Stamford living august 2017 by Best Local Living

Loving where we live!

STAMFORD LIVING EXTERIOR LIGHTING Tips & tricks FOOD & DRINK Mocktails

Face of Stamford 2017 Winners & Sponsors

AUGUST 2017 Â£1.50 08

9 771478 377017

STAMFORD LIVING

August Contents www.stamfordliving.co.uk

UPDATES, SHOPPING

Film Night at the Bull & Swan in St Martin’s

Every now and then someone comes up with an idea that works at every level. The Film Night at the Bull & Swan is just such an idea. First, convert the car park behind the pub into a charming vegetable garden. Second, install a pizza oven. Third, create an outdoor cinema with large outdoor screen, comfy sofas and blankets; fourth; add a dash of hospitality in the shape of delicious pizzas and drinks – and hey presto, you have a fabulous evening to enjoy. Every Thursday from 7pm, weather permitting. There’s still a couple of months left to enjoy it!!

30 46 51

Updates: Little Red Gallery, Drolma Buddhist Centre, Shaws Coaches’ new brochure, Elysia Health & Beauty Updates: UPP Property, Sandall Roofing, Smart Property Services Updates: new Ark Nursery, Revealed Belts, Fitness in the Field Paws Squad, My Shop is Local, eBadges

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY 7 24 26 27

Nicholas Rudd-Jones Editor

Dresses and prints Health & Beauty: Glen Eden Health & Beauty Updates: New Salons Bringing natural back

HOME & GARDEN 18 22 35 43

@StamfordLiving1 Stamford Living 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 Compton inkdesign@virginmedia.com Calum Handley Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk 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 Cover photo this month: Elle Isaac, Winner of Face of Stamford 2017. See pages 14-15

Exterior Lighting Through the Keyhole: A barn in Tickencote Outdoor Living Gardening: Allotments

FOOD & DRINK 49 52 54 57 59

Rutland Cookery School Olive Branch recipe Food & Drink: Mocktails The Stamford Deli The Stamford Kitchen

ACTIVITIES, CULTURE, LEARNING & BUSINESS

14/15 36 40 45 64

Face of Stamford winners Pet page: Heroic Hounds Millstone Inn Art Exhibition Makers: Katie Alice What’s On

PEOPLE & PLACES

33 60 62 78

Colemans: 30th anniversary Victoria’s Top Table: A mix of culture, gastronomy and bon vivant Ask Leo: Sunflowers Stamford People: Councillor Anthony Story, the new Mayor

E YEBROWS S P E A K L O U D E R T H A N WO R D S M I C RO B L A D I N G - S E M I PERMANENT COSMETICS

BEFORE

Fully Insured and Licensed Salon Special price of £300

for the First 10 people to

Tel: 01780 757579 www.equilibriumstamford.co.uk

call us

f equilibriumstamford f microbladingstamford

AFTER

t equilibriumspa

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

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 Leonardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN 6

FASHION

SHOE SHUFFLE Dresses are a girl’s best friend in the summer months. Sally Stillingfleet cajoles some of the staff of Marcia May Shoes to model as she looks at the faces behind one local business in Stamford PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

T one stage it looked as if Marcia May Shoes was taking over the street but now, after a few shop-fit setbacks, things are back on track. Owner Samantha Drewery can look ahead now she is settled with her adults’ shoe shop at number 36 and a new children’s shop Mini Marcia May further along selling shoes, clothing and toys for 0 – 12 years. This season Samantha has catered for all my footwear ‘must haves’ with some new brands in the mix, the choice is great. Sharon Love the Manager and some of her lovely team Annemarie, Joyce and Una kindly agreed to model summer dresses and chose the complementary shoes (of course!) The shop has evolved and goes from strength to strength, whilst the new children’s shop fills a much-needed gap in town.

Sharon wears black Little White Lies dress £95 Energy Gabor wedges £89.99 Marcia May Shoes

➧ STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

FASHION

Annemarie wears coral Oasis dress £48 John Lewis with Esprit cream jeans £45 Attic. Coral patent Gabor wedges £99 Marcia May Shoes

Una wears Indi & Cold dress £85 Attic

Sharon wears Beatrice B navy dress £ 210 Attic, Jodie Aziz silk scarf £59 The Rounded House, Oundle

Una wears Temperley red paisley dress £130 John Lewis, over pale Mac skinny jeans £100 Attic, Red polka dot Ruby Shoos £40 Marcia May Shoes

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

CONTACTS Arch Label Agency – 43 St Paul’s St 01780 764746 Energy – Ironmonger St 01780 765633 The Rounded House – Great selection of gifts accessories and scarves. 10b West St, Oundle 01832 274687 Marcia May Shoes – 36 St Mary’s St, Stamford 01780 John Lewis – Queensgate Centre, Peterborough 01733 344644 Attic – 33 St. Mary’s St, Stamford 01780 766667

Sharon wears pre-owned Bombshell dress £50 Arch, with Globo espadrilles £65 Marcia May Shoes Prices correct at time of going to press but may be on sale

Many thanks to Rebecca Chantrell who kindly did the beautiful natural make-up and hair for me. Rebecca has re-located to the area and is available for make-up for special occasions, weddings and photoshoots. 07841 622366 info@makeupbybecca.co.uk Pictures by Elli Dean (07932 055548) www.ellideanphotography.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

UPDATES

The Little Red Gallery Exhibition G

ARY Walton is coming to do a gallery visit and exhibition on August 20th 10-4. There will be new pictures and he is also happy to take commissions. You can also enjoy a glass of bubbly. At an early age Gary Walton discovered that he had a natural gift for painting. Throughout his schooldays he excelled at the subject and his unique style began to develop. His fascinating, unusual designs are a combination of his graphic ability and his highly creative artistic side. Gary loves to paint landscapes, originally inspired by Salvador Dali. “He was the artist to give me the inspiration to create my own unique style. His pictures emanate a magical quality: an ethereal contrast of reality and dreamlike visions. I am very passionate with everything I paint and I will always strive to achieve producing a unique range of paintings for all to love.” • 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP 01780 762288

Coach Holidays ... take a step forward D

ID you know what a wide range of coach holidays is available today? Accommodation can range from budget style right up to five-star hotels. There are tours to suit every pocket but the one thing they all have in common is excellent value! Nowadays, travelling by coach is probably the most convenient and comfortable way to go anywhere. You can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, watching the world go by from the panoramic windows. And setting off on a coach holiday with local coach travel specialist, Shaw’s Coaches, just couldn’t be easier – they even come and collect you from your door. Their new Autumn/ Spring brochure features a superb selection of resort-based and scenic holidays and short breaks, including some lovely autumn colours tours and some great Christmas shopping weekends. It’s also easy to have a super, stress-free day out when you book a Shaw’s day tour. Their new Summer/Autumn day tour brochure includes a huge choice of destinations suitable for all ages and including some special family attractions for the school summer holidays and top West End shows, like 42nd Street and An American in Paris, from only £59 per person. • www.shawscoaches.co.uk

Non-Invasive Face and Body Contouring I

F in need of a pre-holiday boost, you might want to try the medically certified Lipo-firm Pro treatment that uses proven technologies to contour the body resulting in inch loss, fat reduction, skin tightening, effectively reducing cellulite, lifting and firming of muscles, producing reliable results in minimal time using advance radio frequency. Elysia Health and Beauty was one of the first salons in the country to introduce Lipofirm Pro and owner, Lisa Claypole has built

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

up a huge portfolio of results treating men and women in a discreet and comfortable setting. She said “even stubborn areas that have been resistant to exercise respond well and is also ideal for regaining shape and tone after pregnancy”. Lipofirm-Pro works well on the face and neck too making skin taut, and toned. • For more information contact Elysia Health and Beauty, Tansor PE8 5HP Tel: 01832 226328 or 07879 620196 www.elysiahealthandbeauty.com

Rutland Water Summer Meditation and Mindfulness Retreat “Ocean of Peace” with Buddhist nun Kelsang Rak-ma Sunday 13 August 10am - 12.15pm Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Egleton, LE15 8BT £15 per person Please book via www.drolmacentre.org.uk or call 01733 755444 Enjoy a relaxing day out at Rutland Water. The summer meditation and mindfulness retreat offers you an opportunity to experience a peaceful mind in a stunning location. Treat yourself to a real break both physically and mentally and return home feeling refreshed and relaxed. • www.drolmacentre.org.uk

AT T H E L I T T L E R E D G A L L E R Y N O W AT 8 S T M A RY ' S H I L L , S TA M F O R D Andy Warhol, Edward Waite, Salvador Dali, Gary Walton, Kerry Darlington, Tracey Emin, Mary Shaw, Dale Bowen, Richard Chuck, Ben Jeffery, Chris Bourne, Fabian Perez, Leanne Christie, Alex Jawdokimov, Carl Paul and many more...

8 St Mary's Hill, Stamford PE9 2DP, 01780 762288 stamford@thelittleredgallery.co.uk 8 Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AE, 01522 589134 art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk

WWW.THELITTLEREDGALLERY.CO.UK

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

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

20% off any hair or beauty services when mentioning Stamford Living on booking your appointment.

We are celebrating our first year anniversery this August and offering an Exclusive Offer to Stamford Living readers. 7 Ironmonger Street, Stamford, PE9 1PL falexanderhair 01780 482 888 francescaalexanderhairandbeauty francescaalexander.co.uk

• Bespoke cakes for all occasions • Dairy and gluten free options • Corporate and trade • Free no obligation quotes

Tel: 07592 528938 www.treatleys.co.uk sales@treatleys.co.uk facebook.com/treatleys

Stamford Heavenly Chocolates

A L L YO U R C H O C O L AT E C R AV I N G S C OV E R E D !

• Chocolate Workshops • Hen Parties • Chocolate Birthday Parties • Elegantly Boxed Chocolates and Novelty Gifts

www.stamfordheavenlychocolates.co.uk George Farm, London Road, Stamford, PE9 3JP Telephone 01780 489364 or 07825 153003 find us on Facebook

The “Face of Stamford” winners! The “Face of Stamford” is about bringing local businesses together to run a fun, light-hearted competition in the community. It gives 100 children the opportunity to win some amazing prizes while raising money for local charity Anna’s Hope

Winner Elle Isaac

HIS is the fifth year that Lyndsay Ford from ShutterBox Photography has organised the competition. For the second year running, Joyce from Stamford Kidz Stuff has helped Lyndsay with the bookings. Eighteen independent local businesses have sponsored the competition by generously donating fabulous products and services, with the prizes worth a total of £2,400. The winning child and three runners up have been chosen by the sponsors, and we are delighted to announce that this year’s winner and the “Face of Stamford 2017” is Elle Isaac, who 2 years old. Elle will receive £1,500 worth of prizes. The three runners up, who each win £300 of prizes, are: Thomas Smith, who is 4 years old. Isaac Steel, who is 22 months old. Alana Lennon, who is 8 months old. Lyndsay from ShutterBox Photography said “I love running the Face of Stamford competition – it celebrates beautiful children, promotes local businesses and raises money for a very worthy local children’s charity, Anna’s Hope. This is a charity that needs continued support from our community to help save the lives of children with brain tumours. I would like to say a huge thank you to the businesses that have sponsored the competition for their support and generosity. Also, a special thank you to Joyce from Stamford Kidz Stuff for all her hard work in helping me to organise this year’s competition.”

Runner up Alana Lennon 14

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Runner up Isaac Steel

Runner up Thomas Smith

Sponsors and Prizes

Here is a list of the 18 local businesses involved and the prizes they have generously donated. Rutland Water Winner – Annual car pass for Rutland Water; Runners up–Voucher for family Crazy Golf Sacrewell Farm Winner – Family annual membership; Runners up – Family day pass Welland School of Dancing Winner – Six dance lessons; Runners up – £15 voucher for the school’s dance shop The Yard – Winner – Ten entries to soft play; Runners up – One entry to soft play and a cupcake Stage 2 Coffee House Winner – Afternoon tea for four; Runners up – Afternoon tea for two Francesca Alexander Hair and Beauty Winner – Mother and child haircut; Runner up – Child’s haircut ShutterBox Photography Winner –20” x 16” hand-framed photo; Runners up – £25 voucher Sukies Party & Balloon Boutique Winner – One-hour character party & balloon display; Runners up – Balloon display on birthday The Little Embroidery Studio Winner – Personalised bag; Runners up – Personalised toy Stamford Heavenly Chocolates Winner – Chocolate party for

five children; Runners up – Personalised chocolate treat Creative Design & Print Winner – Photo cushion, mug & phone cover; Runners up – Photo mug & phone cover Tomorrow’s Dream Performers at Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre Winner – Four panto tickets for Aladdin; Runners up – Two panto tickets for Aladdin Stamford Kidz Stuff Winner – Outfit from the summer range; Runners up – Game from Orchard Toys Flowers by Mandy Winner – Bouquet for the winner’s mum; Runners up – Plant for the winner’s mum Pics on Canvas Winner –20” x 30” canvas print; Runners up –16” x 20” canvas print Treatleys Winner – Giant cupcake and £50 voucher; Runners up – Box of four cupcakes Belle Vintage Winner – Two tutus & hair garland/boy’s outfit; Runners up – Tutu/boy’s outfit Stamford Arts Centre Winner – Four panto tickets for Polka Dot Pantomimes’ Rapunzel plus a £25 voucher; Runners up – £25 voucher

