Stamford Living June 2025 by Best Local Living

STAMFORD LIVING

THIS EDITION INCLUDES:

Interview: Rob Persani of Rutland & Stamford Sound

Local Food Shopping: Delis, Artisan Foods & Farm Shops

What’s On: Our Pick of Events in June, including Tolethorpe

HELLO JUNE 2025

We talk a lot about the importance of local in our magazine, but our feature this month on farm and artisan food shops is perhaps the epitome of it. We have quite simply loved writing it, meeting farmers, often from families that have been farming the same land for 100 years or more, who, perhaps surprisingly given that traditional background, turn out to be very entrepreneurial too: high energy, setting up farm shops, cafes, restaurants, glamping and myriad other ways to connect directly to their customers.

Some also take their products to our weekly markets; many others supply our local hostelries. They all share an absolute passion for what they do, and typically multi-task, feeding the animals in the morning, opening up the shop, helping out with the butchery and then tidying up at the end of the day.

If we had to identify a business that crystallised what we are all about round here, then farm shops would be it. And the good news is that the local councils have generally been supportive, understanding the unique business model and valuing the potential to create jobs in the middle of the countryside and enable customers to eat better quality food with almost zero food miles.

Get visiting and enjoying!

Editors, Nicholas & Clare

Website: www.stamfordandrutlandliving.co.uk

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THE TEAM

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

This magazine has been created by the team at Local Living, PO Box 208, Stamford PE9 9FY

Nicholas Rudd-Jones | 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk

EDITOR & EDITORIAL DESIGN

Clare Rudd-Jones

ADVERTISEMENT SALES

Rutland & Market Harborough

Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 | tracy@bestlocalliving.co.uk

Stamford Claudia Bayley 07876 171063 | claudia.bayley@btinternet.com

ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION

Ad Copy Manager: Rachel Beecroft Ad Designer: Sarah Patterson

Please note that this magazine now also incorporates Nene Valley Living & Market Harborough Living.

This magazine has been printed by our local printers, Warners of Bourne, on FSC® certiﬁed paper from sustainable and other controlled sources.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Annual rate £45 (UK only) for 12 issues. Please write to the Publisher at Local Living Ltd, with £45 cheque payable to Local Living or go online to buy your subscription at www.stamfordandrutlandliving.co.uk

COVER

Stamford Living: Tolethorpe’s 2025 season kicks oﬀ in June. Rutland Living: The Rutland Show is on Sunday 1 June at The Rutland Showground.

Professional Design Service

In-Store Consultations available Home Design Service, by Appointment

Visit our website www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk

Wide range of accessories to complete your chosen look! @sarahhardinginteriorsltd

6 MARKET PLACE UPPINGHAM RUTLAND LE15 9QH 01572 823389 info@sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk • www.facebook.com/sarahhardinginteriorsltd

5 The Maltings, Mill Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6EA T: 01572 722666 E: heidi@heidikjeldsen.co.uk

Image courtesy of William Yeoward

THIS MONTH WE LOVE…

THE FABULOUS FESTIVAL AT NEVILL HOLT

This year’s Nevill Holt Festival has the most incredible line-up of performers and speakers, including Sir Paul Smith, the founder of his eponymous fashion brand, on Friday 13 June. This is a rare opportunity to hear insights into his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global icon. See the full programme (until 22 June) & book at nevillholtfestival.com

SUMMER’S HUM BY ANGELA HARDING

‘Summer’s Hum’ (published 29 May) is the second book in Angela’s new series taking readers on a journey through the seasons. Encompassing landscapes from across the UK, from views from her studio in Rutland to the Scottish wilderness, the beautiful illustrations and evocative prose make this the perfect book for nature and art lovers everywhere. Buy your copy (£12.99) at local bookshops or on Angela’s website, angelaharding.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL LOCAL BLOOMS: BARNYARD FLOWERS

We love championing shopping locally and we love flowers, so what better than buying locally grown blooms? We recently met Vanessa Brown of Barnyard Flowers in Southorpe. Vanessa offers bespoke bouquets (from £15), buckets of flowers and weekly subscriptions. You can also buy bouquets by Barnyard Flowers at Stamford Garden Centre. More details at barnyardflowers.com

NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME OPEN GARDENS

We’re lucky to have so many gorgeous gardens in our region participating in the fundraising National Garden Scheme, and June is peak season. Among our favourites is Home Farm near Tolethorpe, open 11am–4pm on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 June. Other gardens open nearby include Foxtail Lilly near Oundle (Sunday 8 June), and Tresillian House (shown above; open Sunday 29 June), in Melton. Full details on these gardens and more at ngs.org.uk

Michael Rothenstein

a major new exhibition at goldmark gallery

An important new show of the work of experimental British graphic artist Michael Rothenstein is on display at Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham from Saturday 31 May until Saturday 21 June. Admission is free, and there will be a walk-through film of the exhibition on goldmarkart.com from Friday 30 May, followed by a launch event with lunch and a talk on Saturday 31 May

‘Rich in colour and spectacularly textured, these prints represent an artist exploding the boundaries of traditional printmaking’ Mike Goldmark

MICHAEL ROTHENSTEIN was, without doubt, one of the most experimental British graphic artists of the 20th century, and Goldmark Gallery is to display a unique collection of prints of his work. Gallery founder Mike Goldmark comments: ‘We are delighted to be presenting the work of one of the greats of British 20th-century art with a quite exceptional international-class exhibition. These prints embody the same excitement and daring that galvanised their production: rich in colour and spectacularly textured, they represent an artist exploding the boundaries of traditional printmaking.’

Michael Rothenstein (1908–93) was the son of the artist Sir William Rothenstein, and his brother, John, was Director of the Tate Gallery. He studied art at Chelsea Polytechnic and the Central School of Arts before settling in rural Essex. Rothenstein produced landscape watercolours and drawings throughout the 1920s. The combination of a rare glandular illness, which stayed with him until 1940, and debilitating depression meant that Rothenstein exhibited very little at this time, and his stylistic development came slowly. It was in the late 1940s that he turned to printmaking, and it was to become his abiding obsession until his death.

In the 1950s Rothenstein attended the avant-garde Atelier 17 print studio in Paris, and his work was constantly evolving through the 1960s and beyond. He made numerous mixed-media prints, often using abstract symbols, and his colour woodcuts and linocuts won international recognition. This, combined with his outstanding lithographs and screen prints, confirmed Rothenstein’s position at the very forefront of the 20th-century British printmaking renaissance.

He said: ‘My feeling is that each technique in printmaking is like a single instrument producing its own range of sound but that these instruments need not always be played separately as they have been in the past. We live in an age when transformation between techniques is made available through photo technology and in this way the single instrument is less separate – it is capable of merging, of being used in concert – of producing a symphony, with a new kind of orchestration.’

Michael Rothenstein’s work is held by many important public collections including the Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A Royal Academician and respected lecturer, Michael Rothenstein died at his Essex home in 1993, and the Goldmark Gallery administers his estate.

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: portrait of Michael Rothenstein; Figure; Landscape with a Bird. THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Songbird; Hollywood Bowl; Julie Christie. All the works are available to buy online and in the gallery.

EXHIBITION BOOK

The exhibition will be accompanied by an illustrated book, written by the late Mel Gooding, published by Goldmark and priced at £10.

LAUNCH EVENT

The show opens on Saturday 31 May, when attendees will be treated to a light buffet lunch and, at 2pm, a short talk from gallery writer and broadcaster Max Waterhouse. There will be a walk-through film of the exhibition available on goldmarkart.com from Friday 30 May – free and on demand.

goldmark gallery

14 orange street

uppingham le15 9sq 01572 821424

info@goldmarkart.com

www.goldmarkart.com

goldmark.tv @goldmarkart

This Kitchen in Weldon does not shy away from attention, with the bold choice of finishes concealing oodles of storage.

But the dark tones of this charred wood kitchen reflect an environmental conscience

The Brief

From their first visit to our showroom, the clients were captivated by the Japanese Charred Wood display. They envisioned this striking finish paired with a sleek matt black Caesarstone worktop in Black Temple. With a long wall to work with, they wanted to maximise every inch—requesting an expansive island and a tall drinks cabinet with pocket doors.

The Concept

As colours, finishes, and some of the specifications were decided quite early, we were able to focus on the ideation phase by planning the different footprints this kitchen could take. The open-plan space meant the design needed to integrate seamlessly with the adjacent living and dining areas.

As our customer was a keen home chef, there were some important requests. Two full size ovens, an oversized induction hob with integrated ventilation and abundant counter space.

The Outcome

A very simple, balanced and effective design, big on storage, generous on workspace and bold in character. The Japanese Charred Wood finish delivers drama without being flashy or fashionable.

The drinks cabinet is thoughtfully positioned so guests aren’t entering the main cooking zone when replenishing their drinks, while the pocket doors vanish into the unit, so they don’t obstruct the kitchen workflow.

Beyond aesthetics, this kitchen is built with purpose. The units are crafted from 100% recycled wood and are FSC Certified—demonstrating that high-impact design can also be low-impact on the planet.

01780 481850 stepinside@spacesbydesign.co.uk 22-23 Scotgate, Stamford, PE9 2YQ www.spacesbydesign.co.uk Home Design Studio Designing spaces better

WHAT’S ON IN JUNE

A

SELECTION OF EVENTS TAKING PLACE ACROSS OUR BEAUTIFUL REGION THIS MONTH

1 COUNTY SHOW

Rutland County Show at The Rutland Showground

9am–5pm, ticket on the gate: £18 adults & £3 children 5–16 yrs (card only); buy your ticket online at a reduced price right up until the end of 31 May & also for the ‘gate’ price on Show Day itself

Rutland County Show is an annual event showcasing all aspects of rural life in the beautiful county of Rutland and surrounding areas. There’s so much to enjoy – family entertainment and attractions, dogs at work, rural crafts, live music, fabulous shopping, refreshments and more.

EXHIBITION

Tinwell Art Group at Stamford Arts Centre

From 28 May until 7 June, free admission

Tinwell Art Group is a long-established group of talented artists meeting for the last 25 years to paint together, exchanging ideas and developing skills to further their practice. The range of work varies from representational to total abstraction and everything in between.

3 OUTDOOR THEATRE

The Taming of the Shrew at Tolethorpe

On throughout June & July, with evening performances at 7.30pm & matinees at 1.30pm; see website for dates, times & tickets prices

This year’s summer season at Tolethorpe kicks off with The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s battle of the sexes, which is given a bold makeover in a fast-paced

production brimming with sparkling humour, lively physical comedy and unforgettable characters. Will Katharina, ‘the shrew’, be tamed, or is there more to the story? Picnic prior to your performance or enjoy drinks/food at the Hall.

5 EVENING EVENT

An Evening with Frances Quinn at Rutland Nursery

7–9pm, £49.50pp

Enjoy a special evening in The View at Rutland Nursery with designer baker Frances Quinn, winner of The Great British Bake Off 2013. Frances will share insights from her time on GBBO, what she has done since and her unique approach to design and cake decoration. She will demonstrate techniques including

OPPOSITE: designer baker Frances Quinn, who will be at Rutland Nursery this month.

RIGHT: the artists behind ‘FIVE’ at Stamford

piping icing, decorating with fresh flowers, creating her signature orange blossom marzipan bees and adding simple yet striking sprinkles and edible confetti.

Following the talk, demonstration and Q&A session, there will be the chance to try out the techniques yourself, icing and decorating your own set of four finger sponges to take home, and to craft your own marzipan bee.

CINEMA

Cinema for Rutland at Rutland County Museum 7.30pm, £7.50

This month’s film from Cinema for Rutland is ‘Maria’, inspired by the life of the opera singer, Maria Callas. Directed by Pablo Larrain and starring Angelina Jolie, the film portrays Callas towards the end of her life in 1970s’ Paris.

7 &8

LIVE MUSIC

Jazz in the Gardens at Burghley House

12–4pm both days, adults from £10, child from £8 (event is included with admission ticket or annual pass)

Spend a summer’s afternoon in Burghley’s Sculpture Garden listening to the swinging sounds of local Dixieland jazz group, the Stamford Stompers. Bring the whole family, roll out a blanket and soak up the atmosphere. Listen to the Stompers as they perform a wonderfully wide repertoire of classic New Orleans jazz with instruments that include a banjo, string bass, clarinet, trumpet, and guitar.

NB: In the event of inclement weather, Jazz in the Gardens will still go ahead, so pack an extra layer or waterproof if needed.

10 OUTDOOR THEATRE

Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d at Tolethorpe

On throughout June, July & August, with evening performances at 7.30pm & matinees at 1.30pm; see website for dates, times & tickets prices

The second production launching at Tolethorpe this month is a fresh, witty adaptation of the Queen of Crime’s famous novel. Hollywood descends on the sleepy village of St Mary Mead when a glamorous American film star buys Gossington Hall. However, the real drama unfolds off-screen, when an unexpected and ruthless murder is committed during a party filled with suspects. It’s up to Miss Jane Marple to unravel a web of lies, tragedy and danger. A thrilling story of revenge and dark secrets.

VENUES

EXHIBITION

‘FIVE’ at Stamford Arts Centre

10–21 June, with Meet the Artists Launch Party on 14 June (12–5pm), free admission This collaborative exhibition offers the chance to view new work by five contemporary local artists, a group of friends – Jackie Cheetham, Gill Edwards, Carly Gilliatt, Joy Gosney and Sue Johnson – who are supporting and inspiring each other to take big steps on their individual art journeys. ‘Together, we are stronger, bolder, and braver,’ says Joy. The work offers a fresh opportunity to see the world through the eyes of these five artists. Colours may be bright and bold or subtle and delicate, with inspiration drawn from the natural and man-made worlds. Floral, textual, still-life and landscape motifs can be found throughout the paintings, all underpinned by the bold and experimental nature of the processes used and the style of the artist who made the piece.

• All Saints’ Church Oakham Church Street, Oakham LE15 6AA

• Blaston Showground Langton Road, Slawston, Market Harborough LE16 7FA

• Borderville Sport Complex Ryhall Road, Stamford PE9 1UX

• Bowthorpe Park Farm Witham-on-the-Hill, Bourne PE10 0JG, bowthorpeparkfarm.co.uk

• Burghley House Stamford PE9 3JY, 01780 752451, burghley.co.uk

• Easton Walled Gardens Grantham, NG33 5AP, 01476 530063, visiteaston.co.uk

• Goldmark Gallery 14 Orange Street, Uppingham LE15 9SQ, 01572 821424, goldmarkart.com

• Ode to Joy 14 Ironmonger Street, Stamford PE9 1PL, odetojoyflowers.com

CULTURE, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS

• Rutland County Museum Catmos Street, Oakham LE15 6HW, 01572 758440, rutlandcountymuseum.org.uk

• Rutland Nursery Lyndon Road, Manton, Rutland LE15 8RN, 01572 498720, rutlandnursery.co.uk

• Rutland Showground Showground Way, Oakham LE15 7TW, rutlandshowground.com

• Stamford Arts Centre 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DL, 01780 763203, stamfordartscentre.com

• Tolethorpe Hall Salters Lane, Little Casterton, Stamford PE9 4BH, tolethorpe.co.uk

Arts Centre.

WHAT’S ON IN JUNE

LIVE MUSIC

Arts for the Heart of England Summer Festival Weekend:

Oakham Piano Trio at All Saints’ Church, Oakham

7pm, £20 in advance, £25 on the door, free for under 18s, from Oakham Wines and artsfortheheartofengland@gmail.com or tinyurl.com/OakhamPianoTrio

Summer Festival Weekend Pass: £35

This concert launches Arts for the Heart of England’s Summer Festival Weekend. The programme features piano trios by Amy Beach, Fauré and Mendelssohn. With Annebeth Webb on violin, Richard Jenkinson on cello and Anne Bolt on piano. This concert will be followed by Sung Compine with David Hill and IKON Singers at 8.45pm. artsfortheheartofengland.co.uk

LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Orpheus Arts’ Lazy Crow Festival at Borderville Stamford

From 12pm, adults £25, 11–17 yrs £10, 5–10 yrs £5, under 5s free Tickets at ticketsource.co.uk/lazycrow

Lazy Crow is back at Borderville this month, with 13 bands (see website for line-up), food, drink, art, a children’s teepee and more. The festival is outdoors, but the marquee and teepees should provide shelter in the event of rain. Open to all ages but under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs. lazycrow.co.uk

LIVE MUSIC

Arts for the Heart of England Summer Festival Weekend: Fauré Requiem at All Saints’ Church, Oakham 7pm, tickets as for the concert on the 13th (see left) or tinyurl.com/OakhamFaure

The Summer Festival Weekend continues with a performance of Fauré’s Requiem, plus other works by composers including Bainton, Harris and Howells. With IKON Singers, Rutland Youth Choir, Annebeth Webb (violin), Toby White (cello), Peter Davis (organ) and David Hill conducting.

20 &21

LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Summer Solstice Festival of Music at Bowthorpe Park Farm

5pm–late on the 20th, 5–11pm on the 21st, free parking; tickets on the website – different options available, either one night or a weekend ticket; free for 0–9s, reduced price for 10–17s

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with fabulous-sounding music at Bowthorpe Park Farm. Nashville comes to Bowthorpe with a Solstice Hoedown plus a Summer Solistice evening with Dave Pearce headlining and many other acts besides. Full details online. bowthorpeparkfarm.com

21

LIVE MUSIC

Stamford Chamber Orchestra

Grand Finale with soloist

Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux at Stamford Arts Centre

7.30pm, £16.50 (£13.50 conc, £6 under 26s)

Don’t miss SCO’s Season Finale, as the orchestra welcomes back Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux to play Beethoven’s timeless classic Violin Concerto, along with the Barber of Seville Overture and Schubert’s tuneful Symphony No.3. Charlotte is a phenomenal violinist, and we are incredibly fortunate to welcome her back to Stamford. Nominated as a 2022 Rising Star Artist by Classic FM, she made her debut with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and the CBSO Orchestra in 2024. She has performed at top venues including Wigmore Hall and played at the BBC Proms.

Violinist Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux is playing with SCO on 21 June

Orangeries, garden rooms, conservatories, windows and doors. From design through to completion.

WHAT’S ON IN JUNE

Charlotte is in great demand as both a soloist and chamber musician. She currently plays a Giovanni Battista Rogeri violin, and an Edwin Clement bow kindly loaned to her by the Swiss Foundation Boubo-Music.

25 GARDENING HIGHLIGHT

Sweet Pea Season at Easton Walled Gardens

Wed–Sun & Bank Hol Mon 11am–4pm (Courtyard Coffee Room & Shop open from 10am) £12 adults, £5 children, under 4s free A highlight of the year at Easton Walled Gardens, Sweet Pea Season launches at the end of this month. Expect row upon row of gorgeous scented flowers, which should be in bloom into late July. There will be over 40 varieties of sweet pea on display, from heritage to modern blooms, all cultivated at the Gardens.

26 TALK

The Arts Society Oakham Lecture – Sally Hoban on The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Midlands

Victoria Hall, 11am, £5 for guests Sally Hoban has lectured extensively on art, design and antiques throughout the UK and has broadcast on BBC Antiques Roadshow. Her lecture places the work of Midlands designers within the national Arts

and Crafts Movement, with examples of jewellery made by Arthur and Georgina Gaskin, stained glass by Florence Camm and ceramics from the Ruskin Pottery. theartssocietyoakham.org.uk

29 WORKSHOP

Petals, Paint & Sip at Ode to Joy 1–3.30pm, £65pp

Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and connection with a joyful floral painting workshop at Ode to Joy in Stamford with award-winning glass designer, Emma Britton. After a glass of fizz, create a beautiful A3 floral artwork to take home.

