Other clients have problems due to sport, working at desk all day or bad posture.

My 50-minute tailor-made massage commenced, back, neck, shoulders, head and face.

The moves were varied, he drew on all his expertise and skills to relieve knots and muscle tension. By taking a vested interest prior to the massage, it was a truly bespoke treatment that addressed my individual needs. I skipped out, feeling energized and delighted with my new shoulders!

What I particularly liked was the aftercare; I was emailed exercises to keep up his good work and prevent problems reoccurring. All in all, a very thorough and committed approach to massage.

“This phrase has stuck by me ever since I started my studies in Naturopathy in my early 20s and that’s what’s led me to train as a metabolic balance coach. metabolic balance® is an all-natural weight management programme to boost your health and wellbeing, increase your energy and restore your metabolism with delicious natural foods. Meal replacements, shakes or supplements are not required; just food sourced from your local supermarket”.

It is backed by 20 years of scientific studies in obesity and related metabolic disorders.

“It is unique to you because the plan you will follow is based on your individual biochemistry, food preferences and your medical history.

Following an initial consultation and a blood test, your results are entered into the metabolic balance programme to generate your very own nutritional 4 Phase lifestyle plan. Starting the plan will help to reset your hormones, bringing them back into balance and permanent weight adjustment is achieved”.

Andrew is based at home but is also mobile. Contact him at Serene Massage Stamford 07941 099745

Emily Player Brow Refine and Makeup Artist Emily comes from a makeup artist background so is an expert in the art of brow shape. She knows how a well-groomed set of brows can draw attention to your eyes, make eyes look bigger and give an instant face lift.

Microblading is a form of tattoo artistry, ultra-thin brush strokes are made with semi-permanent tattoo ink.

My prediction for the next decade is that fuller brows are here to stay. Many of us will have overplucked our natural shape back in the 90s. A good shape will draw attention to your eyes for all the right reasons.

“I absolutely love microblading as I personally have put up with very light patchy brows since I was a child. Spending 20 minutes a day pencilling my brows in started to annoy me, so I looked for a more permanent alternative. It’s so rewarding being able to help women and men with different needs but wanting the same outcome... more defined and enhanced brows.”

Emily runs Brow Refine Sundays and Friday evenings at The Cutting Company. She also works as a freelance hair and makeup artist doing weddings and special occasions in and around Stamford. Contact Emily on 07900556970

“Our approach to food can make a big difference to our overall outlook on life and I believe that a great deal of healing can be done through our diet, but there’s still more to health than diet alone.”

Dorothea also specialises in life coaching “I recognise that we are all multi-faceted beings who experience life through mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions. Through mind set changes and implementing positive habits, I encourage you to focus on the present, examine solutions and work on the future by implementing actions”.

For more information contact Dorothea 16 Waverley Gardens, Stamford, PE9 1BH 07545 243750 STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

25

THE STAMFORD

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For further information visit us at: 32 St Peters Street, Stamford, PE9 2PF (next door to the Bathroom Shop) T: 01780 767 403 E: info@thestamfordeyeclinic.co.uk www.thestamfordeyeclinic.co.uk

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27

For 35 years now, Stamford residents have been lucky enough to have a leading Optometrists on their doorstep which prides itself in going above and beyond for its customers. Pirrie Optometrists, based on Maiden Lane, combines cutting edge technology with highly qualified practitioners to safeguard the eye care of the town. Kate Cadman takes a look.

Clear vision

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

and also worked within private practice.

Whilst at Leicester, Nancy studied for an additional Glaucoma qualification and is currently studying towards an Independent Prescribing qualification.This latter qualification will result in Nancy being qualified to prescribe eye medication such as antibiotics, steroids and glaucoma medications to treat certain conditions.

Fellow Optometrist, Dr Heather Shorrock, who works alongside Nancy, is also studying for a Glaucoma qualification. Heather has substantial hospital optometry experience, particularly with complex contact lens fittings.

Optometrists Manjit Manak and Judith Lavery both have specialist expertise working with children; Manjit, who has a Master’s degree in Clinical Optometry, also works at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals where he sees children and patients with macular disease; he also holds a specialist qualification in diabetic retinopathy screening.

The expertise provided by the Optometrist team at Pirrie’s is comprehensively shored up by a dedicated dispensing and administration operation. “It’s very much a team effort; Helen, Teresa and Charlotte all work on the dispensing side, offering an excellent fitting service and our three reception staff ensure the smooth running of the front desk. We have recently had a practice refit and the new look

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

F

ORMER Stamford School girl, Nancy Guttridge-Smith, returned to her hometown 20 years ago to start a family with her husband, David Smith. She joined Christine Pirrie, founder of Christine Pirrie Opticians, for 17 years until Christine’s retirement three years ago.

Since that time, Nancy and David have taken the helm, plotting a clear course for future success of Pirrie Optometrists. “We are very much a local business which has been going strong for 35 years. We are continually upgrading our equipment and skills’ base to reflect the medical advances in eye care that are constantly taking place,” explains Nancy.

“We offer everything in terms of general eye care, and in particular, we are specialists in eye care for children, contact lens fitting and eye disease.” Alongside regular eye examination appointments, customers can book to have extended glaucoma assessments which includes scanning the back of the eye in 3D using specialist equipment which helps to identify macular degeneration and glaucoma. The clinic has a range of other specialist equipment including a corneal topographer which measures the curves of the front surface of the eye and is used to identify corneal disease and for contact lens fitting.

Pirrie Optometrists continue to expand their services offered: “Advances have been made recently in the control of myopia (short sightedness) and now, if a child develops myopia, there are contact lenses on the market that can be fitted to help reduce the development of myopia, which in turn can help to reduce sight threatening conditions which are more common with high myopia.

Gas permeable contact lenses slept in overnight and taken out during the day has recently been shown to help in retarding the development of myopia. Another new advancement that Pirrie Optometrists is keen to engage with is the newly licensed soft, daily lenses which are now available on the market which, again, can help control myopia.

“My patients are always my priority; we go over and above and do our utmost for each and every patient. My passion is always to be in the consulting room giving the best care,” adds Nancy.

Not only do patients at Pirrie Optometrists get top quality care, they can also be reassured that the advice they are being given is by experienced and highly qualified practitioners. After qualifying from City University in London, Nancy worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital for ten years and Leicester Royal Infirmary for a further eight years. During this time, she undertook a PhD

is modern and fresh. We have a huge selection of frames which are always changing, offering everything from good quality functional frames through to designer frames. Our senior dispensing optician Helen and her team are fantastic at finding the right frame for each patient.

“We work hard to ensure that the customer journey, right through from making their first appointment, to walking out of the shop fitted with a new pair of glasses, is a good experience. However, our absolute primary purpose is to ensure that each customer gets the best possible clinical care and, if they need glasses prescribing, that they get the best outcome within their budget,” says Nancy.

“Following eye surgery I was very anxious that my optician should be able to offer more than eye tests, glasses and basic care,” says customer, Brian Smith. “Eyesight is so important, and I had learned how easily it could go wrong. I thoroughly recommend Pirrie Opticians. I trust them absolutely to help me look after my eyesight.”

This year Pirrie Optometrists are celebrating their 35th anniversary in business and have a super clear vision for their ongoing future success.

Pirrie Optometrists, 7 Maiden Lane, Stamford PE9 2AZ 01780 753488 www.christinepirrie.co.uk

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All in addition to our usual range of Medical Aesthetic Treatments: • Muscle relaxing injections for lines & wrinkles • 8 point non-surgical face lift • Non-surgical 15 minute Rhinoplasty • Volite & Restylane Vital skin rejuvenation • Juvederm & Restylane dermal fillers • Silhouette Soft Thread lifts • Treatment for excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis) • Minor surgical procedures including mole removal & non-scalpel vasectomy

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29

HEALTH & BEAUTY

News & Notes

The Magic of Movement

I

T’S a fact we are living longer. Being over 60 can be just the beginning of many more years of enjoying life to the full. In order to be functionally fit and independent in our golden years it has never been more important to focus on healthy lifestyle choices and continued physical fitness.

Nearly two years ago a new class was trialled in the Studio at Westside Gym, Stamford, ‘The Magic of Movement’, designed for the over 60s with an emphasis on making fitness fun. Run by a qualified exercise instructor specialising in fitness for the over 60s, the class begins with a warm up to music then a circuit of 6-8 exercise stations which focus on improving functional fitness, balance, strength and posture as well as helping to develop an awareness of how fitness can be incorporated into everyday life.

Having reached capacity in the original class a second class is being added, starting on Monday 22nd January at 10.45am (1 hr class) with this first class being free for anyone who has not attended the original 9.15am class (usual charge £6).

Places are limited so book your place now on 01780 480651.

Ever wondered about an MRI scan?

A

VICENNA, a private clinic in Peterborough, has the first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) open scanner in the East of England and consultant radiologist, Hany Elmadbouh, regularly carries out MRI scans on a wide range of patients. The open MRI technology allows for a spacious, more relaxed scan, often alleviating any claustrophobic fears patients may have. Being open on three sides, you have a clear, unobstructed view of your surroundings and can even be accompanied during your scan.

As with any medical procedure, there are bound to be a whole host of questions.

Here Dr Hany answers the most frequent ones: Why might I need an MRI scan?

There are many reasons why you might wish to have a MRI scan, but the most obvious are to provide a more detailed look into your symptoms, investigate an injury, diagnose a disease or find out more about a medical condition. Patients also self-refer themselves to get peace of mind regarding particular health concerns they may have.

What do I have to do during an open MRI scan?

In a similar way to a closed MRI scan, you will need to lie still for the duration. It will take in the region of 45 minutes to complete and your radiographer will be able to see and hear you throughout. The open MRI scanner is a lot less noisy, making for a more reassuring experience.

Will I be alone during my scan?

Ordinarily, you would be on your own whilst an MRI scan is carried out; albeit in full communication with your radiographer. However, when undergoing an open MRI scan, you can be accompanied by a friend or relative if you are particularly anxious. Just ensure they are assessed in advance to make sure it is safe for them to do so.

Will I be told the results of my scan straightaway?

Avicenna offers a one-stop, same-day service for MRI scans. This means you can take away a full report, including images, on the same day as your scan. The radiologist will talk through your results at the time, answering any questions you may have. A copy of the report will also be sent to your GP or other medical professionals straight away.

Avicenna Clinic is an independent, consultant-led, private healthcare practice. The clinic offers self-pay and insured patients the opportunity to receive the best, personalised healthcare at a time to suit them. To find out more or to book an appointment, call Avicenna Clinic on 0330 202 0597 or visit avicennaclinic.com.

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

Sign Up & Shape Up with Stamford Boot Camp

D

O you struggle to motivate yourself to lose the flab and get back in shape after the festive binge?

Rob Dulieu, proprietor & instructor at Stamford Boot Camp has the answer.

“People often put weight on & lose fitness from the moment the nights draw in. Getting rid of that excess weight & boosting energy levels takes time, so it is important to rekindle the spark & get cracking early in the New Year, because before you know it, your next holiday will be upon you!”

What happens if you have lost your confidence & you feel nervous about coming to a new fitness class, or you just get easily bored with exercise?

“If you have lost your confidence or can’t be bothered to exercise - this is THE place to be! Stamford Boot Camp is renowned for its warm & friendly environment. My sessions are inclusive, interactive & inspirational, & they encourage a strong sense of community spirit. It’s a great way to lose weight, get fit, & forge new & lasting friendships!”

To help you get back on track, Stamford Boot Camp is offering: A free 1-week pass + 6 months of Boot Camp sessions for the price of 5.

To sign up for this New Year offer, visit www.stamfordbootcamp.co.uk & email Rob via the contact page, or call him on 07846 457959.

• Customized Sizes • Any Belt with Any Buckle • Each Belt Made from 1 Piece of Genuine Top Quality Naturally Tanned Cow Hide • Free & Unlimited After-Sales Service • + Other Superior Leather Products • Wholesale Available Call: 07455 892092 Email: shop@revealed-shop.com www.revealed-shop.com Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5.00pm Unit 1, Corn Exchange Shopping Arcade, Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PX

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Bridge at Copthill

Bridge at Welland Academy

Building bridges for life A deck of cards can provide hours of entertainment and fun; games can be as simple or as complex as you like and through them friendships are formed, brains are stimulated and, in Stamford, young minds are being nurtured through the town’s Youth Bridge Academy. Kate Cadman shuffles along to find out more.