Face of Stamford sponsors

Here we profile a selection of the Face of Stamford sponsors in more depth SUKIES PARTY BOUTIQUE Based inside the Corn Exchange Shopping Arcade on Broad Street, Sukies Party Boutique offers the widest range of balloon displays in the area as well as party table ware, banners, candles, party bag fillers and more. They were very proud to be awarded ‘Qualatex Balloon Boutique’ status in 2014 due to their high levels of customer service and excellent local venue knowledge. They also offer Children’s Party Entertainment which includes face painting, Princess Appearances, puppet shows, drama workshops or they can even run your full party for you. Pop in and talk to their expert staff about your next event, they’d love to help! WELLAND SCHOOL OF DANCING The Welland School of Dancing is one of the UK’s oldest and largest dance schools, founded in 1964. They offer RAD Ballet, ISTD Tap and Modern, Hip Hop, Acro, pre-school dance and adult dance classes from beginners up to pre-vocational level. In September, they are moving to larger premises at the Former Stamford Museum on Broad Street and will be launching a range of exciting new dance health and fitness classes. They are also running a full programme of dance summer schools, workshops and competitions for all ages. For more information on their term time classes plus their summer schools please visit their website www. wellandschoolofdancing.co.uk TREATLEYS Treatleys is a family-run business based in Uffington. Their kitchen is councilapproved with a 5* hygiene rating. Rachael created Treatleys to spend less time in the office and more time with her family, the Treatleys chief cake testers! Treatleys currently supply The Yard soft play and Georges Sandwich Bar with traybakes and sponge cakes. No challenge is too big, from tasty cookies to novelty celebration cakes and unique Wedding cakes. Specific dietary requirements can be catered for. Feel free to contact Treatleys via Facebook @Treatleys, email or phone for further information or a no obligation quote. www.treatleys.co.uk 07592 528938 FRANCESCA ALEXANDER HAIR AND BEAUTY Francesca Alexander Hair and Beauty is one of Stamford’s newest premier hair and beauty salons, situated at 7 Ironmonger St. Francesca has been operating her own exceptional salons in the Northcote Road area of Clapham and Battersea, London for the past 10 years. Having already moved to Stamford, the opportunity

to renovate a beautiful building on Ironmonger Street presented itself. Francesca Alexander Hair and beauty was born a year ago. To celebrate their first birthday, they are offering an exclusive offer to Stamford Living readers 20% off any hair or beauty services when mentioning this offer on booking your appointment. 01780 482888 info@ francescaalexander.co.uk STAMFORD ARTS CENTRE The Stamford Arts Centre is delighted to be supporting The Face of Stamford for another year. It’s always lovely to see so many people joining in and having fun once again. They look forward to welcoming the winner and runnersup to the Arts Centre to claim their prizes. Stamford Arts Centre is a hub of exciting arts-based fun whether it’s for panto-season, blockbuster films, drama screenings from The National Theatre, youth theatre productions or creative classes-there’s always something for everyone to discover (or rediscover) their creative side. Don’t forget, this year’s Stamford Georgian Festival takes place between Thursday 21 and Sunday 24 September so get booking those tickets today! www.stamfordartscentre.com STAMFORD HEAVENLY CHOCOLATES Stamford Heavenly Chocolates pride themselves on having all your chocolates cravings covered. Whether you are looking for elegant boxed gifts, assortments, novelty gifts and treats you’ll find them all. Simply search through the extensive range of products and find just the thing you’ve been searching for. And their chocolate workshops are a great way to spend time with a group of friends, or at hen/birthday parties. Great for corporate events too. www.stamfordheavenlychocolates.co.uk 01780 489364 SHUTTERBOX PHOTOGRAPHY Lyndsay, organiser of Face of Stamford, writes about her business: “If you are looking for a friendly and professional photographer look no further. My studio offers a welcoming, comfortable environment, where both adults and children feel relaxed and at home. “I can provide bespoke packages, tailored to each client, so if there is something ‘different’ that you have in mind, then please contact me to discuss what I am able to do for you. No job is too big or small - my aim is to provide fantastic images for an affordable price.” Contact me on 07580 388880 or via www.shutterboxphotography.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

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 16

OUTDOOR LIVING

Let there be light! Outdoor Lighting: it doesn’t have to be a Dark Art

IKE anything, outdoor lighting can go wrong, so it’s a good idea to use a lighting designer to avoid making expensive mistakes. We spoke to four of the region’s most trusted lighting design companies to shed some light on the subject. Q. How does outdoor lighting benefit your home? A well-lit property will stand out a mile. Creating mood and task lighting can have a huge impact on your property, making it seem larger and more homely and inviting. It also provides an element of security by deterring would-be burglars. Without the right exterior lighting, you just see your reflection in windows and bi-fold doors, which can feel a bit imposing. Putting some light in your garden really opens up that space, giving you a feeling of depth, while making you feel a bit more secure. James Brown, Lusin Lighting Design, Stamford Daylight washes everything in the garden with light, but once the sun is down you can select what to light artificially. By painting with light, you can introduce shadow, colour and contrast. Features lost during the day can be highlighted and enhanced for night time viewing. As well as enhancing the look of a property, exterior lighting should make it easier to move around safely at night. Exterior lighting should always consider the tasks we all have to undertake; unloading items from the car, putting out the wheelie bin and generally getting on with everyday life. Diane Styles, Lighting Styles, Stamford Q. Are there any things to avoid when it comes to outdoor lighting? I’m not into gimmicks; they date very quickly. The fixtures that work the best are the ones where you don’t see the actual ‘light’, just the effect of the lighting. With the exception of feature lighting (installing a Victorian lamppost on your property for instance) the idea of exterior lighting is that it enables you to look at the garden, not at the light. Dave Letts, Harborough Lights Be extremely careful with low level and recessed ground lights near paths, entrances, on patios and recessed into decked areas. Intense lights at low level provide glare, not only making it uncomfortable to the eye but also introducing a real trip hazard because of the inability to see where you are going. Only use low level lights with a high degree of reflected light near steps and changes of direction. Diane Styles, Lighting Styles, Stamford

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Used well, outdoor lighting can dramatically improve your home’s kerb appeal. It can be used to show off architectural features such as beautiful stonework, as well as to highlight trees, shrubs, fountains and sculptures you’re particularly proud of while improving the safety and security of your home. ‘Bringing the outside in’ through effective lighting can also have a tremendously positive impact on your mental health and general well-being. WORDS: RANNVEIG STONE

Light pollution is a big no-no; your neighbours won’t thank you for illuminating their rooms as well as your garden! Make sure that the light you’re using is not going to pollute the neighbours’ space or distract motorists passing your property. James Brown, Lusin Lighting Design, Stamford DON’T BUY CHEAP; you WILL replace it. That said, you don’t need to go wild – in any market there are products which sell on their name and actually they’re no better than the middleof-the-road products. The most crucial part of any exterior lighting set up is the fittings and the connections. Expensive mistakes are commonplace; if you’ve got a mistake in any jointing that’s been left for any amount of time, most electricians want to start again from scratch. James Morrison, Lumison Lighting Design Q. What are your top tips for outdoor lighting? Have a decent plan to begin with. Work out when you’re going to be using the garden, then

Putting some light in your garden really opens up that space, giving you a feeling of depth, while making you feel a bit more secure.

James Brown, Lusin Lighting Design, Stamford

look at where you’ll be sitting or standing when you’re admiring the garden and work from that point. There’s no point lighting areas that you’re not going to see from your patio, kitchen window and dining areas. If you’re on a tight budget, just make sure to light up pathways for safety. After that, I’d recommend concentrating on illuminating borders and shrubbery in the immediate vicinity of your home. Dave Letts, Harborough Lights Position, beam angle, lamp colour and intensity will all have an impact and achieve different results. Find a friendly lighting company who will let you borrow a few items to try out. If undertaking a new build, make the most of the ease with which power cables can be run to external walls and places within the garden; it’s much easier to isolate and not use a circuit than it is to dig up a newly-laid patio to get power to a light fixture. Diane Styles, Lighting Styles, Stamford Avoid solar power lighting – it doesn’t work. Instead, go for LEDs; they’re really efficient and incur minimal running costs. Research the colour (the white) of the LEDS that are in the product you’re looking at; go for a warm glow. Think about the control of the lighting; you won’t necessarily want it all on or all off. Dimmers will increase the cost of an installation, so I’d recommend using ‘zoning’ as a cheaper alternative. James Morrison, Lumison Lighting Design The key is to keep it simple, elegant and practical at the same time. Try and visualise how you want the outside to look before consulting a lighting designer who will produce a detailed plan for the installation. Always use a fully qualified electrician to install the lights. Better still; find a trusted electrician who specialises in this kind of work and get it right first time. James Brown, Lusin Lighting Design, Stamford SUPPLIERS/CONTACTS: Lighting Styles; Unit 9, 9 Glen Industrial Estate, Essendine, Stamford PE9 4LE; www.lightingstyles.co.uk; 01780 767617 Lusin Lighting Design; 103 Empingham Rd, Stamford PE9 2SU; www.lusinlightingdesign.com; 07762 597942 Lumison Lighting; 1 South Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6BG; www.lumisonlighting.co.uk ; 01572 724600 Harborough Lights; 13 Manor Walk, Market Harborough LE16 9BP; www.harboroughlights.co.uk; 01858 467716 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; 07900883117.

LIGHTING STYLES

LUMISON LIGHTING

HARBOROUGH LIGHTS

LUMISON LIGHTING

HARBOROUGH LIGHTS

LIGHTING STYLES

THROUGH THE KEYHOLE

STEP INSIDE…

Tickencote Barn Conversion Open plan design, fabulous outdoor space and a pared down, textural approach to décor make this capacious barn conversion an ideal family home.

HEN Sarah and John Stevens purchased their newly converted dairy barn in the pretty Rutland village of Tickencote, there was a great deal of work still to do. The property, which is built from Collyweston stone, was only part finished and as the first owners it fell to the couple to complete the fitting. “We laid all the oak floors, installed the bathrooms and then gradually added and updated as and when our budget allowed,” remembers Sarah. Sixteen years and two children later, the couple have recently extended off the farmhouse style kitchen and added a spacious new orangery. Filled with light thanks to the lantern style roof, the new room has bi-fold doors leading straight out into the impressive south facing gardens. “We typically spend all our time in the kitchen and usually eat at the butchers’ block style island when it’s just the four of us. We wanted to expand the space to incorporate the garden which we love. Now we can open up the bifold doors and have a real sense of flow between the house and the outdoors.” The extension project included major landscaping work involving the movement of 200 tonnes of soil to level the formerly sloping garden. A superb patio has been created with a

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

“We typically spend all our time in the kitchen and usually eat at the butchers’ block style island when it’s just the four of us. We wanted to expand the space to incorporate the garden which we love. Now we can open up the bifold doors and have a real sense of flow between the house and the outdoors.” covered area making it ideal for barbeques and entertaining in the warmer months. “We are thrilled with the results and the outdoor space has revolutionised our summers even if the weather doesn’t co-operate,” adds Sarah. Elsewhere on the ground floor is a cosy sitting room with log burner which Sarah says really comes into its own in the winter time, plus a utility room, pantry and a cloakroom. Also on the ground floor is the fourth ‘annexe’ bedroom with ensuite bathroom which would be perfect for a nanny or grandparent. On the first floor are three bedrooms including the master suite

which has a vaulted ceiling and en-suite shower room, plus a family bathroom. The Stevens’ have enjoyed visiting India, Turkey and South East Asia many times with evidence of their adventures appearing throughout their home in the form of traditional textiles and art brought home from their travels. Rooms have been decorated with an understated, relaxed approach in neutral Farrow and Ball colours. Exposed stone walls and timber beams add interest and texture and, unlike many barn conversions, this house is not compromised on either space or light having country views to three sides. Moving on to be nearer their children’s’ secondary schools, Sarah and John will be sorry to leave their first family home but are convinced another family will reap the benefits of their hard work. “Tickencote is a lovely village and a great place to bring up children with plenty of community activity as well as peaceful privacy. We shall miss it very much but take with us great memories and are looking forward to our next adventure.” • To find out more about the barn, contact Sowden Wallis of Stamford on Tel: 01780 754737 or visit www.sowdenwallis.co.uk

Clockwise from top left: Master Bedroom: Simple white bed linen and painted furniture create a calm and tranquil atmosphere in here. Family Bathroom: A classic white suite has been combined with antiques for a traditional feel. Kitchen: Sarah has furnished the kitchen with freestanding antique pine pieces collected over the years but which sit beautifully together. Dining Room: A trestle table provides extra seating when guests come to dinner. Study area: They had this library made to measure for the study area. Sitting Room: A colourful rug and wood burning stove make this room feel warm and cosy in winter time. The Barn exterior. Garden: The garden was a field of weeds when the couple arrived but after lovingly planting almost forty trees, it has been transformed into a magical place to play. STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Update on Glen Eden Medical Aesthetics Centre, Corby Glen Genevieve Potter talks to practicing G.P. Dr John Elder about the latest aesthetic procedures, improved legislation and why his patients’ safety is top priority

F you’re thinking of undertaking an aesthetic treatment, you need to know that you’re in safe and experienced hands. In an industry that is rife with horror stories of unqualified (and therefore uninsured) practitioners, Dr Elder is passionate about improving regulation to protect consumers. As well as being listed in the professional standards authority register, Dr Elder has been awarded the Quality Assurance mark from ‘Treatments you can Trust’, is approved by ‘Save Face’ and belongs to the ‘Aesthetic Complications Experts Group’. As you’d expect, relatively simple but precise procedures like Botulinum injections, often referred to by brand name Botox®, are extremely popular at Glen-Eden, and have been refined over many years of practice by Dr Elder. They are used to treat lines and wrinkles caused by normal muscle activity. Lasting around three to six months, the upper third of the face is where the best treatment results are obtained, commonly for the reduction in crow’s feet around the eyes and wrinkles on the forehead and between the eyebrows. Dermal or volumetric fillers (such as Juvederm® or Restylane®) work in a different way. They are injected precisely, to not just eliminate lines, but to restore volume and re-shape cheeks, temples, and lips. This procedure can also be very helpful in the treatment of scars.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