Emma will guide you through the art of gouache painting in her style, giving you the freedom to unwind with the beauty of Ode to Joy’s exquisite floral arrangements through your own palette and brushstrokes.

NEVILL HOLT FESTIVAL

Running from 30 May to 22 June, this arts and culture festival held in glorious Leicestershire countryside near Market Harborough promises a standout programme for lovers of music, literature, comedy, politics and food – all in the exquisite surroundings of Nevill Holt’s beautiful theatre and stunning, award-winning gardens. The 2025 Festival includes specially curated events for family audiences, a 300-seat Spiegeltent and pop-up dining from acclaimed London restaurant Maison François.

find out more & book at nevillholtfestival.com

The price includes art materials, artwork, arrival Champagne (or 0% fizz), exclusive use of the atelier and a friendly small group. No experience is necessary, and it will be a relaxed, inspiring experience.

VILLAGE SHOW

Blaston Show 2025

Tickets at www.blastonshow.co.uk, or on the gate

The Blaston Show was established in 1957 and attracts around 5,000 visitors. Making a return visit this year are The Rockets Children’s Motorcycle Display and Rearsby Lodge Riding Club Quadrille Teams. There are equestrian, cattle and sheep classes, a dog show, children’s entertainment, and a mixture of trade stands and food and drink outlets. Vintage cars and tractors will be on display, as well as cutting-edge farming technology.

BELOW: Internationally acclaimed pianist Yevgeny Sudbin is among the performers at Nevill Holt this June.

RIGHT: Emma Britton is leading a workshop at Ode to Joy this month.

Chamber Music Concert Series

three concerts, top-tier performers & a beautiful historic setting: stamford strings delights with a new musical offering

STAMFORD STRINGS is launching a new series of chamber music concerts at St Martin’s Church in Stamford this month. Featuring outstanding professional musicians, the series is set to be a highlight of the town’s cultural calendar. We spoke to Libby Summers, Stamford Strings’ founder and series organiser, to find out more.

Libby, what inspired the creation of this concert series?

The idea originally came from cellist David Burrowes, who performs in the first concert, and it was further inspired when I saw my daughter, professional violinist Jessica Tomey, performing with harpist Eleanor Turner. We felt that there’s such a remarkable wealth of musical talent in and around Stamford, and we wanted to provide a new platform for that – a place for musicians to share their artistry and for audiences to enjoy chamber music and learn more about stringed instruments. I also organised a violin concert last year in Browne’s Hospital that sold out, which showed how in demand concerts of this kind are – again, prompting me to organise this new series.

Why St Martin’s Church?

St Martin’s is a beautiful, historic venue, and it’s located directly opposite Stamford Strings – hence always in our eyeline – so it seemed the obvious choice! It’s got fantastic acoustics, too. It’s recently been renovated, with improved facilities (kitchen and WC), so we can offer refreshments as part of the offering for the concert series. There’s a lovely open area at the back of the church that is ideal for the informal pre-concert events we’re planning too.

Tell us more about the pre-concert events

From 6.30pm, before each concert, there’ll be a relaxed gathering with tea, coffee and musical demonstrations. The musicians will play on selected violins, violas and cellos from Stamford Strings, and our concert-goers will be most welcome to chat with them and ask questions.

What can audiences expect from the concerts?

The programmes have been chosen by the musicians themselves, which ensures a personal connection to the music. In terms of a few highlights… the June concert will be the first to showcase the church’s newly acquired piano, which is very exciting. In July, Jessica and Eleanor will be performing music by female composers, which we are delighted to bring to our local audience. For Jessica, it will be very poignant, as it’s a collection of work that she should have performed for her music degree, but was never able to due to Covid.

In September, we have Michael Petrov playing, which is an incredible treat for Stamford – he’s a top international soloist, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him playing here. Michael plays on a JB Vuillaume cello from 1846 – a rare, beautiful instrument to hear live.

Final thoughts?

This series is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate musicianship and creativity in our region. It gives professional performers – many of them based locally – a chance to share their work and engage directly with audiences. We hope this will be the start of something really special.

THE BRAZENOSE RANGE FROM STAMFORD STRINGS

Brazenose is the brand-new range of handcrafted violins, violas and cellos now available exclusively from Stamford Strings. Designed and assembled in Stamford, these beautifully made instruments offer excellent tone, style and playability for developing musicians. Ideal for advancing students, adult learners or those returning to music, Brazenose combines traditional craftsmanship with modern accessibility. Visit the shop or find out more on the Stamford Strings website.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

CIRRUS PIANO TRIO friday 6 june, 7.30pm

Martin Smith (violin)

David Burrowes (cello)

Martin Ennis (piano)

Haydn The Gypsy Rondo Hob. XV:25 Halvorsen Passaeaglia for String Duo Dvořák The Dumky Trio op.90

HARP & VIOLIN DUO

friday 4 JULY, 7.30pm

Jessica Tomey (violin)

Eleanor Turner (harp)

Music by Amy Beach & Rebecca Clarke

Neo-traditional folk compositions

CELLO & PIANO DUO

saturday 6 september, 7.30pm

Michael Petrov (cello)

Rosie Richardson (piano)

Rachmaninoff Songs arr. Cello & Piano

1. Prelude

2. Ne poi, krasavitsa, pri mne

3. Vocalise

4. Zdes Khorosho

Chopin Sonata for Cello & Piano op.65

all concerts are at st martin’s church, high street st martin’s stamford pe9 2lf. refreshments & instrument demos prior to each concert, from 6.30pm

Tickets for all concerts are available from Stamford Strings – shop & website (see below). Tickets: £20 each (£15 for under 18s); a season ticket for all three concerts is £55 for full-price tickets (saving £5).

FIND OUT MORE & BOOK NOW:

stamford strings, 63 high street st martin’s, stamford pe9 2la 07376 919766 | @stamfordstrings www.stamfordstrings.co.uk/events

A truly bespoke service with our in-house design team. Manufacturing custom cabinetry, crafted in our Rutland workshops.

Bakehouse Shaping Beautiful Spaces across the World

Nicholas Rudd-Jones chatted with Alan Ramm, founder and creative director of Bakehouse, about recent initiatives and future plans

THE TEAM at Bakehouse, founded in 2008, have a unique understanding of the need for a kitchen that truly is at the heart of your home. Their wealth of knowledge allows them to work seamlessly to create beautiful, accessible spaces with a high level of distinction and sophistication. They produce both traditional and contemporary kitchens with sublime architectural detail, sympathetic to the property and its surrounding.

Celebrating the provenance and quality of luxury English design has been central to the Bakehouse mission from day one, always drawing on the traditional methods of joinery to create exceptional-quality, long-lasting furniture with enduring style. Alan and the Bakehouse team integrate traditional English carpentry methods into all bespoke projects to ensure a perfect balance between the old and new, shaping spaces that are expertly crafted to suit modern life. All of the furniture is made in Rutland by a highly skilled team who

‘A perfect balance between the old and new, shaping spaces that are expertly crafted to suit modern life’

continually hone their craft to ensure they lead the way in celebrating what makes English luxury bespoke design so special.

Over recent years Bakehouse has grown its business well beyond our region to London, the Home Counties and abroad – including some very high-profile installations, notably model David Gandy’s Georgian mansion, which was featured in Vogue magazine and another client who is very much at the top of the A-list of British celebrities.

SAN FRANCISCO PROJECT: THE MARINE LAYERS KITCHEN

Alan told me about an exciting new project in San Francisco, the Marine Layers Kitchen. ‘At the end of last year, we were proud to be invited by the San Francisco Decorator Showcase (SFDS) to provide the kitchen for this year’s house. We were so excited to work with the amazing team over there and to collaborate with top American interior designer Kelly Hohla, whose design philosophy is based around layered spaces that achieve balance.’

The SFDS is an annual design showhouse event that takes place in a different grand home in San Francisco each year. It showcases the work of top interior and landscape designers from the region. This year the show is taking place at 2935 Pacific Avenue, an elegant 9,400-sq-ft Pacific Heights home featuring a stunning 2,150-sq-ft rooftop deck with breathtaking city and bay views. The SFDS brings together some of the Bay Area’s most renowned interior and landscape designers, who transform the chosen home into a showcase of design, creating a variety of spaces that reflect their individual styles and perspectives. It is a huge event, the second-largest homecase event in the whole of the USA.

The Bakehouse Installation

On the installation of the kitchen for the SFDS, Alan explained: ‘The whole kitchen was air freighted direct from our Rutland workshop and fitted over the last month. It was essential to make it over here, as the Americans love that absolute English authenticity –traditional craft and quality, dovetail joints and other artisan elements not available in their

ABOVE & BELOW: the stunning kitchen created by Bakehouse for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase. FAR BELOW: Alan Ramm of Bakehouse with interior designer Kelly Hohla.

‘The room itself is inspired by the coastline of California and the way that the ocean interacts with the shoreline’

market. We have already installed a couple of stunning kitchens on the West Coast. English craftmanship is really appreciated in America.

‘The room itself is inspired by the coastline of California and the way that the ocean interacts with the shoreline. This can be seen within the kitchen through the colours and textures chosen. We use a combination of Bakehouse’s ‘Coastal Oak’ stain and sprayed ‘Bridgerton Blue’, evoking the hues of the nearby iconic Marine Bay. And the blue is also a perfect match for the cooker.’

Great attention is paid to such interior detailing as solid oak drawers showcasing dovetail joints, and an appliance cabinet with recessed doors that push back for ease of use. A focal point in the main kitchen is a 60” BlueStar RNB Range in ‘Squirrel Grey’ with matte black trim and beautiful brushed copper knobs. Above this is a Waterworks pot filler – a luxurious touch to elevate the cooking experience.

BAKEHOUSE WORKSHOP/SHOWROOM

Alan also told us about the planned shift from the current showroom on St Mary’s Street in Stamford to the Essendine workshop. ‘We increasingly find that our clients want to understand and be involved in the whole creative and craft process that goes into making a great kitchen. ‘So, a natural next step for us, rather than operating out of a showroom in the more traditional manner, is to invite clients to our workshop to allow them to envisage firsthand what might be possible for their project. They will see what a handmade process it is, and they will be able to follow a kitchen, perhaps their own kitchen, through the various phases of creation.’

ABOVE LEFT: the kitchen’s numerous stylish design features include this beautiful pot filler by Waterworks. A wall-mounted tap installed near the stove, this device is conceived to easily fill large pots with water without having to carry them from the sink.

ABOVE: the solid oak cabinetry is finished in Bakehouse’s ‘Coastal Oak’ stain, which works beautifully with the cool grey of the Da Vinci marble of the worksurfaces, alcove linings, shelving and splashback.

to contact bakehouse, call 01780 767928 or visit www.bakehousekitchens.com

to find more about the san francisco decorator showcase, visit www.decoratorshowcase.org @bakehousekitchens

www.therugstudio.co.uk

01780 239594 rachel@therugstudio.co.uk

C4 Brownlow Street, Stamford, PE9 2EL The Stamford Studio: Open Tues. & Thurs. 10am - 1pm Fri. 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm Sat. 10am - 4pm or by appointment

words: amander meade

Sarah Harding interiors

As well known for her warm and friendly approach as for her flawless interior design pedigree, Sarah Harding is renowned for delivering consistently stunning results. From her showroom base in Uppingham, Sarah works with clients across the region and wider UK on projects large and small, commercial and domestic, using over 25 years of experience to tease out the very best creative results from each new undertaking

FROM THE VERY FIRST ENQUIRY, Sarah and her team make it a priority to ensure that every client feels comfortable and relaxed, whether the task at hand is a simple upholstery update on a single piece of furniture or a major decorative home refurbishment. ‘Clients are guaranteed they will deal with the same team member throughout the entire process,’ explains Sarah. ‘We are a proud family business, involving both my husband John and, more recently, my daughter Alice, as well as my design colleagues Vivienne and Nicci – both of whom have been with me for many years. Ownership and accountability are key to ensure clients feel confident in our expertise. No project is ever signed off until the client is entirely happy with what has been achieved.’

A Matter of Taste

Initially, Sarah will either make a home visit or invite clients into her welcoming consulting room, where they can browse the vast array of fabrics, paints and wallpapers from which to choose. At the ideas stage, Sarah encourages clients to consider a starting point, which acts as a launchpad in getting to know their personal style aspirations. ‘Recently, a major project began when a customer showed me a favourite piece of colourful ceramic, and this served as our inspiration for the whole room scheme,’ she explains. ‘It might be that they are drawn to a particular colour or fabric, or have a treasured piece of art, which can often be a great insight into their personal taste and the perfect indicator of where to begin.’

Sarah is adamant that the role of the interior designer is never to impose their own style onto the customer, firmly eschewing the idea of a ‘signature look’. ‘My role is to understand the client’s taste and how any changes to design or furnishings will fit and flow within the rest of their home and decor.’ It is perhaps this lack of ego that keeps clients returning time after time, year after year.

Managing Costs

Often, it can be the dread of outrageously escalating costs that can deter people from using an interior design team, but Sarah is most comfortable when she has a clearly defined budget from the very start of a project. ‘Having a budget laid out from the off makes our job so much

‘My role is to understand the client’s taste and how any changes to design or furnishings will fit and flow within the rest of their home and decor’

easier. It is irrelevant how large or small the job is, or what kind of budget is available, we will always be entirely transparent about what can be achieved within those confines and strive to bring every single project in on budget – or under budget if we possibly can.’

Sarah collaborates with a raft of experts in upholstery, painting, decorating, building, joinery and blind- and curtain-making with professional relationships forged over many years, and it’s here that clients can often make savings and avoid costly mistakes. ‘For example, our team are all experts at stretching a budget in many different ways through experience. It may be that for a window dressing we suggest a beautiful mid-priced fabric but recommend a luxurious trim, tie, braid or border to elevate the finished look, whilst saving money to be used elsewhere. It’s all about being creative within the budget, which clients always appreciate.’

Inspiring Ideas

Sarah and the team will oversee entire projects from helping to define and choose colour schemes to designing and commissioning bespoke pieces of furniture – from tailor-made sofas and dining tables to headboards, storage solutions and handmade co-ordinating soft furnishings to fill your home with personalised gems made to measure. Sarah’s team of trusted industry professionals will also procure and install lighting, fixtures and cabinetry, all tried and tested for ultimate quality assurance.

Asked about where she draws her own inspiration, Sarah explains that she is constantly monitoring new collections each season and cherry picking the best and most innovative new designs and ideas for future use. ‘I always have an eye on emerging suppliers to add to our carefully chosen range of UK and international designers and take the best of what is on offer to pair with clients’ wish lists. Just now in the showroom we have lots of new table linen for summer as well as new home fragrances, decorative pieces and giftware. Browsers are always most welcome, and a look around the showroom can provide lots of inspiration on how to make small changes to reinvent or refresh the look of a room.

‘We are always delighted to chat through ideas, problems and solutions and are so proud of our approachable reputation. We aim to build on that with every delighted customer.’

sarah harding interiors

6 market place

uppingham le15 9qh

01572 823389

sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk

Decorative

artist Laura

E Jekyll transforms

tricky connecting room into a richly layered, refined space that honours both heritage and personal story

A Decorative Revival D

OWN A QUIET STREET in the centre of historic Stamford lies a handsome yet unassuming Georgian home. Inside, a connecting room had long struggled to find its identity. Acting at times as a music room, a home office and a formal dining space, it functioned more as a thoroughfare to the kitchen than a destination in itself. The furniture was well loved but large and dark, making the space feel a little heavy.

The client discovered local artist Laura E Jekyll via Claire Langley’s Stamford showroom, where a set of Gustavian-inspired dining chairs – painted in Laura’s signature soft, washy tones – first caught their eye. Those chairs became the catalyst for a full-scale reimagining of the room. The brief: to create a space that felt cohesive and characterful, without becoming contrived. The result is a quietly expressive room with a deep sense of place.

Reviving Timeless Pieces

Tall sash windows flood the space with natural light and open onto a mature garden where willow branches dip gently towards the millstream. The architecture – high ceilings, original features – offered the perfect proportions for a layered decorative scheme that feels both bold and a little stately.

One of the centrepieces is a large antique dining table. Solid and beautifully made, it had begun to feel tired. ‘As we stripped back the layers of varnish and stain, we fell in love with the wood beneath,’ says Laura. ‘It had such warmth and richness, we knew the top had to remain natural.’ The oak surface was carefully waxed to enhance its grain, while the base was painted in a simple decorative motif to lift the visual weight and connect the piece with the other elements in the room.

On one wall sits a magnificent antique settle. ‘It had such a beautiful silhouette,’ says Laura ‘but it was hidden under a dark, peeling finish. We could see instantly how much more elegant it could be.’ Decorated in gentle hues with circular motifs and fluid brushwork, the design nods to the client’s love of the Bloomsbury aesthetic. Willow branches wind their way across the back in reference to the garden, while delicately painted dragonflies – a personal symbol of remembrance – dance among the leaves.

A Room to Gather and Grow

A palette of deep greens, soft blues and chalky whites grounds the room, with Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke on the walls creating a cocooning, refined backdrop. A piano, once tucked to the side, has been brought to the forefront, lending the space a sense of purpose and grandeur.

This is now a room to pause in. A refined space that fits effortlessly into the rhythm of busy family life. It’s somewhere to gather, linger over meals, enjoy music. A room that finally feels like the heart of the home.

‘Willow branches wind their way across the back rest of the settle in reference to the garden, while delicately painted dragonflies – a personal symbol of remembrance – dance among the leaves’

LEFT: a simple decorative motif on the base of the oak table legs helped to lift the visual weight of the piece and connect it with other elements in the room.

RIGHT: a set of Gustavian-inspired dining chairs became the catalyst for a full reimagining of the room. The project garnered praise from decorative icon Annie Sloan.

BELOW: the antique settle reflects the clients’ love of the Bloomsbury aesthetic and features bespoke motifs such as willow and dragonflies, all of special significance to the family and their home.

the

Based in our region, Laura E Jekyll is a decorative artist creating one-of-a-kind heirloom furniture, homewares and personalised keepsakes. Working with families and designers across Rutland, Lincolnshire and further afield, she creates bespoke interiors that reflect the unique character and charm of your family and your home. Find out more at laurajekyll.com and @laura.jekyll

ABOVE:

table’s oak surface was carefully waxed to enhance its grain, while the base was painted by Laura to connect the piece to the settle, dining chairs and the rest of the room.

•

It’s Show Time!

Find

out how to

make the most of British Flower Shows this summer with tips and ideas from Garden Designer, BBC Gardeners’ World Presenter and regular Columnist Nick Bailey

FLOWER SHOWS exist all over the world, but you’ll never find any better than those here in the UK. We are the originators of these horticultural extravaganzas, and, unlike some other stuff we invented that other countries are now better at, we still do flower shows the best. The pinnacle of these is, of course, Chelsea Flower Show. It’s an amazing event that I watched on TV for the first 25 years of my life, then built and planted at for the next 10 years, finally spending the last decade wandering around with a BBC TV crew extoling the virtues of the extraordinary gardens, plants and designs on display. All sorts of firsts have happened at this show, from Diarmuid Gavins’ garden suspended on a crane, to a wedding in a show garden, to extraordinary new plant introductions and me having my first stab at reading an autocue live!

But ‘Chelsea’ is far from the be all and end all of garden shows. There are literally hundreds across the UK, in towns, villages and cities. A simple internet search will reveal the plethora of them here in the Midlands. The only potential downside to these events is their popularity, price and the whims of the British weather, so here’s my guide to getting the best out of British Flower Shows.