I

T is a well-known fact that ‘play’ is an important part of learning for our children. Through role play and turn taking youngsters form their own identity and formulate ways of interacting with their peers.

Already over 370 pupils in the locality have benefited from the Bridge into Schools’ Project which provides weekly coaching sessions on how to play bridge for over 160 youngsters.

Liz Dale, who has written all the materials for this project, had the idea of establishing a Bridge into Schools’ Initiative and her team include Jenny Harding, Sandra Curran and Graham Robinson, plus over 60 fully trained bridge ‘buddies’, most of whom are DBS registered.

The Stamford Youth Bridge Academy, based at Stamford Bridge Club, with over 600 members, is involved in one of the first schemes in the country to encourage youth bridge. “This is our 2nd year of running the Bridge into Schools’ Project and we are now firmly established in 12 local schools. Besides making friends, bridge teaches youngsters so much: it is a partnership game, a ‘thinking’ game, a competitive game, it is a fun game and it teaches respect for others. The skills learnt will remain with them for the rest of their life,” explains Liz. Bridge buddies teach the card game to youngsters on a one-to-one basis. In addition, they mentor, coach and empower any non-card playing member of staff to deliver the starter bridge programme. There are different levels and approaches to the game from starter bridge to Stage 1 and Stage 2 certification, minibridge and then on to playing bridge.

“Not only do the youngsters enjoy the experience, but all our buddies love going into their local schools for, perhaps, an hour a week. Many have grandchildren at the various schools! Our oldest ‘buddy’ is well over 80 years

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

old and he loves it! It is noisy, exciting and fun.”

Following on from the success of this project, a Youth Bridge Club will be starting next April and will be based at the Stamford Bridge Club in Exeter Gardens.

Meanwhile local schools use bridge in a variety of ways; running lunchtime and/ or after school clubs or as part of the main educational curriculum. The card game is ideal

Chairman, John Prior with youngsters

for promoting numeracy, communication, teambuilding and respect. Stamford Youth Bridge Academy has developed teaching and learning materials developed specifically to link to OFSTED’s Inspection Handbook which, in turn, encourages the participation of many schools.

Already the first inter-schools event has been held earlier this year involving seven local schools. Alan Shillitoe, England under 26 Squad Captain, is due to visit and coach youngsters and he will, once again, present the prizes at the 2nd inter-schools event which will be held next June.

In addition, 20 lucky youngsters visited the House of Lords last month, via an invitation by Baroness Henig, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, to play bridge, take in lunch and a tour of the prestigious Government buildings.

“Playing bridge is not just like playing cards; it involves logic, perception and memory skills, but the best of all for me,” explains Liz, “is it develops friendships and can reduce isolation.

It might be the breakthrough required for just one youngster which potentially prevents a suicide. Playing on consoles means that our children often don’t communicate with anyone.

Playing bridge promotes good, old-fashioned interaction and respect for others; for instance, we always shake hands at the beginning of a game.”

“Once you know how to play bridge, all you need is a pack of cards to keep you entertained.

You can play bridge anywhere and interact with people of all ages, faiths and cultures. You could even deal a hand at the top of the Himalayas!”

Why not try a game of bridge to strengthen your own family dynamics? Check out the website and click on the family starter bridge link. For more information contact: www.syba.org.uk or email: syba@stamfordbridgeclub.co.uk.

33

STAMFORD YOGA Classical Hatha Yoga

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CACI Lisa has worked with CACI for over 10 years. CACI have decades of industry expertise and is famous for the nonsurgical face-lift. It started as a medical treatment restoring loss of muscle tone and has crossed into the aesthetic market as a favourite anti-ageing treatment. “I always describe to clients that it’s like a gym workout on your face and neck” says Lisa. It has lots of loyal celebrity followers too, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Jennifer Aniston to name a few. Whether it’s just the lifting and toning you want or the ULTIMATE, which covers the latest orbital microdermabrasion, wrinkle comb and ultrasonic peeling, light therapy, hydratone collagen mask, CACI EYE treatment and lymphatic drainage, Lisa can make the treatment bespoke.

“TO REALLY CUSTOMISE IT TO “YOU” WE HAVE MANY CLIENTS WHO ADD IN A STIMULATOR PEEL OR RADIO FREQUENCY. IT’S THE ULTIMATE MUSCLE AND SKIN WORKOUT.”

LIPOFIRM PRO/COLLAGEN WAVE LIPOFIRM PRO and EXILIS ELITE provide fabulous radio frequency treatments. Also with the added benefit of ultrasound on the EXILIS, it can give a focused treatment with deeper penetration depths. Radio frequency heats deeper into the skin tissue to stimulate collagen production so it’s also perfect to improve skin texture and lift and is very comfortable with no downtime. This is a popular treatment either on its own or in combination with other technology. KYLIE MINOGUE is a fan of the COLLAGEN WAVE TREATMENT. BEFORE

AFTER

been around for thousands of years.

The power of TOUCH is incredible. It’s soothing and healing, amongst a list of other positives. Why not try one of Elysia’s relaxing or deep tissue massages? If you’ve never had a reflexology it’s amazing and will relax mind, body and soul. Throughout January and February Elysia are offering their Winter Warmer package – a massage or reflexology treatment along with a hot chocolate or warming drink for only £25.

LASER AND IPL TREATMENTS Using the best technology from LYNTON lasers you can be sure of effective and safe treatments. Elysia can treat a range of concerns including hair removal, pigmentation, acne, skin rejuvenation, red veins and rosacea.

It’s the ideal time of year to start your course of treatments. And wouldn’t it be amazing if you didn’t need to wax or shave again?

Hair removal is super popular for men and women and Elysia can treat most areas. No sticky wax, no in-growing hairs. What are you waiting for? Skin rejuvenation - Using all the benefits of light energy in a safe and controlled wavelength. Reduce pigmentation and veins. Tighten the pores. Stimulate collagen production and skin tightening.

Quite simply it’s like using a rubber to erase the imperfections!

OFFERS ON ALL COURSES OF LASER TREATMENT BOOKED IN JANUARY

ELYSIA HEALTH & BEAUTY REALLY LOVE WHAT THEY DO AND ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU ACHIEVE GREAT SKIN FOR A LIFETIME Elysia Health & Beauty, Tansor, Oundle, PE8 5HP Tel: 01832 226328 or 07879 620196 www.elysiahealthandbeauty.com Follow us: elysiahealthandbeauty

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A new year brings lots of thoughts about what lies ahead in the coming year and whilst we like to think that it is all positive, for some of us the new year can feel a bit of an anti-climax and those ‘January blues’ kick in for no known reason and we look to what we can plan and explore to make us feel brighter and lighter in our step.

Pet therapy to help the January blues

Words & pictures

by Zoe Noyes Photography

B

EING with a pet can be one of those opportunities to take stock of what we would like to do and to sit there in the comfort of our own home. Snuggling up to our pet or having it on our lap to stroke has been reported to raise your serotonin which is a nerve transmitter associated with calmness and can make us feel like happier people even if we don’t realise it at the time. This could be a pet as small as a rabbit or guinea pig but more likely to be your feline or canine companion.

It was only when I was looking on Facebook the other day that a post popped up and a lady commented that ‘having a dog could give you the reason to get out of the house, to help alleviate depression or to de-stress, for exercise or to fulfil the desire to be out in nature’. This statement is most likely to be true for having dogs but as mentioned before, it can be our smaller companions that help too.

Being out in the fresh air is good for the mind and soul as well as the body and having a route to plan where you can exercise well and let your dog off the lead so they feel as invigorated as you, can be very rewarding. At this time of year, we can get some of those wonderful cold air, blue sky, sunny days and around Stamford there is so much beautiful countryside to see.

SO WHERE COULD YOU GO? Burghley Park - acres of parkland where if your dog is on their lead, you can be on or off road. Whilst many people prefer to use fixed leads for walking their dog, an extendible lead can be useful at a place like this to allow them the freedom to run but still be on a lead. www.burghley.co.uk/ visiting/visiting-overview/ Hills & Holes, Barnack - there are several entrance gates to this open space and then gates between each quarter, allowing you the freedom to let your dog forage and investigate all of the wonderful smells of the flora and fauna (and other dog scents too!). However please be careful at this time of year as sheep will be grazing in certain areas and then your dog MUST be on a lead. Signage is regularly updated at the entrances to tell you where the sheep are. www.fbhh.org.uk/?page_id=37 Rutland Water - a plethora of walks as well as activities to engage you with being in the great outdoors either with or without your canine companion. Please note dogs must stay on their leads and some areas are restricted. www.rutlandwater.org.uk/visitor-info/permits-openingtimes/ Fineshade Woods - a fabulous array of woodland with a variety of walks as well as routes for cycling. Dogs are allowed off lead once you are within the woods themselves and there is plenty for both owner & dog to discover www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8d7gjr

32 Main Street, Great Casterton, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 4AA

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

Hills & Holes, Barnack

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37

A mix of culture, gastronomy and bon vivant!

Victoria’s Top Table O

UT with the old and in with the new...2018 brings with it exciting untold adventures to fill our new Stamford Notebook diaries! Some truly fabulous business owners saw the New Year in with style, adding some sparkle to January.

At a recent festive drinks reception, it was clear that local jewellers, Denhams, is very much the jewel in Lincolnshire’s crown. With stores in Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray as well as Stamford, owner Sarah Stamp and her team (Karen and Holly) offer a discreet and sophisticated setting for those selecting the most precious of purchases.

Stocking beautiful collections by designers such as Alex Monroe and specialising in creating tailored diamond pieces, it is easy to see why Denhams is so popular with serious jewellery lovers.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now could well be the perfect time to start thinking about that romantic gift!

Jennie Beal’s stunning website www. quintessentiallywild. com may introduce you to her brand, however one needs to see Jennie’s deconstructed floristry for oneself to fully appreciate its beauty.

A mix of urban, vintage and romance, Jennie has captured what so many fail to achieve.

Pop in to the Stamford Deli to see some of the wonderful QW arrangements or follow on Instagram at @quintessentiallywild The extremely popular hair designers Anna Brown, Alison Wordsworth, Jennie Booker and Jacob Iau Frederiksen have started a new adventure in a new home! Stamford Hair Studio has opened (in the venue formerly known as the Groovy Club) however, the new studio and its stunning decor could not be further from its previous life. The spacious salon includes a 38

STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

fabulous welcome lounge and colour bar as well as beautiful prep and styling stations.

Those who know her, will be very pleased to know that Ina, Jacob’s gorgeous Chihuahua is also part of the team and is settling in to her new surroundings. Top tip... ask to sample one of Jacob’s delicious cinnamon biscuits, they are out of this world!

I am breaking the Stamford boundary this month, as so many people have asked me to feature the outstanding Fox & Hounds at Knossington. Only a short jaunt out of Stamford, landlady Kate Newell is the most sublime host. The Fox & Hounds is a pub like no other and is worthy of every accolade it receives. The menu is hugely varied, and each dish is as delicious as the last. I highly recommend the traditional roast (a meat free roast is also an option) and the Eton Mess.The cosy atmosphere is lively and welcoming and certainly keeps me going back for more. I truly hope you enjoy this fabulous find as much as I do!

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39

Ross Thain puts his walking boots on and heads to the Lake District to blow away the cobwebs

Scafell Hotel in the Lake District

T

HERE are few places in England as iconic as the Lake District, a place where walking and wonderment at nature’s astonishing beauty are the only true pastimes available, yet also where Laurel and Hardy mix with Beatrix Potter and Neolithic stone circles vie with modern speed records.