2017 has seen the rise of 15 minute Rhinoplasty, a relatively painless procedure using muscle-relaxing injections and fillers to improve the appearance of the nose and to even out minor bumps. The Centre also offers the very latest medical laser technology from Lumenis®. This includes IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) to treat a range of skin concerns including pigmentation, rosacea, facial thread veins and unwanted hair on the body and face. The ‘Nd: Yag’ system treats larger vascular lesions and veins and the latest machine, a ‘Q-Switched Nd:Yag’ targets pigmented skin lesions and is also used for tattoo removal. Dr Elder highlights the serious risks of letting non-medically qualified practitioners treat pigmented skin lesions; given the alarming number of mistreated skin cancers and pre-cancers. It’s vital that before commencing any laser therapy, a medical diagnosis is sought, and potentially, patients are referred to a consultant dermatologist. To explore all of these procedures in more detail and for a consultation, please contact the centre. • Glen Eden Medical, The Market Cross Surgery, Corby Glen, NG33 4BB 01476 550056 DrJohnElder@Glen-Edenmedical.co.uk www.Glen-Edenmedical.co.uk

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• 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

Go on, make that first move… Outdoor boot camp based magic happens when we step at Witham-on-the-Hill every out of our comfort zone! Wednesday night 7pm – 8pm

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

New Stamford Salons Genevieve Potter takes a closer look at the new beauty professionals in town

Holly Elizabeth Beauty

PHOTOS: ELLI DEAN

Holly Cody started working in the beauty industry within a busy day spa, undertaking some intensive training programmes with famous spa brands. The spa also offered its clients a range of luxurious, custom treatments that set the standard for Holly’s future aspirations. She then went on to manage a small salon, creating a treatment menu that offered results-driven services. Pulling from all of this experience, Holly achieved her ambition to launch her own business in early 2017, that’s now situated above The Cutting Company on Stamford’s Ironmonger Street. Holly’s exclusive signature treatment is the Alumier MD chemical peel. Alumier MD is a brand based on scientific innovation (the word Alumier is based on the word ‘illuminate’). Interestingly, the brand doesn’t use parabens or harmful preservatives. The peel treatment is used to improve skin texture and tone, without the downtime or irritation that can be induced by a deep chemical peel. A carefully formulated acid is applied to skin to lower the skin’s pH, to loosen connections between dead skin cells, inducing exfoliation and stimulating new cell growth. This process causes superficial layers of dead skin to peel off, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion. The treatment also stimulates the skin to repair and renew faster (mimicking younger skin), stimulating collagen, the substance that gives skin its ‘bounce’. One of Holly’s clients commented: “I was nervous about the concept of a peel but Holly reassured me that it would be totally tailored to my skin and she explained the whole process in detail. I’m hooked after just one treatment. I had a small scar that has visibly faded and my skin looks smoother. I’m going to keep having this treatment, because the results were fantastic.” Alumier MD peels take between 45-60 minutes and start from £80, including a post peel aftercare pack. And Stamford Living readers can purchase five peels and receive the sixth for free – please quote Stamford Living at the time of booking. Holly also offers a full range of beauty services including specialist waxing, massage, eyelash extensions, tanning and even ear piercing. • Holly Elizabeth Beauty, The Cutting Company, 6 Ironmonger Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1PL 01780 763331

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Sienna’s Beauty Room at Walford & Ferris Situated on Stamford’s Maiden Lane, hair salon Walford & Ferris now has an important addition to their offering in the form of Sienna Brooks’ Beauty Room. Sienna has built up an impressive C.V. in the beauty industry, working at Ragdale Hall and Eden Hall day spas for five years, before moving to Stamford where she previously worked at Maples. Striking out on her own, Sienna is determined to offer each client the very best experience and products – she is the only salon in the centre of Stamford that offers Elemis products and treatments, as well as Shellac nails, waxing, lash extensions and tinting, and a range of massage services from deep tissue to hot stones. Sienna is passionate about the benefits of the Elemis brand and I recently enjoyed the dynamic resurfacing ‘Precision Peel’ facial in her experienced hands. It uses layers of enzymes, (that feel not unpleasantly ‘tingly’) to exfoliate and renew the skin, reducing the appearance of pigmentation, uneven skin tone and fine lines. My skin looked noticeably brighter and smoother after the facial, and I also benefitted from a relaxing head massage as part of the treatment. The ‘Precision Peel’ facial costs £65 and takes 60 minutes, but Stamford Living readers can enjoy 20% off this price when they book during the month of August 2017 (subject to availability, please quote Stamford Living at the time of booking). • Sienna’s Beauty Room, Walford & Ferris, 2 Maiden Lane Stamford PE9 2AZ www.siennasbeautyroom.com 01780 764591/07715 283507

Bringing natural back Genevieve Potter learns more about organic make up with Laura ThomsonDunne of Clean Beauty Living

HERE’S a distinct, rapidly growing movement towards organic beauty that’s exciting to witness. Rewind a few years and PHOTOS: ELLI DEAN organic make-up was difficult to find, often being hidden in neglected corners of health food shops, and it didn’t perform well when compared to mainstream beauty brands. But now brands such as RMS and W3LL people have changed all of that; selling out online, creating a cult following and even gracing the catwalks at some of the world’s biggest fashion shows. One lady who’s definitely been ahead of the curve on organic skin care and make-up is Laura Thomson Dunne of Clean Beauty Living. Laura has worked in the industry for over a decade, training in London and India before settling in Stamford. She’s a passionate believer that beauty should be as organic and non-toxic as possible, and accessible to everyone without compromise to health, nature or the environment. Her ethos is to give her clients the best possible care using carefully curated non-toxic beauty products, including UK skin care line Pinks Boutique. She explains further: “Pinks Boutique is super-nourishing for the skin. Thanks to the way it is organically manufactured, the vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants are all kept intact, not destroyed, as so often happens with chemical processing. “And there is now a raft of brilliant make-up brands like RMS, Inika, and W3ll people, that give fantastic and long-lasting results. The bottom line is that organic make-up has far less toxic ingredients, and contains ingredients that are actually good for the skin, unlike mainstream make-up that is bulked up with potentially harmful constituents.” All of this has become even more pertinent for Laura as she’s expecting her first baby this Autumn and has launched her ‘Clean Beauty Mamas’ blog to celebrate natural beauty in pregnancy.

Emma’s make-up

Laura’s an extremely talented make-up artist who has worked on numerous high profile shoots and weddings and I went to meet her with our model Emma, to watch Laura in action and to learn more about her carefully curated range of organic and cruelty free make-up. Emma was looking for make-up that would work for a summer party or an evening out on holiday. She generally would spend a maximum of 30 minutes getting ready, so Laura created a natural, glowing look that could be adapted for daytime in just 10 minutes. Using Emma’s beautiful sparkly eyes as the focus, Laura buffed liquid foundation in to her skin, gently patting in under-eye concealer with pinky-peach tones to take away any darkness and taking it up over the eyelids as a base for colour. She then applied a neutral powder over the entire eye, finishing the look with sparkling copper loose powder shadow and pretty aubergine eyeliner, to make Emma’s eyes ‘pop’. A dual-purpose blush and lip cream in a pretty coral provided a sun-kissed glow. Finally, a fine veil of powder bronzer was gently swept over Emma’s face, focusing on the neck and facial contours, to warm up the skin and complete the look. Emma’s verdict? “I love it. It’s a more polished version of me, but I don’t feel over-done. Huge thanks to Laura for helping me to update my make-up routine!” Laura will be taking maternity leave from the end of this month, please get in touch with her to arrange pre-Christmas make up lessons and make-up application. And do keep in touch via her social feeds for Clean Beauty Living and Clean Beauty Mamas – find more details on her website. • www.cleanbeautyliving.com 07399 591343

New waxing at Graffiti beauty

AROLINE at Graffiti beauty is now offering waxing using a strip-less hot ‘multi-flex’ wax, for the body and face in her uniquely fun and chilled salon above Mojo hairdressers. Designed to remove hair that grows in different directions, the process is less painful than traditional strip wax and faster too. Prices start from £8 and a half leg, bikini and underarm wax costs £30. • Graffiti Beauty, Within Mojo Hair , 1a Ironmonger Street, Stamford PE9 1PL 01780 757070 STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Good things come in small packages. Set in beautiful, discreet and tranquil surroundings, this is the salon for those in the know. With our small expert team we pride ourselves on expert service and treatments in our chic and glamorous salon.

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At ELYSIA we aim to offer the most effective face, body and beauty solutions. Proven technology with impressive results. Tailor made, bespoke treatment plans just for you. CACI facials

AESTHETIC PRACTITIONER offering a range of treatments including • Advanced injectable and dermal fillers • PRP • Mesotherapy • Tear Trough • Lip Corrections • 8 Point face lift

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t: 01780 757070 w: www.mojohairandbeauty.co.uk 1A Ironmonger Street, Stamford, PE9 1PL

UPDATES

Is This a Legal Tax Loop-Hole for Landlords? This month, our local property advisor David Crooke, owner of UPP Property Agents, shares what some astute landlords are now doing with their investments

N November 2015, George Osborne disclosed plans to restrain the buy-to-let (BTL) market, implying its growing attractiveness was leaving aspiring first time buyers contesting with landlords for the restricted number of properties available. One of the things he brought in was that tax relief on BTL mortgages would be capped, starting in April 2017. Before then a private landlord could claim tax relief from their interest on their BTL mortgage at the rate they paid income tax (i.e. 20% basic, 40% higher rate and 45% additional rate). Landlords who are higher rate tax payers are going to have be a lot smarter with their investments. However, there is another option… The landlords who own the 1,497 rental properties in Stamford could set up a limited company and sell their property personally to that company.

In fact, many landlords are doing this. In the UK, there are 93,262 BTL limited companies and since the announcement there has been a massive rise: Q2 ‘15/Q3 ’15, there were 4,193 compared to 7,149 in Q4 ‘16/Q1 ’17. By selling their BTL investments to their own limited company, owned 100% by them, these landlords could then offset the costs of running their BTL’s as an ‘allowable expense’, effectively writing off the cost of 100% of their mortgage outgoings, wear and tear, upkeep, letting agent’s fees etc. I am undeniably seeing more landlords approach me for my thoughts on setting up a BTL limited company. So, should you? For long term investors it could be valuable to take the short-term pain of ‘incorporating’ your BTL’s into a limited company. There are huge tax advantages in doing so, but there are some big costs to accompany the privilege. The new limited company is seen as a separate entity to yourself and, therefore, you are legally selling your BTL property to your limited company, just like you would be selling it on the open market. Your limited company would have to pay Stamp Duty on the purchase and if you, as an individual, made a profit from the original purchase price, there could be a capital gains tax liability of 18% - 28%. The mortgage might need to be redeemed and renegotiated (with appropriate exit charges). On a more positive note, what I have seen though by incorporating properties is landlords can include their BTL mortgages into one big loan, and potentially obtain a lower interest rate and the ability to advance new purchase capital. www.upp-property.co.uk

Smart Joinery Services Smart Joinery Services are your local, friendly and professional carpentry service serving Stamford and the surrounding areas, with a combined experience of over 50 years in all aspects of carpentry and joinery.

ICHOLAS Harradence, Managing Director & Head Joiner, says: “We believe our reputation for quality and attention to detail is second to none, and with the majority of our workload coming from ‘word of mouth’ recommendations, evidently our ethos is paying off. “Based at Gwash Way, Stamford in our 500m2 workshop, we are able to create bespoke furniture items of any scale, be it a designer staircase, or a custom built high-end reception desk to standard interior door fittings, wall panelling or gates, our team of experts guarantee top standards of workmanship. “With all scales of work considered; we offer free no obligation detailed quotations. So, if fitted wardrobes are something you have considered for a while, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We can provide examples of our previous work, and can discuss ideas with you to ensure the best use of available space and the finish you desire.” Instagram @smartjoineryservices Facebook @smartjoineryservices Tel: 01780 753060 / 07899 960780

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

ANDALL Roofing Ltd, based in Bourne, provides a wide range of specialist roofing services including flat roofing, slate roofing, tiling, fibre glass roofing and much more. Their services are available to domestic and commercial customers of all size projects and requirements. From manmade slate to Welsh natural slate, from clay to concrete tiles all can be laid to current building regulations. Their dedicated team of roofing specialists undertake projects using a wide range of high performance materials, all with total care and professionalism. “For the third year running we have been awarded the NFRC GOLD Excellence in Health and Safety Award which is a fantastic achievement for us and has taken a lot of work by all the staff to achieve,” comments Steve Sandall, Managing Director. They provide free quotations and all work is guaranteed, this ensures you know you’re working with the right people and your project is in safe hands at a price that is right. They are an accredited member of CHAS (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) for showing sound management of basic health and safety legislation. “Sandall Roofing was recommended to us by a friend. We were on a tight budget and deadline but the work was carried out to high standard, working all weekend. Excellent work, price and service. Would highly recommend them”. Customer recommendation • Contact Sandall Roofing today to discuss your requirements. 01778 423489 info@sandallroofing.co.uk

HERITAGE DECORATIONS LTD PROFESSIONAL DECORATING SERVICES

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SENSATIONAL

SUMMER SALE!! JOIN US IN THE GALLERY, THIS AUGUST

Trent Galleries are holding a Grand Summer Sale, this is a great opportunity to add to, or start your own Art Collection by some of the UK’s and the World’s Best Selling Artists.

NOT TO BE MISSED!

Call us on 01572 722790 for more details, or pop into the Gallery.