‘Show gardens are amazing sources of inspiration, but beware thinking you can imitate them wholesale’

LEFT: Headline Designer for BBC Gardeners’ World Live this June, Nick Bailey has designed The Plant-Based Garden, a sketch of which is shown here. Nick’s plastic- and concrete-free design brings the show’s ethos to life. He leads a talented bunch of awardwinning designers, all committed to inspiring the crowds with their impressive show gardens at the June event.

Essentials for the Day To make the most of your day it’s worth taking a few essentials with you. First on the list is a foldable trolley. These nifty bits of kit give you safe storage and transport for your purchased plants, along with my other recommended essentials. These include a light foldable brolly, which will protect you from sun and rain in equal measure, and, let’s be frank, there is every chance both will happen!

I’d also recommend taking 2 litres per person of bottled water as well as snacks – this will save you £20 a head, as food and drink at these events are notoriously expensive. But, for real luxury, and if you have got the space, add in a folding camping chair – most shows will take many hours to explore, and your own seating detail will keep your energy up.

Strategic Shopping If plant shopping is your focus, then get in early, as the best and most unusual plants, of course, sell out first. Make use of your trolley, but if you don’t have one (or it quickly fills up), leave your loot at a plant crèche. These are often run as charitable fundraisers, so everyone is a winner. When it comes to picking your plants, try to avoid the temptation of specimens in full bloom, instead aim for those showing a bit of colour, so you can identify them, but with lots of flower still to come. Avoid mass produced, shippedin plants if you can. These tend to be bedding species in 7 or 9cm pots, which have been grown en masse, possibly not even in the UK. Support smaller ‘home-grown’ independent nurseries instead – they always tend to have the most interesting stuff anyway.

Seeing the Gardens If your focus is more on the show gardens and displays, then I usually recommend people aim to come early or late. Either of these options will show the gardens in their best light (literally), as overhead midday light gives a ‘white-out’ effect to the garden. And, of course, there are fewer people early and late in the day. Another strategy I employ is to arrive early and go to the furthest show garden and make my way back to the beginning – everyone else is doing the opposite, so you’ll avoid the crowds.

Fantasy Planting Finally, a word to the wise. Show gardens are amazing sources of inspiration, but beware thinking you can imitate them wholesale – many of these gardens are pure fantasy with a mix of plants that have both been pushed into flower and held back from flowering to create a floral cacophony that is not possible in a real garden. Also bear in mind that show gardens have a uniquely weird quirk – they are designed to be viewed from the outside in, whereas nearly every real garden is designed to be viewed from the inside out. All I’m saying really is enjoy these amazing floral concoctions, but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t recreate them at home – no one can!

SOME DATES FOR THE DIARY: LATE SPRING/SUMMER 2025 Flower shows in our region and beyond this summer include:

• BBC Gardeners’ World Live (12–15 June)

• RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival (1–6 July)

• Belvoir Castle Flower Show (12–13 July)

• Sandringham Flower Show (23 July)

• The Rutland Flower Show (15–17 August)

•BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair (29–31 August)

Time to Rethink Your Garden?

NICK

BAILEY’S GARDEN DESIGN & CONSULTANCY SERVICE offers affordable bespoke design solutions across the UK. From compact plots to private estates, Nick’s design expertise and plantsmanship, backed by 35 years of experience, delivers beautiful gardens in tune with nature and each client’s needs. Enquire about an initial consultation at www.nickbailey365.com

photo: jonathan buckley

photo nick bailey © alexandra froggatt

ABOVE: Scenes from RHS Chelsea: keen gardener and celebrity chef Dame Mary Berry with the iconic Chelsea Pensioners (top) and a fabulous floral display from the RHS (bottom).

MindSpace wellbeing garden

As summer approaches and we prepare to spend more time outdoors, we look at how we can get our gardens ready for warmer, longer days. Louise Goss interviews the people in charge of the MindSpace Wellbeing Garden in Stamford

THE MINDSPACE WELLBEING GARDEN is a hidden gem on the outskirts of Stamford. A thriving garden accessible to all, where people can come down, help out, get their hands in the soil with gardening tasks, or simply sit and relax, surrounded by nature. Located on the Uffington Road, the Garden opened in 2019 as a large space dedicated not just to growing plants and produce but to growing and nurturing the mental wellbeing of our local community. It is also where MindSpace host multiple events throughout the year, from gardening sessions and family hours to sound spas, foraging and even sketching with local artist, Karen Neale.

‘Most importantly, take time to sit back and enjoy the garden’

Keeping it tidy and maintained is a team effort. In charge of the venture and overseeing all that goes on in the garden is the charity’s garden lead, Kay Harrington. ‘When we took on the garden, it was just brambles. The only things here were these beautiful fruit trees that are still here,’ she says, indicating the apple and plum trees close to where we are sitting. Since then, the space has been transformed, with new beds, a small pond and a foraging area full of edibles from soft fruits to herbs.

‘We’ve put in the raised beds, new gravel paths, a huge number of vegetable plots and the compost bins. Last year, we added the polytunnel, which has been amazing.’ This allows the team not just to do more propagation, but also to continue to host garden sessions under cover in bad weather.

apply for a plot

Don’t have a garden? MindSpace have 10 growing spaces available where anyone from the area who would like to give growing a try, or who may not have access to a garden, can apply to take on a plot.

‘We have a great opportunity for people to have a go at growing something at MindSpace. There is no failure. It is the act of growing, of seed sowing, of turning the earth over, of weeding and dead heading, the act of gardening that has scientific benefits for our wellbeing. It is good for mindfulness, for positivity, for connection with nature. All these things are really important. It is not about being a great gardener but having that connection with a plant or the soil or environment or the season.’

If you are interested in applying for a growing space, please email MindSpace at info@mindspacestamford.com

There are many ways you can enjoy and connect with the MindSpace Wellbeing Garden. Join in at one of the many wellbeing sessions held there; help out in the garden; oﬀer help as volunteer leader; or give support through fundraising. See the website for details.

A Team Eﬀort

There is a lot more to be done. ‘We are transforming the area that was just grass and wild flowers into more vegetable plots for people to take on. Another area will be a new herb garden,’ says Kay. All of this is possible due to a team of volunteers and generous donations from local businesses and individuals. The Garden has benefitted from donations of plants from Adam Frost and the Burghley Estate. Local business CLM Ltd has been helping out, as have Stamford-based furniture makers, Matthew Cox, who regularly volunteer time to help out. ‘They came down with all their tools and have made all the raised beds,’ says Kay. ‘Rutland Scaffolding gave us all the scaffold boards for the beds too.’ People have kindly donated tools when having a clear out. ‘We can always take on another hand tool – little trowels are always useful!’

As for the gardening itself, it’s a team eﬀort, Kay tells me. ‘We have the best volunteers who come down every week and do whatever I throw at them!’

Jobs for the Summer

It is approaching one of the busiest times of year for gardeners. ‘We usually have a list of things that need to be done, and people can pick and choose to do whatever they feel they’re able to do that day. But we also say, just come along and have a cup of tea. You don’t need to get involved or get your hands in the soil if you don’t want to. Just enjoy the garden. Everyone is friendly and happy to have a chat with you.’

Over the coming months, the main jobs include weeding, putting in seeds, planting up the pots and pruning. The team will also be levelling the vegetable plots ready for local people to take them over if they wish to have a go.

Enjoying the Garden

‘The Garden is open all the time,’ Kay explains. ‘People have come down at weekends with picnics, and children come along and have a look around. The garden is changing all the time. You walk in and think, wow – there’s more colour, everything has sprung up.’ MindSpace provide everything needed when people come along to help out.

‘There’s always a cup of tea and slice of cake as well, but, most importantly, take time to sit back and enjoy the garden.’

mindspace wellbeing garden, ufﬁngton road south allotments, ufﬁngton road, stamford pe9 2hd | mindspacestamford.com/garden/

getting your garden ready

Chris Young, Garden Trustee at MindSpace and a professional garden designer, says there are a few key things to do to keep your garden healthy this summer

crops

• In summer, one of the most important things is to look after your crops. Keep a good eye on them to make sure they are looking as well watered and fed as possible before heading into peak harvesting season.

• Whatever crop you grow, from strawberries and raspberries to lettuces and carrots, check on them every day or two to see if they need watering or feeding.

• Keep on top of watering vegetables such as lettuces and courgettes.

• Start thinning out carrots and leeks and similar crops that need more growing space.

• Look out for pests and diseases. The more stressed a plant is, the more susceptible they are to disease.

plants & flowers

• Keep on top of deadheading. The more you deadhead, the more you encourage new ﬂowers to grow (especially true with roses).

• Roses are hungry and thirsty plants, so if your soil is a bit thin or lacks nutrients, make sure you are feeding them and keeping them watered.

lawns

Many people have lawns, and the British summer can be unpredictable. If it is very dry and your lawn goes brown, don’t worry about it, don’t waste your water on it. You don’t need to do anything; your lawn will bounce back in the autumn.

watering

• Always water ﬁrst thing in the morning or last thing at night when the sun is low.

• Make sure you don’t water all over the leaves but aim the water at the roots.

slugs & snails

These are the pests that do the most damage, nibbling on lots of things. You will ﬁnd them at night, so go out with a torch to remove them. One option is to set up a beer trap in the soil around the plants.

Finally, remember to enjoy your ﬂowers. Pick a few stems and pop them in a vase for your home.

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Belvoir Retail Village

Nicholas & Clare Rudd-Jones went to explore

Belvoir Retail Village, handily situated opposite the visitor entrance to Belvoir Castle

CAREFULLY RESTORED from Victorian buildings and surrounded by woodland, the charming collection of buildings that comprise Belvoir Retail Village was originally constructed in 1850 to house a sawmill, wagon-making shop and wheelwright’s shop for the estate. Today, it is home to a carefully curated selection of shops offering everything from fresh local produce to luxury fashion to stylish homewares. From the moment you arrive here, driving in past Belvoir Castle so magnificently located on the ridge above you, you are struck both by its history and by the immaculate style with which it has all been renovated. Between the buildings, you’ll see restored farming paraphernalia, which all adds to the sense of history and style. Signage is beautifully created by local calligrapher Vicky of Inviting Writing, adding further to the feeling of quality, originality and specialness.

THE SHOPS

The Farm Shop: At the heart of the Retail Village is Belvoir Farm Shop, a huge space full of enticing things to eat and drink. Our eyes were agog as we took it all in! There are beautifully stocked, high-end meat and cheese counters, a host of fresh local vegetables and row upon row of fabulous speciality foods – stripy pasta, locally milled flour, tempting artisan chocolate and delicious local preserves, including jars of branded pickles and jams from the Belvoir estate. The whole far end of the shop is devoted to beers, wines and spirits, including a large range of Belvoir gins, beers and ciders. In fact, much of the produce comes from the Belvoir estate itself or from nearby producers. It’s a fantastic array.

In the end, we bought sirloin steaks for dinner, fresh asparagus and a sparkling white and a red wine, both from Belvoir’s own vineyard. As well as stocking up your larder, this is a great place for gifts, including the option to build your own hamper. You can also just pick up something to eat outside at leisure at the tables and chairs dotted around for chillaxing.

The Duchess Collection: Not for the first time, Clare made a beeline for The Duchess Collection, which offers a carefully curated range of elegant fashion, jewellery and homewares. Key clothing lines here include One Hundred Stars, which does gorgeous lightweight gowns, kimonos and scarves, as well as Barbour – for classic country style. There is menswear, too, including some beautiful cotton prints with Nehru collars. Prices are keen – Clare bought a boxy, knitted cream jacket by Rino & Pelle that was fantastic value for such a versatile piece. It’s a lovely shop, spread over three floors.

The homewares area of the collection showcases items from Nordic Style Interiors. The aim of this range, where texture and tone are paramount, is to ‘bring Nordic lights to British homes’. Elegant, pared-down chic, again at very competitive prices.

Bumbles Interior Design: Adjacent to The Duchess Collection is Bumbles, an interior design and homeware shop,offering a curated selection of beautiful pieces for your home. Lots of items here are reclaimed and restored, and there are options to have bespoke items made too, for example lampshades. Bumbles also stocks the award-winning Frenchic Paint. It also stocks a lovely range of thoughtful gifts that are sure to delight.

Tori Murphy: At the far end of the Retail Village is the HQ of interior designer Tori Murphy, whose signature look is the essence of classic relaxed English style, comfort and tradition. Tori’s office is upstairs, while downstairs is a showcase for her British-made textiles and homewares. You can order products including curtains and blinds bespoke, and there is also a beautiful range of aprons, tea towels, tablecloths, napkins and oven gloves to browse.

BELVOIR ANIMAL PARK

The Animal Park offers visitors the chance to meet friendly farm animals in a delightful countryside setting, creating memorable experiences for the whole family. It’s open weekends and school holidays. Among the animals are Stu, the hand-reared calf who loves people, and a cat called Ginge – people come back time and again to say hello to him! Donkeys Mickey (seen left) and Dave are best friends and have fabulous personalities too.

DINING OPTIONS

The Belvoir Bistro is perfect throughout the day, whether for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. We popped in mid-morning and enjoyed an excellent coffee. It’s such an exquisite setting – relaxed and really comfortable. One of the best bistro spaces we have experienced. There is an array of delicious homemade cakes on offer, and the lunch menu includes dishes such as smashed burger, pumpkin and ricotta tortellini or croque monsieur, with many of the ingredients sourced directly from the estate or local producers. Outside, under a canvas canopy, the Belvoir Woodfired Pizza is a big draw, especially with families and visitors with dogs. Here, stone-baked pizzas are lovingly handcrafted using only the finest ingredients, from San Marzano tomatoes to fresh buffalo mozzarella.

belvoir retail village, belvoir castle, ng32 1pa | 01476 247059 www.belvoircastle.com/retail-village | @belvoirretailvillage

Belvoir Castle Flower & Garden Show 2025

Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 July • Book online at www.belvoircastle.com

Whether you’re an avid gardener or simply looking for a lovely day out, the Belvoir Castle Flower & Garden Show has something for everyone. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, pick up new plants, enjoy delicious food, and be inspired by the best in the gardening world. Gardening experts Adam Frost and David Domoney will be attending, hosting a variety of one-off talks and meet-and-greets, and participating in a Q&A-style gardener’s question time, answering questions from all levels of green-fingered enthusiasts. Visitors can also admire border displays from talented designers who are based as far afield as Lisbon, engage in children’s gardening sessions led by Karen Gimson from BBC Radio Leicester, listen to live music from vintage singer Johnny Victory and enjoy unique shopping opportunities from small businesses. There will be mouthwatering food and drink including Belvoir’s legendary Afternoon Tea. There will be something for the whole family at this event, including a mini-animal farm and face painting.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

A family ticket to Belvoir Castle Flower & Garden Show AND Animal Park

A family ticket is for 2 adults & 3 children. Must be redeemed on either 12 July 2025 or 13 July 2025. Tickets are valid for the Flower & Garden Show and Animal Park. To enter the competition, just email nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk with ‘Belvoir competition’ in the subject line, with an answer to the question: Name one of the key clothing lines that we mention is stocked at The Duchess Collection at the Belvoir Retail Village? Answers must be received no later than midnight on Sunday 22 June 2025. The winner will be the first correct answer picked out of a hat.

Roxy

the staffordshire bull terrier

Pet expert Tom Cassidy introduces Amander Meade to

his

beloved

‘Staffy’,

Roxy, and dispels some misconceptions around the breed

WORDS: AMANDER MEADE

VERY WELL KNOWN to many pet owners in Rutland, Tom works in Tails & Whiskers Pet Shop in Oakham and, whenever he’s at work, snoozing quietly in the back office is Roxy, who has been with him since she was eight weeks old.

‘I was brought up with dogs in the family, but we always tended towards flat-faced breeds such as boxers or pugs,’ explains Tom. ‘When I moved into my first flat, I wanted a companion, so began looking around for a suitable dog.’

Spotting an advert for a local litter off Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Tom went along to see the puppies with their mother, and Roxy was the first to approach him. ‘She definitely chose me,’ he remembers. Eight weeks later Roxy came to live with Tom, and the two have been inseparable ever since.

Tom recognises that the last couple of decades have been a turbulent time in terms of PR for the breed but is keen to point out that many breeds have suffered the same negative media spotlight. ‘When I was younger, it was German Shepherds that had the bad reputation, followed by Dobermans, Rottweilers, and the list goes on. People are understandably intimidated by the strength and power of the breed without knowing much about their temperament. There have been times when I have felt like Moses parting the Red Sea whilst walking down the street, as people avoid Roxy, which is a great shame – especially as she’s so friendly and loves meeting new friends.’

According to The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Heritage Centre, a charity dedicated to the preservation, conservation and promotion of the breed, Staffordshires attained UK Kennel Club recognition on 25 May 1935. The modern dog is known for its indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a superb all-purpose dog.

The breed is naturally muscular but possesses a natural fondness for people. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier appeared in the top ten breeds most suitable for families and especially children in a report researched and published by Southampton University in 1996. The breed is highly intelligent, eager to please and very people friendly. It adapts readily to most situations, making it one of the foremost all-purpose dogs. Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies are very easy to house train but they are very energetic as youngsters, so potential owners need to be able to meet their exercise needs. They can suffer from health problems common to most other dog breeds, including cataracts, luxating patellas, hip dysplasia and breathing problems, but overall they are a very healthy breed.

Tom took Roxy to puppy training at the local vets and made sure she had plenty of early socialisation with other dogs – something that is especially important with Staffys, as their origins as a fighting breed mean they should not be brought into close contact with dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs. They will, however, play or co-habit happily with other even-tempered dogs.

‘It has been said that no breed is more loving with its family’

‘Ongoing training and socialisation while they are young is vital, and anyone that has had a Staffy will tell you that to know them is to love them. They have many, many positive characteristics such as their loyalty, intelligence, affection for their friends and playfulness. They are prone to chewing as pups but soon learn what is and is not allowed, as they are so bright. It has been said that no breed is more loving with its family.’

‘Roxy is a much older lady, now aged 14, and is much less inclined to go for long walks, although she will play ball all day long. I would recommend anyone considering a Staffy to do plenty of research, always use a reputable breeder or better still a rescue centre. I’m pleased to say that a much smaller percentage of people are nervous these days and it’s nice to see how many people are pleased to see her.’

www.thestaffordshirebullterrier.co.uk

Where Luxury Meets Ease

Freya Talbot , of More Travel in Stamford, describes her wonderful curated lifestyle experience with her young family in Greece

SIPPING ON A CHILLED COCKTAIL, toes in the sand, sea breeze – no wallets, no wristbands, no worries. ‘LUXME®’ Luxury Made Easy® is born out of the Grecotel renowned 50-year experience as the leading hospitality group in Greece, presenting a pioneering brand offering a seamless blend of beachfront indulgence, sophisticated comfort and elevated, all-inclusive luxury experiences in the best Greek destinations: Crete, West Peloponnese, Kos, Rhodes and two in Corfu.

We’ve spoken a lot about Greek getaways recently, and you may have read our Greek Island-hopping adventure in the last edition of this magazine, but this time it’s all about a trip that feels like stepping into a curated lifestyle experience, where everything is taken care of – before you even have to ask!

When we say ‘all inclusive’ we aren’t talking queuing for a buffet. It’s all à la carte dining with exceptional culinary experiences, pâtisseries-chocolateries, crêperies-gelaterias, and wine libraries with extensive selections – not to mention those premium-label spirits!

Think five-star service with a laid-back vibe, designed for modern travellers who want the finer things and a break from everyday life. As a busy mum to two tots, I really appreciate how easy and effortless the concept really is. And the best thing: it suits just about everyone!

The rooms have a serious ‘wow’ factor, with rooms to accommodate just about any request we throw at them. The resorts really are dressed to impress. They are elegant and airy with a touch of real Greek charm; you wouldn’t be disappointed in even the lead-in rooms, but you can also scale it right up here to seafront bungalows with private pools, or take a big villa with the whole family – because… why not?