It is nicely remote yet, from Stamford or the East Midlands generally, it is very accessible. Pack your boots, your dog, your appetite and head off north on the A1. Two hours later, stop at Scotch Corner for a stretch, turn left and head along the lovely A66 for an hour to Keswick and ten minutes later arrive at The Scafell Hotel. Try and make it a daylight arrival as the short road from Keswick to Rosthwaite in Borrowdale is stunning, alongside tranquil Derwent Water. The hotel, privately owned since 1971, is in the prefect location for either an attempt on Scafell Pike (England’s tallest mountain) or simply as a base for wider exploration.

The new theatre at Keswick (theatre by the lake) has an exceptional production list and sits elegantly overlooking the Water.

The Hotel is a bit quirky. It has a slightly old English feel, which is rather heartening as modern chic would not wash here. It was once The Old Rectory and there is an extra tall door to accommodate the visits of the local bishop wearing his Mitre - find the door and Jason, the Manager, will let you have a free drink (ps it’s in the bar) and, with said drink, ask his advice on how to spend your time. You can also stay in the Barnes Wallace suite where the genius spent considerable time and may or may not have dreamed up the bouncing bomb in those very rooms.

There is plenty of space for bigger groups, parties and family reunions and you can be as remote or involved in the abundance of local activity as you wish. The Lake District National Park website (http://www. lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planyourvisit) is excellent and caters for all ages, sizes and abilities.

Jason, and the Hotel generally, offer guided fell break weekends, so if you want to go with a group of friends and can’t read a map or just simply want to enjoy the breathtaking scenery rather than worry

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

about GPS then book an hour, a day, or whatever, with one of the most experienced guides in the area. You might want to pack your cagoule though as Borrowdale is officially the wettest place in the UK. Jason is not quite so confident of this accolade: “records of being the wettest place in England might be slightly exaggerated as the farmer pees in the rain gauge”, but it is beautifully damp the whole year round. “Lots of people now want to visit during the late autumn and winter months and dogs can stay with us and sign their own Visitor’s Book. Our guests just have to turn up, let us know what sort of walk and day they want and we will give them all the information they need.”

The 3-star Hotel also has a Pub, The Riverside Bar, which is rather more homely after a tramp through the hills and offers a very warm fire, a good bar menu including Cumberland ham, sausage, Devon crab for any homesick southerners and pickled eggs for the real men. The Riverside is well priced with a three-course meal at around £25 with the dining room at the Hotel a step up from that. Wine comes from the splendid vintners Tanners and features a lot of their own label stuff which is unquestionably good. The Hotel has an AA Rosette, a new chef and the friendliest service possible dishing out lovely local produce of sublime lamb, beef, and cheese. The bar serves ale from the local Keswick Brewery (also worth a trip) and has a magnificent Butler’s Pantry and selection of scotch.

Room rates vary from £80 per person on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and deals are available, so contact the hotel direct. The best offer though is £229 per person for d, b and b plus a guided walk on two days, packed lunch, afternoon tea and Sunday lunch.

If it has been raining hard for a few days just keep an eye on the adjacent river level as the bar can suddenly flood but the Hotel provides wellies – it’s that sort of place.

The Scafell Hotel, Rosthwaite CA12 5XB 01768 777208 info@scafell.co.uk

Windows • Warm Roof • Bi-Folding Doors • Garage Doors If you are considering any home improvements please contact us for advice and for a competitive quote JUST A SMALL TASTER OF WHAT IS ON DISPLAY IN OUR STAMFORD SHOWROOM • 7 Display Kitchens’ • 15 Composite Front/Back Doors • French Doors/Patio Doors/Bi-Folding Doors • 1 Working Display Model of Electric Roller Garage Door • Windows in Cream, Black, Irish Oak, Golden Oak, Rosewood, White & Grey • English Heritage Approved Sliding Sash Window • Large Rubber Covered Flat Roofing Display Model • Full size roof corner showing Fascia’s Soffits and Guttering • White and coloured Cladding • Warm Roof with Velux

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Tel: 01780 654321 www.classicstamford.co.uk Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk 12 St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN 41

Ask Leo

New Year Quiz: A Journey Through History Here is a challenge from ‘Ask Leo’ for the New Year. If you want to work off the season’s excesses, you could take a walk (quite a long one) around Stamford to locate these buildings or you could sit in front of the fire and test your knowledge of the town.

Your task is threefold: 1) Match the description to a building and give its name or address 2) Give each building one of the dates from the list 3) Find the person from the list who is associated with the building We have used Browne’s Hospital as an example to get you started.

Answer 1) Browne’s Hospital Chapel. This was the chapel of a hospital founded and endowed by a successful wool merchant. He was a great benefactor to the town and there is a brass in his memory, PICTURE A together with one of his wife, in the south chapel of All Saints’ Church.

2) 1475-6 3) William Browne (the wool merchant)

Dates

People

(Some of these are necessarily approximate) 1475-6 Late 15C About 1500 Early 16C Early 17C 1674 Early 18C 1790 1829 1842 1934 1980s 2016-17

(Some of these people lived in the building, some were associated in other ways) William Browne Lord Burghley Kenelm Digby Gordon Turnill Thomas Laxton George Lansbury William Legge Richard Newcombe Tobie Norris William Stukeley Eric Till William Warenne Edward Wells

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

Description 1 Parts of this house are very old, but it has been altered and extended. It was owned in the seventeenth century by an unusual family of craftsmen whose products are still used in churches today. The house was re fronted by the family who continued to live here for a hundred years.

Description 7 This house includes re-used stone and slate from former buildings on the site and displays Georgian style features. Like a number of other properties in Stamford, it is associated with the name of an English statesman educated at Stamford School. He built himself a grand house near the town.

Description 2 Brick the builder built this building! It was initially used for rallies, fund-raising events, dance classes and dances. It has been a discount store, a social centre and now has a business use.

It was named not for a Stamford resident but the leader of a political party, who opened it.

Description 8 This grand house replaced a cottage with a stone quarry behind it. It was surrounded by extensive grounds. It was built for a Justice of the Peace, political agitator and newspaper mogul who served on the Town Council and as Mayor. His wife reputedly died from a fall in the quarry.

Description 3 This house was built on the site of the old Corpus Christi Guildhall. Later it was used by the Stamford Corporation. The architect responsible worked for the Burghley estate and designed the Bottle Lodges at the entrance to the park and also the market portico, now the library.

Description 9 This is one of a terrace of houses built on a former bowling green on the edge of the town. It was the boyhood home of a future lawyer, plant breeder and friend of Darwin who has been described as ‘one of the greatest horticulturalists of the Victorian era’.

Description 4 It’s not likely that the person who gave his name to this address would object to the mis-spelling of his name. They weren’t so particular about such things when he was the most important chap in town. The address also gives a clue to the former use of the site.

Description 10 This is much admired as the first classical house in Stamford. It was designed by the architect of Lyndon Hall. It was lived in more recently by a doctor and an important expert on the history of Burghley House who made extensive notes about Stamford properties held in the Burghley archives.

Description 5 This house was formerly a medieval vicarage belonging to Stamford’s main church. It was lived in by an important antiquarian when he was vicar here. He drew pictures of some of Stamford’s old buildings and researched Stamford’s Eleanor Cross. He also owned another house nearby where he laid out a garden.

Description 6 This is the only house of any importance in a street which was known as Cornwastry in the Middle Ages. It has an unusual coat of arms belonging to an important family one of whom represented Stamford in parliament in the sixteenth century. He was later High Sherriff and MP for Rutland.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 66

Description 11 When it was built this was a very fashionable house and shortly after it had some additions.

About a hundred years later it was divided into two. After another hundred years or so it became the home and studio of someone who was recently the subject of an article in this magazine.

Description 12 This house was once a substantial property which has been altered and recently divided. It was a freehold dwelling house left to the church in 1604 to provide a school. The benefactor, a shoemaker, died together with his wife and children in the plague which swept the country in the early seventeenth century.

PICTURE B

PICTURE C

PICTURE D

PICTURE F PICTURE E PICTURE G

PICTURE H

PICTURE I PICTURE J

PICTURE K

PICTURE M

PICTURE L Ask Leo would like to hear from you. Email them at askleo@btinternet.com STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

43

Do you know what your pension can do for you?

• • • • • • •

When can I access my pension?

Should I take my tax-free cash?

What are my income requirements?

Should I put all my pensions together?

How tax-efficient is my pension?

Can my pension be left to my family after my death?

Final Salary Schemes – What are the options?

If you would like any advice on the above or have any other financial questions, please get in touch.

Consilium Wealth Limited Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 2AE Tel: 01780 758523 Email: consiliumwealth@outlook.com www.consiliumwealth.co.uk Consilium Wealth Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (729441)

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Sean Hook Director

A Little doing With winter comes winter sports and Stamford may not have its own mountains but it doesn’t mean you can’t go skiing. The dry ski slope at Tallington Lakes is the perfect place to get your little one familiar with the sport or, if you’re lucky, put in a bit of practice before hitting the real Alps! A single private lesson offers a taster where they can get used to the equipment and in our case, plenty of laughs, as Toby got to grips with walking in ski boots. Luckily the instructors are super-friendly and encouraging! All boots, skis and helmets are provided and on a dry day, this is great way to enjoy some time outdoors even in the middle of winter.

Check out all the classes available plus their weekend junior ski school sessions online. www.tallington.com, 01778 347000 Slightly further afield and for something a little different, the annual Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival has plenty of entertainment for a family day out. This three-day festival (12-14 Jan) centres around the straw bear (a man dressed up in straw) parading through the streets on the Saturday. Lots of fun with traditional dances, music concerts and story-telling. It culminates with the bear bonfire and grand finale on the Sunday afternoon and food and drink will be available in cafés, pubs and church halls around the town throughout the weekend. www.strawbear.org.uk for more information.

LittLe Living It’s the month of cold days and dark nights but Louise Goss finds there is still plenty of winter fun with Toby and Freya this January.

A Little Buying

A Little Song and dAnce Now that term time is almost upon us, we are looking forward to getting back to some classes.

Music Bugs provides a fun variety of music, movement, singing, dancing and even a little educational counting and colour. Freya is one of those children who will start to jig along at the first hint of a tune and absolutely loves the lively classes where she and Toby get to jump, twirl and play with bubbles and puppets. They also get to interact with their favourite nursery rhymes and songs with a different weekly theme.

Louise at Rutland Music Bugs is brilliant at engaging all the children and gives everyone a warm welcome. She holds classes for pre-school ages in and around Stamford, Oakham, Market Deeping and Ketton.

Find class details and book your place online: www.musicbugs.co.uk/rutland/classes

There are two things we have been on the hunt for this month: something to keep Toby’s feet warm and somewhere to put his Christmas money, and we found both at Sophie Allport on the High Street. This snuggly knit hot water bottle (£28) comes in three different designs and this lovely money box tin (£10) will hopefully encourage a good saving habit from early on. www.sophieallport. com, 01778 560256

A Little eAting We may have over indulged slightly over Christmas and New Year so when eating out, The Lean Pantry on the High Street offers brilliant, child-friendly food that you know is healthy and wholesome. Their children’s menu features perfectly-sized child portions of half baked potatoes or paninis with tasty fillings (Freya loves their whole earth baked beans and Toby the chia berry jam). Even though it’s dairy free you can order a babycino made with oat, almond or coconut milk or one of our favourites is the Go Green smoothie, which is a sure way of getting some goodness into them with no complaints. www.theleanpantry.co.uk, 01780 763173 STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

45

Surrounded by rolling fields and humble villages, Stamford boasts its grand Georgian architecture and rural country living making it hard to argue with its title as “Best Place to Live in Britain”. However, sixteen-year-old Elise Chowdhury explores the pros and cons of being raised in such an idyllic environment

(Half) Growing up in Stamford The perks of a Stamford upbringing As someone who was brought up for half of my childhood outside of Liverpool and the other in a small village outside of Stamford, the diversities of both ways of life are as clear as black and white to me. Once one has gotten used to the pungent smell of manure from the fields, the benefits of a country life can be revealed but also its weaknesses. As the stress of modern life takes its toll, there is nowhere better to relieve ourselves of our hectic, technology-driven lives than the historic streets of Stamford. With stories festering behind every brick of archaic Stamford Stone, Stamford offers both culture and restoration of traditional values. Not forgetting Burghley House featured on the outskirts of town attracting both tourists and families in their masses. I doubt there is a single Stamford-bred person who cannot remember summer picnics and dog walks around Burghley Park or a day out at the Horse Trials. The most memorable for me however, is a day of relaxation with friends in the summer on The Meadows, eating ice cream and walking towards the weir for a dip and a cool off. It is fair to say a summer in Stamford is one no one fails to remember.