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

www.trentgalleries.co.uk 31

Bilingual singing and music classes for babies, toddlers and young children in Spanish or French

The first class is free - bring a friend too! Classes are in Stamford, Oakham and Bourne Summer holiday sessions are running during August sarah@bilinguasing.com or 07495 340726 or www.facebook.com/BilinguaSingEastMidlands

Find out the true value of your fine jewellery! Book an appointment for our popular Jewellery Valuation Day, 18th Oct 2017 call: 01572 722666 email:heidi@heidikjeldsen.co.uk Independent Registered National Association of Jewellers Valuers will expertly document your jewelleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exact worth. More information can be found at: www.heidikjeldsen.co.uk/valuations

BUSINESS PROFILE

Happy 30th Birthday to Colemans of Stamford

Joanna Patterson-Gordon is Managing Director of Colemans – an expanding family firm and one of the best loved independent brands in the region for almost half a century. Opening the Stamford store in 1997 was Joanna’s first major project when she joined her father in the business he founded. She shares her memories with Amander Meade. PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLI DEAN

ORN into a family of shop keepers, Joanna was brought up with an innate awareness that she would follow her father, John Coleman, into the retail stationery business he forged from humble beginnings. Upon the death of his own father, John took over the running of the family fish and chip shop aged just sixteen. By the end of the 1960s, John had begun selling office equipment and stationery from home and Joanna remembers being surrounded by boxes of envelopes from a very young age. “I loved to play shops and would pretend that the boxes contained all manner of lovely things including shoes,” she recalls. After studying languages at University, Joanna took up her place in the family business. By the time her father retired there were five retail stationers under the Coleman’s banner across the region. In 1997 in her first stand alone project, Joanna launched Colemans in Stamford with the help of a very young Karen Holmes who was appointed Manager. Typically of Colemans’ matriarchal

management system, Karen is still working with the company and now has a regional role in training and management. “We are very female friendly,” agrees Joanna, “all our managers are female and we offer them great autonomy which retains the identity of each store and binds it to its customer base and location. Each shop differs slightly in its offering according to demand – our stores are certainly not clones.” “WE NEVER REST ON OUR LAURELS…” Fans of Colemans will know their customer service is legendary and Joanna is suitably proud of her shops’ reputation. “Service is completely key to our business and we are mindful of our duty to the customer at all times. We have longevity in Stamford so our very loyal customers know they can trust our advice. We never rest on our laurels however – we aim to remain as competitive as possible and refresh our ranges according to trends.” One trend that has helped cement Colemans into the local psyche is the renaissance of

making and crafting. In response, as well as a separate art supplies outlet on St Paul’s Street, Colemans refurbished a five and a half thousand square feet warehouse to create a Craft Centre. “We sell absolutely everything a professional crafter could require as well as cards, glitter and hobby items for children to enjoy. The store (in Rushden, Northants) also has a café to supply refreshment after a happy couple of hours browsing.” WHAT’S NEXT FOR COLEMANS? “I’d love to launch a store in Market Harborough so watch this space. Stamford is attracting so many national brands now which, along with the independent businesses create a very positive vibe in the town. In our thirtieth year we thank all our customers past and present and look forward to serving the next generation of Stamfordians.” • Colemans have stores on St Paul’s Street and the High Street in Stamford. For more information visit www.colemans-online.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

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

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OUTDOOR LIVING

Make the most of your garden this season WORDS: FIONA CUMBERPATCH

A CUT ABOVE

AISED beds are neat, easy to install and they were still a hot favourite in the show gardens at this year’s RHS horticultural shows. It’s not surprising as they suit all size gardens and create an instant feature and focal point. Having several small raised beds is less daunting than one big border, and the convenient height means there’s less bending and stretching to do when you’re working outside. Apart from large trees and shrubs, treat a raised bed like any other border and grow herbs, flowers, and easy vegetables such as salad leaves. Unless you have good DIY skills, opt for a raised bed kit. There is some selfassembly involved, but it’s pretty straightforward. Choose from triangular, rectangular, square, or even a tiered bed if you want to make the most of limited space. Local stockists include Homebase and B&Q. For gardening from a standing position, aim to have your bed at about 90 -100cm tall, for sitting, 69 – 76cm and for a wheelchair user, go for 61cm tall. If you can only access the bed from one side, the maximum width for comfort is about 50cm. This will ensure that you can reach across. The depth should be no less than 45cm so that plants can form deep roots. Raised beds are made from different materials, with softwood the most easily available. Give it a lick of outdoor paint to protect the wood. If you’re going for a cottagey look, Cuprinol Shades Pale Jasmine is a pretty cream, but if you prefer something more contemporary, try Black Ash or Urban Slate by the same maker. The only drawback with raised beds is that they do require more watering than regular ones. Applying a moistureretaining mulch on top of the soil will help.

OUTSIDE INSPIRATION Bright Ideas to Borrow It’s worth going along to buy plants from stalls at local fêtes, because you know that you’re purchasing something that will thrive in similar conditions to your own garden. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, most gardeners are only too pleased to share their knowledge. If you want to be impressed and inspired by some fabulous home grown produce, a visit to one of the local horticultural shows is always a great afternoon out. Giant onions, improbably perfect carrots, beans that are as straight as a ruler and pearly white potatoes are usually on display. On August 26, try Wansford Horticultural Society’s annual show at Haycock Park, Wansford, and on Bank Holiday Monday, the annual Nassington and Yarwell Garden Society Show. Tea and delicious home-made cakes are an optional extra!

GROWING IN MY GARDEN NOW… Echinacea is my late summer favourite. I love the large, saucer-shaped flowers in a mellow spicy orange which seems just right for these preautumn weeks. When foliage is starting to look floppy and tired, these tall, upright blooms ride to the rescue and refresh the borders. Try Stamford Garden Centre or Elton Walled Garden Centre for plants to put in now. Go for a sunny spot with well-drained soil, and deadhead regularly to keep those spectacular flowers coming for longer. They should last into October.

BEST BUY

Add a little mystery to your plot with this arrow sign. It costs £12.99 from www. marquisanddawe.co.uk

Quick make You can never have too many wooden trays to store those stray flower pots and keep the garden tidy, or to transport plates and cutlery when you’re having a BBQ. I picked up a couple of rough, plain wooden ones from a car boot sale for £2 each recently, and gave them a makeover with some leftover Cuprinol from painting the shed. I added black board style labels with Wilko paint and a stick of chalk. STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

PETS

Heroic hounds We all know that stroking your cat or dog is good for our general wellbeing; it has been scientifically proven that it lowers blood pressure, lessens anxiety levels and gives us a feeling of being more relaxed. However, there are some very special animals that do more than just allay our fears, they actually transform people’s lives.

EARING Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity which trains dogs to help profoundly deaf people. Not only do hearing dogs alert their owners to important sounds, they can also help a deaf person feel less isolated and lonely. With their loyal companion at their side, a profoundly deaf person can gain a newfound sense of independence and confidence. Mike Wilson lives in Ketton with his hearing dog, Ronnie, a cockerpoo. Mike has been paired with Ronnie since 2010. “Ronnie acts as my ears in everyday situations. He alerts me when my mobile phone receives texts or messages, the doorbell rings and most importantly when sounds such as smoke and fire alarms go off. Ronnie is my loyal, faithful and very clever best friend,” says Mike. “We are on the lookout for volunteers to foster young pups and begin the work to socialise and train our young dogs,” explains Gill Yeates, Head of Community Fundraising for Hearing Dogs. “It’s a vital role that our volunteers undertake. You’ve got to be a special person to be able to take on an eightweek-old puppy and look after and work with it, only to give it up again at 16 months old, which is when it goes off to one of our centres for intensive training.” During the time, a puppy is placed with a volunteer, it is introduced to socialising in normal environments and the volunteer receives regular support in the form of fortnightly classes and individual home visits so that they can begin basic sound work with their charge,” adds Gill. • If you would like to become a Hearing Dog fosterer, contact: Gill Yeates: gill.yeates@hearingdogs. org.uk or ring: 07824 453319. If you would like to know more about sponsoring a hearing dog puppy (from £3 a month) www.hearingdogs.org.uk/puppy

HE Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has over 5,000 partnerships (matches of a dog and a blind or partially sighted person) in the UK and over 100 of these are in Lincolnshire. One local partnership is Theresa Chettle, from Stamford, and her large, black labrador called Rory. “I have some peripheral vision but I am completely blinded by sunlight. Rory’s made a big difference to my life, he has given me the confidence to visit more places and to do more things. He’s a remarkably thoughtful dog when he’s in working mode. I know his character and he Theresa and Rory knows mine - I wouldn’t be without him.” The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association also use the dogs that have been trained as guide dogs but haven’t qualified to work as mobility assistance dogs. These dogs are teamed up with children and named buddy dogs. Buddy dogs can drastically improve the quality of life of children and young people who are blind and partially sighted by contributing to sensory and physical development, enhancing their confidence and self-esteem, countering isolation and depression, increasing levels of exercise and improving their communication skills. • If you are interested in finding out the process for getting a guide or buddy dog, or you would like to volunteer for the charity, contact: hull@guidedogs.org.uk, or ring: 0345 1430207.

Family fun at Stamford Dog Show

N Sunday 10th September dog lovers from afar will converge on Stamford Meadows to parade their pets at the Stamford Dog Show and Family Fun Day. Much scrubbing, clipping and washing will go before - prepping pooches to take part in agility displays, pedigree and open classes and other novelty events too. The fun day runs from 10am 4pm. Registration for the dog show begins at 11am and the judging starts at 1pm in both the Pedigree and Novelty rings. Entry is free. • If you are interested in booking a stand at this year’s Show, email Tony Sharpe at Pets Korner, Stamford, (tony@petskorner.co.uk). In addition to canines, there will be cakes and creativity in the form of entertainment, demonstrations and other planned activities throughout the day.

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

A VETERINARY PRACTICE WITH A DIFFERENCE Tel: 01780 763180 www.stamfordvets.co.uk 36

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

AUGUST SPECIAL OFFERS DOGS:

(Formally Alder Veterinary Practice)

The only thing that is changing is our name. We are remaining true to our roots as an independent family run practice in the ever growing corporate world. Our values remain the same - providing the best level of Veterinary Care at a sensible price. The same trusted familiar faces will deliver the personal service and excellent standard of care we are recognised for.

Half Price Boosters With Lepto2 (was £27) With Lepto4 (was £36) Half Price vaccination courses (course of 2) With Lepto2 (was £39) With Lepto4 (was £53.45) Reduced price neutering Spay up to 10kg (was £114) Spay 10-20kg (was £137) Spay 20-30kg (was £159) Spay 30-40kg (was £191) Spay 40-60kg (was £220) Spay 60kg+ (was £270) Castrate up to 10kg (was £85) Castrate 10-20kg (was £97) Castrate 20-30kg (was £106) Castrate 30-40kg (was £118) Castrate 40-60kg (was £150) Castrate 60kg+ (was £190)

CATS:

Half Price Boosters £13.50 Flu & enteritis (was £24) £18.00 Flu, enteritis & leukaemia (was £32.90)

£12.00 £16.45

Half Price vaccination courses £19.50 (course of 2) £26.73 Flu & enteritis (was £30.70) Flu, enteritis & leukaemia (was £52.40) £87.77 £102.39 Reduced price neutering £117.02 Spay (was £43.50) £117.02 Castrate (was £31.60) £146.27 £179.28

£15.35 £26.20

£29.26 £20.48

£63.39 £73.13 £82.90 £82.90 £87.76 £97.51

Uffington Road, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 2BF Tel: 01780 322333 Email: prioryvetnurses@gmail.com

www.prioryvetsstamford.co.uk

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Barnack, through my The iconic flower which is native to Barnack and the Hills & Holes. Such a vibrant colour which disappears at night when the flower closes and then reopens when the sun appears again.

Zoe Noyes gives you a preview of her first photography exhibition

“I

AM delighted to announce my very first photography exhibition held in my home village of Barnack, portraying what I see in the village and surrounding area ‘through my eyes’ and taken via the lens of my camera. The exhibition will be held at The Millstone Inn, Millstone Lane, Barnack and will be open from 10am - 4pm on both Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August and I welcome

everyone to come along and have a look. Refreshments will be available. “I will also be displaying some of my other photography on a variety of materials. All prints will be for sale and/or order with 50% of the proceeds going towards my husband’s (Richard Noyes) fund raising efforts for the MAGPAS Air

Ambulance, which he has chosen to support as he rides from Land’s End to John O’Groats in September, as part of the Deloitte Ride Across Britain event. • Whilst entry is free, donations will be welcome. www.zoenoyesphotography.co.uk

An angled image to show the spring time sunshine reflecting off the iron railings with the pretty pink blossom in full bloom behind it. An ironic combination of sadness and new life.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

eyes - a photographic journey

Top left: Walking around the village looking up instead of down, it’s amazing what you see and how you might hold the camera above your head to take the shot. Top right: When the sun is at the right point in the day, the gold colour shines from the clock on the side of the Church tower and radiates off the warm stone. Above right: Taken on an autumnal day last year whilst a developer was building three houses in the centre of the village. A viewpoint which will have never been seen before and just had to be taken. Below: It’s amazing what shapes you see if you stand within this stone archway in Main Street and look up towards the arch and through the Beech tree leaves. Bottom: Whilst walking down the footpath one summer’s evening, the preparation of the cricket pitch can be seen across the stone stile with BCC engraved within it creating a great frame.

Silhouetting using a sun bleaching method, the wrought iron village sign which greets everyone next to the War Memorial.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

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GARDENING

Stamford’s secret allotments Georgie Fenn looks into how to get one and the good they’re doing

OR me, allotments have always had something very secretive about them, especially in dear old Stamford. I lived on Queen’s Walk before moving to Ketton and as you may know, this is a prime location for allotments. My dog walks often consisted of passing by shifty looking gardeners bustling down to their highly sought after allotments along the Waterfurlong and it felt a bit like a private club, the allotment club. One fine summer evening a couple of years ago, I actually spent some time on a neighbour’s plot behind the houses on Queen’s Walk. They are such peaceful places and as we sat around a little fire drinking wine, I thought how many people would love to get their hands on such a prized patch of land. Now, in Stamford there’s quite the waiting list. You have the option with allotments that are provided by the council or those under the ownership of Burghley Estates. Stamford Town Council actually have a really helpful website (www.stamfordtowncouncil. gov.uk ) which explains that there are currently 296 plots across the sites on Uffington Road, Queen’s Walk, Priory Road and Waterfurlong with prices starting from £31.00 per year. You can apply using the allotment application form on the website and returning it to the Town Hall, but you must be a resident of Stamford and on the electoral register to be considered. The extremely efficient Deputy Town Clerk, Sarah Dorson, explained that each site has a rep that does a fantastic job of looking after their area, so you won’t see many neglected plots where Sarah treads. “I currently have

Edward and Mark on their Mencap allotment

19 people on the waiting list, however four of those are after specific plots, Queen’s Walk and Waterfurlong are our most sought after sites and the waiting list for those can take a few years as vacancies are dependent on tenants giving up,” she says. However, if you’re less fussy, there are currently seven vacant plots across the Uffington Road allotments where people are likely to be signed up in as little as a few weeks. All you need to do is return the application form to the Town Hall.