The Greek charm doesn’t stop at the design; the service had me blown away. I was lucky enough to visit their Corfu properties last May, and when I say nothing was too much, I mean it! The attention to detail was impeccable, the sense of family and togetherness gave it such a warm glow, it made me feel in love with the brand. You will feel like a VIP – and you are!

Grecotel LUXME® resorts offer more than a holiday – they deliver a feeling. The lightness you get when everything is just so easy. It’s not about showing off, it’s about showing up: for yourself, your family and your peace. Let’s have long, lazy lunches by the sea, share laughter over sunset cocktails and watch the kids make holiday memories they’ll talk about all year. You just need to pack your swimsuit – they’ll handle the rest. more travel, 15a st mary’s street, stamford pe9 2df 01780 433333 | www.more-travel.co.uk | @moretravelstamford

PAGE:

‘It’s all about a trip that feels like stepping into a curated lifestyle experience, where everything is taken care of – before you even have to ask!’

OPPOSITE

spa at the Grecotel LUXME® Dama Dama in Kallithea, Rhodes.

LEFT: pool at the Grecotel LUXME® White, in Rethymno, on Crete.

BELOW: aerial shot of the Grecotel LUXME® Costa Botanica, in Acharavi, Corfu.

Win £1,000 for a local charity*

Open or deposit into a savings account every month for a chance to win £1,000 for your chosen local charity.

Market Harborough Building Society’s Commitment to Community

Save with us and support your community!

Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS) is pleased to announce a signiﬁcant donation of £250,000 to its community fund, dedicated to supporting worthwhile causes across South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire over the forthcoming years.

This notable contribution is a testament to the steadfast support of their members, whose engagement has enabled the Society’s Thrive Agenda to make a substantial impact in returning value to the community.

The Thrive Agenda has already achieved considerable progress in supporting local communities. MHBS has invested £2.2 million in constructing seven new homes for those most in need locally and has made substantial donations to food banks. Additionally, colleagues donated over 2,000 volunteering hours in 2024, and the Society hosted 60 complimentary community events at our head office.

A primary focus for the investment will be a new programme titled “Thrive! Forward.” This initiative is intended to assist young individuals by concentrating on mental health, ﬁnancial capability, resilience, career planning, and employability skills. By providing support in these critical areas, they aim to equip the next generation for future success.

As part of their ongoing commitment to support charitable causes valued by it’s members, they’re launching a year-long campaign featuring a monthly prize draw for savings members residing in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Beginning in May, members will have the opportunity to win £1,000 to donate to a local charity of their choice in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the building society sector. (Terms and conditions apply. Scan the QR Code for additional information)

They invite both new and existing members to contribute toward making a positive difference in our community.

 Nominate a Cause: Suggest a charity that requires volunteers.

 Share Your Story: Sign up to share your personal experiences, advice, and guidance with a young person as part of our mission to collect 250 messages of guidance and support for young individuals.

 Participate in the Prize Draw: Save with us to enter the draw and stand a chance to win.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference and support our community.

Rob Persani

Rutland & Stamford Sound

Nicholas Rudd-Jones had the pleasure of catching up with Rob Persani, Project Manager and Presenter at Rutland & Stamford

Sound

radio, to find out how he and the station are getting on

You clearly you have a tremendous passion for everything around here. What is it that drives you?

‘I love where we live and I’m a naturally curious person, I like to find out exactly what’s going on. I don’t want our listeners to miss out on anything – that is what really drives me. I often also find that one thing leads to another, so it almost always pays to go along to an event. I feel privileged to be invited.’

How has the notion of ‘local’ changed in your 25 or so years here?

‘The friendliness and desire to be a part of the community is as strong as ever. Many people have moved to the area, which is great, and I am reminded that some see the region in a different way and mostly at weekends, so I like to try and reflect that too.

‘Lockdown of course was a time when the world became intensely local, and the radio was especially important then, keeping listeners up to date on food shops open, where they might be able to get a Covid jab, etc. For us, it was like it was a snowy day every day, and it helped create a very strong bond with our listeners.’

Where do you stand on all these possible changes in country boundaries?

‘Well, I arrived in Rutland just after the original campaign for independence came to a successful conclusion in 1997, so naturally it is a topic close to my heart. But our job as a community radio

station is to report the news, not to take particular sides. We have a legal responsibility to be balanced. We reported on Alicia Kearns’ four sessions with interested citizens on the topic, and it was striking to note that the overwhelming majority of those attending wanted some sort of tie up between Rutland & Stamford.’ [Ed note: something that we would wholeheartedly support too]

What do you see as the main characteristics of the area that makes it distinctive from other areas?

‘I’m not sure there is one defining characteristic. The towns and villages are all very distinct and have their own identity. In fact, for a lot of our listeners, they are happy that the region is not “famous” or over-visited, and they’d like to keep it that way!’

If a friend visited for the day, what would you show them?

‘Well, the great thing is, we could drive around the whole region in a day and take in several of the villages and each of the market towns. However, the spot I would absolutely have to show them would be Rutland Water. I love it.

‘My magic moment would be coming down Barnsdale Hill at dusk, with a full moon glistening on the water – it feels magical and as if you are by the coast.

‘I would also want to take my guest up to the hills above Oakham in High Leicestershire, just beyond Braunston – sometimes it feels almost mountainous there…’

What do you most enjoy about the job?

‘Well, undoubtedly providing a vital community service, especially at times of emergency. And, of course, meeting such a range of people and coming across so many interesting pastimes and passions.

‘A high point, too, is helping to open events. I especially recall the unveiling of the statue of Queen Elizabeth II, when I got to look after one of the assembled corgis briefly – it seemed both firm and squishy at the same time when I took it in my arms! And it is a pleasure to see now that each time I drive past the statue, there are people admiring it, taking pictures and even stroking the corgis – that was quite a story, the first statue of Queen Elizabeth II anywhere in the country.

‘And there are always new events to support. This year it’s the turn in August of The Rutland Flower Show, which I’m looking forward to.’

How is Rutland & Stamford Sound doing?

‘Our share of listeners is growing all the time, as people discover us, which is very gratifying. We tend to get a spike in our listening figures whenever there is adverse local weather, when we become a vital emergency service. So, in the floods at the start of last year, for example, which were quite cataclysmic, we were the place to come to find out exactly which roads were open, and which weren’t. That’s the most extreme weather I can remember – even Oakham and Uppingham were completely closed off to each other for a day, and people had to book into hotels!

‘The arrival of social media has been good for us too, as I am now always scouring it for stories and as a way of keeping up – it really does add to the sense of community.’

‘I love where we live and I’m a naturally curious person’

FAR LEFT: a champion of all things local, Rob is a familiar face – and voice! –having lived and worked in our region on local radio for over 25 years.

LEFT: the unfailingly enticing Rutland Water, one of Rob’s favourite local spots.

What are your future ambitions for Rutland & Stamford Sound?

‘The addition of DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) in May 2024 was great, since it made us more portable, and also increased our online listening figures. I guess it made us more convenient, in the car particularly. Definitely getting an FM wavelength is still important to us, and we are working hard on that, with the support of our local MP Alicia Kearns. We are hoping for spring 2026.

‘We also want to continue to diversify our source of funds. We are a non-profit making Community Interest Group, but, of course, it remains important that we stay viable. We get an income from advertising, sponsorship, grants and, increasingly, donations.

Also, we have just set up a Friends’ Club. For a small donation per month, say £10, our Friends can express their support for us and become eligible for some free merchandise, exclusive offers and an event per year. It’s about continuing to build on this sense of being for the community by the community.’

And how about you and your personal future ambitions?

‘I always thought I would move on when I had run out of things to do, but that day has never come – there is always more to do, there are always ways to evolve, and I am very attached to this area [Rob lives with his family in the heart of Oakham] and I love what I do.’

As we were wrapping up. I asked Rob if Maya, Rutland’s most prolific osprey egg layer, had had a fourth egg this year? I had heard the article on the radio a few days earlier that had asked the question: ‘Three eggs in the nest…will there be a fourth this year?’

Rob’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. ‘Yes,’ he said, almost as if his life depended on it, ‘she laid a fourth a few days later! I get so emotional to hear how she is doing. I so want it to be good weather for them, especially for their first flight. If all of them hatch, she will have had 42 chicks over the years, which is quite some achievement.’

Quite simply put, Rob has an evident, genuine and deep love for everything local. We are all very lucky to have him. He never seems to be ‘off duty’. He needed to be back on air at the end of our interview, so he went out to where his car was parked and started work again, broadcasting from the boot! Very mobile and very local.

If you’d like to be Rutland & Stamford Sound’s next new listener, just visit: www.rutlandandstamfordsound.co.uk

Why families chose Oat Hill Mews care home

There are many reasons why families choose our new luxury care home in Market Harborough besides our expert care, our established leadership team and our exceptional 10 out of 10 score on carehome.co.uk

We are known in the area for providing expert dementia care with our state-of-the-art dementia friendly designs and technology, an award-winning dining with dignity approach and namaste care.

Dementia care community hub

Oat Hill Mews is also recognised for offering an invaluable dementia hub to the community, to those needing guidance and a listening ear in a supportive and friendly environment.

“Dementia care is a challenge for everyone involved and it’s clear that being able to talk face to face with ‘specialist’ support people is both reassuring and constructive”, David

Five-star food and dining

When residents and relatives are asked what’s so remarkable about living at Oat Hill Mews, the home’s cuisine and dining experience is always top on their list.

Our Head Chef Harry Underwood strives to create only the very best food for residents. He says, “It’s my passion to create wellbalanced dishes that not only taste delicious but look beautiful and appetising - as good as any fine dining restaurant. It’s the greatest feeling to put smiles on their faces.

“I enjoy the food here. Living by the sea I was used to fresh fish and my family grew their own vegetables, so I have always appreciated fresh food”. Hannah, resident

How our expert dementia team help the community:

• Expert-led informative dementia events and dementia support groups offering a range of themes from adjusting to an initial diagnosis to supporting someone with advanced dementia.

• Hand massage taster sessions part of our Namaste care - an approach which brings comfort and calm to those living with advanced dementia.

• Our highly trained Dementia Care Coach is always on-hand with advice and guidance.

• Our weekly Carer’s support café offers emotional and practical support, while your loved one joins in reminiscence activities with our dementia care team. Starting Friday 2nd May.

about Oat Hill Mews call 01858 390 307 or scan the QR code.

Oat Hill Mews care home

Leicester Road, Market Harborough LE16 7BN careuk.com/oat-hill-mews

Carers who look after everything So you don’t have to.

WELLNESS

BEAUTY

Q&A with Daniel Sandler

MASCARA MASTERCLASS

Each month, the international makeup artist and founder of Daniel Sandler Cosmetics, who is based in our region, answers your beauty and skincare questions. This month, he focuses on mascara

The other day, a very lovely reader of this magazine politely came up to me at Sarpech Indian restaurant in Oakham and said she was completely baffled by the amount of mascaras on the market and that at the age of 58 she still had no idea how to choose the right one.

We chatted for a few minutes, whilst munching on delicious poppadoms, and I explained why brush sizes vary and how formulas also vary. So this month, I thought I’d share that same information, as buying a mascara can truly be confusing and very frustrating.

WHAT KIND OF LASHES DO YOU HAVE?

First off, you need to consider the lashes themselves. Are they short? Look for a lengthening formula that has a short brush with lots of bristles, so each lash is coated, leaving you with a fuller lash line. Are they sparse? Look for a thickening formula with added fibres and a nice fat brush. Are they thin? Look for a thickening formula with a big brush to add buildable density and drama. Are they straight? Look for a curling mascara to add lift. The brushes are often curved to help with the curling effect right from the root.

MASCARA FORMULAS

What’s the difference between a classic formula and a tubing formula?

A classic, regular formula coats lashes with pigment, whereas a tubing formula forms tiny, water-resistant polymer tubes around each lash. On a personal note, I much prefer tubing mascaras, as they tend to be smudge-proof and flake-free, even in hot, humid conditions. Plus, they tend to be easily removed with warm water and a muslin cloth.

Top Tip: Mascara primers are a great way to boost the effect of your mascara. It’s not essential to use if your mascara is already ticking the boxes, but if you fancy massive lashes and looking extra glam for a party, then why not give it a go!

DIFFERENT COLOURS

When it comes to coloured mascaras, I always love black on everyone, regardless of age – the reason being that black makes eyes look less red, plus it makes everyone’s eye colour pop. You could try a colour to specifically make your eye

colour stand out, though I tend to find they don’t really help to define eye shape. On colours, green eyes especially suit burgundy mascara, blue eyes suit dark brown mascara, and brown eyes look great with navy mascara.

Top Tip: To avoid mascara running, avoid eye moisturisers and eye balms that contain oil because it’s the oil that works its way into your lashes and makes the mascara break down, leaving you with panda eyes. Also, make sure that you don’t have any of last night’s eye-makeup remover still on your lashes, or this too can prevent mascara staying in place.

REMOVING MASCARA

Classic waterproof mascara used to be a nightmare to remove, but these days formulas are much better at doing the job properly without having to rub too hard. I like using an oil-based eye-makeup remover such as La Roche-Posay Respectissime. I have very sensitive, dry eyes, and this La Roche-Posay doesn’t irritate at all.

I was chatting to Clare, our Editor, about gentle, effective makeup cleansers and she raves about Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish. I used to use it years ago and, sorry for my blatant name-dropping, being an old pal of Liz for over 40 years, I’ll definitely be grabbing one myself. Thank you Clare for reminding me about it!

www.danielsandler.com | @danielsandlermakeup

If you have a beauty or skincare question for Daniel, he’d love to hear from you. Just email your question to us at nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk. Our favourite question each month wins one of Daniel’s fabulous multi-award-winning products.

photo: tim steele

Do

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Handmade Bespoke Headpieces and Occasion Wear

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

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Plantar Fasciitis (severe heel pain)?

The method of treatment I offer for this is highly successful. Using computerised Gait Analysis & Orthotic Therapy (medical insoles).

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BEAUTY | WELLNESS

Spotlight on… BEAUTY MYTHS BUSTED

This month, makeup artist Rebecca Chantrell talks about makeup lessons, what they entail and why they are so helpful today

Whilst watching endless YouTube tutorials, Instagram reels, and TikTok videos is fun and great for tips (and highly addictive), your face shape, skin tone and eyes are different to those of the influencer in question. Having a personalised lesson adapted to you offers a lifelong skill you can then utilise daily. It’s very easy to feel a little bamboozled by what to use. Lessons I have done in the past have been sparked by a client’s lifestyle change, new hair colour, new job or just feeling a bit lost. I want people to feel confident to express themselves with makeup at any age or stage in their lives.

BESPOKE Lessons are totally bespoke and tailored appropriately to you, your time and budget. They cover skincare advice and makeup. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, from an everyday quick look to more elaborate wedding guest makeup.

PRODUCTS Most makeup artists will bring an extensive professional makeup kit along, which you can review alongside your own products. My kit, for example, is made up of high-street brands such as ELF and Rimmel as well as more high-end brands including Hourglass and Charlotte Tilbury. Another benefit is a lot of makeup artists are completely impartial to brands, so the motivation is purely to find the perfect product for you.

HOW DOES IT WORK? I always recommend applying makeup in natural light near a window, sitting with a mirror in front of you. Lessons are normally a combination of the makeup artist applying products on you, then you copying what they have done with guidance. You will be amazed at what you can do!

CORRECTLY COLOUR MATCHED A makeup artist will colour match you accurately, saving you money and the awkward guesswork in shops. So many people buy the wrong shade of foundation online, which is a costly mistake.

LESS WASTE Dressing tables and makeup bags are often full to the brim of products that people don’t know how to use or apply. A makeup artist will teach you how to use them properly (and bin any items that are an outdated health hazard).

MONEY-SAVING I find lessons also save money in the long run. So many people have makeup bags full of expensive products bought as gifts they don’t know how or when to use.

HOW TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU’VE LEARNT

Take photos of yourself and the products you use; take notes too. After my lessons I send a comprehensive email with

lesson notes, product links and application methods for each product in order of use, plus I’m always on hand to answer any questions after the lesson.

Lessons are always a highlight of what I do. As a makeup artist I have had a super-diverse and long career within the beauty industry, and my experience leaves me wanting to help people get the very best out of their makeup bags. My lessons start from £50 for an hour and 15 minute lesson. They can be hosted at your home or mine, one to one, in pairs or even with a group of friends.

Rebecca Chantrell | www.makeupbybecca.co.uk @rebeccachantrellmakeup

Scuba Diving

In a landlocked region at least 50 miles from the nearest coast, one activity you are probably less likely to associate with our area is scuba diving. However, just outside Ashwell in Rutland is Dive Rutland. Louise Goss speaks with owner, Tracey Roberts

Scuba diving is not something you’d associate with Rutland or the surrounding area. What can we offer here? We are only two hours from the coast, so it’s not as bad as people think it is. For training purposes for what we call confined water sections, we use Oakham School swimming pool. For open water, we generally use Stoney Cove quarry in Leicestershire, which is just over 50 minutes away. Sometimes we take trips up to Capernwray near Carnforth on the edge of the Lakes, or Eight Acre at Hull.

We are landlocked but we are not that far from facilities or areas where we can go diving. We generally train inland, but in the UK we have some of the best coastline in the world and some of the best underwater topography in the world. Off the east coast alone we have at least two wrecks you can dive from the shore, and thousands you can dive from a boat.

What possibilities does scuba diving open up?

The world is your oyster. You can take your diving in any direction you want. You can stay at open water level and just stay around the 18-metre-depth point. Some of the best coral in the world are in the shallows, so 18 metres is perfectly fine,.

What are the best aspects of scuba diving?

Peace! It is peaceful. No two dives are generally the same. It is weightless, but for me it is just peace. When I first started, I had one of those jobs where I was on call 24-7, and nobody could get at me under the water! I personally dive for wrecks, the history behind them, why they’re there, how they got there, what they look like… and also, nudibranchs (otherwise known as sea slugs).

Different people want different things out of diving. Some people want to go off and experience diving in different parts of the world. Some people do it because they want to be a marine biologist, and it can help when applying to university.

What sort of training do you offer at DIVE Rutland?

I have been a diver for 39 years. I am highly qualified and have a highly qualified team around me. I am an instructor-trainer. As a centre, we can offer training for anyone age eight and up. We have Young Explorers, for 8- to 11-year-olds, where we do pool training and have fun. From 10 years up, we can train to go to open water. We can train you all the way up to becoming a dive professional, so then you can take gap years, go working all around the world and train the next generation. We also do recreational diving up to 40 metres in depth and technical diving, so we can take you much deeper and for much longer on more complicated equipment, so we offer most things.

Anyone who has been out of the water for 12 months or more – most dive centres would not take you diving until you‘d been through a skills update. Equipment changes, skills, delivery, training… all change. If you’ve been diving in the last six months, you’ll still be assessed to make sure your skills are current. A lot of people do this before going on holiday, and they come for a scuba skills update session, which includes theory and dry and wet practical work. We offer try dives for anybody who wants to come and find out what diving feels like and explore the possibilities. We also offer snorkelling, so we are not just a dive centre.

Snorkelling experiences teach you how to snorkel properly: understanding how to use the mask and snorkel, the safety aspects, and how to correctly surface dive, so you get extended time under the water, the buoyancy aids available and which ones you should be using, as well as how to work with a buddy in the water. It is one

pool session, and we can cover a lot of ground including correctly using fins.

So, what qualifications can people come away with?