But are young people sheltered from reality?

Our more serene and carefree lifestyle, where day to day issues concern the impracticality of the new self-service machines in Tesco or the price of coffee in our many coffee shops, is sadly

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

slightly unrealistic. Despite being just a short drive up the A1 from popular tourist cities London and Cambridge, Stamford generally avoids the bustling crowds and traffic, unless it’s market day of course. Unfortunately, this is both a blessing and a curse, suggesting that the town is perhaps a little too quiet and enclosed for young people, especially those with ambitions that exceed its walls. How can we understand the ways of the world if we haven’t properly explored it? Perhaps with a little encouragement more and more young people of Stamford will venture further outside of Stamford and experience life.

What do the younger generation really think?

Rather than taking my word for it, I found out what other teenagers had to say about their country upbringing. Speaking to a small group of 15-16-year olds I was given mixed opinions.

“Shopping in Stamford is extremely difficult,” one of the girls said. “There is only really Newlook for trendy girls’ clothes at a reasonable price.

Everywhere else is either too expensive for people our age or targeted at the older generations.”

In agreement with this, I admitted that I too find clothes shopping around town difficult.

Most agreed that Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough is the best place to go locally unless you can travel further afield to Cambridge. One of the boys expressed: “I find that Stamford tends to appeal to the older generation rather than the young. There is only

the ‘Rec’ (recreational ground) that has been built especially for us. I guess one day this quieter sort of life will appeal to me but not yet, not when I’m still young with a life ahead of me.”

Clearly Stamford summers aren’t enough to satisfy the youth all year round. On the other hand, a few others felt slightly less negative about their upbringing adding: “We are lucky to experience country living and all its benefits.

We live in a pretty safe area which allows us a lot of freedom. Even though it may be quieter and more secluded than most of us would like, it encourages us to want more out of life since not everything is on our doorstep, we have to go get it. We can move to a city when we’re ready but also come back when the time comes to bring up our own kids in this safe environment.”

It seems surprisingly common for old “Stamfordians” to return during adulthood when the money has been made and the need for a traditional family lifestyle beckons. Despite the town’s struggle to feed the adventurous appetites of some of its youngsters, clearly Stamford’s roots run deep. Drawing us back in years to come when we surprise ourselves by missing the stench of manure and the country walks our parents religiously dragged us on every weekend. So perhaps we shouldn’t be so soon to criticise the peace and quiet Stamford offers, you never know, one day we might be back to take advantage of it as the older generation we swore we’d never become!

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WINTER PROPERTY UPDATE WITH MOORES The Moores group of offices are pleased to report that 2017 has been a much more successful year than it initially looked.

Buying confidence was lost due to the spring market being stalled by another election/ Brexit being dropped on us at short notice.

However, the second half of the year saw everybody deciding to crack on and in fact, where the interest rate rise could have been seen as a problem, it actually encouraged a lot of people to decide to sell buy-tolet properties. This, coupled with first time buyers now getting a better stamp duty deal, has created greater activity at the lower end of the market and has resulted in a snowball effect. Also potential buyers who moved into rented are thinking that now is the time to buy and secure a mortgage before the rates rise further.

Many buyers from the South that couldn’t sell have now sold and are keen to view properties

The Peterborough station office will be open in January with a temporary show office, with the permanent building planned for March. If you would like your property displayed to commuters please call us on 01733 788888! in the New Year. We are having a great deal of success introducing these buyers offmarket without using press marketing and the internet, which keeps our fees down. Over 40% of our sales are achieved in this way, so please register with us so as not to miss some of the best properties or buyers!

For a valuation or advice on any aspect of buying or selling your property Tel: 01572 757979 (Oakham Team) Tel: 01572 821935 (Uppingham Team) Tel: 01780 484555 (Stamford Team) Tel: 01733 788888 (Peterborough Team www.mooresestateagents.com

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Antonia Scott wrote an article in November 2012 about the transition from country girl to city girl and then back again, when she and her husband moved out of London back ‘home’ to the Stamford area. Here she gives us a brief low down on the intervening years

City Girl or Country Girl - 5 years on…

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O, five years have flown by and my three pre-school ‘babies’ seem babies no longer – they are taller, louder, hungrier and far more independent – like sunflowers they have stretched skywards towards the sun’s rays, blossoming under our clear country air and salmon pink harvest glow. My four-legged friends have multiplied – one dog fast became two, became three for a disastrous six months, then sensibly back to two again. Two rescue kittens - my city born husband definitely didn’t want – appeared on my daughter’s 8th birthday and he fell in love with their simultaneous insouciance and adoration of him. We moved from our idyllic bijou stone cottage in Rutland to a modern ‘forever home’ in Lincolnshire and braved the 30 minutes ‘commute’ to the same village school as it is hard to tear ourselves away from their familial continuity.

With all this new-found space, I look to grow our furry family and fill our lawn. I dabbled with getting some shaggy Highland cows so my Scottish husband might feel more at home – but was put off by the flies they would attract in the summer; not to mention the more obvious disasters with three football-mad children doing slide tackles! So, I settle on three baby bunnies – one for each child – which fast became six as I mistakenly ‘double reserved’ from different local Facebook groups and somehow felt duty-bound to stick to my word and buy them.

“All females,” we were assured. “Are you sure?” asks the city husband, “They look awfully ‘friendly’ – but what do I know?” More than me clearly, as 6 became 9, became 24 and at its peak, an almost unfathomable 44 baby bunnies! Who knew the saying ‘breed like rabbits’ could have such catastrophic effects on my shopping bill? The supermarket cashiers regularly commenting on what happy vegan children I have, as they pile the trolley high with mountains of curly kale, cabbage and ‘proper carrots’ with their green tops still intact! I become known as ‘the mad bunny lady’

“I dabbled with getting some shaggy Highland cows so my Scottish husband might feel more at home – but was put off by the flies they would attract in the summer.”

in the school playground and am teased mercilessly on my numerous social media posts announcing yet another birth! A vet friend urges me to let her help gender them so the unintentional ‘breeding programme’ I have going on, can be stopped and poor Flopsy, a veteran mother of 4 litters and 38 babies before her first birthday, can be left in peace.

It seemed a good idea at the time to bring my basket of baby bunnies to Burghley Horse Trials so Emma the vet could inspect them from the boot of my car; with hindsight it was perhaps slightly unusual to be standing in the Press carpark with a ball of fluff upended as her professional eyes look for the elusive X or Y gene that has so far been inconclusive, leading to calamitous results! Stamford, being Stamford, people recognise me, recognise Emma, friends somehow appear and a small circle gather round my car as I gently plop each baby bunny into either the ‘blue’ or ‘pink’ animal carrier! A day later when I bump into Clare Balding in the Media Centre, I wonder if she’ll find my rabbit story amusing, or just plain bonkers! My children think it’s completely normal to have baby bunnies in the boot of the car and I love them for it. I love the fact that it confirms my original reason for wanting to move out of London to bring them up in the country, to experience the circle of life in close quarters, watching the magic of birth in nature.

Our new neighbours have a cacophony of chickens and two quirky white ducks which I have hankered after for years – my husband takes a deep breath and knows there’s little point in protesting. My feathery friends will no doubt appear one day and he’ll pretend he’s exasperated, but he always knew deep down that he was marrying a country girl, who was pretending to be a city girl.

I have no regrets whatsoever making the move back to the country – after all, we have Farmer’s Markets a plenty, an abundance of independent coffee shops and entrepreneurial start-ups, alongside Waitrose and The White Company – what’s there to miss?!

ROWAN CLIFFORD As a trained illustrator, Rowan has worked since 1982 building up an impressive portfolio of still-life portraits and has a real flair for being able to capture the very essence of what makes each pet unique to their owner. Selections of his work hang in The Fine Food Store in St Mary’s St, Stamford. Rowan takes photographs of each client to work from and will then produce a portrait. Prices are fixed at £300 for an A5 portrait mounted and framed. For more information please contact: rowanclifford@hotmail.com or mobile: 07773 453486

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Goodwin Property Services are celebrating their first anniversary of returning to the lettings business, with a triumphant first year. Stamford Living went to find out more.

Goodwin Property Services celebrates PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

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INCE deciding that they should venture back into this area Goodwin have built up a strong lettings team, led by Rebecca Collins, qualified as a Member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (MARLA) and one of the most experienced practitioners in the region.

She loves to be up to speed on all the many different factors of the industry including legislation and market trends, as well as the fine detail of every let which are key to a positive outcome. She is backed up by a strong team and by Simon Burton, in overall charge of both residential sales and lettings.

Why does it make sense to let your property through an expert?

‘Well, first of all,” Rebecca told SL, “there is the ever-increasing amount of legislation coming onto the statute book. Miss one bit of paper and there could be serious consequences, even to the extent of not being able to get a tenant out of the property at the end of a term. There are proposals in 2018, for example, for new legislation covering minimum energy performance standards and electricity testing. The detail is extremely important.”

“Secondly, the agent can act as a buffer between landlord and tenant, ensuring that the needs and responsibilities of each are properly understood and met, that there’s absolute clarity and that communication is timely and unambiguous. This protects landlords and tenants alike, and ensures each matter is handled objectively and with familiarity.

“Thirdly, it’s an insurance policy – an agent can take out the personal risk of lettings and ensure that everything is done to a high standard and to the letter of the law.”

What is it that makes Goodwin Lettings the right choice?

Rebecca and her team are very experienced property professionals,

with a strong understanding of the local markets and its trends and just where to pitch a property to maximise returns as well as avoiding the cost of an empty property. One of the few independents left locally they can react swiftly to any changes in the market to maximise any benefits for their clients.

Also, because Rebecca has been in the lettings business for a number of years, she has seen all sorts of situations and has learnt the best way Rebecca of resolving them; ultimately with discretion and Collins an educated assessment of the scenario. There has to be lots of understanding, interpretation and flexibility to create a successful outcome for everyone.

Goodwin’s live database of potential tenants is also not to be underestimated and they are expert at matching the right tenant to the right property, ensuring that the tenant is both reliable and creditworthy. The exposure across sales and lettings in and around Stamford helps the team to be proactive. Extra consideration minimises the risk of any void periods and subsequent disputes over the condition of the property.

Working hand in hand with their residential sales arm, Rebecca is also pleased to advise on helping a landlord build a portfolio through the acquisition of properties, with an eye to maximising yield and /or capital appreciation. She will happily consider properties from other agents or slightly further afield – they manage a number of properties in Oakham, Bourne, Peterborough and the Deepings.

Above all Goodwin are a friendly, local and independent team - six out of seven members of staff walk to work every day. Now surely that’s the definition of being local!

To find out more, contact Rebecca Collins at Goodwin Property Services, 2-3 St John’s St, Stamford PE9 2DA 01780 750000 www.goodwinproperty.co.uk

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Let’s get Healthy This month Deborah Pennell focus’s on Healthy Eating and meets owners of some of our local shops, cafes and delis who can help us embrace a healthy diet

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HERE did 2017 disappear to?

Another year etched in the history books, and unfortunately for me, another couple of pounds in weight gained! We have all heard the sayings ‘New Year New You’, and ‘You Are What You Eat’, and January always seems a perfect month to kick start new regimes.

After the over-indulgence of the Festive period, the extra chocolates I ate are now lodged in a fatty, semi-permanent reminder that it is time to focus. In order to march forward into the New Year in a positive frame of mind, I need to look at what I am eating and drinking, and challenge myself to rectify my sins. Making relatively simple lifestyle changes will hopefully see me rid myself of those few extra, troubling pounds and stand me in good stead for the rest of my life – it’s a win win situation.

We regularly read about ‘superfoods’ but what are they?