As for Burghley sites, Estate Management Administrator Carolyn Fry explains that the rents vary according to location and size of plot. Burghley owns ten plots at Water Furlong, 22 in Barnack and six at Easton on the Hill. The comings and goings are more frequent outside of Stamford so you’ll only have a couple of years to wait whereas you could be waiting a good decade for anything on Waterfurlong. The trouble is that allotments are often passed down through generations, meaning they can be under the same name for years!

Allotments giving back Not only do allotments provide pleasure for avid gardeners, but they’re also a source of relief for people with disabilities. I went along with Sarah to visit some of the council’s most impressive sites. We started with the Mencap allotment and I was blown away at the size and uniformity of their plot. Mencap is a charity that works with people with learning disabilities and I was lucky enough to meet ‘the best diggers in Stamford,’ Mark and Edward who under the guidance of Adrian have created a little paradise. There are lots of fruits and vegetables including potatoes, carrots, rhubarb and raspberries that Mark and Ed plus a few others help to grow. It’s not only the plants growing, the allotment gives back the same level of care that it gets and the Mencap team are thriving. Our next visit was to the most secret of them all. It has been under the same ownership for 47 years and is seriously impressive. As you walk through the little garden door into this mysterious plot of land, it feels more like a dream that Frances Hodgson Burnett may have had than an allotment. There’s a lawn, hedgerows, trees and tucked away at the back, rows and rows of award-winning vegetables. The space is so large that there are also sheds and greenhouses galore to house tomatoes, cucumbers and chilli plants. I was treated to tea and cake under a gazebo next to the river, yes there’s a river as well and it was a divine way to start a day, I didn’t really want to leave.

A particularly magnificent secret allotment

There’s actually a plot opposite this dreamy space just waiting for the same treatment, I suggest you get yourself to the Town Hall right away and join the allotment club. STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Richardson Thompson Leach 164_Layout 1 26/01/2016 13:42 Page 1

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MEET THE MAKER

FLORAL FOLK Clare Howcutt-Kelly chats to designer Katie Alice about her latest collection and why opening her own shop in Stamford would be a dream come true.

ACK in 2011, Katie Alice was approached by a local tableware company Creative Tops to help curate a new collection with them. Katie jumped at the chance and since then she has seen her business truly bloom. With pretty floral details and gorgeous colours, Katie’s designs are unapologetically feminine and graceful. It’s no surprise then that Waitrose has decided to stock her items in their home stores and this year sees the launch of the Festival Folk collection. “Festival Folk is inspired by the bright and happy colours of the festival scene which I’m a big fan of, with a mix of English folk and ethnic influences from childhood memories of an amazing home we used to visit a lot. There was a real mix of cultures there and it had a real authentic bohemian vibe which I’ll never forget,” says Katie. Memories play an important part in Katie’s work too, but she’s also keen to breathe new life into something a little unloved: “I usually start with an idea in my head from something that has inspired me – it might be a place, or a memory or something I’ve seen at a vintage fair. Then I’ll make some mood boards, start thinking about what products I think will work and what shapes I’d like to use. Most of my designs are worked from original pieces of vintage artwork – whether old fabric, handpainted wallpaper snippets or even little hankies with hand-painted designs. I love the idea of bringing things back to life that would otherwise have been forgotten.” Not content with the launch of a new collection, plans for next year’s collection are already underway: “We work quite far ahead – currently I’m working on new tableware

launches for Summer and Winter in 2018. I’m also planning a couple of other projects – a bohemian inspired photo shoot with a lovely lady I met through Instagram. But mostly we’re working on our house/office renovation! My partner Matt (who is also a director of the company) and I are doing a lot of work on the property we bought last year – I’m so excited for it to start looking like home! But in the future, we dream of opening our own shop.” That’s not to say that Katie spends too much time at home. On the contrary, she’s quite partial to picking up a takeaway coffee and brownie from Stamford Deli and will happily potter around town for hours: “I love being able to go into town and get everything I need – I spent 29 years living in villages, usually in the middle of nowhere so Stamford is like a glittering cosmopolitan city for me! I’m always wandering round St Martin’s Antique Centre looking for bits for work, the house or just for a bit of a break. I love Silver Lane Whole Foods, it’s like a little cave that’s just full of stuff that’s really good for you. Visiting Miss Pickering for a natter and some pretty blooms is always a pleasure and if I need a bit of a wardrobe revamp I head to Energy. I also love wandering down to the Arts Centre of an evening to watch a film. We are moving the studio to the end of the garden later this year but we really dream of opening our own shop in the future,” she reveals. Running a small business isn’t always a walk

in the park and it’s important to remember to take time to smell the roses and Katie has this advice: “Don’t let worrying about what other people think make you feel like you can’t do something. I think it’s something people are starting to talk about more which is good because it seems to be quite a common trend among women, particularly in creative businesses and I think it’s positive to talk about it so we’re more likely to combat it.” Social networking, she admits, is something that takes up a lot of time but is worth it for the rewards it can bring: “I’m in two minds about social media for business as I believe it has both a positive and negative affect. Obviously, the exposure is great and it’s amazing to be able to reach a whole world full of potential customers – especially to our international customers who are a big part of our business, and it’s lovely to have direct contact and feedback with everyone. And on the other hand? “When you are a small team like Matt and I, having to manage your own accounts and come up with content daily can feel like a full-time job in itself! Although I have also met a lot of lovely people especially through Instagram and had opportunities pop up that otherwise wouldn’t have, so I wouldn’t want to be without them.” Something tells me Katie won’t be short of opportunities. • Find out more at: https://www.katie-alice.co.uk

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

UPDATES

Fitness In the Field ILLUSTRATION BY KAREN NEALE www.karenneale.co.uk

The Ark Stamford builds second day nursery in the grounds of St George’s School T

HE Ark Nursery at St George’s School, Stamford has begun construction of a brand-new building which will be similar to the flagship Nursery on Foundry Road, Stamford, next door to St Gilbert’s School. The plans include replacing the portacabin which currently houses The Ark’s term time provision at St George’s by re-locating to an area on the school field which will provide wonderful outdoor play opportunities. The children will continue to attend the Forest School site in Ketton. Jo O’Bryan-Tear, owner of the Ark says “our beautiful new nursery will open in the autumn offering the same high-quality childcare that has rewarded us with an outstanding judgement twice at our nursery on Foundry Road, Stamford. We are all very excited to be bringing this fantastic new nursery to the local area. We believe that our current model does an outstanding job of providing a homely, light and stimulating environment that nurtures children’s imaginations and builds their confidence. We are confident that this same ethos will be replicated as successfully at St George’s. The new nursery will be identical in both its Scandinavian-inspired design and all-year-round service, it will also offer before and after school care.” They are currently registering children from six weeks to five years all year round between the hours of 7.30am - 6pm. They are working in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council to deliver the DfE Early Years capital funding programme 2017 offering 30 hours funded childcare to 3-4 year olds. Funding is also available to eligible 2-year olds. • Information will be updated on the Ark website, www.thearkstamford.co.uk, and on their Facebook page as works progress but in the meantime if you have any queries or would like to learn more about The Ark ethos please call Jo O’Bryan-Tear or Helen Watson 01780 482113.

ODIE writes: “Fitness In the Field is exactly what it says on the tin…..we are exercising in the great outdoors – and it’s awesome!! I’ve never been a fan of traditional gyms – I agree they have their place, but I found them intimidating places and I never quite fitted in. So, since qualifying as a Personal Trainer I decided to embrace what I like doing the most, which is training in the fresh air with plenty of space to charge about – and sometimes get wet and muddy! “These sessions currently run on a Wednesday evening 7-8pm at Witham on the Hill. The sessions are a combination of cardio work and strength training, and can incorporate simple circuits, boxercise, HIIT, kettlebells, bodyweight training and occasionally we set people loose on the cargo net, wall and monkey bars for an extra challenge. The class is intentionally kept quite small, as technique is a priority and I do take that aspect seriously. That said – we laugh a lot, and fun is also highly important! “All abilities are welcome – whilst the sessions are designed to be challenging, they are also achievable by all, and adaptions can be made to exercises, so each person can work to their personal best. The team spirit and camaraderie at the classes will always get you through - and you will always leave tired but happy with a new sense of achievement.” • Want to know more – check out the website and blog at www.fitnessinthefield.com or email fitnessinthefield@hotmail.com

Working in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council to deliver the DfE Early Years capital funding programme 2017

Genuine Leather Accessories at the Corn Exchange R

EVEALED owner ‘Bart’ has a passion for supplying the best belts in the business. His recipe is three-fold: First, the best ingredients – all the belts are made of vegetable-tanned cow’s hide from a single piece of leather, ensuring longevity, flexibility and best colour consistency. Secondly, you can pick any colour-way, any buckle and have it tailored to your exact waist! All sorted on the spot, you can take your belt away with you. Thirdly, Bart provides a full after-sales service, which is free and unlimited; the leather may stretch, your waist may change, the belt can be adjusted without the need to add unsightly extra holes. Revealed UK was established in 2013. Since then, they have gained a wide group of loyal customers, both individuals and companies.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

They started from a small market stall in Northampton, progressed through the market hall in Market Harborough to the Corn Exchange Shopping Arcade here in Stamford, where they opened this spring. Bart also does much else besides belts, including a great selection of purses and wallets. His focus is on products that are made of natural products. All in the immensely bustling, friendly and lively Corn Exchange Shopping Arcade. Why not drop in for a cup of coffee whilst you’re browsing. • Corn Exchange Shopping Arcade, Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PX Opening hours are 09:30-16:30 from Monday until Saturday. 07455 892 092 shop@revealed-shop.com www.revealed-shop.com

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Specialist in the manufacture, installation and care of natural stone. With our experience in materials such as Marble, Granite, Neolith and Quartz, we are able to create stunning kitchen worktops, bath surrounds, vanity units, staircases, fireplaces, flooring and wall coverings. We offer a personal and knowledgeable service with highly skilled craftsmen and pride ourselves on the quality of service, the quality of materials used and the workmanship of your finished product. We offer a full supply, template, manufacture and installation service Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, Saturday 8am – 3pm Unit 14-15 Wainman Road, Woodston, Peterborough, PE2 7BU Tel: 01733 687414 or 01733 370941 sales@olympic-marble.co.uk www.olympic-marble.co.uk

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COOKERY

Rutland Cookery School WORDS: RACHAEL BULL

The ‘Eat Well’ course

UTLAND Cookery School only opened its doors earlier this year but it has already established itself as a major player in the superb food and drink industry that Rutland celebrates. Rachael Bull tries her hand at cooking healthy food on the ‘Eat Well’ course. Owner Robin Stewart has worked in professional kitchens since the 1970s, including the Michelin-starred kitchen at the Connaught, the Dorchester, Gleneagles as well as developing recipes for Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury’s. He’s also found the time to gain teaching qualifications and has vast experience teaching evening classes, NVQ courses and cookery for adults with learning disabilities. Robin’s aim with Rutland Cookery School is to share his love of cookery and pass on tips, techniques, short cuts and insights that he’s learnt over his career. His expertise is vast – his courses range from sushi making to knife skills, indian curries to a taste of Thailand, macaron masterclass to cookery for teenagers. Make sure you visit www.rutlandcookeryschool.co.uk to view the full list and course calendar, there really is something for everyone. You’ll prepare and cook everything yourself, with Robin explaining each stage carefully as you go along. You eat some of each meal together while you’re there, but do take along food containers so you can take the rest home and show off the results of your new culinary skills to friends and family.

This full-day course is perfect for anyone who needs educating about how to live a healthier life – which is 99% of the population, I’d say. Before we get into the cooking side, we learn about how to enjoy a balanced diet, not too much fat and sugar, and the importance of portion control – my downfall! One thing that resonated was Robin’s stance on there being no such thing as a ‘superfood’ – no one food is the Holy Grail to health, despite what you might read in the papers. There are many foods that are great in moderation as part of a balanced diet, but don’t eat them by the bucket load and expect them to save your life. Over the day we prepare and cook six different recipes, learning about the benefits of the ingredients of each as we go along. While the course was focused on eating well, we all commented on how much we learnt about cooking generally, for example about how best to cut an onion, garlic and ginger… how to poach chicken and trout, the best way to cook asparagus… lots of things that we could apply to any recipe, healthy or not. Robin has an incredible wealth of knowledge across so many different areas, and offers dozens of different courses - we all felt like we’d had a snippet from so many of them, making the course fantastic value and us eager to do other courses on offer. We cooked sweet potato and coconut soup – fresh and delicate with full of flavour, Trout poached in Dashi (a Japanese stock that’s

the base for miso), Spiced lentils with hot onion tadka, Poached chicken with mango, avocado, farro and hazelnut honey dressing and an outof-this-world Chocolate and almond cake with banana ice cream. Also in the recipe book we took home was Robin’s flapjack recipe. Having sampled one in the morning, I was determined to create them at home and have done many times since – they are delicious and full of seeds and dates, honey and desiccated coconut rather than sugar and butter. The only problem is I struggle to only have one! This isn’t one of those courses that you do one day and forget everything you learnt the next. Two months on, I’m still using the techniques and tips I learnt from Robin every day and have already done another of his courses having been so impressed with the first. A course at Rutland Cookery School would make a fantastic gift or a lovely day out for a group of friends. There are full- and short-day courses and workshops, evening demonstrations and Robin’s increasingly popular supper clubs. Groups are always small, the atmosphere relaxed and informal and Robin is an incredibly supportive teacher – you really do reap the benefits of his decades of experience in the food industry. Now, where are those flapjacks… • Rutland Cookery School, Oakham Enterprise Park, LE15 7TU. 07391 679208 www.rutlandcookeryschool.co.uk

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

UPDATES

Local badge makers go global

PawSquad’s stress-free home vet visits are the purrfect solution P

AWSQUAD, is an end-to-end veterinary service, enabling pet owners to book a dedicated local vet to visit their home - making pet healthcare more convenient, accessible and stress-free for both pets and their owners. Dr Mark Westwood and Veterinary Nurse Rebecca are the local vet/nurse team covering Stamford, Oakham, Rutland, Bourne, Market Deeping, Peterborough and surrounding areas. Mark said: “Home visits allow me to spend that vital extra time with you and your pet, so I can provide quality veterinary care without causing the inevitable stress to your pet that is seen in a traditional practice. Our consultations are 30-40 minutes which gives enough time to talk through preventative care.” Mark can provide general consultations, vaccinations, acupuncture, pet passports (including rabies vaccinations), medications, prescriptions and minor procedures in the home. Rebecca can provide nurse consultations including second vaccinations, microchipping, nail clipping, flea and worm treatments, medicine administrations, adolescent, senior and diabetic clinics, and soon to also be offering Canine Bowen Therapy. Partner clinics also support any pets that need further treatment that cannot be administered at home. • You can book with Mark and Rebecca by calling 01780 322032 or online at www.pawsquad. com. Evening and weekend appointments are also available, with home consultations costing just £48 for a vet appointment and £28 for a nurse appointment (medications, vaccinations and other procedures incur additional costs).

