Cotswold Homes Summer 2015

Cotswold-Homes.com The Property & Lifestyle Magazine for the North Cotswolds

summer Edition 2015 Complimentary Copy

Celebrate Summer

Festivals, Fetes & Food

Raymond Blanc

His ProtÉgÉs Return

Alice Powell Queen of Motorsport

Tweedy

King of Clowns

HOT PROPERTY The Investment Market

Competitions and Offers

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons | Big Feastival | The RSC’s The Jew of Malta | Cheltenham Showcase

Cotswold Homes Magazine CONTENTS Competitions and Offers

4

Win fabulous prizes and take advantage of local offers

Interview with the Clown

Let the Cotswolds Swim Alice Powell

10

32

Circus supremo Tweedy on his life and career

10

36

A lido revival

We interview the Cotswold motorsport queen

The Big Feastival is Back The Jew of Malta

14

Director Justin Audibert on the RSC’s tale of gruesome revenge

46

18

…and it’s better than ever

How to Throw a Festival

48

Stage your own themed party

Raymond Blanc & Le Manoir

18

The master’s protégés return for the feast of a lifetime

Events

Barbury Horse Trials

The Pig Show

22

Explore this top equestrian event

Champion Jockeys

52

Make the most of your Cotswold summer

32

64

Prize porkers at the Moreton Show

28

Who will be next to take the crown?

How Property

90

The investment market

Editor’s WELCOME Welcome to our 2015 summer issue, which might just be the hottest yet.We’ve got a real bounty of competition prizes and local offers for residents and visitors – more, indeed, than we can list here, so turn to page 4 from where you’ll find them all.

We’ve also had some great interviewees this issue: motoring trailblazer Alice Powell and Giffords Circus star Tweedy the clown.

Both have lead rather interesting lives and have certainly made a splash on the Cotswold scene.

On the culinary frontier, we see the return of Raymond Blanc to our pages, as he invites some of his most illustrious protégés back to Le Manoir for a succession of feasts.

As always, we’ve packed the magazine with the best of local property – read on to find out more about the investment market and receive the best advice on property matters from our handpicked team of experts. We think this is a great issue – I hope you find it the same.

Front cover image: Brockwell Park (Lido) by Ruth Hydes © TfL from the London Transport Museum Collection

Cotswold Homes Magazine Our next edition, Autumn 2015, will bring you more upcoming events, offers and articles showcasing the local area – helping you to get more out of life in this beautiful part of the world.

Design team: Alias www.wearealias.com

0845 257 7475 sayhello@wearealias.com

To speak to a member of our team, please telephone 01451 833171 or email: Marketing and Sales: rachel@cotswold-homes.com | kim@cotswold-homes.com Editor’s Desk: matt@cotswold-homes.com Property: karen@harrisonjameshardie.co.uk Star Chamber Offices, Hollis House, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF

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Exclusive Competitions and Offers

Summer Competition & Offer Extravaganza only with Cotswold Homes

Get set for summer with our greatest giveaway yet! We’ve a whole host of fabulous prizes to win and exclusive discounts to take advantage of this season.

WIN! 6 X PAIRS OF TICKETS TO SEE THE RAVE-REVIEWED THE JEW OF MALTA AT THE RSC, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON (PERFORMANCE ON 3RD AUGUST AT THE SWAN THEATRE).

Vengeance and villainy run riot in Christopher Marlowe’s darkly comic story of hypocrisy and corruption, The Jew of Malta.This critically acclaimed production is a hit with critics and audiences alike and is now playing in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.

To enter our draw, simply email admin@cotswoldhomes.com with MALTA in the subject field and the answer to the following question before 22nd of July (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry): Q

Which playwright wrote The Jew of Malta?

A

William Shakespeare

B

Christopher Marlowe

C

Alan Bennett

WIN! 2 X PAIRS OF TICKETS for the opening meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse for the 2015-16 season, The Showcase.

Hold on to your hats – we’ve got tickets to the best horse-racing in town for two lucky winners!

Racing takes place on Friday 23rd October and Saturday 24th October - and Cotswold Homes have two pairs of tickets available to WIN – you choose which day you want to attend.

To enter our draw, simply email admin@cotswoldhomes.com with SHOWCASE in the subject field before the 21st of September (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry).

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

ExclusivE compEtitions and offErs

EXCLUSIVE OFFER! diNE iN STyLE aT LE MaNOir To celebrate 30 years of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Raymond Blanc is set to welcome back members of his brigade to host a series of Diner des Protégés at his two Michelin Star Oxfordshire restaurant.