We are a dual agency in that we offer both PADI and SSI diving certification. We are currently favouring SSI, as it’s a more modern online training platform, so our youngsters prefer it. We are considered a dive centre that specialises in producing safe and competent divers. What we are not is a fast-track course where we teach you to do the basics and let you go. We prefer to spend time with you, get your skills sorted comfortably, so you are safe and don’t need to pay for professionals every time you go diving.

We do pool training with theory work alongside. We then spend two days in open water. You can just do the pool and theory work with us and then take a referral to another dive centre, so if you want to qualify while on holiday, you cut down the amount of time in training as all you need to do is your four open water dives at a different dive centre abroad.

Do you need to be a good swimmer or have particular skills to start?

Not at all! Scuba diving is available to all, both abled-bodied and lesser able-bodied. The only requirement is that you have a clean medical or a medical that is counter-signed by a diving doctor. Some people are on medication that is contra-indicative with diving. We have able-bodied and lesser able-bodied divers amongst us. You don’t even need to have a high level of swimming skills. You have to be able to tread water for 10 minutes and propel yourself through the water in some form or other over eight lengths. It could be done on the back. We are not assessing your ability to swim but your ability to move eight lengths.

There is a lot of equipment involved with diving. What do you need to train?

For any training course, we provide all the basic dive equipment: cylinders, regulators (breathing apparatus), BCDs (Buoyancy Control Device) and dive computers. We ask that everyone has their own mask and snorkel, as it doesn’t work if your mask doesn’t fit. It can make or break your training and your dive. If you are coming for a try dive or young explorers, we do provide masks and snorkels for those individuals because they’ve just come to see what it feels like. In this country, we will not train you in a wet suit in open water, so during pool sessions we convert you from wet suit diving to dry suit diving and we take all of our students into open water in a dry suit.

If people want to give diving a go, what can they expect?

We are a full-time dive centre, open all year round. We train midweek and at weekends. Our maximum group size is two. We do small numbers as we’re focused on you. You have time to practise and you’re not waiting for seven other people to practise their skills while you’re doing nothing.

Training costs vary, and you get what you pay for. Cheaper courses may involve larger groups and lower-end equipment – you might be pushed and rushed and fixed to pool sessions and training schedules. The industry relies heavily on volunteers, but my staff are paid, and I am not ashamed to say we are on high-end kit.

Get in touch to find out more & book sessions, email info@diverutland.com and visit diverutland.com

Seatons Solicitors

WORDS: NICHOLAS RUDD-JONES

WITH a friendly approach and genuine desire to achieve the best possible outcome for clients, Seatons Solicitors has become established as one of the top-rated law firms in Northamptonshire. One only needs to google Seatons to see why clients invariably rate their experience five star. The team’s professionalism and wealth of knowledge is second to none, and this, combined with extremely competitive fees, sets Seatons apart from others in their field.

An Outstanding Service in all Legal Areas

With eight highly experienced directors supported by an array of talented and dedicated staff, Seatons offer an outstanding service in all legal areas including Conveyancing, Probate Estate Administration, Personal Injury, Family and Matrimonial Law and more. Many people are daunted by the prospect of instructing a solicitor. Most are already in a stressful or upsetting situation, and others are maybe worried about the potential costs of engaging a solicitor. What stands out at Seatons is the degree of warmth and empathy that each and every client will receive – from their solicitor to the reception staff. A friendly smile, welcoming environment and a cup of coffee will soon make any potential client feel as ease.

Background

Seatons Solicitors has been a mainstay in Corby since the early 1980s, when Paul Seaton set up the practice with just a handful of support staff. Paul was an excellent lawyer who worked tirelessly to build up his practice and earned himself an exceptional reputation in the community.

Since those early years Seatons has grown phenomenally as a practice. Adrian Chambers joined Paul in 1987, becoming a partner in 1993. Adrian’s drive and passion saw Seatons grow to the practice that it is now, expanding to open a second office in Kettering.

Seatons always champions new talent – all of its current directors have worked their way up through sheer hard work and dedication to their chosen fields. Seatons’ newest rising stars, Taila Miller and Primrose Kamutero, bring a fresh and youthful enthusiasm to an already strong and exceptional team of lawyers. Members of Seatons team have gained specialist accreditation in the areas of Conveyancing, Family and Probate Law.

Seatons is also Lexcel accredited. Lexcel is the Law Society’s internationally recognised legal practice quality mark for client care compliance and practice management. Firms are only able to obtain this accreditation through rigorous auditing of their practice. In this regard, potential clients can be confident that any firm meeting Lexcel standards are able to offer a clear and distinctive assurance of quality in their level of service.

‘Seatons’ newest rising stars bring a fresh and youthful enthusiasm to an already strong and exceptional team of lawyers’

Next Steps

There are so many reasons why you should use Seatons Solicitors for any legal issues that you may have. Notably, they are specialists in their field and offer an outstanding service with competitive fees. Most importantly the team at Seatons care about their clients and are there to support them every step of the way.

Seatons Solicitors and its directors are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

seatons solicitors

1 alexandra road, corby, northants nn17 1pe

01536 276300 | seatons.co.uk

One of Seatons Solicitors’ rising stars, Primrose Kamutero.

We offer a wide range of legal services

l Residential Conveyancing

l Personal Injury and Accident Claims

l Divorce and Family related issues

l Pre-Nuptial Agreements

l Wills

l Probate and Estate Administration

l Lasting Powers of Attorney

l Estate Planning

l Criminal Law

l Advice on Settlement Agreements

We are friendly and approachable and offer highly competitive fees

Corby Office

Tel: 01536 276300

michelle@seatons.co.uk

1 Alexandra Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 1PE

Kettering Office

Tel: 01536 311690

linda.orr@seatons.co.uk

6 Market Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN16 0AH

Chiropody/Podiatry

• Treatment for Various Skin & Nail Conditions

• Budget Toe Nail Cutting

• Free Foot Care Advice

• Hard Skin Removal

• Painful Corns

• Verruca Treatments

• Insoles (Simple & Casted)

• Diabetic Foot Care Home Visits Available

Catholic Education Across the Region

Nurturing Excellence, Faith, and Community in Rutland and Market Harborough

In the heart of the East Midlands, two exceptional Catholic primary schools, English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy in Oakham and St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Market Harborough, stand out as shining examples of academic excellence, pastoral care, and inclusive community spirit. Both are proud members of the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, a network of 23 schools across Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland, known for its outstanding Teaching School and Initial Teacher Training Programme and among the top performers, in terms of progress measures in the region.

These two schools share not only a commitment to academic rigour and wholechild development but also a welcoming approach to all families (of all faiths or none) who value a nurturing, values-led education. Let’s take a closer look at what makes English Martyrs and St Joseph’s so special.

English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy, Oakham: A Fresh Chapter of Excellence This September marks an exciti ng

new beginning for English Martyrs as they welcome Jo Rutledge, a highly experienced and passionate school leader, as their new headteacher. Jo is enthusiasti c about building on the school’s strong foundati ons and bringing her dynamic vision to an already thriving learning environment.

With 72% of pupils achieving the expected level in reading, writing, and maths (well above the national average of 61%) English Martyrs is academically ambitious while maintaining a strong sense of care and community. The school consistently performs at a high level in county-wide sports competitions and has earned a reputation for excellence in national maths challenges.

A unique and innovative feature of the school is its adoption of the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, a transformational initiative that enhances children’s play through a well-designed outdoor environment. OPAL is designed to develop children’s creativity, resilience, and physical activity through high-quality

outdoor experiences. It’s no surprise that playtimes at English Martyrs are full of laughter, exploration, and teamwork.

For busy families, the school oﬀers ﬂexible wraparound care from 7:45am to 5:45pm, supporting parents with their work-life balance while giving children a safe and stimulating start and end to their day.

If you’re considering a nurturing and forward-thinking school for your child, English Martyrs invites you to attend one of their welcoming open mornings:

• Saturday 11th October, 9:30–11:30am

• Thursday 6th November, 9:30–11:30am

English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy, Oakham Willow Crescent, LE15 6EH

Saturday 11th October, 9:30–11:30am Thursday 6th November, 9:30–11:30am www.englishmartyrs.rutland.sch.uk

A Trust That Champions Excellence and Inclusion

Catholic Social Teaching, the Trust is helping schools across the region thrive.

and a strong ethos of

Importantly, while rooted in Catholic values, these schools welcome all children regardless of background or belief. Faith is never a barrier, what matters most is a desire to be part of a

supportive, respectful community where every child is encouraged to ﬂourish. Whether you’re drawn by the strong academic record, the joyful play experiences, the Forest School adventures, or the deeply inclusive ethos, English Martyrs and St Joseph’s are outstanding choices for any family.

Both English Martyrs and St Joseph’s are part of the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic MultiAcademy Trust, a family of schools united by a shared mission: to provide high-quality, valuesled education for every child. With expert-led teacher training, high-performing school improvement strategies,

St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Market Harborough: A Community of Warmth and Achievement

Led by the dedicated Headteacher Bernadette Dabbs, St Joseph’s has recently celebrated a glowing Ofsted report. Inspectors praised the school as a “warm, welcoming and vibrant learning community” where “pupils rise to the academic and personal challenges that are set for them” and leave equipped with both knowledge and essential life skills.

Academically, the school conti nues to soar. With 76% of pupils reaching the expected standards in reading, writi ng, and maths, St Joseph’s is proudly outperforming nati onal ﬁ gures and helping every child succeed.

But it’s not just about academic outcomes, St Joseph’s has a strong ethos of kindness, respect, and growth. Their three promises: to be kind, work hard, and make the right choice are not just displayed on walls but lived every day by staﬀ and pupils alike.

A standout feature of St Joseph’s is its Forest School, which gives pupils regular opportunities to experience

nature first-hand. Here, children build dens, cook over fires, learn about biodiversity and develop skills in problem solving, resilience and collaboration, cultivating a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.

Parents often describe St Joseph’s as providing “a high standard of education combined with teaching children to be well-rounded, loving individuals.” The school also boasts a wide personal development programme, from exciting trips and local performances to leadership opportunities and pupil-led initiatives like the school’s campaign for a smartphone-free childhood. Ofsted described St Joseph’s personal development offer as “Second to none.”

The school also supports families with wraparound care from 7:30am to 6:00pm, oﬀering ﬂexibility for working parents while providing a safe, caring environment for children before and after school.

Prospective families are encouraged to see the school in action, bespoke tours are available throughout the year and the school will be hosting their open morning on Thursday 25th September, 9:30–11:30am, a perfect

opportunity to meet staff, see the children learning, and feel the warm, community spirit for yourself.

Contact the school to book your place.

St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Market Harborough Coventry Road, LE16 9BZ

Thursday 25th September, 9:30–11:30am www.stjosephs.leics.sch.uk

Wilds Lodge School

Nicholas Rudd-Jones visited Wilds Lodge, a residential therapeutic school for children aged 5 to 19 in the heart of the Gwash Valley near Empingham

THEY SAY that first impressions are important, and this certainly feels the case at Wilds Lodge School. As I drive along the long driveway, past roaming livestock and a picturesque duck pond, a sense of calm pervades; as I see the buildings, it feels more like someone’s much-loved home than a school, and when I meet the team it immediately feels like ‘family’.

I have come to learn more about the school and understand its links to our local community. I meet with Becky McSharry, Head of Care; Nikola Dolphin-Rowland, Senior Team Leader at Crossroads (Key Stages 4 & 5); and Charlotte Oldham, Senior Team Leader at The Loft & The Lodge (KS 2 & 3). Between them, they have 40 years’ experience at the school, but none of them sees it as a job. Nikola told me: ‘We feel like one big, happy family, and we are all very supportive of each other.’

Joining the School

Children have often had a disruptive school or home experience before they arrive at Wilds Lodge, and to begin with it is all about making a new student feel safe, supported and, most importantly, listened to. Often, more formal lessons will not begin immediately; this initial phase can take time.

Becky told me; ‘We are helping our students prepare for adulthood and next steps, to equip them for the future and help them to regulate their behaviour. We believe passionately in therapeutic input and restorative practice.

‘The first steps are always about relationship building and nurturing a student’s areas of interest. We want to make them feel comfortable, and to bring their interests from home and be able to develop them. Good links with home are also vital, we see a lot of the parents, and this really makes a difference.’

Local Community Links

I learn also about just how many links there are with the local community. Recent initiatives include an art auction in conjunction with MindSpace in Stamford, supporting food banks in Corby, regular attendance at the Empingham Chess Club, Army Cadets in Stamford, Black Dragon Games in Melton Mowbray, volunteering in a signal box in Wisbech – the list goes on. There are also strong

sports links, with Fusion 3 Fitness, Rhinos Gymnasium, Stamford Striders, Tae Kwon Do in Market Deeping, open-water swimming at Frisby Lakes at Asfordby, and various football clubs.

Education Tracks

There is a full range of GCSEs and BTECs on offer, and, where appropriate, they run A-Level courses in some subjects. There is vocation training, too – gardening at Burghley House, hospitality at the Cosy Club in Stamford, dog grooming, etc. Placements build confidence and skills. Some students go on to university, others to their chosen college or apprenticeship programmes, and all are supported to follow their dreams. Past students include a top Formula 1 mechanic; another who imports and exports classic cars; and a third who has joined Lego. Afterwards, Wild Lodge School’s Marketing Administrator Niamh Little shows me round the site, and we meet staff and pupils, all of whom are unfailingly friendly and enthusiastic. Resources are good here, with immaculately kept grounds, a theatre, a large play area, a sports hall and a quaintly painted double decker bus that has become the library. Students become very attached to this place and often pop back after they have left to say hello.

Wilds Lodge School feels very special.

Wilds Lodge School, Stamford Road, Empingham, Rutland LE15 8QQ | 01780 767254 | www.wildslodgeschool.co.uk

Wilds Lodge School is an independent, therapeutic 38-week specialist boarding and day provision for boys and girls (girls are accepted as day students only), primarily with social, emotional and mental health needs aged between 5 and 19. All the students at the school have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The school was established in 2007 and aims to place an equal emphasis on the educational, social and psychological development of students.

The school draws nationally from Local Education Authorities and has over 100 students on role, of whom about two-thirds are day students and a third residential from Monday to Friday. The main needs of pupils with SEN at the school are social, emotional and mentalhealth difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Co-Working

hubs & spaces

Stamford and Rutland are abuzz with a vibrant work culture that opts for hot desking and hybrid working over the daily office commute.

This post-Covid co-working phenomenon is allowing us locals to tap into the professional city vibe without leaving the luxury of our leafy towns.

Kate Cadman goes on the trail of local co-working spaces

SHALL WE MEET in Paten & Co, Stamford, or The Hub & Spoke, Oakham?’ Those were the words that fell from my lips just a few days ago when I was arranging a meeting with a new client. Not so long ago, I would have said something like: ‘Shall we meet at my office, or yours?’ Oh, how our working practices have changed in such a short period of time.

Co-working hubs and spaces in the UK have been around for some time now, with the first ones popping up mostly in London in 2008. From 2010, the co-working fraternity expanded, and by 2014 one of today’s major players, WeWork, entered the UK, pushing this new model of working, which originated in San Francisco and Berlin 20 years ago, further towards the mainstream.

However, the major fillip that drove co-working into the mainstream at pace was, of course, Covid. As a nation, we all got used to home-based, flexible working patterns that allowed for a healthier work-life balance. The post-pandemic era has catalysed a reimagining of workspaces in the UK, with many new shared working spaces now opening in and around Stamford and Rutland.

At the forefront of the local co-working trend is Haatch Desks, also known as The Hub, which has been operating its dog-friendly

space in Stamford since 2015. ‘When we first opened our doors, we envisioned creating a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote teams, encouraging networking and collaboration, and that is exactly what we have achieved,’ explains Hannah Purser, Head of Operations at Haatch. ‘Co-working offers a professional, flexible environment designed to boost productivity and creativity. We handle the logistics and take the stress away from businesses, so our members can focus on what’s important to them. And we’re inviting readers to come and experience a free hot desk trial,’ she adds.

This co-working philosophy has struck a chord with many hybrid and remote workers who want a base that’s away from their home environment but doesn’t involve a long commute. The benefits of co-working are many, including:

• A professional environment to meet clients, hold meetings, etc.

• A place to meet and network with new faces from different industries.

• The choice of flexible hire packages, including daily, weekly and monthly plans for hot desking and meeting facilities.

• Access to high-speed broadband, printing facilities, coffee, snacks, etc.

• Cost-effective solutions with fixed bills, so easy to budget for.

• A structured working environment, offering a healthier work/life balance, boosting productivity by day, allowing you to switch off at home.

LOCAL CO-WORKING SPACES

So where else locally offers co-working, as well as Haatch Desks’ The Hub? Alongside offering hot desks and meeting spaces for innovators and entrepreneurs, The Hub & Spoke, Oakham, also houses a café, offering ‘health boosting’ breakfasts, soups, sandwiches, toasties and ‘S’Poke bowls aimed at fuelling your working day or your next cycling adventure. There’s also a free coworking space in the café. On Mill Street, Desk & Company has a range of options.

In Stamford, Meadow Desks on Gooches Place offers flexible office space with adjustable desks, a meeting room and breakout spaces for full or part-time rental. However, if you’d rather not commit to a regular venue, Knead Pubs’ Paten & Co, also in Stamford, has recently introduced a ‘day pass’ for £12.50, which is bookable ad hoc online and available weekdays from 9am–4pm. It includes unlimited coffee and tea plus a 10% discount off food (and 10% off drinks Monday to Thursday, 4–6pm).

If crafting is your thing, then The Place on St Mary’s Street, Stamford, could be for you. ‘We have a work space in our upstairs shop that’s open to creatives, as well as a couple of other rooms available at various times. We offer flexible hire options, from an hour to a full day, starting at £5. Spaces can be used as an office, craft/therapy space, for tuition or for meetings in our larger events room,’ explains Katie Wilkins, Owner & Manager, The Place.

For some rural relief, you can head to The White Hart in Ufford, where for £12.50, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, you can enjoy high-speed WiFi, unlimited tea and coffee, and 20% off your lunch to fuel your productivity. It’s a beautiful village location, close to both Stamford and Peterborough – work hard during the day, take a peaceful walk at breaktime or before/afterwards, and enjoy the stylish refurbished pub and its excellent food offering.

And it’s not only professionals that benefit from these shared spaces: school pupils in Oakham are also well catered for when it comes to finding a quiet place to complete their homework with their pals. Café Terry’s, in Baker’s Yard, Church Street, is making a name for itself as the ‘go to’ venue for students wanting a quiet space after school. Owners, Ryan and Shalaina Terry, have recently opened their doors (free of charge) on Thursday evenings

for local students. ‘We are usually open during term times from 4pm to 6pm. The number of students coming along has grown week on week,’ explains Ryan. ‘We always post on our socials when the homework club is open, so it’s best to check and confirm the timings beforehand.’

This ‘group-based’ ethos of co-working and co-studying certainly adds to the richness of our community; thanks to a fresh take on how we work, our local business community is booming. Co-working really does deliver a win-win, offering more flexibility, more opportunities and a stronger, more accessible workforce for everyone.