24/7 shopping in Stamford stamford.myshopislocal.co.uk

NEW Stamford-focused website has been launched giving online access to local shops and their products 24/7. This new facility gives shoppers the opportunity to buy local and have their chosen products delivered direct to their homes that same day or on any day of their choice, for free. This new ‘My Shop is Local’ venture is the brainchild of husband and wife, Ivar and Martina Jenssen, who have poured heaps of passion, enthusiasm and hard work into the project. “It’s all about keeping the focus local. Our website offers anyone within 10 miles of Stamford and Oakham the opportunity to support their local economy and buy from

their favourite, independent shops. We are keen to preserve the local, independent shops and ensure that Stamford town centre stays vibrant,” explains Martina. To date over 15 shops are already featured on the new website: stamford.myshopislocal.co.uk, from both Stamford and Oakham and customers can combine products from multiple shops into one order. Products available online so far include: antiques, art, balloons, fresh meats, hair and beauty, music, pet food, pharmacy, presents, toys, wine and much more. There are many more local shops that are in the process of joining and so the products available will continue to grow.

T’S amazing what can be achieved in 10 years. A decade ago, Stamford Living published an article marking the start of a new era for locals, Andrew and Philippa Vear, who had just bought an existing badge making business, Enterprise Products, and had set up their own operation in Barnack. Over the years both the business and their relationship have flourished and, now married, the couple have steadily grown their investment into a global player. “We have recently rebranded the business and are now called ebadges,” explains Andrew. “Initially our aim was to become the UK’s number one online supplier of badge machines. We achieved this objective quite quickly and are now focused on continuing to build our European and worldwide networks. Our sales have almost doubled since the early days.” In the last few years the couple took a bold decision to bring back the manufacture of the badge machines from India to the UK. “This was absolutely the right decision for us; we now manufacture excellent quality badge machines using the expertise of local manufacturers all within 40 miles of Stamford. We are very proud to be able to offer an upgraded, UK-made product with a minimal ecological footprint.” As business has boomed, the team of employees has naturally grown and ebadges now provides regular work for up to 14 locals in addition to providing work for local foundries and other small manufacturing businesses. “Our badge machines make a great investment for individuals, schools and businesses,” explains Philippa. “Schools particularly like our machines as they are excellent for fundraising and are fun and really simple to use. Design your own badge stalls are always popular in our experience – little ones and grown-ups alike all love designing their own artwork and pressing it into a badge they can wear with pride or give to a loved one.” “We are also keen to give something back to the local community,” says Andrew. “We work with Thorpe Hall Hospice (Sue Ryder); Malcolm Sargent School; Stamford Kiwanis and have recently been helping to raise funds for the national charities Cancer Research UK and CoppaFeel. • For more information on these locallymade badge machines, visit: www.ebadges. co.uk or 01780 740075.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

THE OLIVE BRANCH RECIPES

Super sea bass! The Olive Branch’s co-owner and head chef Sean Hope shares a beautiful fish recipe

’M writing this in between preparing for my July Cookery Demo. I tend to put on cookery demos once every couple of months in The Barn at The Olive Branch, starting at 10am. For these I cook a starter, main and pudding in front of guests, offering a few chefs’ secrets as I go. Then everyone sits down to eat what they’ve just watched being prepared. For the next demo I’m cooking a starter of stuffed tempura courgette flower with goats’ curd and pub ketchup. Dessert is white chocolate and almond fondant pudding with crushed raspberries. The main is a variation on the recipe you see here. Sea bass is a fantastic fish due to its soft, flaky flesh. It’s sweet and firm, which gives it great versatility. Fillets are quick and easy to cook, whether pan-frying, roasting or steaming. For the demo I’m going to be cooking fillet of sea bass with Lincolnshire poacher cheese & smoked ham toastie, and minted peas. At home why don’t you try the recipe here? It’s full of fresh flavours, making it perfect for summer.

THE BARN AT THE OLIVE BRANCH The Barn at The Olive Branch is our renovated cowshed, with whitewashed stonewalls, exposed beams and handmade oak-framed windows. We hold all sorts of events in The Barn and the other week put on a lunchtime Pinot Noir Masterclass in there. This autumn we’re holding a local game dinner in The Barn, plus a Festive Wines Masterclass. It’s perfect for groups of up to 20 and makes the perfect spot for an off-site office brainstorm or a private party. Call us on 01780 410355 for more details.

FILLET OF SEA BASS WITH QUINOA, WATERCRESS AND FENNEL Serves 4 Sea bass • 4 x 150gm pieces of filleted boneless wild sea bass • 1 sprig rosemary • Rapeseed oil • Knob of butter • 1 lemon wedge • 1 orange wedge 1. Heat up a frying pan and add a drizzle of rapeseed oil 2. Score the skin side with a sharp knife 3. Carefully lay the fish into the frying pan and sear for two minutes with the rosemary 4. Add the knob of butter and season with salt and pepper 5. Flip over and cook for a further three minutes, season with salt and pepper 6. Squeeze the lemon wedge and orange over the fish and allow to rest for a further four minutes before serving Quinoa • 100g quinoa • 200g vegetable stock • 3 tomatoes, seeds removed

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

and chopped • 1 bunch spring onions, finely chopped • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped coriander • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 1. Rinse the quinoa under cold water in a sieve for 30 seconds, then drain 2. Place the quinoa and veg stock into a saucepan and bring to the boil 3. Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until all the stock has been absorbed 4. Remove from the heat and cover with cling film to allow to steam and swell 5. When cold, add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a drizzle of rapeseed oil, then serve Watercress purée • 2 bunches of watercress • 1 bag washed baby leaf spinach • 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil • Pinch of salt and pepper • Pinch of xantham gum

1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add a pinch of salt 2. Add the watercress and spinach and cook for two minutes 3. Drain off and rinse under cold water 4. When cold, squeeze out the excess moisture 5. Place into a blender with the rapeseed oil, seasoning and xantham gum and blend to a smooth consistency

A blogger who writes a blog called One Freckled Life (www.onefreckledlife.co.uk) took this pic in our garden recently. We love it. Why not come along and grab a cushion (and a blanket if it’s nippy), and order some lunch?!

Roasted fennel 2 x bulb fennel, peeled and cut into wedges 1. Place the fennel wedges into a roasting tin and drizzle with rapeseed oil 2. Add a splash of sherry vinegar, pinch of ground cardamom, and a drizzle of clear honey, and season 3. Roast the fennel in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 5 (190C) for 25 minutes until tender and golden brown 4. Remove from the oven and serve

PASSIONATE ABOUT GOOD FOOD?

If you are passionate about local food and drink then you might like to join Great Food Club. • Sign up at www.greatfoodclub.co.uk, free of charge.

No.3

T h e Ya r d TOWN CENTRE DINING

Enjoy an alfresco lunch in the sunshine or in the evening with the heat lamps. Whether you are enjoying our courtyard menu or just having cocktails, it’s the perfect summer setting.

Modern British food, cocktails, local beers and a wide selection of wines, all served in our beautiful restaurant with sunlit courtyard tucked away in the centre of Stamford. See website for all our available menus. No.3 The Yard, Ironmonger Street, Stamford, PE9 1PL 01780 756080 - www.no3theyard.co.uk

NOW OPEN! Our NEW Kitchen Garden…

OUTDOOR CINEMA Thursday from 7.30pm FREE ENTRY Watch a classic movie & enjoy handmade pizza from our Pizza Potting Shed (weather dependent).

PIZZA POTTING SHED Thursday and Friday from 6pm and Saturday from midday 1 pizza £12, 2 pizzas for £20.

And as if that’s not enough... SAUSAGE CLUB Tuesdays from 6 pm - £10 Choose from a selection of local sausages and enjoy with Kitchen Garden mash & peas

LUNCH FOR LESS Monday – Friday 12 -2.30pm - £9.50 Main course and a coffee

EARLY BIRD & NIGHT OWL

T: 01780 766 412 | thebullandswan.co.uk

Monday-Thursday before 7 pm or after 9 pm - £25 Two main courses and a bottle of vino

FOOD & DRINK

Ten Tongue Tingling Summer Mocktails It is tricky to find many places serving Mocktails in town. Obviously anywhere that sells Cocktails will make you a virgin variety, but sometimes it’s just fun to stay at home, kick back in the comfort of your own space, and enjoy the sunshine with a large glass of something fruity and non-alcoholic. Deborah Pennell muddles and shakes a few Mocktails, and realises that alcohol is not always the answer!

LL recipes make four Mocktails, unless otherwise specified, but will depend upon the size of glass used to serve.

Watermelon Margarita

1 medium seedless watermelon 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 4 tsp agave nectar sparkling water In a blender, purée enough water melon chunks to create 4 cups of watermelon juice. Add lime juice and agave and mix again. Pour into four glasses over ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with cubes of watermelon, and lime wedges.

Mango Mule

Half a cucumber, sliced 4 tsp light runny honey 11/2 cups mango purée (try and find unsweetened purée or alternatively leave out the honey) 11/2 cups fresh lime juice 375ml ginger beer Ice Muddle cucumber and honey in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the mango purée and lime juice and cover with the ice. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into a glasses and top with ginger beer – stir to incorporate.

Blood Orange Mojito 1/2 cup lime juice

4 tsp agave 1/2 cup blood orange puree

16 fresh mint leaves soda water Divide the lime juice between 4 glasses and place 4 mint leaves and 1 tsp of agave in each glass. Muddle the mint along with the lime juice and agave in the glasses, add ice and the blood orange puree. Top with soda water. Serve with more mint leaves and slices of blood orange.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

PHOTOS: ELLI DEAN

Lavender Lemonade

Fresh Pineapple and Passion Fruit Mojito

12 cups water 1 cup light runny honey 1 cup dried lavender 2 cups fresh lemon juice Bring water and honey to the boil in a large pot. Gently crush the lavender in a pestle and mortar. Add the crushed lavender and then remove it from the heat. Let it cool down, and then refrigerate for 2 hours. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve, stir in the lemon juice and serve over ice. Serve with sprigs of lavender and slices of lemon.

1 small pineapple (peeled cored and chopped into chunks) 50ml pineapple juice 2 tsp sugar (optional) 10 fresh mint leaves 2 limes or lemons sliced 4 passion fruit, seeds and pulp removed – reserving a small amount to garnish soda water ice Blend the pineapple, juice and sugar together until you have a smooth purée. Combine the pineapple purée, passion fruit and soda water in a jug and mix well. Place ice, mint and lemon slices in glasses and pour in the mojito. Serve garnished with mint and lemon slices.

Pineapple Cobbler 1 cup strawberry juice 1/2 cup lime juice 11/2 cups pineapple juice soda water In a cocktail shaker combine the lime and pineapple juices. Shake well. Strain the contents over ice into tall glasses. Add soda water but leave space to float the strawberry juice on top, dividing equally between the glasses. Garnish with a strawberry and a lime wedge and serve.

Cherry and Pomegranate Sangria (makes a jug) 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped 1 orange, cut into wedges 1 punnet fresh cherries 1 x 750ml bottle of sparkling white grape juice 500ml pomegranate juice ice cubes In a large jug place the chopped apple, orange and cherries. Add ice and pour in the pomegranate juice. Top with sparkling grape juice and serve.

Coconut Water Mojito 2 limes each cut into 6 wedges (total 12 wedges) 8 sprigs fresh mint 2 tsp caster sugar ice 400ml coconut water 400ml spring water Muddle lime wedges and mint leaves in the glasses. Add in the sugar and mix. Add some ice, the coconut water and sparkling water and stir gently to mix. Serve garnished with fresh chunks of coconut and mint

Helpful information • Should jugs of Mocktails be required, then double, treble or even quadruple the amount to make larger quantities. • Where the Mocktail states ‘muddle’ in the recipe this means to press ingredients against the side of the glass or cocktail shaker. This action helps release the true flavour of the fresh ingredients. Muddle, with a spoon or a pestle like tool called a muddler.

Kiwi Cooler

• Always buy good quality fruit juices with no added sugar or sweeteners.

4 kiwis 4 tsp raw honey 4 tsp pineapple juice a squeeze of lemon 1 litre sparkling water Blend kiwi, pineapple juice, honey and lemon juice together. Pour into a glass over ice and add sparkling water. Garnish with kiwi and torn mint leaves

Cranberry and Ginger Mojito

For the syrup: 4 cups of frozen cranberries 2 cups sugar 4 cups water 2-4 tblsp grated ginger juice of 2 lemons Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes then remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Blend the cooled ingredients until smooth and pass through a fine mesh sieve to remove all the fruit pulp. Allow to cool completely.