Throughout 2015, guests joining the Diner des Protégés evenings will be able to savour the acclaimed chefs’ signature creations during an evening of gastronomic excellence.The food of Belmond Le Manoir will be reflected in each menu, which will include an introductory course from Raymond Blanc, as well as one from Executive Head Chef Gary Jones and Pastry Chef Benoit Blin. Confirmed chefs taking part in Diner des Protégés are as follows: Adam Simmonds: Wednesday 15th July Eric Chavot: Wednesday 16th September Bruno Loubet: Wednesday 21st October Alan Murchison: Wednesday 25th November Belmond Le Manoir has maintained Two Michelin Stars for 30 years and the food remains the focus of every guest’s visit.The quality of the food stems from the freshness and purity of its ingredients, with the two-acre kitchen garden producing 90 types of

vegetables and over 70 varieties of herbs which are used in the kitchens.

The Diner des Protégés evenings will include a champagne Laurent-Perrier reception with canapés and a signature dinner with accompanying wines, coffee and petits fours.The evenings are priced at £225 per person.

Cotswold Homes readers will receive a 20% discount on all new reservations made for any of these listed dinners. Make sure you mention the magazine and the code CHLMSM15 to receive your discount.

Turn the page to discover yet more cracking competitions and offers exclusive to Cotswold Homes!

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ExclusivE compEtitions and offErs

EXCLUSIVE COMpETiTiONS aNd OffErS from Cotswold Homes

Win free tickets to star events and tourist attractions! Simply e-mail your name, address and contact details to admin@cotswold-homes.com before each competition deadline. Then turn the page for more fabulous offers from great local businesses!

WIN! A WEEKEND FAMILY TICKET (2 X ADULT, 2 X CHILDREN) TO JAMIE OLIVER AND ALEX JAMES’ BIG FEASTIVAL AT KINGHAM, 28TH – 30TH AUGUST Go and spend a great weekend of food, tunes and summer frolics with this fabulous prize!

A Weekend Ticket is an entry only ticket that includes admission and live entertainment across the music, food and family stages. A Weekend Ticket includes entry on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more details about this year’s Big Feastival, head to our write-up on page 46.

To enter our draw, simply email admin@cotswoldhomes.com with FEASTIVAL in the subject field and the answer to the following question before 10th August (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry): Q

To which chart-topping Brit band does Alex James belong?

A

Oasis

B

Blur

C

Adam and the Ants

WIN! 6 X PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE BATTLE PROMS AT RAGLEY HALL (PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST) The ever popular Battle Proms Picnic Concert will return to Ragley Hall on Saturday 15 August 2015, the 70th anniversary of V-J Day, for an exceptional evening of sublime classical music, carefully choreographed Spitfire and cavalry displays, dramatic cannon fire and a stunning firework finale.The concert takes place in a picturesque setting overlooking the lake, providing a dramatic backdrop for the many pyrotechnic displays.

To enter our draw, simply email admin@cotswoldhomes.com with RAGLEY in the subject field and the answer to the following question before 3rd of August (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry): Q

WIN! TWO TICKETS TO MEMBERS’ DAY AT PRESCOTT SPEED HILL CLIMB (SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST) Motorheads rejoice! Members’ Day includes rounds of Cheltenham Porsche & Aldon Automotive Classic speed Championship plus NHCA invited motorcycles.

To enter our draw, simply email admin@ cotswold-homes.com with PRESCOTT in the subject field before the 22nd of July (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry)

Which anniversary does the Battle Proms at Ragley Hall fall on?

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

ExclusivE compEtitions and offErs

EXCLUSIVE COMpETiTiONS aNd OffErS from Cotswold Homes

WIN! 2 X FAMILY PASSES* FOR BARBURY HORSE TRIALS

WIN! A FAMILY DAY PASS TO ADAM HENSON’S COTSWOLD FARM PARK (2 X ADULTS, 2 X CHILDREN / 1 X ADULT, 3 X CHILDREN) An absolutely perfect prize for a fun family day out! Take the kids to Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park and be enthralled by rare breeds, entertained by talks and demonstrations – and don’t forget to buy some feed for the animals and take a tumble in the play area before you go!

To enter our draw, simply email admin@ cotswold-homes.com with FARM PARK in the subject field before the 3rd of August (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry)

Across four days, from 9th to 12th July, an awesome line up of the world’s top riders will be competing in the novice and two star classes as well as the prestigious three star competition, which culminates on Sunday with the crosscountry.

Last year, local leading rider Andrew Nicholson and the lovely grey gelding Avebury made history with a hat-trick of wins in the three star competition and is earmarked to return in 2015 to defend their Barbury crown for a fourth time.

To enter our draw, simply email admin@cotswoldhomes.com with BARBURY in the subject field

before the 6th of July (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry) and the answer to the following question: Which horse and rider combination won the Barbury International three star competition in 2014 for the third consecutive time? *Prize includes entry for 2x4 people (2 adults, 2 children) to the St. James’s Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials on Saturday 11th or Sunday 12th July. There is no cash alternative. Competition winners are required to arrange their own transport to and from the event.