A ‘superfood’ is a nutrient-rich food that has many health benefits for the body and promotes overall wellbeing.

So where to begin? Firstly lets see what Stamford has to offer, and then compile a list of some so-called ‘superfoods’ to enhance our store cupboards:

P H O T O G R A P H Y :

E L L I

D E A N

Aloha Foods Co 12 St Johns Street, Stamford, PE9 2DB 01780 238813 www.alohafoodsco.com Since opening Aloha Foods Co just over 8 months ago, brothers Grant and Nathan Worthington have added something new and exciting to Stamford’s food scene. These brothers are the dream team when it comes to creating uncomplicated healthy food. Grant has a BSc in Nutrition and Healthcare, Nathan a chef of 13 years’ experience, has worked alongside many Michelin starred chefs. You only have to look at these guys to realise that they are in the right business. Buoyed by their recent Great Taste Award and the increased momentum toward Healthy Eating, they have timed their arrival perfectly. Their menus read ‘Stamford’s Healthiest Food Joint’, but as Grant says, “the tide has turned. People are generally eating a more healthy diet, and you see this with the way menus have changed in pubs and restaurants around town.”

Aloha sets the bar high, with a simple concept - ‘build your own’ nutritious, healthy meal, which is then cooked fresh to order. This takes not much longer than a toasted sandwich, but is a whole lot better for you. If you are very serious about a new healthy eating plan and want to kick start your campaign, Grant is more than happy to sit down with you and create a diet plan tailored to your requirements. Meal and Diet plans start from £299 per month, and consist of 72 meals - a great idea for people who want to lose a few pounds but need the regime dictated for them.

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

The Stamford Deli 39 High Street, Stamford, PE9 2BB 01780 755772 Kelly Combes has always led the way in providing healthy food to the town. Her incredible ‘Ottolenghi style salads’, wholesome soups and vegan cakes are renowned, and she has a loyal client base who flock to the deli for healthy lunches. Her ethos is Love food, Hate waste. The deli offers incredible salad combinations, which make eating salad in the winter really ok, soups that are filling and rammed with flavour and for those with a sweet tooth, arguably the best cakes in town. She says, “we always have a good selection of healthy salads/grains but there has been an interesting swing in requests since we opened. We have found lots more people requesting vegan and gluten free in 2017 rather than just saying they were on a diet. We will continue to expand our selection of vegan cakes and gluten free goodies, both sweet and savoury, in 2018 in order to meet this demand.”

The Lean Pantry 72 High Street, Stamford, PE9 2AW 01780 763173 also at 2C Mill Street, Oakham, LE15 6EA 01572 774363 www.theleanpantry.co.uk Owner of The Lean Pantry, Seema Khanna was advised two years ago to detox and change her diet. She has always been keen on baking and is an accomplished cook so she decided to embrace this lifestyle change and at the same time open her own healthy eating café in Mill Street, Oakham. Having established this café Seema has expanded her business to Stamford, having taken over the former Javawocky coffee shop site, right at the end of the High Street, she seems to have found a perfect location.

Her ethos is simple, ethical, healthy food with numerous vegetarian and vegan options.

Serving Whole Earth drinks, Fairtrade Organic Coffee, salad boxes, a daily soup and curry, vegan cakes and so much more, all food allergies and intolerances seem to be amply catered for. There is also a small pantry at the back of the café where you can buy gluten free, sugar free, dairy free products and high quality cocoa. Seema has a loyal client base catering for many vegan and diabetic customers.

A Glossary of ‘Superfoods’ You will no doubt already include many of these in your diets, but I challenge you to add new foods in 2018. All foods can be found in our shops, on the market or in the cafés around town:

Fill your store cupboards from the shelves at Silver Lane Whole Foods: Silver Lane Whole Foods 2 Silver Lane, Stamford, PE9 2BT 01780 755710 It always amazes me how much stock this fantastic little health food store holds. The shelves are bulging with health food products ranging from grains to vitamins and mineral supplements, probiotics, dried fruits and nuts to name a few. If they do not stock the product you are looking for, they are mostly likely to be able to source it for you.

Apple – rich in antioxidants Avocado – rich in healthy fats, B vitamins, Vitamins K and E. High in fibre. Studies show that regular consumption lowers cholesterol.

Bananas – high in potassium, Vitamin C and B6 Beans – very rich in soluble fibre Bee Pollen – contains high levels of amino acids, protein, folic acid and all of the B vitamins. Use in salads and smoothies.

Berries – such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, goji and acai are packed with cancer fighting antioxidants.

Broccoli – high levels of Vitamin A, C and K, and a great source of folate which helps in forming new healthy cells and DNA Cauliflower – naturally high in fibre and contains cancer fighting phytochemicals Eggs – the single best source of dietary Vitamin B choline – used for the construction of the body’s cell membranes Flax Seeds – very high in protein, phytochemicals and B vitamins Garlic – lowers risk of heart disease Green Tea – high levels of antioxidants that prevent so many diseases Kale – great source of calcium, fibre and iron Leeks – contain organosulphur compounds that can lower the risk of cancer Lentils – rich in iron Maca – a root that is normally used in a powder form and can be added to smoothies, yogurt, juices and fruit salads and has rich supplies of nutrients Nuts – a rich source of unsaturated fats and omega 3 fatty acid Oats – rich in fibre and help to regulate blood sugar levels Oranges – a large orange or cup of freshly squeezed orange juice can give a day’s worth of vitamin C Quinoa – extremely high in protein, fibre, iron and magnesium

Salmon – very rich in omega 3 fatty acids and a great source of selenium and B vitamins Spinach – rich in calcium, iron, potassium, fibre, magnesium, Vitamins A, C, K and E, and a great source of folate Sweet Potatoes – high concentration of alpha and beta carotene to help keep bones, eyes and immune system healthy. Low calorie content.

Rich in Vitamin C and B6 Tomatoes – rich in the antioxidant lycopene, potassium, fibre, and Vitamin C Turmeric – contains curcumin which has been proven to be very effective in preventing cancer, and it has inflammatory properties Yogurt – contains good bacteria to promote a healthy gut

A

nd finally, for those who, like me have an incredibly sweet tooth and need to snack between meals, I have added a delicious, and incredibly quick and easy energy ball recipe, which will satisfy those sugar cravings, but is allowed, on the new healthy regime:

Superfood Energy Balls Should make approx. 15 • 1 cup organic porridge oats • 1/2 cup almond butter • 1/4 cup ground flax seed • 2 tblsp mixed cranberries, dried blueberries, goji berries • 3 medjool dates, pitted • 1 tblsp maple syrup • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • Combine dates, almond butter and maple syrup in a food processor and pulse until the dates are fully chopped and everything is combined.

• In a bowl mix together oats, flax seed, dried berries, and cinnamon. Add date and almond butter mixture and stir until fully incorporated.

Roll into 1-inch balls.

• Place in airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer for snacking.

Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year!

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Start planning your 2018 gastronomic outings

Food & Drink News

Lunch for EVEN Less 2018 E

IGHT top local restaurants, including Hambleton Hall and The Olive Branch, have once again teamed up to offer a fine lunch at an impressively affordable price. The deal is for a twocourse lunch from £14.50, with the addition of a third course from just £3 extra.

The offer is valid from Monday to Friday or Saturday (but not on Sundays), subject to availability and variable to each restaurant – for more details, see below. To make your reservation, please call the restaurant of your choice and quote the “Lunch for Even Less” offer.

Hart’s RESTAURANTS AND PUBS: The Berkeley Arms, Wymondham 2 courses for £14.95 (3rd course for £3) Offer valid Friday 19 January to Saturday 31 March Includes Valentine’s Day and Good Friday Closed on Mondays 01572 787587 www.theberkeleyarms. co.uk

Hambleton Hall, Photo: Elli Dean

The Olive Branch

A New Gym is Coming to Town!

Well-being Made Easy at Stamford Fitness A

BRAND-NEW gym, Stamford Fitness will open its doors at New College Stamford’s Borderville Sports Centre in the New Year.

You don’t have to wait until January to kick start your journey to achieve better well-being.

Stamford Fitness are offering an Early Bird Membership which offers 15 months for the price of 12!

Better yet, if you join with a fitness partner, neither of you will have to pay a joining fee.

The new gym will provide bespoke coaching, state of the art equipment and smart applications all optimised to improve your wellbeing and help you achieve your goals. In addition, Borderville Sports Centre benefits from an excellent location and safe easy parking.

Membership prices include unlimited use of the gym and aerobics with prices starting at £25pcm.

Adrian Bidwell, Borderville Development Manager said “We want everyone to have fun exercising so that it becomes an easy habit to maintain. We support this aim by providing a warm, welcoming space in which everyone can exercise. Memberships will include access to the gym, classes and will be priced to provide both excellent value and also reflect the available open hours”.

The gym will be open to customers during mornings, evenings and weekends and is open to college students during the working day as they work towards their sport qualifications.

Full details can be found at: www.bordervillesportscentre.co.uk

Hambleton Hall, Nr Oakham 2 courses for £28 (3rd course for £7) Includes 12.5% discretionary service.

Offer valid Monday 15 January to Friday 2 March Excludes Saturdays and Valentine’s Day 01572 756991 www.hambletonhall.com Hart’s, Nottingham 2 courses for £19 (3rd course for £5) Excludes service Offer valid Monday 8 January to Friday 2 March Includes Valentine’s Day 0115 9881900 www.hartsnottingham. co.uk Langar Hall, Langar 2 courses for £18.50 (3rd course for £5) Excludes service Offer valid Monday 15 January to Thursday 29 March Excludes Saturdays and Valentine’s Day 01949 860559 www.langarhall.co.uk

The Marquess of Exeter, Lyddington 2 courses for £14.50 (3rd course for £3) Offer valid Monday 15 January to Saturday 24 March Excludes Valentine’s Day 01572 822477 www.marquessexeter. co.uk The Olive Branch, Clipsham 2 courses for £16.50 (3rd course for £3.50) Excludes service.

Offer valid Monday 15 January to Saturday 24 March Excludes Valentine’s Day 01780 410355 www.theolivebranchpub. com The Wheatsheaf, Greetham 2 courses for £14.50 (3rd course £3) Offer valid Wednesday 17 January to Saturday 31 March Includes Valentine’s Day and Good Friday Closed on Mondays 01572 812325 www.wheatsheafgreetham.co.uk The Wicked Witch, Ryhall 2 courses for £14.95 (3rd course for £3) Offer valid Monday 15 January to Saturday 28 April Excludes Valentine’s Day but includes Good Friday Closed on Mondays 01780 763649 www.thewickedwitch experience.co.uk

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Deborah Pennell meets a Stamford legend.

George Hetherington

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

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T 80 years old George Hetherington should have put his feet up long ago, but with a huge desire to care for others George is unstoppable; his energy is that of a long-life battery, managing to fit into one day what most of us would accomplish in two or three.

George was born in Darlington, Co Durham in 1937, on Coronation Day. He hastens to add “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth! I witnessed poverty and suffering from a young age. My parents spent their careers running a succession of approved schools all over the country, which meant my childhood was transient.” Hailing from a Methodist family, caring has always been at the forefront of George’s life.

During WW11, at the age of 18 years old, George was called up to serve in the Army. He refused, stating he was a staunch pacifist and a conscientious objector. He says, “this was a tricky time, I was incredibly shy and had to put my case forward in front of five very worldly men, but I knew I did not want to go war.” Proving his persuasive powers at a young age, George was assigned a two year post as a Ward Orderly at a geriatric hospital in Wokingham – this was his ‘light bulb’ moment; here he cared for lonely and neglected patients and set his heart on a career in social work. However, this was not to be, as in his own words he ‘fluffed’ his A levels, moving instead into retail with his brother in law.

In 1960 he leased his first, of what was to be five independent shops in Sydenham. The shops traded carpets, beds, fitted furniture and the like but after several years he was forced to terminate his leases as the landlord increased the rent beyond his means. Not to be deterred, George located a nearby corner shop for sale, complete with freehold, and he stepped into a new environment; that of a pet shop proprietor.