NEED TO KNOW

• café terry’s,baker’s yard, church street, oakham cafeterrys.co.uk | @cafeterrys_

no ‘desk rental’ fee – just the cost of refreshments

• desk & company, 10c mill street, oakham deskandcompany.net

hot desks £20/day; part-time desks £150/month; full-time desks £250/month

• haatch desks, blackfriars street, stamford haatchdesks.com | @haatchdesks

hot desks (book a free trial); part-time desks £140/month; full-time desks £299/month; meeting rooms from £10/hr

• the hub & spoke, 30 melton road, oakham thehubandspoke.co.uk | @the_hub_and_spoke

hot desks £25/day; part-time desks £150/month; full-time desks £270/month; meeting rooms from £15/hr

• meadow desks,1 gooches place, stamford meadowdesks.com

hot desks £20/day; part-time desks £150/month; full-time desks £300/month; meeting rooms poa

• paten & co, 7 all saint’s place, stamford kneadpubs.co.uk/paten-co | @patenandco

hot desks £12.50/day

• the place, 29 st mary’s street, stamford theplacestamford.co.uk | @theplacestamford

hot desks from £5/day; meeting rooms £10/hr

• the white hart, main street, ufford www.whitehartufford.co.uk | @whitehartufford

hot desks £12.50/day; meeting room poa

MORALE SINCE

Oundle yarn bombers

From cottage industry to international art exhibit, the Oundle Yarn Bombers are a group of local crafters with some serious skills and guerilla tactics up their sleeves. Rebecca Downey joins them for a knit and natter session at Peterborough Cathedral

IT’S DUSK in Oundle’s marketplace, and, armed with cable ties and rolls of Velcro, the stealth bombers are shinnying up ladders and bus stops, covering lamp-posts and bollards, and turning the town’s honey-toned features into a surreal and colourful location, like something from a Dr Seuss illustration. The scene is set, and the bombers retreat to the upstairs room of the Coffee Tavern for a sniper’s view of the public’s reaction.

Residents of Oundle have now come to expect significant dates and local events to be marked by the skill, ingenuity and humour of the town’s yarn bombers. The 12-strong group of knitters created their first yarn bomb in 2015, encouraged by Paula Prince (events officer for the Town Council at the time), who had witnessed the yarn bombing projects in Lithuania, and saw how it had brought the community together in celebration.

Organiser and knitter Maureen Weston explains that they prepared months ahead of their initial revelation, with clandestine meetings in cafes and each other’s homes, keeping their creative plans under wraps for maximum impact. ‘It was thrilling to see the joy on people’s faces when they saw the set pieces. We had leather-clad biker boys taking photos for their mums, children running around hugging the bollards, families pointing out all the little details such as knitted nests and birds in the trees. It encouraged people to visit the town, to pause and observe, to look upwards, and was just a fabulous talking point.’ The columns outside the Oundle bookshop depicted scenes of the local countryside; another featured traditional board games; knitted bikes were parked in the bike rack; crocheted flowers adorned yarn-clad pots next to benches in the square.

‘It encouraged people to visit the town, to pause and observe, to look upwards, and was just a fabulous talking point’

ABOVE, left to right: Oundle’s yarnbombed pillars; life-size Queen Elizabeth II at the bus stop for the Platinum Jubilee; a yard-bombed post box in Oundle.

Since then, the yarn bombers have met regularly at Fletton House on Fridays and The Boxwood Cafe at The Barn Garden Centre on Monday afternoons. Informal yet industrious, they have worked out their strengths: Ali (artist and owner of the Little Blue shop on West Street) is brilliant at facial features, Ann excels at detailed relief work, managing to create an upsized knitted version of King Charles’ Jubilee coin and stamp for the Coronation. ‘We only use acrylic yarn, as it holds its shape and the colour doesn’t fade. We’re also supported by friends and volunteers whom we rope in to knit the copious leaves and flowers’, says coorganiser, Mel. The group welcomes knitters of all abilities and offers pop-up ‘knit and natter’ sessions with simple patterns for anyone interested in having a go.

The Longest Yarn

The yarn bombers adorn Oundle’s war memorial with crocheted poppy wreaths and bollard covers each year for Remembrance and have more recently created a stunning Remembrance panel, which was initially displayed in Oundle’s marketplace last November, but was also included in The Longest Yarn exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral, earlier in the year. The sell-out exhibition featuring 80 three-dimensional knitted and crocheted panels depicting the D-day landings of 6 June 1944 was conceived by former Oundle resident, Tansy Forster (now living in Carentan, Normandy). The exhibition has been on tour in France, the UK and is currently in the US. Over 180 knitters were involved in the project blending artistry with the heroism and history of that momentous day.

The Oundle Yarn Bombers produced the Pegasus Bridge scene, featuring Lord Lovat and ‘Piper Bill’ Millin. The commission wasn’t overly prescriptive, as Mel explains: ‘Only the 5-inch soldiers and guns had patterns; other than that we were given a still of our scene from the film The Longest Day for guidance.’ The group was thrilled to be involved in the project and saw it as a huge privilege. Several of the knitters express they learnt so much more about the history of that period, as well as feeling mentally challenged creating the patterns, ‘It’s quite technical and involves a lot of trial and error’ says Ann. The result is a moving, cohesive display of knitted dioramas, and somehow the medium (typically associated with grannies and cosy garments) juxtaposed with the gravitas of the narrative – soldiers face down in the water and horses bleeding out in the fields – makes the horror and cost of war intensely palpable.

Future Projects

What is next for our intrepid knitters? Well, they’re keeping their blueprints under wraps and their needles close to their chest. ‘We amuse ourselves with some of the ideas we come up with’, says Maureen ‘We had King Charles in a bath outside the bath shop for the Coronation, and when we created a life size Queen Elizabeth II sitting at the bus stop for the Platinum Jubilee, the bus driver waited for ages for her to get on!’ What is certain is that the next yarn bomb is likely to incorporate humour, skill and creativity; soon all will be revealed.

for more information on the longest yarn, vist www.thelongestyarn.com

BELOW: Maureen Weston and John Millin, son of ‘Piper Bill’ Millin, with the Oundle Yarn Bomber’s panel of Pegasus Bridge featured in The Longest Yarn exhibition and (LEFT) a close-up of the panel.

Drink and dine in alfresco style

The Nevill Arms, Medbourne

Enjoy a sharing platter or meal of your own from the Josper Bar and Grill in the courtyard garden or on our River Terrace.

nevillarms.co.uk

01858 565288

No. 23, Uppingham

Enjoy quality cuisine or simply pop in for a cocktail on the terrace. We also offer a private dining experience in the ‘Garden Room’.

23uppingham.co.uk 01572 303023

The Sun Inn, Great Easton Wood-fired Gozney pizzas are a particularly popular choice in The Olive Garden. They’re priced at just £10 on Tuesdays.

thesuninnge.com

01536 772182

The

Red Lion, Great Bowden

Our spacious outside space, with a distinctly Mediterranean feel, was described as “beautiful” by The Harborough Mail. redlion-greatbowden.co.uk 01858 463571

These four venues are run by the Three Goats group, a local hospitality business with its own Leicestershire farm putting quality ingredients on the plates of food lovers across our region.

chef of the month

Ben El Akil

Head Chef at The White Hart, Ufford

Q&A with Ben

Ben was born in Morocco in the capital Rabat. At 14 he went to work in his father’s coffee shop and 14 years later decided he’d earned his stripes. Alongside the paninis and coffees, he attended the Asilah Hotel School, learning all aspects of the hotel trade and enhancing his love and passion for food.

Ben remembers the tough discipline of the school, saying: ‘You were caught smoking – you were out. Kept being late – you were out. Couldn’t keep up – you were out. From a class of 200, only 70 completed the course.’

From there, Ben began working internationally, first as part of the Aviation Link working in New York, California and Dubai for VIP clients. He then settled for 3 years on the Isle of Wight, working at The George Hotel there. Ben then moved to the Michelin-starred Bingham Hotel in London, honing his craft and skills further.

With his young family, he moved to The George Hotel in Buckden, where he stayed for 14 years, growing and improving the kitchen. He is particularly proud of the support he gave to the Ukrainian refugees, employing them in his kitchen and taking them from novices to chefs under his tutelage.

Ben has been at The White Hart in Ufford since December, bringing with him his charm, passion for food and great understanding of flavour.

Ben, how would you describe your style of cooking?

Mediterranean and Modern British blended with international touches

A favourite dish?

The Duo of Lamb is a firm favourite, featuring British lamb with pak choi, pommes purées, caramelised carrots and rosemary jus.

Favourite Ingredients?

For me, healthy living is very important, but I won’t compromise on flavour, so my favourite ingredients are therefore life’s most natural ones: olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.

A Chef’s Tip?

Cut your avocados in their skins and leave them in them to avoid going black.

A bit about The White Hart…

Ben heads up the kitchen team of five. Serving meals, breakfast (8–10.30am), lunch (12–3pm) and dinner (6–9pm), 6 days a week, and on Sundays, breakfast (8–10.30am) and lunch (12–6pm), they are a busy kitchen. The White Hart is also the perfect venue for your intimate and special events, and the kitchen team are kept busy with buffets, celebration meals and the most special days of all – weddings.

Ingredients:

10g salt

330g bread flour

33ml olive oil

10g fresh yeast

180ml water

Method:

1. Mix the dry ingredients – the salt and the bread flour – and then add the wet

ingredients – the olive oil, fresh yeast and the water.

2. Mix in an electric mixer for 15 minutes, then leave in the bowl and rest for a further 15 minutes.

3. Mix the dough for 15 minutes more.

4. Roll the dough out to your preferred shape. At this point you can add any extra flavours you like, such as rosemary and grated garlic or, a White Hart favourite, diced olives.

5. Cook in a pre-heated over at 200ºC for 25 minutes.

the white hart

main street

ufford pe9 3bh

01780 740250

www.whitehartufford.co.uk

@whitehartufford

Serving breakfast until 10:30am or treat your Dad to our legendary Sunday Roast –and his first pint is on us!

Make this Father’s Day extra special with great food, great company, and a well-earned pint.

Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.

The White Hart, Main Street, Ufford, PE9 3BH www.whitehartufford.co.uk

Indie Food & Drink

It feels as though summer is suddenly upon us, and alfresco dining is all we want to do. Fittingly, this month Ellie Clark is mastering BBQ cooking and homemade sushi, with the expert guidance of two local chefs, former cricketing legend-turned-chef, Matthew Hoggard, from Hoggy’s Grill and Rebecca Jordan from Kitchen Confident

HOGGY’S GRILL

Confession time, I don’t actually own a BBQ and all I know about cricket is the umpire doubles up as a jumper carrier and must get very hot in the summer. As I arrive for my oneto-one BBQ Masterclass with the cricketing legend Matthew Hoggard, it’s fair to say I feel somewhat under prepared! However, within five minutes of meeting Matthew at Hoggy’s Grill, a purpose-built outdoor kitchen at Rutland Nursery, calm is restored. I receive a warm welcome, and a glass of wine is placed in my hand before I’ve even found my apron.

After retiring from professional cricket, Matthew realised he needed to do something he felt as passionately about as sport. After a few alternative ventures, he decided to open a cookery school specialising in BBQ food, and in 2020 the aptly named ‘Hoggy’s Grill’ was born.

During his cricketing career Matthew toured many countries where outdoor cooking was a way of life, including Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa. I automatically assume it was Australia that fired up his passion for BBQ cooking, but I am wrong. Matthew explains that he spent many happy years training in South Africa, and it is there he discovered his second passion, cooking.

The 1-2-1 class I attend is one of three that are new to the grill, and it involves an introduction to the different types of BBQ available (who knew there were so many!), guidance on how to set up a BBQ with different heat zones, how to use the air vents properly to manage temperature, the preparation of chicken, lamb, pork, sausage, mushroom and steak, and then the best part, the cooking and eating (with another glass of wine).

Matthew is full of hints and tips that have now taken the fear factor out of BBQ cooking for me. My main takeaways are: firstly, use a birch lump wood charcoal such as Globaltic for aroma and heat control; secondly, cook to temperature not to time and invest in a meat thermometer to take the guess work away; thirdly, never marinade chicken before cooking it – instead, salt rub it, cook skin side down, warm the marinade and then apply it at the end of the cooking process to ensure delicious crispy skin. And, finally, slow and low is the way to cook; it’s about enjoying the process and the company.

Hoggy’s offer a variety of courses to suit all budgets, from the ultimate burger class all the way through to gourmet classes at which a three-course meal is prepared. Matthew has introduced ‘Beer & BBQ Nights’ in collaboration with The Beers of America and is also in talks with Simpsons to host butchery demonstrations (details will be on his website once live). Group classes range in size from 8 to 30 people and are proving very popular with parties as well as for team-building corporate events. Matthew also provides catering for external events and private parties with a number of prestigious commissions already under his apron belt, including the Nevill Holt Festival and The Spirit of Cricket Festival at John Paul Getty’s Estate, Wormsley. In fact, if it involves a BBQ, there’s not much he won’t turn his hand to.

With summer rapidly approaching why not get yourself booked onto a course so that you are ready to amaze friends with your BBQ cooking this year, and not a burnt sausage in sight!

Hoggy’s Grill, Rutland Nursery, Lyndon Road, Manton LE15 8RN | Enquiries to 07516 346457 or sarah@hoggysgrill.com | www.hoggysgrill.com | @hoggysgrill602

KITCHEN CONFIDENT

I can’t actually remember when I first discovered the delights of sushi, but, ever since, it has remained my favourite ‘non-guilty’ food pleasure. It’s the ultimate convenience meal: tasty, healthy and easy to eat on the hoof. Until now it has never been something I would have contemplated making for myself; this month, however, I am facing my culinary fears head on by attending one of Rebecca Jordan’s highly recommended Sushi Masterclasses in Barrowden. Wish me – and her – good luck!

Rebecca launched her at-home cookery school, Kitchen Confident, in 2021, initially providing classes for children and teenagers to prepare for university, then expanding to also offer themed masterclasses for adults and bespoke sessions for private parties and corporate events. In her previous career as a journalist, Rebecca travelled the world, sampling authentic local cuisine in unique locations, and this ultimately became her inspiration to change career. She trained as a professional chef at the Cordon Bleu in London, and gained valuable experience assisting chefs in the restaurant kitchen at The Olive Branch in Clipsham, Rutland, before finding her niche in teaching creative cookery masterclasses.

In addition to Kitchen Confident, Rebecca has designed and taught summer clubs at Stamford Endowed Schools, and run a social enterprise teaching kitchen in Suffolk organised by the brilliant people at Hubbub; she also continues to lead teams at the Cambridge Cookery School. In short she knows her onions (no pun intended!) and enjoys nothing more than taking the fear factor out of cooking and making it an enjoyable, accessible activity for all age groups.

The sushi masterclass I join is hosted in Rebecca’s incredible kitchen – a beautiful place to spend a morning. After fortifying ourselves with coffee and delicious brownies, we set off with our sushi mats (an essential bit of kit), a colossal supply of pre-cooked sushi rice, and every other conceivable ingredient and utensil we could possibly need. Over the next 3 hours, expertly guided by Rebecca and her colleague Kate, we create our own sushi board, featuring three different varieties, Nigiri, Maki and Uramaki, and we make pleated gyoza dumplings with dipping sauce to enjoy at the end of the class, along with a cheeky tipple.

As we work, Rebecca shares tips for making sushi. Firstly, the fish is the most important ingredient – if possible always source Sashimi-quality fish. Rebecca highly recommends ordering from The Fish Society. Secondly, always pre-make your sushi rice and keep wetting your hands when handling it to ensure you don’t end up covered – it’s sticky stuff! And, thirdly, sushi doesn’t need to be expensive: wasabi pastes, pickled ginger and a whole host of other sushi seasonings, which are generally available from the supermarket, can spice up tuna beautifully.

Rebecca is the perfect cocktail of confidence and calm in equal measures, coupled with a large dash of joie de vivre, which means she creates the most fabulous teaching environment. I would recommend the class I attended to anyone for enjoyment as much as education. If sushi is not your thing, don’t worry – there is a range of other classes available, from pasta, picnic breads, and holiday cookery for kids and teens, to tapas and baking.

Kitchen Confident, Barrowden, Rutland LE15 www.kitchenconfident.co.uk | @kitchenconfident_rutland

‘Rebecca knows her onions and enjoys nothing more than taking the fear factor out of cooking and making it an enjoyable, accessible activity for all age groups’

Rebecca is kindly offering Stamford & Rutland Living magazine readers a generous 15% discount on all courses booked in June 2025. Simply contact her via her website to access this and get involved!

Whether you’re treating yourself to a meal from our two AA Rosette A la Carte menu, relaxing by the fire with a Falcon burger, or simply catching up with friends over a tipple or two! Madison Keys, Zak Perrin, and the team at The Falcon, warmly welcome you seven days a week!

Mondays-Thursdays:

Food served 12-2pm and 5-8pm, bar closes at 10pm

Fridays-Saturdays:

Food served 12-8pm, bar closes at 11pm

Sundays:

Food served 12-3pm, bar closes at 5pm

What's on?

Darts Social nights!

(Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm) Complimentary snacks provided in the evening

Fish and Chip Fridays!

Enjoy our local real ale battered Haddock and chips, crushed minted peas and tarragon tartare sauce all for just £10 between 12-8pm on Fridays!

Wood Fired Pizzas

Served all day Fridays and Saturdays

Delis, Artisan Food & Farm Shops

We are blessed in our region with a fabulous array of very fine delis, artisan food and farm shops. Nicholas Rudd-Jones takes a look at a selection

TRAVELLING AROUND THE REGION and shopping in so many of these establishments got me thinking about what, if anything, they all have in common – and I quickly realised that it is the passion and personality of the owners above all else that makes them so special and such enjoyable places to visit, and their fascination and belief in the provenance of the food they offer. Shopping in these places is not a chore or a process or something that just needs to get done, but a joy – a small but significant part in one’s equation for leading a contented and fulfilled life.

Belvoir Retail Village

Belvoir Castle, NG32 1PA www.belvoircastle.com/retail-village | @belvoirretailvillage

Open Mon–Sun 9.30am–5.30pm (NB: closed on Sun 22 Jun)

At the heart of the Belvoir Retail Village is the Farm Shop, a huge space full of enticing things to eat and drink. You can read our fuller review in our feature on the Retail Village on p48. Whether you’re shopping for meat, cheese, condiments, delicious chocolates or beverages, you will be impressed by the fabulous array available.

Bowthorpe Park Farm Shop

Witham-on-the-Hill, Bourne PE10 0JG 07972 215226 | bowthorpeparkfarm.co.uk | @bowthorpeparkfarm Open: Thur–Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–2pm

George Blanchard, a fourth-generation farmer, began diversifying the farm back in 2017, starting by promoting the famous Bowthope oak, and then launching lambing and pumpkin carving events for kids. With the onset of Covid and the cancellation of events, he realised he needed to try something different and opened the farm shop. He has never looked back.

What makes the Bowthorpe offering so strong is that all the meat – ie the beef, pork and lamb – is sourced from their own herds, giving you the real farm-to-fork buying experience. The native breed Lincoln Red Beef and Jacob Lamb are slow maturing, giving the meat an enriched, deep flavour. The meat comes as cuts, but there are also always some prepared meats, with marinades, etc, ready for BBQs. We can vouch for the quality of the meat here –the steaks are a personal favourite and very delicious.

The farm shop is crammed with other goodies too, including a good selection of fresh, locally sourced vegetables, Hambleton

OPPOSITE: buy the award-winning Ashby asparagus at the new Farmer’s Hut in Polebrook; fourth-generation farmer George Blanchard at Bowthorpe Park Farm Shop, near Bourne.