WIN! A FAMILY TICKET (2 X ADULTS, 2 X CHILDREN) TO GIFFORDS CIRCUS NEW SPECTACULAR SHOW ‘MOON SONGS’ (6PM ON FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER, CIRENCESTER) Roll up, roll up and get entering our draw for this truly incredible prize! To enter our draw, simply email admin@cotswold-homes.com with GIFFORDS in the subject field before the 20th of August (remember to include your name, telephone number, address and email address with your entry).

Best of luck!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Entry to the competition is open to all except the employees (and their families) of Cotswold Homes or Harrison James & Hardie. Winners will be drawn at random and notified via Facebook, by e-mail or by phone and may be posted on our website. No alternative prize or cash substitute is available for any of the prizes. In the event of a winner being unable to accept their prize then another winner will be drawn.

This giveaway is open to residents of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland aged 18 years or over, except employees of Cotswold Homes Magazine, their families, agents or anyone else professionally associated with the giveaway.

It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the

competitor agrees to abide by these rules.The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

reserves the right to award the prize to an alternative winner, drawn in accordance with these terms and conditions.

Entries must be emailed to admin@cotswold-homes.com (or as specified in entry terms of a specific prize) and entry is restricted to one per person. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries or entries sent through agencies and third parties will not be accepted. No responsibility can be held for lost entries and proof of dispatch will not be accepted as proof of receipt.The winner will be drawn at random from all entries received by the closing date and notified via Facebook message or contact details supplied.

The prize is described as available on the date of publication and all prizes are subject to the terms and conditions of the supplier.The prizes do not include travel insurance, food and drink, personal expenditure, or incidental costs, other than where mentioned. All elements of the prize are non transferable and there are no cash alternatives.The winner may be required to take part in publicity. Events may occur that render the prize draw itself or the awarding of the prize impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof.

The winner will be contacted within seven days of the closing date of the prize draw. Should the Promoter be unable to contact the winner or should the winner be unable to accept the prize, the Promoter

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ExclusivE compEtitions and offErs

EXCLUSIVE COMpETiTiONS aNd OffErS from Cotswold Homes

These Summer Edition Cotswold Homes Offers are all valid until the end of September – simply quote the code!

SHUTTERCRAFT GLOUCESTERSHIRE

AMANDA HANLEY

BY DESIGN

20% Off A Selected Range In Her New Burford Shop Gloucestershire interior design consultant Amanda Hanley is renowned for her classic style, insider knowledge and friendly, inspirational approach.

R & D WALKER

10% Off Sausages & 5Lbs Of Rindless Back Bacon For Just £9.99 R&D WALKER T/A P Checketts, Moreton in Marsh Our own favourite P. Checketts is an excellent family butcher’s, easily found in the centre of the High Street in Moreton in Marsh!

20% Off premium made-to-measure hardwood shutters Shuttercraft window shutters and blinds offer you the UK’s widest and best quality range of internal Plantation shutters and made-to-measure wood slat venetian blinds available in your area.

T 01608 651002

Quote code: CHRDWSM15

T 01242 649592 www.shuttercraft-gloucestershire.co.uk

To launch her new Burford shop in style, Amanda will be offering a 20% reduction on the cost of many items from her range until the end of September.This is a huge opportunity to plan, perhaps for Christmas, avoiding the last minute rush. If you need to organise presents, sofas, lighting, wallpaper or fabric before Christmas, then do take advantage of this offer.

To get your voucher, email amanda@amandahanley. co.uk and quote the code: CHAHSM15. She’ll send confirmation and you can collect it at The Gallery, No. 69 High Street, Burford.

T 01993 822 385 M 07976 353 996 www.amandahanley.co.uk

Quote code: CHSHSM15

CHARACTER COTTAGES

JEM FINANCIAL PLANNING

Character Cottages was founded in 2011 to create a distinctive, high quality holiday lettings business with a focus on fabulous country homes in beautiful towns and villages throughout the Cotswolds.

Offering advice in all areas of financial planning in today’s often confusing market with a wide range of effective and bespoke solutions for clients, including an online view of financial affairs and a chance to communicate securely using a private messaging service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.*

Free Property Appraisals, Free Photographs and up to £500 Cash Back for New Joiners

Are you thinking of letting your Cotswold Cottage or empty second home? If you are a current holiday cottage owner, or would like to buy a holiday home, Character Cottages can help you to maximise your holiday cottage returns and minimise the effort required on your part.

T 0208 935 5375 owners@character-cottages.co.uk www.character-cottages.co.uk

Free Initial Consultation

When JEM Financial Planning deals with people's finances, a personal touch is of top priority, giving them a chance to both identify and evaluate your own personal needs and circumstances.