Housing tropical fish, exotic birds, puppies, kittens and reptiles, his pet shop quickly became the largest pet shop in London. George prided himself on keeping all his animals to the highest level of care, being the first pet shop in the country to put all his livestock behind glass screens.

His life, like most, has seen hard times and wonderfully amusing moments. He smiles when he recounts a publicity stunt he undertook for his pet shop; trying to persuade the Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies, a regular customer in the shop, to have a 20ft Python wrapped around her neck - she was terrified and ended up standing between two men, who held either end of it! On another occasion he had The BBC and a huge number of onlookers jamming the street outside his shop, all waiting to witness a man wrestle a brown bear inside his pet store - the act had travelled from Scotland, but frustratingly the bear decided he did not want to get off the bus, and there was nothing anyone could do about

Since arriving in the town in 2003 he has been pro-active in initiating the popular Annual Dog Show on the Meadows, as well as bringing Fair Trade to the town, working with the Council and encouraging the Stamford Methodist church to create a small Fair Trade shop. it! George said, “he was a nice bear and everyone just ended up going onto the bus to cuddle him!”

On ‘retiring’, he and his wife Jan decided to move out of London and relocate - but to where? They had three firm desires on their list: a market town, an active rotary club and a good Methodist church - Stamford ticked all the boxes.

Since arriving in the town in 2003 he has been pro-active in initiating the popular Annual Dog Show on the Meadows, as well as bringing Fair Trade to the town, working with the Council and encouraging the Stamford Methodist church to create a small Fair Trade shop.

More recently George has played a huge part in the set up and running of Second Helpings.

Sparked by an episode of Songs of Praise, which featured Adam Smith the originator of The Real Junk Food Project, George thought the idea could be developed in Stamford. Now in its third year,

this wonderful initiative creates a special place for people to meet once a week, to eat home cooked food that would otherwise have been destined for landfill. With guests ranging from 96 years old to a few weeks, wealthy and homeless alike, it caters for all.

His downtime is all about family; with 4 children between them, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren there is much to celebrate.

He still keeps tropical fish, harping back to his days as a pet shop owner. And, for a special treat he will sneak off to Newcastle to watch his favourite team play football. When he feels fit enough he can also be found playing a spot of Badminton!

My only thought as I exchange farewells with George, is I hope I am as proactive and generous with my time at 80 years of age. A truly inspirational man.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

Debs Pennell finds out what’s new and what’s worth a closer look

Food & Drink News

Happy 1st Birthday to Cloisters Restaurant

Owners Jen and Dan Bahnam cannot quite believe it is a year since they took on this popular Italian restaurant in the heart of town. Jen says, “it has been a whirlwind first year, how quickly time flies by. It is always tricky taking over a well-established business, but I am delighted with the fantastic response we have had from regular and new customers alike. We have thoroughly enjoyed our first year, establishing ourselves as a great place to eat in town. People come to Cloisters to experience delicious home cooked Italian food, accompanied by great service.”

As one of the very few independent restaurants in Stamford who serve food from 5pm, it is a perfect place to pop into before the cinema, or straight from school, and they offer children half sized portions of most dishes on the menu.

With a new menu just launched you can expect to find a good selection of Pizzas, Pastas, and Salads. Their Tuna Steak comes highly recommended. Puddings include Italian specialities such as Tiramisu, Pannacotta and a Sicilian Citrus and Almond cake.

Their truly gorgeous focaccia bread is baked daily and can also be found in the popular Stamford Deli, stuffed full of delicious mezze.

The wine list is a riot of Italian wines, all carefully selected to accompany the dishes on the menu, and supplied by local wine merchant, Amps in Oundle.

Treat yourself to a very reasonably priced set lunch menu at £12 for 2 courses or £15 for 3 courses.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Thursday 11am-3pm & 5-9pm, Friday and Saturday all day from 11am–9.30pm Sunday 10am-4pm.

Booking is highly recommended Cloisters, 9, St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DE 01780 755162 www.cloistersbistro.co.uk

The Stamford Cheese Cellar 17 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DG 01780 489269 Choose from a good selection of Champagne including Pol Roger Reservé Brut, Lombard Grand Cru and a Taittinger Prestige Rose NV. Their Le Monde Prosecco is very popular.

The Game is Up

January sees the final flurry of Game arriving at our tables. With the close of the pheasant and partridge shooting season on 1st February, some of our local pubs and restaurants will be serving up locally sourced perfectly executed game dishes.

I can highly recommend the following places if you want to eat game:

Partridge and Butternut

The King’s Arms at Wing 13 Top Street, Wing, Rutland LE15 8SE 01572 737634 A winter’s day shooting on a plate - Glaston Shoot Partridge

Supremes & Confit Legs, Pancetta Roasted Carrots, Shallots, Roasted Butternut Squash & Puree, Dauphinoise Potatoes & Madeira Sauce A twist on a classic - Truffle Stuffed Stockerston Pheasant Kiev, Colcannon and Truffled Mushroom Crème Barnsdale Lodge Hotel The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, LE15 8AH 01572 724678 A celebration of locally sourced winter produce - The Roast Exton Estate Pheasant breast with chestnut and cranberries, Jerusalem artichoke puree, roasted potato and parsnip.

The William Cecil St Martin’s, Stamford, PE9 2LJ 01780 750070 During the winter months Game is always a feature on the menu at The William Cecil – the January menu is likely to include the last of the pheasant and partridge, shot locally. Call to discuss your requirements.

Champagne or Prosecco to welcome in the New Year, or even a drop of English Sparkling wine?

Whether your preference is Champagne, Prosecco or you are embracing the Brexit alternative of English Sparkling wine, find your tipple to toast in the New Year from Stamford’s local independent retailers.

Adnams Bath Row Warehouse, Stamford PE9 2HG 01780 753127 The Adnams range of own brand Champagne come in a variety of sizes, from half bottles to magnums and include a Pink Champagne. They also stock many other varieties of Champagne and Prosecco.

Champagne Pink Taittinger Prestige Rose NV £39.85 from The Stamford Cheese Cellar Vintage Charles Heidsieckk 2005 £69.99 from Adnams Affordable Adnams Champagne (Brut) £19.99 Prosecco Le Monde £14.25 from The Stamford Cheese Cellar Adnams Prosecco £9.99 English Sparkling Wine Gusbourne Brut Reservé 2013 £33.99 from Adnams

STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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Eating Out News The George and Dragon, Seaton

The beautifully refurbished George and Dragon pub at Seaton is the ambitious new venture from Ralph Offer, formerly of the Stamford Wine Bar. After learning the ropes at this Stamford institution, Ralph has taken the rather bold step of not only taking on his own bar, but a kitchen to go with it. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, he’s also coordinated a total overhaul of the entire building just for good measure! Jess Lamb has been across the county line for a peek (and a glass of wine, of course).

The Place I’m pleased to report that Ralph has achieved something wonderful here with his new home. This quintessentially rural English pub, located in the heart of the stunning Rutland village of Seaton, has undergone a complete transformation. Three months of hard work has created a gorgeous interior that I can only describe as snug country pub with an industrial twist. Think bare brick and luxurious tweed, enhanced with thoroughly modern metal accents such as the spider web light fitting that illuminates the main bar. The downstairs area has been extended to include a welcoming sitting room completed with cosy armchairs and a piano – the perfect place to while away an evening with a good bottle of wine*.

The Drinks Speaking of wine, on my first visit I happily curled up in one of the easy chairs and spent a very pleasant hour absorbing the atmosphere with a book and a delicious Berton Vineyard Shiraz. This allowed me to conclude, as the aspiring wine critic that I am, that Ralph has put his wine knowledge to excellent use.

He’s created a comprehensive drinks menu featuring over thirty tempting bottles, as

well as a selection of local ales, lager and spirits that ensures there is something for every taste. I will certainly be working my way through more of that wonderfully welcoming wine list!

The Rooms If you want to indulge a little more in that wine selection, or are seeking a pleasant country retreat, you will not be disappointed.

Hidden away upstairs, further luxury awaits in the form of three individually themed guest bedrooms; Pheasant, Stag and Hare. Each has its own unique, elegant look which is coordinated down to the last mug and towel, and complemented by extra little luxuries such as Moulton Brown toiletries. One thing that the rooms all have in common are stunning views over the picturesque Rutland village of Seaton, with the village church and rolling hills beyond creating a perfect panorama to wake up to in the morning.

The Food The other main attraction is the new fine dining menu, masterminded by chef Omar Palazzolo. After seventeen years spent working in some of London’s best kitchens, including Nobu and Tom’s Kitchen, Omar has

big plans for his own menu at the George and Dragon. This passionate chef is more than happy to talk at length about his lifelong love of food, which is always a promising start in my book. He describes his take on food as ‘purist’, with a focus on simple flavours and quality, locally-sourced ingredients which offer both great taste and nutrition for the body and soul! Expect a creative, ever-changing selection of dishes with influences from many of the cuisines that Omar loves, from modern Italian to Japanese. I was lucky enough to sample beetroot and fennel cured salmon and a fabulous roast lamb from the new Sunday menu, and am happy to confirm that they both lived up to all my expectations!

My conclusion? With the help and support of friends and family (various members of the Offer clan popped in to offer proud congratulations whilst I sipped my wine) Ralph has succeeded in creating an idyllic, warm and welcoming venue. The George and Dragon is undoubtedly the perfect country destination for anyone looking for a great meal, a warm reception and a good drink. Ralph looks forward to welcoming you through the door!

01572 747418

STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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News & Notes Helping you make the most of Stamford living

Atlas Roof Solutions have announced QKS Ltd as the winner of not one, but two stunning project designs Karen Jackson describes two recent projects that are competition winners

S

ITUATED in a small village in Bourne, Lincolnshire; Keisby has the most incredible views over the countryside to the rear. Our client inherited a UPVC conservatory with a polycarbonate roof which suffered with the cold and was not a good useable space.

Our client was open minded and engaged QKS to produce a design to extend their living space from the kitchen and also to create a boot room and downstairs cloak room. The new dimensions were 11 metres x 4 metres.

6m x 2.4m sliding doors were designed to give maximum light and take advantage of the stunning views to the rear of the property. QKS chose to introduce 2 flat sky lights to bring more light into the kitchen area at the rear, but to also achieve a modern streamlined look. We used a K-Rend finish to contrast with the traditional brickwork of the property and black aluminium framework - the result is a simple but stunning space.

S

ITUATED in Stamford, our client purchased a 1950s property that was in need of renovating and extending.

Our client came to QKS wanting a large open plan kitchen area where they could cook, live and entertain. They wanted to use the outside and inside space as one so that their young family could play in a safe environment.

Large folding sliding doors were used to maximise the opening with the flat roof lights. The modern kitchen design and the seamless transition to the garden was a task that was achieved all under the guidance of our design experts at QKS. Measuring 5.5m x 6m, two different sized flat roof lights were used to light up the island area of the kitchen and also to add interest.

QKS Home, Unit 4/Priory Industries/Cherryholt La, Stamford PE9 2EQ 01780 756666 www.qks-ltd.co.uk

Fresh Start to 2018 Sunday 7 January 10.30-3pm including lunch Discover the power of meditation and mindfulness to uplift and energise your mind. Leave the winter blues behind and treat yourself to a day of practical guided meditations to set you on the right track for a positive 2018. No experience necessary, perfect for beginners.

Sew! Jane Schofield writes: “I run a craft and textile studio in and around Stamford (my studio is in Ketton). I am launching a new Sewing Club at the Arts Centre in January. I also run several craft workshops every term on a different theme and will be running some felted wool/tartan and tweed/ patchwork workshops in Jan/Feb which might be of interest.

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SAY NO TO WORRY Saturday 17 February 10.30-3pm including lunch We can (and do) worry about anything and everything – things that have happened in the past, things that are happening now and things that will probably never happen. On this course, we will see how we can decide to break this habit and start to take steps towards a worry-free way of life.

Each session will consist of guided meditations and a talk Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Centre 260 Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough. PE1 3PG 01733 755444 drolmapublicity@gmail.com www.meditateinpeterborough.org.uk

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Where will you be in 2018?