BELOW: shop for Neal’s Yard Dairy cheese and over 40 varieties of tomato at Farndon Fields, near Market Harborough.

bread, farm eggs, condiments and sauces, and a range of homemade ready meals. If you feel like a takeaway drink, they make great coffee using beans from the Stamford Coffee Company. Excitingly, the farm has received planning permission for a bigger farm shop and a 110-seater cafe. Perched at a high point on the farm, this will have glorious views over the surprisingly hilly farmland. Bowthorpe also organises events, and the next big one of these is sure to be a hit: the Summer Solstice Hoedown Festival comes to the farm on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June. Think Nashville meets Bowthorpe! It includes a special guest performance from David Pearce, presenter of BBC Radio One’s Dance Anthems. Find out more and book tickets at www.summersolsticemusicfestival.co.uk

‘It is the passion and personality of the owners that makes these establishments so special and such enjoyable places to visit’’

The Farmer’s Hut

Hemington Road, Polebrook PE8 5LS

Open: 8.30am–5,30pm daily | @thefarmershut.polebrook

Mike Ashby is also a fourth-generation farmer (there seem to be a lot of them about!), and the Ashby family have been farming near Oundle for over 100 years now. But Mike is also an innovator by nature; when you meet him, he is always full of ideas and questions. Nearly 20 years ago, he started growing asparagus, which you can now buy all around the region and is of the highest quality; for nearly 10 years he has also been rearing farm venison, which he supplies to some of the top-end supermarkets on a national basis.

This year, he came up with the idea of selling straight from the farm via an automatic vending facility in Polebrook, called The Farmer’s Hut. On the day we visited, there was freshly cut asparagus, venison, Polebrook honey, free-range eggs from Stamford and freshly baked sourdough from Bulwick. We found the vending machine surprisingly straightforward to use and came away with products that were as fresh as fresh can be.

Farndon Fields

Farndon Road, Market Harborough LE16 9NP 01858 464838 | www.farndonfields.co.uk | @farndonfields

Open: Mon–Fri 8.30am–5.30pm, Sat 8.30am–5.30pm, Sun 10am–4pm

What makes the team at Farndon Fields so special is their passion for growing and their passion for sourcing locally, with seasonality as an absolute core value. They have a first-rate growing heritage, producing myriad varieties of potatoes (10 at the last count) and the freshest asparagus cut three times a week, to name just a couple. And the food miles: virtually none.

They also source with passion from local suppliers, be that the nearby Garage Bakehouse for sourdough and focaccias (and some of their asparagus travels in the opposite direction as a topping for tarts and pizzas), or Welland Valley Vineyards, who produce some excellent wine, including their Naseby red, which is a personal favourite. There are strawberries from the county, too. Tomatoes have travelled a little further – from the sunny south; there are over 40 varieties of Isle of Wight tomatoes on offer. Recent initiatives include a fabulous cheese counter, with the British representation strengthened through a partnership with Neal’s Yard Dairy.

Departments within the store include: Grown on the Farm, Fruit & Vegetables, Butchery, Bakery, Deli (including charcuterie and salad bowls), Groceries, Frozen, The Drinks Cupboard, Gifts, Gift Boxes and The Garden. There is also The Farmer’s Kitchen, Farndon Fields’ cafe/restaurant, if you fancy something to eat or drink. The menu changes seasonally and the philosophy here is to cook and serve top-quality seasonal food using the produce that has been grown on the farm or from local suppliers.

‘Real bread, made with four basic ingredients: flour, water, salt and fresh yeast’

The Garage Bakehouse

8 Roman Way, Market Harborough LE16 7PQ | www.garagebakehouse.co.uk thegaragebakehouse | Open: Mon–Sat 7.30am–2.30pm

Market Harborough’s Garage Bakehouse is included in The Good Food Guide as a ‘Local Gem’ entry: ‘Daniel and Lauren Cadoo have become an integral part of the local community by producing “amazing” bread at their gem of an independent bakery in the heart of Market Harborough. From “really excellent” sourdough, via traditional yeasted loaves (white tins, wholemeal) to the more unique Turkish flatbreads – all are worth trying. The pastries (croissants, pain au chocolats) are made from scratch in the traditional French style, and the sausage rolls are “very, very good”.’

Gates Farm Shop & Butchery

Gates Oakham, Somerby Road, Cold Overton LE15 7QB 01664 454309 | www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk/oakham| gatesgardencentre Open: Mon–Sat 8am–5.30pm, Sun 9am–5pm Gates Farm Shop was crowned Best Destination Garden Centre Farm Shop in the UK by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) in January this year, and this really tells you all you need to know about the quality of the establishment.

They offer a selection of succulent beef and lamb, raised on Gates’ own farm in Cold Overton. There are also seasonal fruits and vegetables all offered package-free, alongside freshly baked goods, and a range of pantry essentials. Add to this a superb range of gourmet cheeses, pork pies, cold meats and delicious meals from the delicatessen counter, bakery both from Hambleton Bakery and their own bakery, and you are positively spoilt for a choice. Also adding to the offering at Gates is Cavners Fishmongers, which is now open at Gates near Oakham on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hambleton Bakery

Local branches in Oakham, Exton, Stamford, Oundle & Market Harborough | www.hambletonbakery.co.uk | hambletonbake | Oakham, Stamford, Oundle, Harborough: Mon–Sat 8am–4pm; Exton: Mon–Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 8am–4pm Hambleton Bakery was one of the absolute pioneers in the real bread revolution, starting out in 2008 as a result of the vision of Tim Hart and master baker Julian Carter to bring deliciousness back into bread. Seventeen years later, it is an award-winning, B Corp-certified regional bakery, employing artisan bakers, skilled chefs and confectioners to produce traditional bread, cakes and savouries, using the best local ingredients wherever possible, without additives and using long-established recipes.

The bread, of which there are many different varieties, is a feast for all the senses and completely additive free – no preservatives, no enzymes, no enhancers. It’s real bread made with four basic ingredients: flour, water, salt and fresh yeast. Additionally, the bakery makes many savoury products, including the famous, award-winning ‘Rutland Pippin’ and very popular Lincolnshire Poacher cheese straw, alongside many delicious, sweet tarts, cakes and biscuits.

The bakery in Exton also has a café, with a delightful outside seating area looking out over open country.

OUNDLE FOOD FESTIVAL

Market Place, Oundle | 21 June 9am–4pm

All the local shops, cafes and restaurants will be partaking, and with free parking, live music and entertainment throughout the day, it’s a paradise for foodies, a fun-filled day for families, and the perfect way to support local businesses while reducing food miles.

Lily & Honey, Oakham

5 Knight’s Yard, Gaol Street, Oakham LE15 6AQ | lilyandhoneybakery.co.uk | lilyandhoneybakery

Open: Wed–Fri 9am–2pm, Sat 9am–1pm

Exquisite sourdough bread has become Lily & Honey’s signature product. They produce three varieties: Poppy Seed, which won a ‘Great Taste Award’ in 2021, a white variety and a seeded loaf. They also stock a range of speciality breads, including brioche rolls, cheese and Marmite buns, plus olive and cheese jalapeño sourdoughs to name a few. What makes this bakery so special, though, is the mouthwatering range of innovative cakes, bakes and pastries, which change seasonally.

New Lodge Farm

Laxton Road, Nr Bulwick NN17 3DU | 01780 450493 | www.newlodgefarm.co.uk | new_lodge_farm

Open: Mon-Fri 9am–3.30pm, Sat & Sun 8.30am–3.30pm

The energy that Sarah and Simon Singlehurst bring to this business is evident throughout: in the welcoming feel of the layout, the friendliness of the staff and the vast array of quality artisan food products. First and foremost is the meat counter, with the meat reared on the farm and a whole range of cuts from Sunday joints to burgers and sausages. But there is so much else too: wines, relishes, chutneys, jams and a great brand for dogs called Pooch’s.

A recent addition to the bread corner is a sourdough called Sourdough Home, a sourdough lovingly created by Ukrainian Valeria who lives in Bulwick. She also makes a focaccia and a chili/cheddar/coriander sourdough, and baguettes.

On Saturdays, there is an absolutely first-rate fruit and veg stall out the front, run by a farmer who has come across from the Fens specially for the day.

New Lodge is also the Winner of the Countryside Alliance Awards for Best Rural Enterprise in Midlands at the Rural Oscars. Now on to the House of Lords for the final!

The Pickled Shop

15 Main Street, Bulwick, Northants NN17 3DY | 01780 450774

www.thepickledshop.com| thepickledshop | Open: Tue–Sat 9.30am–3.30pm

‘A small shop with a big welcome’ is the promise, and that most certainly is true. The doyenne of this establishment is Camille Ortega McClean, whose passion for food and hospitality shines through in everything she does.

Despite the shop being no larger than the average living room, Camille has managed to find a place there to display every delicacy imaginable, from her award-winning homemade pickles, chutneys, jams, marmalades and curds all the way through to exquisite cheeses, fine wines, English fizz, biscuits, vodka, gins, home-baked cakes and chocolates. If you’ve yet to sample Camille’s range of preserves you are in for a treat.

In addition to the shop, Camille also runs a small café-come-tapas bar on the beautiful terrace behind, adorned with bougainvillea, passion flowers, grapes and chilli plants.

THE GREAT FOOD CLUB: Join The Great Food Club, run by Melton Mowbray’s Matt Wright, and stay abreast of all that is going on in the local world of food and drink. For more details, visit: www.greatfoodclub.co.uk | greatfoodclub

92 | spotlight on food • delis, artisan food & farm shops

ABOVE: the Farm Shop at New Lodge Farm BELOW: The Pickled Shop’s pickles and jams

The small shop with the big welcome As well as all the goodies in the shop, we serve Coffee & Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Tapas… and we are licensed! Rectory Farm, Hemington Rd,

Bulwick Village Shop, Main Street, Bulwick, NN17 3DY

Tuesday – Saturday 9.30am - 4pm Tel: 01780 450774 www.bulwickvillageshop www.thepickleshop.com

The Farmer’s Hut in Polebrook has just been launched, supplying asparagus, venison, honey, eggs and local produce.

A new farm-to-table vending experience, bringing fresh, local produce to you through our unique farm shop vending machines.

www.armstonfarm.com

Art work by Sophie Allport

ABOVE: Shop for local produce including Rutland Water strawberries, Ashby Asparagus and Hambleton Bakery bread at Stamford Garden Centre.

ABOVE RIGHT: Willow Brook has a large butchery counter, which sells meat including beef reared on its own farm.

Rennet & Rind Cheesemongers

16 High Street, Stamford PE9 2AL 01480 831112 | www.rennetandrind.co.uk | rennetandrind

Open: Tue–Thur 10am–4pm, Fri 8am–4pm, Sat 9am–5pm

Rennet & Rind is an award-winning cheesemonger and affineur, passionately dedicated to sourcing and maturing the very best artisan British cheese. Every cheese is carefully selected from Britain’s top independent cheesemakers and lovingly aged in Rennet & Rind’s own maturing rooms in Cambridge.

Led by two-time ‘Affineur of the Year’ and internationally recognised cheese judge Perry James Wakeman, the team brings over 40 years of combined expertise in affinage, selection and grading. Mark and Perry have been inducted into the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers (Hall of Fame of Artisan Cheese), and Rennet & Rind was recently voted one of the best cheese shops in the UK by The Times.

But what makes this place stand apart is the passion of the team – they want you to taste, they want you to learn, they want at least a little bit of their learning to rub off on you. One always leaves this establishment feeling cheerier about the world.

Stamford Garden Centre

Casterton Road, Stamford PE9 4BB 01780 765656 | www.stamfordgardencentre.co.uk | stamfordgardencentre

The food hall at Stamford Garden Centre is a celebration of local produce and artisan foods. Carefully curated to support regional suppliers, it offers everything from fresh bread by Hambleton Bakery to seasonal Ashby Asparagus and locally grown Rutland strawberries. Customers can discover local favourites such as Driver’s pickles from Leicestershire, Rutland rapeseed oil, and Riverside Bakery’s delicious cakes from Norfolk. Sweet treats including Ferneley’s Ice Cream (Melton Mowbray) and honey from nearby hives add to the charm, while drinks include wine from Mallard Point (Essendine), craft beer from Bakers Dozen (Ketton) and Round Corner Brewery (Melton Mowbray). Even pets are catered for with Websters

dog food, who are based in Stamford. A customer favourite is undoubtedly the homemade granola, prepared by the chefs in the café. The head chef recommends enjoying it with yogurt, fresh fruit and a drizzle of local honey.

Willow Brook Farm Shop

Scotsman’s Lodge, Stamford Road, Peterborough PE6 7EL 01780 740261| www.willowbrookfarmshop.co.uk

Open: Sun & Mon 8am–4pm, Tue–Sat 8am–5pm

We met with Grace, a member of the fourth generation of the Morton family to be based on the farm, and very much an active part of it. Whilst her brother works on the farm, Grace works around the shop and café and just so happens to be a qualified butcher too! It’s this that makes farm shops so appealing – beef sourced straight from the farm, a family business, and all the family still very much hands-on and passionate about what they do. How could a supermarket ever compete with this?

The Farm Shop offers a huge range of meat, including Willow Brook’s own home-reared beef and a large selection of Willow Brook’s own sausages. It also sells fresh vegetables (Ashby Asparagus here too!), sauces, jams, chutneys, eggs and many other farm shop products, including Nene Valley-based Mee’s blueberry drinks. Alongside this, the deli sells Willow Brook’s hand-raised pork pies, meat pies and other delicious home cooked frozen meals. There’s also plenty of cheeses to choose from.

The Granary Tea Room serves up deliciously classic homecooked food (toasties, jacket potatoes, amazing cakes), using produce from the farm shop. There is also a plant area.

MARKET DAYS

Don’t forget market days, where many of our local farms also have stalls and you can buy their fabulous produce. Days are as follows:

• Oakham Every Wednesday in the Market Place. Farmers’ Market: every 3rd Saturday in Gaol Street (next one is Saturday 21 June).

• Uppingham Every Friday in the Market Place.

• Stamford Every Friday in Broad Street. Also a Farmers’ Market every Friday on the High Street (outside the library).

• Oundle Every Thursday on the Market Place. Also a Farmers’ Market on the second Saturday of every month (next one: Saturday 14 June).

• Market Harborough Monthly Farmer’s Market on The Square. Next one is Thursday 5 June.

With over 25 years of experience in the electrical trade, we specialise in all aspects of electrical services. From electrical installations, renewable energy, electric car charging to electrical fault finding, we have your electrical needs covered.

• We are NICEIC approved electricians and a member of the renewable energy consumer code. From a simple roof solar panel installation to a full battery storage system, we can guide, supply and install for you.

• Ordered your new ev vehicle? Company car charging? Public charging requirements? Contact us for a full design and consultation for your ev charging needs. We work with all the leading manufactures, so be sure we will find the one that meets your requirements.

For more information about our services, speak to a friendly member of our team.

A New Showroom for SafeGuard

SafeGuard Installations of Peterborough – part of Safeguard glass and glazing – is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a complete showroom refresh. Nicholas Rudd-Jones went along to take a look

SAFEGUARD INSTALLATIONS have been helping customers improve their property with the very best windows, doors, glass & glazing, since 1995. The business has grown from a local glazing company into experts in glass and glazing. They are now one of the UK’s leading glass merchants, processors and IGU manufacturers; however, delivering the very best home improvements and installations is still at the heart of everything they do.

The Werrington showroom has been completely transformed and expanded. Brands and products have been brought to absolute reality by being installed within a full room setting. This makes it so much easier to envisage how it might work in your home. Many of their major premier brands are represented, including Origin, Reynaers, Velfac/Rationel, Smart and Residence Collection, to name just a few. The Origin World is particularly impressive: a complete room with interior doors, bifolding doors that fold out neatly and tidily from the centre, minimising space taken when open; and two varieties of

windows. Origin is a quality brand, offering aluminium windows with narrow sightlines in order to maximise view. Importantly, Origin, which is a British brand, comes with a 20-year guarantee.

As well as the main installations, visitors can inspect colour options, a myriad of door handle and window fastening mechanisms, and different types of glass. So, it’s a one-stop shop for all your decisions.

Why Choose SafeGuard?

Expert Team: Customers come first at SafeGuard Installations. The friendly team has years of industry experience and the skills and knowledge to provide you with an exceptional service, guiding you through every stage of your project.

Quality Installations: SafeGuard work with you to develop home improvements bespoke to your home, ensuring you get great products, with the highest performance and efficiency.

POSH FOOTBALL EFL TROPHY

SafeGuard is an official club partner of Peterborough United.

To celebrate the opening of the new showroom, Nick Welsh, Managing Director of SafeGuard, invited a player in to celebrate the team’s winning the EFL trophy, becoming this year the first club ever to retain it. We met current Peterborough United right back James Dornelly, a fabulous ambassador for the club – a Peterborough United Academy graduate who recently played his first England game for the under 20s. And I even got to lift the trophy myself – it was surprisingly heavy!

Stunning Products: SafeGuard has a great selection of windows, doors, glass and glazing from market-leading suppliers. They also have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where they produce leading glass solutions.

Werrington Showroom: When it comes to choosing the right glazing, seeing the products in person is key. At their showroom in Werrington, SafeGuard has full-size working displays of their products, so you can envision exactly how they would look and feel in your home. The SafeGuard team is on hand to discuss your project with you and offer their advice and expertise.

As SafeGuard manufacture their glass in-house, customers are more than welcome to visit and see their products being crafted. Additionally, the team use a software package that allows you to insert the windows of your choice and colour onto an image of your house, which is a brilliant help for making final design decisions.

Full Regional Coverage: SafeGuard, a familiar name in Stamford and this region for 30 years, can cover locations within 50 miles of their base in Peterborough. This includes all parts of the Living Magazines patch.

‘Delivering the very best home improvements and installations is still at the heart of everything they do’

LEFT: SafeGuard’s Managing Director, Nick Welsh, with Peterborough United right back James Dornelly at the launch of the new SafeGuard showroom. SafeGuard are proud to be an official club partner of Peterborough United.

BELOW: the SafeGuard Installations team with James Dornelly – and the EFL trophy –at the launch event at the new showroom.

ABOVE & OPPOSITE: SafeGuard’s expert team work on contemporary and traditional buildings, so whatever your building and renovation needs, they will be able to help, offering ‘clear solutions in glass’.

Local Briefing

News from the region this month

The Market Harborough Bathroom Company

The Market Harborough Bathroom Company specialises in delivering high-quality bathroom solutions, focusing on elegant designs and premium materials to create luxurious and functional spaces for our clients. Owner Harry Taylor comments: ‘Our commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction ensures that each project reflects individual style while meeting practical needs. Whether it’s a complete renovation or a simple update, we are dedicated to making your dream bathroom a reality.’

Bespoke bathroom design: ‘With our extensive experience in bathroom projects, we understand the unique challenges that come with spaces of all shapes and sizes. This expertise allows us to assist in the thoughtful design of your new bathroom. By carefully analysing your available space, we can determine the optimal layout to enhance flow and maximise usability. Additionally, we collaborate with a network of trusted bathroom suppliers who can provide visualisations to help you envision your completed project.

Bathroom upgrades: ‘If you are considering a bathroom upgrade, or you are planning to replace sanitaryware or update existing floor and wall finishes, we have the skills and experience to manage your entire project from start to finish. Our team is equipped to handle all aspects, including heating, electrical work, and decorating. We can bring your vision to life seamlessly and efficiently.’

New build bathrooms: ‘Whether you’re designing a brandnew bathroom in a newly built home or converting an existing space to add a new bathroom to your home, we are here to help you every step of the way. With extensive experience in all aspects of bathroom design and installation, we provide tailored guidance to enhance your space. Let us turn your vision into reality with expert advice and quality craftsmanship.’

01858 451600 | www.themhbc.co.uk

Moving On – An Excellent New Album by Stamford’s Jonny Kerry

Words: Steve Roberts

I wrote about jazz musician Jonny Kerry for the Living magazines in May 2024. The word ‘wow’ cropped up a couple of times in that article, and so it was great to be given a preview of Jonny’s new album, ‘Moving On’, which will be released on 24 October 2025.

There are 10 original tracks on the album, and every number has its own distinct character with the common denominator being Jonny’s own soulful vocals and outstanding piano playing. He is backed up by a cast of internationally acclaimed musicians, including some pretty cool sax, guitar and trumpet players.