• For cocktail shakers, measures, straws and more, head to Harrison and Dunn www.harrisonanddunn.co.uk • Agave nectar (a sugar substitute) can be found in Silver Lane Health Foods on Silver Lane, PE9 2BT To create: Use a double measure of cranberry and ginger syrup (100ml) 2 tblsp lime juice sparkling water frozen cranberries lime wedges fresh mint leaves ice To construct the Mojito, pour the cooled syrup into glasses, add ice, cranberries, mint leaves and lime wedges. Top up with soda water. Serve garnished with cranberries, lime and mint.

• For interesting vessels to serve your colourful array of Mocktails; I had great fun scouring St Martin’s Antiques Centre, and the charity shops around town for groovy glasses and kitsch accompaniments www.st-martins-antiques.co.uk • Thanks to The William Cecil Hotel for letting us use their stunning gardens and terrace for our photo shoot. And to the children for drinking their bodyweight in fruit juice! www.hillbrookehotels.co.uk/thewilliam-cecil STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Your local, caring, care at home experts

Stamford’s Occupational Therapy & Assistive Technology Service. Ensuring your safety and independence at home and providing peace of mind to family.

We design level access showers, stair lifts, ramps & new builds. We recommend lifelines, falls sensors, people locators, medication reminders. We advise on chairs, beds, stair/grab rails, toileting, bathing and kitchen equipment. All recommendations are tailored to your individual health needs and preferences.

Telephone: 01780 238 731 Email: OT.Consultancy@gmail.com

Clock & Watch Restoration and Repair Robert Loomes FBHI FRSA 4, St Mary’s Hill, Stamford PE9 2DP 01780 481319

Member of The British Watch and Clock Maker’s Guild (Founded 1907)

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Member of The British Horological Institute (Founded 1858)

House visits, all domestic clocks repaired, high grade repairs to all makes of watches. Insured, qualified, guaranteed

Providing the highest quality care and support within your own home. Supporting you or your loved one to live independently, through person centered care – day or night, our caring team are always on hand. Our range of services include: Home Care & Support Tailor made visits from personal care, medication support, home help & more. Also supporting specialists care needs including Dementia, Stroke, Parkinson’s. Companionship Shopping, days out, visits and outings, access to the community, assistance to appointments etc. 24 Hour & Live-in Care Long and short term live in care including rehabilitation, respite, complex care & end of life. Night Care & Support Comfort & security through the night hours Specialist Care.

More than care

Call us on: 01780 480 881 .

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CHEF PROFILE

Kelly Combes

Owner of The Stamford Delicatessen and Outside Catering Company, whose fresh and innovative approach to food has proved very popular in the town. She says, “supporting local businesses is key to our success.” Deborah Pennell talks to Kelly, and discovers that catering for around 9,000 people during the Hunstanton Lawn Tennis Week in late August, is just one of the highlights of her very busy year. Have you always lived in Stamford? I moved here from Essex when I was 10 years old and went to school locally, before heading to Leeds University, and then on to London for 10 years. I also spent time in Harrogate and Cambridge before deciding to move back to Stamford. When did you decide to set up the Stamford Deli and why? My husband and I were having some time out, living in the depths of Southern Spain for a few months, and trying to work out our next move. I had always worked in events and we both have a massive love of food. Sitting, eating amazing Tapas in a Spanish bar was a light bulb moment – we thought to ourselves, we could offer something similar in Stamford, and so the deli was born in 2014. Have you a background in food? I have always worked in events for companies such as M&S and The Home Office, and I am a complete foodie. What sort of products does the deli stock? Amazing ‘Ottolenghi’ style salads, meze, freshly filled focaccia sandwiches, incredibly delicious home-produced quiches and sausage rolls, plus great coffee and indulgent cakes and brownies. I hope in the near future to be selling craft beers too. We also cater for those with dietary requirements, with gluten free, lactose free and vegetarian products on offer. However, as everything is made fresh daily, when it’s gone, it’s gone. My mantra is … “#love food, hate waste”. How do you source your products? I love working with other local businesses; everyone benefits. At present I am getting the meze from The Mad Turk and focaccia from Cloisters, as well as local chutneys and a delicious range of brownies and cakes, baked by a friend in her home kitchen.

Who do you draw ideas from for the deli? Ottolenghi for the salads, and, although I am not Rick Stein’s biggest fan, I do love his street food recipes. My dream would be to own and run a shop like Foodilics in Brighton. I just love the rustic salad, tapas style food they produce, and their shop set up is amazing. When did you set up the catering side of The Stamford Deli? We are always evolving the business and I suppose the catering side was a natural progression. I started being asked if I could cater for a number of events, and in November 2014 a regular customer suggested I might be interested in pitching for the Hunstanton Tennis week - we were successful, and now cater for around 1,500 people a day during that week! What sort of events do you cater for? Private parties, a large number of picnics, especially for local events such as Tolethorpe and Burghley Horse Trials, as well as the tennis week at Hunstanton. How do you market yourself? I am fortunate in that most of my business now just comes through word of mouth. I use Facebook loads, as I can post great images on there of our food, and what we are up to.

Have you ever catered for anyone famous? I recognised Oliver Peyton, food critic and judge of The Great British Menu when he popped in. His son was playing hockey at Stamford School. Also, Adam Prendagast, bass guitarist for Harry Styles comes in quite regularly. And, we fed ‘Made in Chelsea’ star Andy Jordan at Hunstanton one year. If you could choose one item from your deli as a favourite, what would it be? It would have to be a freshly cooked Cloister’s focaccia roll stuffed full of feta, roasted peppers, prosciutto and rocket. Delicious beyond words! What are your interests outside of work? I am at that stage in life when most of my free time is taken up with the children and their activities. I love cooking, socialising with great friends and the Theatre – going to The Curve in Leicester, is a particular treat I enjoy. • To savour some of Kelly’s great food head to: The Stamford Delicatessen 39B High Street, Stamford, PE9 2BB 01780 755772 Opening hours 8.30am-5pm Monday to Saturday STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

For more information & a free initial consultation call 01733 343 275 36 Tyndall Court, Commerce Road, Lynchwood, Peterborough, PE2 6LR. www.stephensonsmart.com

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The Stamford Kitchen Georgie Fenn talks to Stamford’s new culinary extraordinaire PHOTO: TOM RAMSDEN

OFTEN think to myself, wouldn’t it be great to host a dinner party but not have to worry about all the food shopping, cooking, and the piles of washing up that come with it… …Well, I may have just found the answer to this conundrum of mine having met the delightful Rosie Farthing, founder of The Stamford Kitchen. Stamford is due a Rosie, and she’s arrived just at the right time. Rosie found herself in Stamford just over a year ago having relocated for her career and unsurprisingly, wants to stay. Originally from Wiltshire, she comes from a farming background – very much a country girl at heart. After studying Physical Geography at Exeter University, Rosie has spent the last 10 years working in agri-food sustainability, “I was always interested in the impact of food production, hence my career path to date, but my real passion has always been in the kitchen.” Rosie’s cooked all over the world, from the peaks of the French Alps to the depths of the Belizean Jungle. “I’ve been lucky enough to travel extensively in my career which has exposed me to a range of exciting cultures and delicious cuisines – a highlight was spending an evening on an Estancia in Argentina with Gauchos, whilst they put on an Asado for us – (the Argentine version of a BBQ)” So what does the Stamford Kitchen actually offer? Rosie provides a cost effective alternative to going out for dinner. You can enjoy the benefits of staying in your own home, eating a tasty home cooked meal and spending time with your friends and family, without the stress of sorting the food and all the dreaded washing up that comes with it! So whether you’re having a large group of friends over for a dinner party, or a small family celebration, The Stamford Kitchen may be worth a look. What’s more, local and sustainable sourcing sits at the heart of the Stamford Kitchen’s values so you can be sure you’ll be supporting other local businesses when you enjoy your meal. “Having grown up on a dairy and beef farm, I’m keen to support local producers where I can,” Rosie explains. She may be the new girl on the block, but Rosie has already started to make her mark. She has catered for the owners of Morcott Hall in Rutland, guests at the Granary in Market Deeping and various other private and corporate events and parties in Stamford. And she’s not stopping at dinner parties; also on offer are canapés to accompany drinks parties,

bespoke occasion cakes, beautifully presented and packaged cupcakes, catering for hen & stag parties, children’s tea parties, picnics, as well as holiday home catering. Dinner party prices start from just £25pp for a three course meal - couple that with ‘bring your own booze’ and you’ve got yourself a very reasonably priced evening! Get in touch with Rosie to chat through all of your ideas and she’ll happily tailor a menu to your specific budget and requirements: www. thestamfordkitchen.co.uk You can also follow The Stamford Kitchen on Instagram and Facebook.

Quick fire questions with Rosie: Favourite dish to eat? I absolutely love eggs royale, I could eat it all day long even though it’s really a breakfast dish! Favourite dish to cook? I learnt to cook paella when I was at school and still love making it, it’s a quick, tasty and colourful dish. Any foods you dislike? Baked beans, always have, always will! Best place for a meal out in Stamford? Eating outside at the Mad Turk on a summer’s evening, also love the food at Zada. Best meal you’ve ever had? I love Thai food – I was working in Chang Mai last year and had an amazing Thai green curry in a restaurant full of trees and waterfalls, it was incredible!

Wining away the weekend Our writer Georgie Fenn has started a new blog on one of her passions, wine! Here’s a roundup of what to drink in Stamford this month

LTHOUGH my blog is called Wining away the weekend, it’s really more of an all-week event, I’m just trying to look like I don’t have a drinking problem. To pair with delicious meals at home, or go out for a tipple, here are a few of my favourites! Red wine(s) I was going to try and restrict myself to one but it’s too difficult The Bull and Swan – Merlot/Corvina Ponte Pietra, Veneto, Italy £4.80 for 175ml £21 for a bottle Waitrose – Anciano, Gran Reserva Tempranillo, Valdepenas, Spain, £8.99 White wine(s) The Crown Hotel - Sauvignon Blanc, Land Made, Yealands Estate, NZ 2015, £6.75 for 175ml or £26.95 for a bottle Waitrose – Villa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, £10.49 for a bottle. Rosé wine The George Hotel - 2016 Corbiéres Rosé, Château Fontarèche, Southern France, £8.30 for 175ml Fizz I struggle to find anything better that The Wine Bar’s Fili Sacchetto prosecco, either £4.50 a glass or you can take a bottle home (or drink it there) for £15. Nyetimber is getting a lot of attention at the moment, it’s in most supermarkets as our very own British sparkling, usually at a steep £34 but it’s worth it for a special occasion! • You can read more on my blog www.winingawaytheweekend.wordpress.com STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Victoria’s Top Table A mix of culture, gastronomy and bon vivant from Victoria Magnall

Bertie Arms re-opens

Nick Tearle book & exhibition Summer in Stamford is the most idyllic place to be. There are some wonderful ways to pass the time, from a relaxing cricket match to a classic car show, we are always spoilt for choice. For art lovers, I highly recommend attending ‘Standing High out of Shrunken Peat’, the solo exhibition and book launch of local artist Nick Tearle. In collaboration with poet Becky Owen Fisher, the ticketed event being held at John Clare Cottage on Sunday 13th August from 2pm is set to be a highlight of summer. I recently commissioned a special painting created by Nick of Crowland Abbey, which is now available to purchase as a limited print. Nick’s extensive work of atmospheric, local landscapes will be available to view at this unique exhibition. • For more details about Nick Tearle, visit www.nicktearle.net

Not long now…

OR those who enjoy the work of featured artist of Country Life magazine, Annie Tempest, you can see her collection of Tottering-by-Gently over the weekend. Should you be lucky enough to be purchasing a piece, Annie is often sat working on something new and is happy to sign new purchases. As you look around Burghley over the weekend you will no doubt agree that it is the perfect setting for Annie’s muchloved characters, Dicky and Daffy!

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

The excitement for the annual Burghley Horse Trials is now fever pitch as accommodation for visitors becomes scarce. Home to the renowned horse trials since 1961, Burghley is the heartbeat of Stamford from Thursday 31 August to Sunday 3 September. With all the very best to eat, drink, watch and shop, there really is something for everyone. The food market is out of this world and with such variety you can find yourself meandering the avenues, being tempted at each and every corner. I urge you to seek out the double decker bus bar where Pimms and prosecco are served throughout the day. The top deck provides a great atmosphere to enjoy your drinks and one of the best views of the weekend activities!

For those wishing to escape the flurry of activity this month, you need go no further than to Uffington, where the Bertie Arms has reopened under the new management of Katie and James Genever. The quintessential English thatch pub has undergone a beautiful transformation, each nook is dressed with pretty soft furnishings and thought out detail. Open from 9am each day (11am on Sundays) until closing time, the Bertie welcomes customers with delicious homemade cakes and coffee – a perfect Sunday papers’ venue! The team are incredibly welcoming and customers can soon look forward to the new menu launch where sharing platters and English fayre will be available. The Bertie hosts a quiz night every third Wednesday of the month and Tracy Briggs shared with me that ‘the winning team chooses which charity to donate the evening quiz money to’. A vibrant hub of the community, proving to be popular with all who visit, the Bertie caters for all tastes: rugby is shown in one of the bars and on bank holiday weekends live music is played to entertain guests. Clearly a fan of a good pint Gary Waterfall @gmwaterfall recently tweeted: ‘finally a decent beer in Uffington! Bertie Arms looking fantastic. Well done Genevers!’

ESSENTIAL LIVING 2017-18

OUT NOW!

Your Guide to the very best the region has to offer Essential Living is our stunning annual publication that covers Stamford, Rutland, Market Harborough, Oundle & Peterborough. It inspires people to get the most out of the region - to explore new places, to try out new things, to shop locally, to enjoy the best. You will find it free at high visibility footfall places across the region – hotels, cafés, health clubs, hairdressers, libraries and meeting places. Or read it online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk It includes sections on: Shopping Discoveries Fashion, Health & Beauty Home & Garden Food & Drink Eating Out Out & About Kids’ Learning & Activities Education

Sunflowers

Coming across a field of sunflowers is a pleasant sight when driving through the Fens near Spalding this month. Some will be cut to provide a cut flower crop and some will stay in the field until they are harvested for bird seed as Sue Lee and Jean Orpin have discovered.