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News & Notes Stamford Community Orchard Group Wassail in the New Year, 4.30 pm Saturday 6th January

Winter and Spring Inspiration Director of Oundle Travel Paula Cockcroft advises on six fabulous destinations for the coming Winter months Iceland – The Capital of Cool Featuring as one of our top destinations for the third year running, Reykjavik the world’s most Northern capital never fails to impress. Northern Lights Viewing by Super Jeep, The Blue Lagoon and Whale Watching are just a few of the adventures that await. Fabulous dining options and independent quirky shops make for the perfect short break with a difference.

Oman – Sun Seekers With temperatures in the mid-20s during the winter months and wall to wall sunshine, Oman is a stunning choice for that dose of Winter sunshine. With daily direct flight flights from London why not check yourself in to the newly refurbished 5* Deluxe Al Bustan Palace and take advantage of their world class Spa. Sri Lanka – History and Culture Whether you want to tour and experience local customs, stay in an intimate romantic retreat, relax on a white sand beach, or get up close with the wildlife in the many national parks and reserves, we promise that Sri Lanka will not disappoint. With the lowest rainfall between January and March Sri Lanka provides a surprisingly inexpensive long haul destination.

New York – The Ultimate City Break The most iconic city in the world awaits and by travelling off peak in January you can take advantage of some of the very best prices on airfares and hotels. Take in a Broadway show and walk in Central Park, discover some of the best dining in the world and shop until you drop of course!

Tenerife – Family Half Term The all-new Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife is a cutting edge, luxurious hotel combining style with a vibrant atmosphere. Complete with Fine Dining, Bars and unique entertainment together with a personalised service, this hotel will make an unforgettable family holiday. A temperate climate for the February and Easter school holidays makes it a firm favourite and only four hours flying time from the UK. Costa Rica – Adventure & Wildlife Discover abundant scenery, amazing wildlife and adventure-filled excursions among misty rain forests, volcanic peaks and dramatic waterfalls. Twenty five percent of Costa Rica is dedicated to wildlife reserves and national parks and has the highest density of biodiversity in the world. The abundance of nature coupled with the eco-credentials of the country is one of the main reasons Costa Rica is one of the rising stars for 2018.

Welcome in the New Year by joining in this noisy old English custom, sing to the trees and bang your old saucepans to bring a good harvest of apples. With seasonal songs, cider, apple juice, a warming brazier and mulled cider and apple juice. Woven Chords will be singing at the tops of their voices with some traditional songs of the season, followed by the black-faced Bourne Borderers Morris dancers adding some high kicks and clashing sticks for the New Year.

Bring your old saucepans, whistles and wooden spoons to make a row, torches and warm clothing, sparklers and ribbons if you have them. Stamford Community Orchard is at the end of Christ Church Close, off Green Lane PE9 1HS. Stamford Community Orchard Group are keen to hear from any local village or town that want to set up a similar community orchard, borrow some apple pressing equipment or learn how to prune or graft fruit trees. For more details look on their website at www.scog.org.uk.

SCOG is reviving the old English custom of Apple Orchard Wassailing. It is traditionally held on the old Twelfth Night (17 January) as a ritual to ask for a good apple harvest.

The villagers form a circle around the largest apple tree, hang pieces of toast soaked in cider in the branches for the robins, who represent the ‘good spirits’ of the tree. Pots and pans are banged loudly to scare away evil spirits and the group sings. Wassail is a hot, mulled punch often associated with Yuletide drunk from a ‘wassailing bowl’.

Time is our most valuable asset Learning to touch-type ensures you more of it!

‘Type by Touch’ in Apethorpe has been running successful touch-typing courses for many years. As Tutor Diane says “In our computer-filled world, the lifelong benefits of being able to touch-type make it one of the most important skills anyone can learn. It is impossible to estimate the hours - not to mention the frustration - when fingers are slower at the keyboard than your brain and one is hunched over as you ‘hunt & peck” with 2-4 fingers at the keyboard.”

Testimonial: “With so much of our children’s time spent in front of a computer screen, thank goodness for Diane and her touch-typing course. My boys (16 and 11) enjoyed being taught by her – they found her manner approachable, her instructions easy to follow, the course enjoyable and the tasks fun. I would highly recommend both teaching children to touch-type and Diane’s methods.”

Touch-Typing Courses with Diane Gifford 01780 470482 dg@giffordhome.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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➧

News & Notes Stamford’s Evolving Micro-Property Market

Creating space and time within Stamford Psychology Practice Johan Truter is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist based in Stamford; here he talks about his practice

This month, our local property advisor David Crooke, owner of UPP Property Agents has identified that there isn’t just one Stamford Property Market but many ‘micro-property markets’, and when you can spot trends it’s possible to bag yourself some potential bargains in Stamford.

“I

A

WOULD like to thank everyone that has supported my practice, affording me the opportunity to engage and support the local communities. It is and has been a real privilege arriving in the crisp morning, taking in the freshness and slowing down to the world around, before stepping over the threshold of the old Georgian House.

Here time is slowed down enabling reflection - creating space within.

“The practice developed to what it is today just over ten years ago, starting with just one client seen for the first month and then two the second month. The practice gives me the opportunity to engage and immerse with clients’ difficulties, which range from requesting information to managing the internal chaos. It allows me to utilise the skills I enjoy, enabling me to learn and develop with the clients. Two principles that governed the practice over the years are: being fair and learning from others. This puts the client central to the process with the psychological interventions tailored to support them.

“Though at first it seems time has stood still, and the practice has not changed, the world has changed.

Technology speeds life up and our understanding of mental health has changed, making challenges clearer and yet more complex. An example would be our understanding of adults with developmental disorders such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. These are just two examples of invisible disabilities. Initially we thought people outgrow these difficulties, then we boxed them all as being similar, only to realise there is vast neuro-diversity present with a common tread.

“In an effort to create more space a friend and I are setting up a new venture, Pause-i, providing opportunities for immersive self-exploration. We will tell you more as it develops.”

Johan Truter, Chartered Clinical Psychologist 01780 758556 www.psychologistuk.co.uk

CCORDING to recent data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), at least three ‘micro-property markets’ have emerged in Stamford over the last 20+ years. For ease, they are classed here as ‘Lower’, ‘Lower-Middle’ and ‘Middle’.

The ‘lower’ and ‘lower-middle’ sectors of the Stamford property market have been fuelled over the last few years by two sets of buyers. The first set (making up the clear majority of those buyers) are landlord investors who are throwing themselves into the Stamford property market to take advantage of alluringly low prices. The other set of Stamford buyers in the ‘lower’ and ‘lower-middle’ property market are the firsttime buyers (FTB), although this market is in a state of unparalleled deadlock as it’s been trampled into near-immobility and incapacity by the new 2014 stricter mortgage affordability regulations and also fewer mortgages with low deposits.

1. ‘Lower’ – the bottom 10% (in terms of value) of properties sold 2. ‘Lower-Middle’– lower Quartile (or lowest 25% in terms of value) of properties sold 3. ‘Middle’ - which is the median in terms of value Analysing the figures for SKDC you can see the 3 sectors have each performed quite differently.

You can quite clearly see that it is the ‘middle’ market that has performed the best.

The worst performing sector (with the lowest percentage uplift) was the ‘lower’ housing market. Therefore, interestingly, if we applied the best percentage uplift figure (i.e. from the ‘middle’ market percentage uplift), to the ‘lower’ 1995 housing market figure, the 2017 figure of £104,950, would have been £114,840 instead.

Looking at the statistics for the up-market Stamford property market from The Land Registry, only 38 properties in Stamford (and a 1-mile radius around it) have sold for £1,000,000 or more since 2003.

UPP Property, 7 Red Lion St, Stamford PE9 1PA 01780 484554 www.upp-property.co.uk

Ask Leo: A Journey Through History ANSWERS The answers are in date order: PICTURE A) Browne’s Hospital K) All Saints Vicarage, Barn Hill E) Tobie Norris, 12 St Paul’s St M) Digby House, Maiden Lane I) Wells House, St Peter’s St J) 19 St George’s Square H) 2 St Mary’s Place B) 4 St Mary’s Place L) Rutland Terrace G) Rock House, Scotgate C) Lansbury Hall/The Hub, Wharf Rd F) Warrenne Keep D) Marshalls Yard, St Paul’s St (by Burghley Developments)

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DATE 1475-6 Late 15C About 1500 Early 16C Early 17C 1674 Early 18C 1790 1829 1842 1934 1980s

DESCRIPTION Example 5 1 6 12 10 11 3 9 8 2 4

PERSON William Browne William Stukeley Tobie Norris Kenelm Digby Edward Wells Eric Till Gordon Turnill William Legge Thomas Laxton Richard Newcomb George Lansbury William Warrenne

2016-17

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Lord Burghley

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EARNING a new skill, keeping fit, making new friends and something you can do together are just a few benefits to learning to dance.

If you’re going on holiday where dancing is part of the entertainment or simply enjoy music, it is great fun.

Make 2018 the year to step on the dance floor, you won’t regret it Please contact Janina Mossman, 01778 590655, 07931 214211 janinamossman@gmail.com

• daytime classes Tuesdays or Thursdays • evening class on Mondays • for complete beginners or improvers • drawing, pastels, watercolours, acrylics • all materials included • next 12 week course starts soon • held at Yarwell Village Hall

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Emma Smith has both a clarity of vision and a passion for delivering outstanding primary education. During her five years as Headteacher at Stamford Junior School (SJS), Emma has restructured and grown the school whilst also pouring boundless energy into nurturing all those within it. The result is a very successful and magical learning environment. Kate Cadman finds out more.

Emma Smith, Stamford Junior School

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QUINE enthusiast, Emma Smith, spent years horse riding as a youngster, knee deep in mud. If she wasn’t mucking out stables, Emma could be found messing around in the woods making camps with her friends. Her hands-on, energetic and adventurous nature is still very much in existence, it’s just that these days much of her focus and positivity centres around SJS. “I like the magic and sparkle of this school; pupils should bounce in and bounce out of their school day. At this stage in their learning career it’s all about establishing a good work ethic and nurturing a love for learning,” Emma says.

“As a Headteacher I embrace forward thinking, change and innovation and always strive to lead by example. Caring for the wellbeing and individual needs of all in my care; pupils, staff and parents alike, is central to my approach as a leader.”

During her time at SJS, this is Emma’s 12th year with the Stamford Endowed Schools (SES) having joined as a Year 6 class teacher, Emma has demonstrated, communicated and delivered a clarity of vision that has resulted in an inspiring and successful school. Some of Emma’s main achieve-ments include: restructuring and extending the school day from Reception to Year 6, by introducing an earlier start and later finish time; progressing Years 5 and 6 from three to four form entry and working instrumentally in the strategic planning and advancement of the schools alongside the SES Senior Executive Team which consists of the three Heads, Principal and Bursar.

“My philosophy is that these formative years

in education should be the best that a child experi-ences and should be full of excitement and diversity. We focus on a holistic educational offering at SJS, with the mindset that every child shines in different ways and that we have a duty to teach these children to believe in themselves and to be the best version of themselves that they can be.”

The recently introduced extended school day delivers clear advantages to pupils; it has enabled the introduction of new subjects, incorporated homework into the school day and provided for an extensive range of co-curricular clubs.

In addition, it allows children to go home at the end of each day and switch off from school and enjoy family time without having to worry about completing homework. “It’s really important that we teach youngsters to empty their cortisol (stress) buckets; we use play, drama and music during the school day to help them to do this.”

In addition to all the educational and strategic advancements introduced by Emma, she has also trained as an Independent Schools Inspector and worked as a Team Inspector on annual inspections and has led the Junior School through a highly successful Boarding Inspection (Nov 2013) and a Focused Compliance and Education Quality inspection (Sept 2017). Emma has also taken the lead on significant structural projects which have resulted in providing additional teaching environments for the science, music and art faculties and led the refurbishment of the Early Years environment.

Looking to the future, Emma hopes to continue to develop the academic ethos ‘Independent Learn-ing and Intellectual Curiosity’

affectionately known as ILIC by staff and pupils.