The album gets a kick start with ‘When I’m With You’, where a rousing brass section underscores Jonny’s fast-paced vocals and keyboard talent. ‘Moving On’ itself would work equally well heard in a Berlin basement bar or blaring out of an open-topped cabriolet while zooming down a Freeway alongside the ocean. ‘Down by the River’ is a personal favourite, but the sublime playing continues through the whole album, culminating in Jonny’s piano-led instrumental, ‘Tide’.

The new album showcases Jonny’s vocals, piano and songwriting skills (with the occasional nod to his accordion-playing roots) to perfection. Jonny says that the journey to making the album was a heartfelt one and he hopes that listeners will connect with it – this listener certainly did.

Jonny Kerry will be issuing four singles prior to the album release, with the first single available to download on 30 May. For updates on releases, follow Jonny on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Jonny’s music will be available on all the major streaming platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple and Spotify. For old-timers like me, CDs can be purchased from Jonny’s website, www.jonnykerry.com

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Local Briefing

Beat the August Flower Gap

How to make your garden flower all summer long with Yvette Smith, Garden Designer at Yvette’s Design Solutions

June is a time of plenty, with borders full of flowers, but does your garden lack colour in late summer? Now is the time to change that with my top 3 tips for plugging the gap between early summer and autumn. All of these plants come back every year and grow in most soil types, meaning you’ll never have to worry about that gap again.

1. Use Repeat Flowerers: Achieve continuous interest using plants that flower from spring and early summer through to the first frosts. Erigeron karvinskianus produces low pillows of daisy-like white flowers that slowly fade to pink. For something taller, try a splash of orange with Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, or the purple spires of Salvia ‘Caradonna’. Perennial geranium varieties such as ‘Rozanne’ will give you a second flush of flowers in August if you cut them back by a third in late June.

2. Add Seasonal Colour: Late-summer specialists give seasonal variety. For yellow-orange flowers, use Crocosmia ‘George Davison’ or Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’. Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ is a great droughttolerant plant with dusky pink blooms, while the purple flowers of Verbena bonariensis will float above everything else in the border. Both are highly popular with bees and butterflies. If you need a climber, try a late-flowering clematis such as ‘Gipsy Queen’ or ‘Ruutel’.

3. Embrace Ornamental Grasses: The flowers and seedheads of tall ornamental grasses look gorgeous as they catch the late summer sun. My favourite is Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ which stays standing throughout winter even on clay soils.

Find more late summer planting ideas at The Rutland Flower Show, 15–17 August, where Yvette will be running a Garden Design Clinic to help you maximise your garden. www.yvettesdesignsolutions.co.uk | @ydsyvette

Enriched Beginnings at Stamford School’s Nursery, Preschool & Reception

At Stamford School, the Nursery, Preschool and Reception programmes are thoughtfully planned to provide children with an inspiring, supportive and enriching foundation that sets them up for a lifetime of success. For the youngest learners, the journey begins in the Badgers Room (ages 2–3) and continues in the Preschool Room (ages 3–4), both nestled within the spacious 15-acre Junior School site. Here, the team embrace the Reggio Emilia approach, promoting curiosity, independence and creativity through child-led learning and purposeful play. Enrichment activities are taught by specialists, with classes including Spanish, swimming, dance, and music, all designed to broaden young minds and build early confidence.

The outdoor learning spaces encourage exploration and resilience, while daily nutritious meals and a focus on social and communication development ensure children thrive both physically and emotionally. With a clear transition pathway to the Junior School, each child’s journey is supported every step of the way.

In Reception, the school offers an exceptional learning environment where early academic foundations are balanced with creativity and wellbeing. Small class sizes, no combined year groups and access to dedicated Junior facilities ensure each child receives personalised attention in a setting designed for their growth.

Reception children benefit from specialist teaching in science, music, swimming and other enrichment areas, all while being part of a nurturing school community. Wrap-around care supports busy families, and convenient on-site parking makes daily routines stress-free.

Few places remain for September 2025, making now the perfect time to take the next step. Whether you’re beginning with Nursery or joining for Reception, Stamford offers a unique setting where your child can flourish. Enquire today or come to the Open Day in September 2025 to experience Stamford in person and see how enriched beginnings can lead to a confident, successful journey ahead. stamfordschools.org.uk | @stamfordschools

Local Briefing

News from the region this month

Ruff & Tumble Arrives in Stamford

Ruff & Tumble has recently opened a store in St Mary’s Street in Stamford, selling a range of thoughtfully designed, beautiful-quality products for dogs

We popped into the shop to take a look around and check out the range on behalf of our cocker spaniel, Scout. Ruff & Tumble’s co-owner Ed Hoare told us: ‘We have been trading successfully online, at 30 shows (including Defender Burghley Horse Trials and Badminton) and through 350 stockists for many years, but now we felt it was the time to open our first permanent store. Stamford was a natural choice because it is fairly close to our company base in Oakham, and it an ideal profile in terms of owners. So far, we have been very well received.’

The original product, Ruff & Tumble Drying Coats, has many detailed design features, making them effective at drying, comfortable to wear and stylish too. They use two layers of quality cotton towelling that, unlike man-made fabrics, are much more comfortable and efficient at drying.

Ruff & Tumble now offers a wide range of dog products, from their ever-popular coats, through to dog beds, leads and food products. But, as Ed told us, one common theme throughout is that whatever they offer they want it to be the best, and they intend to evolve the product range in a carefully moderated fashion ensuring only excellent new products. They have recently set up their own manufacturing capability in order to innovate still further and maintain quality.

The brand seems to fit in very naturally with the ethos of St Mary’s Street, which is based around product quality and service, so we feel sure it will do very well here.

Ruff & Tumble, 6 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DE www.ruffandtumbledogcoats.com @ruffandtumbledogcoats

Creative Oundle Summer Events

This July sees a trio of high-energy events presented by Creative Oundle, which are sure to put some heat into summer. First on the scene are the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, who take to the stage at the Stahl Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday 5 July, to celebrate the ‘Ronnie Scott’s Story’. The performance by these highly accomplished jazz musicians captures the 60+ year history of the iconic London jazz club in Soho, in a combination of live music from the jazz greats, projected images and footage, and hair-raising tales.

Hot on their heels comes that perennial summer favourite, ‘Party at The Wharf’ on Saturday 12 July. Headlining what is sure to be the party event of the summer are Bootleg Blondie, the world’s No.1 official Debbie Harry and Blondie band, who have played and toured with two of the original founder members.

Bootleg Blondie will be performing a selection of Blondie hits from the 1970s onwards and are sure to have everyone up on their feet. Supporting them are the toe-tapping Vintage Rock ’n’ Roll band, together with local rockers, Disarray.

Completing July’s line up are the hilarious Handlebards theatrical troupe, who cycle into town on Friday 18 July, bringing their unique brand of Shakespeare to the Common Room Garden, Oundle in a performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at 7pm. This bicycle-powered production is sure to have the audience rolling around with laughter, so expect silly songs, energetic slapstick and audience participation.

‘We’re delighted to welcome back this unique young company with its strong environmental ethos and flair for finding the fun in The Bard,’ said Max Schurer, organiser, and a Trustee of Creative Oundle, a local cultural and performing arts charity. ‘We encourage people to bring a picnic and enjoy the chaos!’

For more information on all of these events, including ticket prices, please visit: www.creativeoundle.co.uk

THE JUNE WALK

Belvoir Ridge & Castle

We keep coming back to this part of the world, there is so much of interest – woods, a grand castle, steep slopes, great views and many streams. Providing you are comfortable with the distance, it’s hard to find a better walk round here

words: nicholas rudd-jones

KEY DATA

Distance 12 miles

Typical time 5 hours 30 mins

Star t & finish Woolsthorpe Post Office (NG31 6NE) Terrain Hilly, but generally clear paths

PITSTOPS

• The Chequers Inn, Woolsthorpe (01476 870701, www.chequersinn.net) A lovely pub, with good food. Gets crowded at weekends, so book ahead.

• Woolsthorpe Post Office. Open every day 9.30am–5.30pm except Sunday. Very friendly. Good range of snacks and drinks.

• The Wheel Inn, Branston (01476 248165, www.thewheelinn.uk) Run by David and Sarah Bates, The Wheel is a traditional country pub offering high-quality food, drink and service. It really is a charming spot, with a good beer garden.

• The Belvoir Retail Village, next to the entrance to Belvoir Castle, is an excellent place to stop off for refreshments, and it’s open daily. See full feature on p48–9 for more details.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• The River Devon (pronounced Dee-von) is a tributary of the River Trent, which it joins at Newark. It feeds Knipton Reservoir, built in the 1790s to supply water to the Grantham Canal, now a car p fishing lake; and Belvoir Lakes, designed by Capability Brown.

• It is thought that Croxton Kerrial Manor House was the home of the Lords of the Manor of Croxton from the 12th to the 14th century, including the ‘de Criol’ family who gave their name to the village, hence ‘Kerrial’.

• The Waltham Iron Ore Tramway, operating from 1884 until 1958, served the ironstone workings around here, of which we see several on our route. It ran to the northwest of Branston close to High Leas Farm and is still marked on the OS map.

• Combs Meadows is an expanse of grasslands just to the southeast of Stathern to the left of our roue. There is much wildlife to enjoy here, especially wildflowers and butterflies.

• Stathern Wood is the most southerly point of a swathe of managed mixed woodland that stretches along the south-eastern escar pment on the edge of the Vale of Belvoir, all the way to Belvoir Castle, taking in Plungar Wood, Barkestone Wood, Terrace Hills and Old Park Wood on the way.

• Belvoir Castle is the fourth to have stood on the site since Nor man times. The existing castle was completed in the early 19th century after previous buildings suffered complete or partial destruction during the Wars of the Roses, the Civil War and a major fire in 1816. Visit www.belvoircastle.com to find out more.

CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: the magnificent Belvoir Castle; ploughed field in the Devon Valley; view looking down the Devon Valley; church in Croxton Kerrial.

DIRECTIONS

Start near the village stores in Woolsthorpe, heading west to the end of Belvoir Lane, where you reach the River Devon. Staying on the near side of the river, follow the path south through a series of ﬁelds until it reaches a metalled track.

Turn left here along a permissive path, reaching Cobleas and then returning to Main Street. Turn right here and follow the road all of the way to Harston.

On reaching the junction at Harston, cross over into Croxton Lane. There is soon a split in the road – take the left-hand fork, which maintains height more and soon transitions into a track that runs above a tributary of the river.

On reaching the end of this valley, and after a copse, cross a large ﬁeld diagonally right. Walk up the slope through Harston Wood, coming out on the other side to a path leading into Croxton Kerrial, passing the church on your right and the remains of a medieval house on your left.

On reaching Middle Street, turn left and then shortly right along Chapel Way. Follow this road, then the metalled track, all the way along to Branston, where you join Knipton Road and take it to the centre of Branston village.

Turn right past the delightful Wheel Inn, and walk north out of the village along the Branston Road. The road dips down

to cross the River Devon. Just after that point, take the track on the left that is called the Jubilee Way. This track takes you all the way to the Belvoir Road. (For a charming alternative that goes along the valley bottom, take the footpath that soon takes oﬀ to the right, which also goes to the Belvoir Road, but a little further north.)

On reaching the tarmacked road, turn left and then soon right along Toft’s Lane towards Stathern Woods. When you reach the woods, take the wood path to the right; this takes you along the Belvoir ridge towards Belvoir Castle.

On reaching the ﬁrst road, cross over and rejoin the track that commences a few yards right along the road. At the next road, follow the track that runs along the right-hand side of the road down the hill to the Belvoir Castle car park. Take the track through the gate and then through to the car park.

After the car park, follow the Woolsthorpe Road towards Woolsthorpe, turning oﬀ at a footpath to the right. This leads down a track with views of the Belvoir Lower Lake.

After going through a gate, turn left along a ﬁeld boundary and several ﬁne oaks and eventually cross the River Devon to reach Point 2 of the walk again; retrace your steps along Belvoir Lane to the start point.

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Anyone for Cricket?

Cricket! That quintessentially British summer sport with its soundtrack of bat on ball, the thwack of willow on leather, is now in full seasonal swing. Local teams across our counties will be turning out in all their white-trousered glory, hopefully to hit sixes and boundaries and avoid the walk of shame back to the pavilion after an early dismissal with little to show for their efforts. Indeed, even some pavilions are fascinating architectural gems in their own right. So here are three cricketing tales from across our counties that will hopefully bowl you over

words: caroline aston

Burley on the Hill

The magnificent mansion at Burley on the Hill near Oakham was once home to George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea (1752–1826), a man who was said to ‘go anywhere for a game of cricket’. True, his main contribution to cricket was largely as a patron/organiser, but he was also an extremely enthusiastic amateur player – indeed, rather too enthusiastic for some other players who often saw him as a liability! Burley played host to several high profile 18th-century first-class matches. In 1790 and 1791 an all-England team played one from Hampshire, and 1791 also saw a fixture between an Old Etonian side and the Marylebone Cricket Club, which had been founded four years before by Thomas Lord. Winchilsea had his own team and the last first-class game played at Burley was the Earl’s XI versus Mr R Leigh’s XI in 1793.

Fittingly, the last recorded match was in 1814, when Rutland played against Nottingham. The great house at Burley must

surely be the most opulent cricket pavilion ever: built between 1694–1700 on the site of an earlier house owned by the 1st Duke of Buckingham, it witnessed a blast from its sporting past in 1994 when a Rutland team played against the Lords Taverners to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Burley House’s construction.

In June 1771 the Stamford Mercury advertised a cricketing club that was to meet fortnightly at the town’s ‘race ground’, an area now home to today’s Racecourse Road. However, the emphasis seems to have been more on clubbing than on cricket: the Bull and Swan pub provided refreshments, and there were entertainments and meetings but not much play! By 1809 the cricket content seems to have expanded, though matches were of only 2 innings, and 50 runs seems to have been as good as it got!

Twelve years later an enterprising hairdresser in Stamford High Street advertised that he’d not only shave and shear clients but sell

them a cricket bat too! Bets were laid on match results and the local game was dominated by men of status, including the Marquess of Exeter whose team played at the race course ground in the 1820s. In 1854 the Burghley Park Cricket Club played its first match in the Park and, as railways spread across the country, the number of away matches multiplied.

The 1870s was a golden decade: the Club’s opening pair Charles Chenery and John Furley both played for Northamptonshire. Furley’s name is well known to Rutlanders: his family married into the Hassan family ultimately creating the iconic Furley and Hassan business. Educated at Oakham School he was a successful wine and spirits merchant in the town. In 1877 he played for England against Gloucestershire at the Oval and captained the Burghley team.

WG Grace & Burghley

Bushy-bearded cricket legend WG Grace played at Burghley in the 1880s. Hero of a thousand cigarette cards, Grace didn’t cover himself with glory when he played against the Stamford side in 1886, but he redeemed himself a year later: the Park side was thrashed, with Grace scoring 110 runs and taking 9 wickets! The Club thrived and in 1894 the then Marquess of Exeter opened a spanking new pavilion that still stands today. Built by Mr John Woolston, it cost £287 (over £31,000 today) and was the result of much fundraising activity.

In July 1976 a star-studded Lords Taverners team played a match: Dr Who actor Tom Baker, satirist Willy Rushton, Ted Dexter, John Alderton and Brian Clough all turned out, but every eye was on Eric Morecambe (without little Ernie Wise!) who kept a crowd of over 4,000 in stitches with his on-pitch antics!

Uppingham School

Uppingham School’s first recorded cricket match dates from 1852. Between 1871–3 the Captain of the School XI was William Seeds Patterson, author of a history of cricket at the school that was published in 1909. Copies of the book can be found for sale online today, and it’s packed with stories of long-forgotten games and personalities such as the School’s great cricket coach between 1872–96, Heathfield Harman Stephenson. This man scored the first recorded hat-trick (1858), was a member of the first England touring side (1859), captained the first English side to tour Australia and was a professional player for Surrey for 17 years. He was a huge feather in Uppingham’s sporting cap!

Seeds Patterson left another memorial too – he gifted the now gloriously restored and renovated School Cricket Pavilion on Glaston Road. Originally erected in 1923 to an Arts and Craftsinspired design by Sir William John Tapper, its stone-mullioned windows with leaded lights peep out from under a deep thatched roof. Original features such as the changing room bench lockers and panelled doors with strap hinges remain, as does some delicate, leafy plasterwork. But perhaps the most touching nod to the School’s cricketing past is the lists of names inscribed on the internal panelling: all those who played for Uppingham School from 1856 onwards are there, and some of them went on to become nationally celebrated for their skills.

Even if you know little of the sport, its rules and history, it has to be said that a deckchair, a sun hat plus a cucumber sandwich and Pimm’s picnic has a very alluring sound to it. So, as summer progresses,, here’s to cricket whether it’s your bag or just a backdrop to a lazy, sunny afternoon – either way you’re on the winning side!

The InhamSingers

Music as nature intended it

WORDS: STEVE ROBERTS

SO this month we’re off to Uppingham’s Crown Inn, a regular venue for bands and singers. I was not attending a gig but catching up with the InhamSingers. They are the brainchild of Kirstie Lawton and Thomas Heath, who sought to help people celebrate their natural singing voice by creating an open-to-all, mixed choir for the village of Bisbrooke. It was an idea that caught on.

The night I attended was the second trial week, aiming to expand the project to include Uppingham. It was such a success that I could not get in the door of The Crown’s Music Room. Due to the sheer number of enthusiastic singers present, I had to perch on a stool in the doorway. Paradoxically, such was the popularity of the evening that the Uppingham event has had to relocate back to Bisbrooke Church to cope with the numbers!

‘The only thing better than singing is more singing’

Conductor Thomas Heath

Thomas Heath conducts the choir, guiding them through a mixed repertoire of popular numbers sung acapella. The evening I was there, the songs ranged from Carly Simon, Bill Withers and Leonard Cohen to The Beatles. There was also the very apt Ella Fitzgerald classic ‘The only thing better than singing is more singing’, about which Thomas says: ‘this brilliant arrangement by Penny Stone has become our motto.’

The evident joy of the singers, the great mix of material and Thomas’s relaxed leadership led to a rousing evening of song. All to be expected from a group named after the Inhams paths, linking Bisbrooke to Uppingham, where you can still hear skylarks singing their hearts out.

Thomas has a busy life in addition to the InhamSingers. He lives in Bisbrooke with his young family, and runs his own communications and training company, Uppingham-based The Art of Explaining, so his daily commute is walking those Inhams paths. He is also the drummer for Rutland’s indie-folk rock band The Lokeys, who will be performing at Uppingham Town Hall on Saturday 14 June to launch their new album.

However, that is only scratching the surface of Thomas’s colourful musical life. He has been involved in all kinds of

carnival events in the past, particularly during his time leading the Nottingham School of Samba. In that role, he led hundreds of drummers, dressed as Robin Hood, samba-ing into Nottingham Castle. I would like to have seen that.

How to Join

But back to the InhamSingers… If you like singing and love the idea of getting together to create some harmony, why not give them a try? Bisbrooke is very easy to get to, the first session is free, and it’s only £5 a time thereafter. It is also a great way to make new friends over a glass of wine (or something softer) in a welcoming song and laughter-filled atmosphere whilst giving your mind, body and spirit a great workout.

FIND OUT MORE:

• For details and dates, call Thomas Heath on 07966 217538. • The Lokeys are live in concert at Uppingham Town Hall on Saturday 14 June from 8pm. Tickets: £10. For full information, email lokeysbandrutland@gmail.com

ABOVE: Thomas Heath at Bisbrooke Church

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