ILD sunflowers originated in the Americas. Native American tribes cultivated them for oil, dye and medicine as well as for food. Spanish explorers brought the seed to Europe in the 16thC and sunflowers have since crossed the Atlantic several times. At first, they were only used ornamentally but an English patent for obtaining sunflower oil was granted in 1716. The Russians developed commercial production in the 18thC and 19thC and Russian emigrants took the idea back to America with them. The production of sunflower oil firstly in America and then in Europe grew enormously from the 1970s when the cholesterol content of animal fats became a concern. The return of sunflowers for decorative use and their introduction for bird seed is even more recent dating from the 1990s.

SUNFLOWERS FOR CUTTING Sunflowers grown for cutting are usually single strong-stemmed and pollenless varieties - a bouquet that stains the tablecloth is not welcome. These varieties also tend to be longer-lived. They are quick growing, just 60 to 90 days from seed to flower, and can be started or grown under polythene to extend the season. New cultivars are now coming onto the commercial market that provide branched flowers in a variety of colours without pollen. The silt soils of the Fens to the east of Spalding provide a good growing ground. If you do spot a field it might well belong to either of the businesses below.

NAYLOR FLOWERS Very much a family business, Naylor Flowers Limited have been growing flowers since the 1940s. They are noted for being the largest grower of delphiniums in the country, and overall supply up to 50 million stems of cut flowers a year. They are situated 7 miles north-east of Spalding at Moulton Seas End. The name says it all! This is reclaimed silt land. They started growing sunflowers only about five years ago but now set aside quite a bit of their land to them. Dutch seed is imported and some flowers are grown under polythene so they can extend the season from June to September although this year the lack of sun in May and early June did not help. The whole crop is cut by hand and sold for cut flowers which reach supermarkets like the Co-op and Aldi within 3 days.

FENFLORA If you patronise Stamford Farmers’ Market on alternate Fridays, you will be familiar with Fenflora. Their business is based on 36 acres at Tydd St Mary, 9 miles east of Spalding. For the last 35 years they have grown many varieties of flowers for cutting. Sunflowers have been included for about half of that time. The variety they grow is Sunrich Orange, a pollen free type with large, long-lasting flower heads. The petals are a gorgeous orange-yellow and they have a dark chocolate brown centre. They are harvested by hand usually from the end of August into September. They attend five Farmers’ Markets in the area while some flowers go into Spalding for distribution to supermarkets like Waitrose and M & S. Those sent to the Farmers’ Markets are freshest as they are only cut the night before - look out for them on their stall.

SUNFLOWER FACTS • Immature flowers follow the sun • Mature flowers usually face east • Can be as small as 16 inches - tallest on record was 30 feet ‘Petals’ vary from yellow and orange to bronze, rose pink, red and cream

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Centre ‘florets’ vary from yellow to black • Seeds can be black, brown or striped Helianthus, its botanical name, is from the • Greek words for sun and flower Sunflowers do not grow further north than the Fens

Care for Cut Sunflowers When you get them home place them in plenty of warm water and keep them out of the sun! They like light but not direct sunlight and to make them last longer cut a little off the stems (at a 45 degree angle) and change the water daily. A tiny bit of bleach or flower preservative will also help.

GROWING SUNFLOWERS AT VINE HOUSE FARM In 1995 Nicholas Watts of Vine House Farm at Deeping St Nicholas brought back black sunflower seed from his bird watching holiday in Argentina. The sunflowers were left for the birds and there was a great increase in the numbers attracted by this food. He decided to start growing them commercially. He has specialised in growing food for birds for the last 20 years, planting 100 acres of sunflowers annually. The sunflowers are not grown for cutting or for decorative purposes; they are chosen solely for their oil content for nutrition for bird food. The seeds cannot be planted until May as they are not hardy. They are planted by precision drill and protected by paper kites and bangers to keep the pigeons away until the plants are established. When the flowers are in full bloom they face east and by August the flowers are looking their best but they are not for cutting. They are left in the field

until late September or October when they turn brown and are harvested with a combine harvester. After harvesting they are dried to the correct moisture content. They are then mixed with other home-grown seeds or sold separately. Vine House Farm sell all types of bird seed mainly by mail order but products are also available to purchase from the shop on the farm. They give 5% of their takings to the Wildlife Trust to help reverse the decline in wildlife. The fields are a spectacular sight in August and Vine House Farm arrange walks including a barbecue and tour round the farm. This year they are on August 5th, August 12th and August 17th. (The cost is ÂŁ10. To book telephone 01775 630208) Shop - Vine House Farm, Deeping St Nicholas, Spalding PE11 3DG or online at www.vinehousefarm.co.uk

SUNFLOWERS FOR BIRDS The countryside has changed over the last fifty years. Mixed farms with small fields enclosed by hedges have gone. Today, a profitable farm is likely to be large and efficient. Many of the hedges have been taken out to accommodate the vast modern machinery and very few traditional meadows survive. These changes have had an effect on bird numbers. Today people are keen to help by feeding the birds, encouraged by television programmes

and the RSPB. Not all birds eat the same food but the seed that attracts the widest variety of birds is the sunflower seed. Greenfinches, goldfinches, blue tits and great tits, dunnocks, sparrows and robins all enjoy these seeds. Black seeds are higher in oil content than the striped variety as they have thinner shells - very important for winter birds. Sunflower hearts are popular as the no mess variety and are favoured by goldfinches.

SUNFLOWERS IN ART Vincent Van Gogh painted four paintings of a vase of sunflowers for the Yellow House in Arles, France in 1888 where he worked with Paul Gauguin. One of these hangs in the National Gallery and is one of the most popular paintings in the gallery. It has been an inspiration for many artists who have chosen sunflowers for a subject. This picture (above) is by Mary Rodgers a local artist. Mary studied Fine Art and Textiles then worked as a designer of printed textiles for major British companies, Sandersons, Courtaulds and Vitelli. She had her own independent design studio in London. Mary moved to East Langton in Leicestershire in 1970 and set up her own teaching studio. She is a member of the Leicester Society of Artists and has built up a reputation for her paintings of landscapes, gardens and flowers. Mary recently moved to Wing, Rutland where she has a studio. She works in watercolour, oils and pastels and her work can be seen on her website, www.maryrodgers.co.uk

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

OUT & ABOUT Amander Meade selects some of the best entertainment in the region this month. Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August EVENT: Wildcats Summer School Choose from stand-alone one day workshops or book for the five day show week at Wildcats Theatre School in Castle Hill, Stamford. Times are 9.30am to 4pm with early or late sessions available at a small extra charge. The show week this month features ‘Rapunzel – A Tangled Tale’ (£120 per child for the week). There will be challenging song and dance routines for older students and easier ensemble parts for younger performers culminating in a performance on Friday afternoon for parents and friends. One day workshops have fun themes suitable for girls and boys and cost £23.50 per child with discounts available. To book or for further details Tel: 01780 762000 on line booking at www. wildcatstheatreschool. co.uk

Throughout August THEATRE: A Summer of Fun at Tolethorpe Choose from three superb comedy plays performed by the Stamford Shakespeare Company. This year the programme includes Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ plus ‘Hobson’s Choice’ by Harold Brighouse. The historic atmosphere, enchanting gardens, highly acclaimed performances and excellent facilities all combine to create what has become known to regular patrons as ‘The Tolethorpe experience’. Rutland Open Air Theatre, Tolethorpe Hall Tickets are priced between £11 and 19 Tel: 01780 756133 www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk Summer Workshops at Stamford Arts Centre Themes this year include a Kite Making morning or afternoon, a Roaming Robots workshop, an introduction to Print Making with Nadya Monfinoli, Singing for Fun and a Pirates and Fairies workshop. Bailey and Burns offer the chance to create Theatre in a Week on the subject of Spells and Potions. Stamford Arts Centre Sessions are priced from £6 per child. For information and to book for any of the sessions contact the Box Office Tel: 01780 763203 or www.stamfordartscentre.com

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2017

Saturday 5 August, 4pm to 10pm EVENT: Pride and Prejudice As part of the Romance and Revolution, Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival, Grimsthorpe Castle will host a dance afternoon with the Lincolnshire Regency Society and a performance of Pride and Prejudice, live. Screen legend Hayley Mills will narrate Austen’s work with Carl Davis’s score performed by Matthew Trusler and Ashley Wass. Grimsthorpe Castle Further information at www.grimsthorpecastle. co.uk Wednesdays 9 and 16 August, 1.30pm to 3pm EVENT: Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Storytelling

Saturday 5 August (also, 12, 19 and 26 August), 10am EVENT: Church Tower Tours Take a guided tour of the historic All Saints church including a climb up the 144 step spiral staircase to the top of the tower. (Suitable footwear essential). All Saint’s Church, Stamford Admission £3/£2 with booking at the Tourist Information Centre based within the Arts Centre Pack a picnic and your favourite Teddy for an afternoon of storytelling and fun. Teddy Bears (and their owners) will be treated to an amazing story from Tom The Tale Teller while enjoying their picnic under the spreading branches of the old cedar tree. Tom will tell tales of myth, magic and adventure, ensuring that both young and old are captivated. Little legs have acres of lawns and meadows to explore. They can follow the clues for the Bear Trail and receive a prize and certificate at the end. There’ll be footballs, hula hoops and bubbles to play with and colouring for those who don’t want to run around. Fancy dress is optional.

Easton Walled Gardens £5 per child (under 2’s go free) including admission to the gardens. Accompanying adults pay £7.25 – the normal garden admission fee. More information at www.visiteaston.co.uk Thursday 10 to Saturday 26 August, 10am to 4pm daily EXHIBITION: Art on the Map – Summer Exhibition A group show by artists and craft makers from all over Lincolnshire. Expect a lively mix of glass, painting, printing, felt/textiles ceramics, sculpture, mosaics and photography. Stamford Gallery (within Stamford Arts Centre)

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The George at Ashley

Events at The George in August Tuesday 1st August - Our Regular Pub Quiz Come and join in the fun for only ÂŁ1

Thursday 10th August - Braybrooke Morris Dancers at The George from 7.30pm and BBQ in The Courtyard Friday 11th August - BBQ in the Courtyard Open for Lunch Friday - Sunday. Dinner Tuesday - Saturday 6-9pm Monthly Changing Menu For more details and menus please visit our Facebook page or our website.

21 Main Street, Ashley, Northamptonshire. LE16 8HF T 01858 565411 E info@thegeorgeatashley.co.uk www.thegeorgeatashley.co.uk 66

OUT & ABOUT Amander Meade selects some of the best entertainment in the region this month. Saturday 12 August 7.30pm MUSIC: The Marley Experience The Marley Experience is an eight piece UK Midlands based Bob Marley Tribute band with a difference. Lead vocalist Lionart has an undeniable vocal resemblance to the late great King of Reggae, Bob Marley himself. The band consists of drum and bass, guitars, keyboards plus female backing singers to complete the lineup bringing the passion of the legendry Bob Marley to their performance. Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre Tickets £17 Tel: 01780 766455 or visit www. stamfordcornexhcange. co.uk

bred, but delivers some real classics too. Stamford Arts Centre Tickets £14 Tel: 01780 763203 www. stamfordartscentre.com

Friday 25 August, 8pm MUSIC: The Damien O’Kane Trio Sublime and exhilarating arrangements of the old Irish traditional songs, with influences of rock, pop, jazz and electronica. O’Kane’s band takes traditional Irish music and song, and in the words of The Telegraph, they turn it into ‘Folk-Pop that is Irish music for the 21st Century.’ Damien, a musician of many talents, stays true to his Northern Irish roots where he was born and

Sunday 27 and Monday 28 August, 10am to 4pm EVENT: Fine Food Market Meet over thirty local suppliers in a celebration of local produce with handmade cheeses, artisan breads, organic vegetables, luxury sweet treats and rare breed meats at one of the four seasonal Fine Food Markets. The Courtyard, Burghley House Admission is free

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

Friday 18 to Sunday 20 August EVENT: Birdfair Quite simply the most important conservation event in the world and hosted by the nature reserve team on the shores of Rutland Water. Worldwide celebrities and experts will give lectures, sign books and take part in key debates as well as hundreds of trade stands and special events specialising in all things wildlife. Meet British TV favourites, Chris Packham, Simon King, Mark Cawardine, Bill Oddie and Steve Backshall who will be at the event on Saturday and Sunday. All ticket and event information at www.birdfair.org.uk

Sunday 3 September, 11am to 4pm EVENT: Autumn Country Market Celebrate the best of the region at this traditional market event. Expect artisan crafts, local delicacies, live music and much more besides. In the beautiful 17th century cobbled courtyard, over fifty stalls will showcase vintage items, plants, jewellery and unique gifts as well as lacemaking demonstrations and music by harpist Eleanor Turner plus the chance to explore the 400 year old gardens. Easton Walled Gardens Admission is £7.25/£3.25 www.visiteaston.co.uk

Thursday 31 August to Sunday 3 September EVENT: Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Recognised as the premier equestrian and social event in the international sporting calendar and a focus for the best horses and riders in the world, the parkland of Burghley provides a stunning location for the popular shopping village of more than 600 exhibitors – making sure Burghley is now almost as famous for the fabulous shopping as for the equine action. Burghley Park, Stamford For tickets and all information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk

Easton Walled Gardens Country Market

Friday 8 September, 7pm to 11pm EVENT: Barn Dance To celebrate another successful osprey season at Rutland Water a barn dance will be held with music provided by the Navigation Band. The ticket price includes a hog

roast, and there will be a bar on site to quench your thirst after all that dancing plus a raffle and games. Manton Village Hall Tickets £20 each Tel: 01572 737378 or visit www.ospreys.org.uk

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