“This is a very popu-lar and successful approach that permeates through every aspect of pupil life at SJS and that pro-motes and explores use of metacognitive strategies in critical thinking.”

Emma takes a keen interest in mental health issues and recently attended a post graduate course at Cambridge University relating to child and adolescent mental health counselling with a focus on child-centred therapeutic play.

“It is so important to me that I have invested in training a member of staff at the Junior School as a Play Therapist; the power of play cannot be underestimated.”

“I am a strong advocate for the importance of emotional literacy and believe children need to feel confident in expressing themselves effectively and to be provided with a safe setting in which they can develop their personalities and character,” adds Emma.

Staff too benefit from ongoing development, support and supervision under Emma’s watch. “I have a great, hardworking and dedicated team of staff and a fantastically involved and supportive Par-ents Association. There’s an open-door policy here and it’s a formula I am keen to continue as it works so well.

Granted only one wish for her pupils, Emma’s answer is unequivocal: “That’s simple - for them to be healthy and happy. Our job as educators is to pave the way for our children to achieve this - through a safe, happy and inspiring school life with plenty of opportunity to be active and expres-sive both inside and outside the classroom.”

STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

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Out & About

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

Boxwood and Brass Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 January PANTOMIME: Rapunzel – A Tangled Tale The classic story of Rapunzel and her adventures in and out of the tower. A story packed with high energy dance routines, glittering costumes, spectacular scenery and plenty of audience participation.

Stamford Theatre Tickets £13/£12 Tel: 01780 763206 stamfordartscentre.com Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 January, 9.45am to 4pm COURSE: Hedgelaying Weekend for Beginners On this 2 day course you will have a brief introduction, learn what is involved and the old language associated with this ancient art before laying your piece of hedgerow in the local Midland style. We will provide all the tools that you need but if you have any hedge-laying tools bring them along.

This is a very practical course so stout footwear and rough gardening clothes are recommended plus waterproofs. Bring your own refreshments including plenty of water.

Volunteer Training Centre, Oakham Road £80 per person with booking information at rutlandwater.org.uk Saturday 13 January, 7.30pm MUSIC: Boxwood and Brass In the late eighteenth century, wealthy patrons and nobles in German speaking lands adopted the harmonie as their resident musicians. Based around pairs of clarinets (and/or oboes), horns and bassoons, composers including Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn, wrote as many as 12,000 original works for the harmonie. This programme includes pieces

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STAMFORD LIVING JANUARY 2018

by Beethoven and Weber written specifically for harmonie, and two pieces of Mozart, including the Symphony No. 39, arranged for this group of instruments.

Stamford Arts Centre Tickets £18 Tel: 01780 763203 stamfordartscentre.com Saturday 20 January, 7.30pm MUSIC: Bootleg Abba Bootleg Abba has performed to great acclaim all over the world for almost twenty years. The music of Abba has continued to be the most enjoyed and sought after entertainment and the group are as much a part of musical culture as Mozart or the Beatles. This is a truly authentic tribute band for fans old and new.

Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre Tickets £17 Tel: 01780 766455 Thursday 25 January, 11.30am and 7pm MUSICAL THEATRE: Austen, The Musical Written by Rob Winlow this new musical adaptation of the life of Jane Austen explores Jane’s struggle to have her work published in a male dominated environment, her failed romances and her vow to reject a woman’s conventional lifestyle in Georgian England. The stunning story of Jane Austen’s transition from a country parson’s daughter to one of the most widely read writers in English literature; Austen, The Musical is full of stunning songs with moments of joy, despair and heart-wrenching sadness. This fresh, new production has played the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jane Austen Festival and York New Musical Festival to sellout crowds.

Stamford Corn Exchange TheatreTickets £12/£10 Tel: 01780 766455 stamfordcornexchange.co.uk

Saturday 27 January, 6.30pm (supper at 7.30pm) EVENT: Quiz and Chip Night A fun night out in support of the improvements planned for All Saints’ and St John’s Church Centre.

Teams of up to six people can enter for £10 each which includes a fish and chip supper. Drinks are available to purchase. There are prizes for winning and losing teams and a raffle. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Saint Gilbert of Sempringham Church School Charity.

All Saints’ and St John’s Centre, Stamford Book your team by calling Becky on 07985 424308 or using the sign-up sheet at All Saints’ Church by Sunday 14 January.

Austen, The Musical

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t: 01780 763276 e: info@scotgatemobility.co.uk

Web: www.scotgatemobility.co.uk

DOG WALKING

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ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

PLASTERING

Why does the computer always play up in the evenings when the repair shops are shut?

Help available until 9pm including weekends.

Computer repair and support for home and business A complete service for all your computing needs

DIRECTORY

Bill & Sue Crowe Tel: 01780 754043 Mob: 07766833076 www.bcit.co.uk Email: bill@bcit.co.uk

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CARPENTRY

• Bespoke handmade kitchens and joinery • Custom fitted furniture • Construction and renovation work • Installation services

01780 480922 07775 931397

COMPUTER SERVICES

Darren Temple PLASTERING

For all your new PC and Laptop requirements

All types of PC and Laptop repairs and upgrades undertaken Broadband & wireless installation Data recovery • Hardware sales info@acrcomputers.co.uk www.acrcomputers.co.uk

TeL: 01780 753477 SCoTgATe – STAmford

Tel/Fax: 01780 763415

M: 07802 717701

E: steve@sr-electrical.com

Unit 5 Casterton Road Business Park Old Great North Rd Stamford PE9 4DE www.sr-electrical.com

Plastering/Coving Artexing Outside Rendering Dry Lining Old and New Work House and Extensions

Contact 01778 394021/07889 492467

ROOFING

PLUMBING • • • • •

Plumbing Gas Heating Bathrooms Worcester Bosch Accredited Installer.

TAXI/PRIVATE HIRE

• Felt Roofing

Jonathan Tyers

T: 01780 753724 M: 07730 096883 E: stamfordproroof@ gmail.com www.proroofstamford.co.uk

• Guttering • Chimney Repairs • UPVC Fascias • Fibreglass Flat Roofs

T: 01780 482039

www.plumbingstamford.co.uk PLUMBING

• Tiling & Slating

Expert Installation by qualified tradesman

SECURITY

Anglo Integrated Systems CCTV Fire Alarms Access Control Intruder Alarms Automated Gates

Tel: 01780 480757 Email: office@anglois.com www.anglois.com 27 Water Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2NJ

TUTORING

ROOFING

TUTORING

Stamford Roofing Company Ltd Strawsons Farmhouse Main Street Great Casterton Stamford Lincs PE9 4AP

11+ for Grammar/Private Secondary School Entrance Exams Commercial / Domestic / Difficult Access Commercial & Domestic Flat Roofs / Glass Roofs / Slating & Tiling / I have been home tutoring Flat Roofs/Glass Roofs/Slating & Tiling Maintenance Contracts GRP Fibreglass Roof Contractors/Difficult Access the 11+ for over 6 years -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Maintenance Contracts/Estate Agent Maintenance Available Mon - Wed & Fri - Sat Contact us on: Tel/Fax: 01780 754498 £20.00 an hour Mob: 07930 529905 Hi Claudia hopefully this will all work for the small advert at the back of the magazine Email: info@stamfordroofing.co.uk Please contact me on www.stamfordroofing.co.uk Obviously your art person may rejig things, our colours are in the logo 07974 840191 or Stamford Roofing Company Ltd, info if it can be added to the list under our logo is additional 20 Chatsworth Road, Stamford suetrindercox@gmail.com Lincs, PE9 2UN YE

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Tel/Fax: 01780 754498 Mobile: 07930 529905 Email: info@stamfordroofing.co.uk Web: www.stamfordroofing.co.uk

TRAD

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Grp fibreglass roof contractors, estate agent maintenance

We are Also celebrating 40yrs of trade if your art person can thinks up something nice for the advert

ROOFING

UPHOLSTERY

We are also on Facebook so that logo will need adding.

Looking through your latest edition I like the layout and style of the hunter Steven limited advert and the wright feet advert Craig

Darren Ellis Office: 01780 762472 Mobile: 07715 624419

Collyweston Slate Specialist Blue Slating - General Roofing Roof Repairs - Leadwork

27 years experience

e: dmeslateroofing@gmail.com

w: dmeslateroofing.co.uk

Upholstery & Lampshade Making Courses

Would you like to learn professional upholstery & lampshade making skills?

Choose from a ‘dip your toe’ upholstery day to a traditional lampshade making workshop.

To find out more visit: www.sarahwoodupholstery.co.uk 01733 380107 07500316238

TO PLACE AN ADVERT IN NEXT MONTHS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL CLAUDIA ON 01780 482828 73

Louise Goss talks to Thomas Wilkinson about being one of the youngest people to embark on a very old profession.

Thomas Wilkinson: Watch repairer, Robert Loomes

F

OR someone too young to remember the days of wind-up watches, and who grew up using their smart phone to tell the time, Thomas Wilkinson has chosen a, perhaps, surprising career. At just 21 years-old, he has passed all of his horology exams and is now making and restoring traditional, mechanical watches.

A degree in horology is no mean feat, proven by the fact that of the fourteen who began his course at Birmingham City University, only seven graduated last year. Thomas is quietly modest about his achievement despite easily being the youngest on his course and now securing a job with Robert Loomes in Stamford, one of the most prestigious watch repairers in the country.

He credits Robert with being a great mentor from early on, explaining that he first met him when he arrived as a fifteen year-old for work experience from Casterton Community College.

Thomas then continued to work at the shop on Saturdays. “It not only put money in my pocket that afforded me tools in preparation for uni, but it also gave me a great insight into what they do here and what others do in the trade.”

He points at the wall behind me. “Actually I painted that wall while I was here,” he says laughing.

He has certainly progressed from painting the walls as he now helps restore and repair the most intricate wrist watches and antique clocks.

“The fine points of it are all very exciting,” says Thomas. “It’s all very self-contained. A clock doesn’t take up much space yet there is so much going on. There are more moving parts in a clock than a car.”

He gives the chronograph watch as an example. “You are talking over a hundred parts including all the screws. There are so many different types and sizes of screws.”

For Thomas, however, “knowing what to do and when to do it,” is the challenging part of his job. “When you get a very old watch or clock, you have to consider the conservation side. It can be a bit of a battle: what is ethical versus what must be done. If you start replacing parts, even if you’ve spent hours hand-making them, they are still a replacement; you’re affecting its originality.”

His passion for clocks started early. “It was the old cliché,” says Thomas. “I had my Great Grandfather’s watch my dad inherited years and years ago. I just wanted to have a look inside and see how it worked… I had never seen mechanical watches as I grew up in the generation where it’s all digital, battery-powered or on your phone. This was my first real glimpse into what a mechanical watch was like and after seeing it, I 12

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“The fine points of it are all very exciting… There are more moving parts in a clock than a car.” was hooked.”

He admits that at one stage as a young teenager he had four clocks ticking away in his bedroom; cheap items picked up at auctions that he could repair himself. “It was an outside interest from school, something in which I could lose myself,” Thomas says. “I could come home and get some cheap 70s watch off eBay, get a few tools together and play. If I could make it work, that was a bonus.”

Whilst many of his generation are sporting the latest wrist bling in the form of a batterypowered watch, Thomas says there has been a resurgence in demand for a fine, mechanical watch.

“The trade was largely decimated by the introduction of Quartz watches; they were new, you didn’t have to wind them up and do these mundane things that people were used to doing and now people miss seeing it working, the quality, the design… The trade has picked up a lot as people have got bored effectively.”

His long-term aim is to sell a watch of his own making but he says humbly, “Even if I don’t get to make watches and sell them, I would like one day to have my own business, when I’ve accrued enough experience.”

When you realise that he has just passed a degree alongside people up to thirty years his senior, it’s fair to say he has time on his side.

The Maltings, Barnack Road, Stamford, PE9 2NA Tel: 01780 752411

www.stormofstamford.com Showroom Open: Tues to Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm & Sun by appointment

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4 IRONMONGER STREET, STAMFORD, PE9 1PL TEL: 01780 754530

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