JEM Financial Planning is a trading style of John Magee that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

T 01386 840777 john@jemfinancial.co.uk www.jemfinancial.com

Quote code: CHCOTSM15

Quote code: CHJEMSM15

Read Andy Soye’s expert advice on the holiday let marketplace on page 105

Read more about Amanda Hanley’s new venture on page 71

Read Sue Ellis’s expert advice on Help to Buy ISAs on page 103

THE MUSICAL BOX

Buy 8 Lessons And Get 1 Free When You Book At The Open Day The Musical Box provides one-to-one lessons in all the contemporary instruments and encourages students to listen, play and have great fun.The teachers are all dedicated musicians with years of live and teaching experience.They are continually performing, teaching and learning from each other with the sole aim of passing on musical skills to students who also share that passion.

Come to our Open Day in Atherstone on Stour on Saturday 15th August and get 1 lesson FREE when you sign up for a course of 8.

T 07799 544923 rock@themusicalbox.co.uk www.themusicalbox.co.uk

Quote code: CHTMBSM15 Cotswold-Homes.Com The ProPerTy & LifesTyLe Magazine for The norTh CoTswoLds 8

Cotswold Homes Magazine

ExclusivE compEtitions and offErs

EXCLUSIVE COMpETiTiONS aNd OffErS from Cotswold Homes

MILTON DENTAL PRACTICE

CENTRAL SURVEYING

New Patient Examination only £62 for CH Readers (Standard Price £93) with free Denplan Examination

20% Off Surveys

As highly experienced independent building surveyors, chartered surveyors and property consultants, Central Surveying are aware of the considerable factors involved in ensuring astute selling, buying and renting of property, offering a wide range of professional surveying and property consultancy services.Their extensive sector expertise, in-depth local knowledge, wide-ranging capabilities and special brand of personal service add up to exactly what our clients want - a reliable full service resource under one roof.

T 01285 640840 office@centralsurveying.co.uk www.centralsurveying.co.uk

Quote code: CHCSSM15

Read Robert Hamilton’s expert advice on septic tank maintenance on page 104

Milton Dental Practice is situated in the beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswold village of Milton-underWychwood.

COTSWOLD CARRIERS

Free Packing Material for Your Move Moving house can often be a stressful event – why not take some of the weight off your mind with this exclusive offer from Cotswold Carriers?

A family run business with 35 years of experience specialising in domestic and commercial moves, Cotswold Carriers operate under the motto ‘Moving People With Care’ and strive for a stress-free moving experience for each customer, offering noobligation quotes.

Freestyle 360 is a gym with a difference: it’s a brand new, unique indoor and outdoor facility with obstacle and mud run training course, set in 28 acres of beautiful Cotswold countryside in the picturesque village of Blockley, open 7 days a week. Now with this special booking discount, you and your friends and colleagues can enjoy a day of exercise for a reduced price.

T 01386 700 039 info@freestyle360.co.uk www.freestyle360.co.uk

Wesley House is a 15th century Merchant’s House in the historic Anglo Saxon town of Winchcombe in the Cotswolds. With a AA ** rosette awarded restaurant, it has developed a reputation for excellent food, elegant surroundings and exemplary service. Wesley House take pride in delivering great food, using local suppliers and organic produce wherever possible.

T 01242 602366 enquiries@wesleyhouse.co.uk www.wesleyhouse.co.uk

Quote code: CHWHSM15

Read Trevor Bigg’s advice column on page 82

WORLD OF SMILE

15% Off All Conservatory Orders The World of Smile Conservatory & Leisure Village in Cheltenham is ideal for those improving their homes and gardens, with a range of Laura Ashley furniture, windows & doors, sheds and summerhouses and much more!

T 01242 677 555 www.worldofsmile.com

Quote code: CHWOSSM15

THE ORGANIC HAIR ANGELS 10% Off your first haircut

The Organic Hair Angels ensure that everything in their salon from colouring products to towels is designed for comfort - yours and the earth’s.

Quote code: CHFRSM15 Read Tim Spittle’s column on how to view your fitness long-term on page 78

Quote code: CHMDPSM15

Quote code: CHCCSM15

10% Off Lunch at Restaurant – Wine Bar & Grill, Valid for 2 Persons

10% off OCR Mud Run Course Group Bookings of 10 or more

T 01993 831396 reception@drbigg.com www.drbigg.com

T 01608 730 500 dean@cotswold-carriers.com www.cotswoldcarriers.com

WESLEY HOUSE, WINCHCOMBE

FREESTYLE 360

It is a private practice dealing with all aspects of dental treatment but we specialise in cosmetic dentistry, including composite or plastic veneers, porcelain veneers, tooth whitening and the treatment of worn teeth and jaw joint disorders. Please contact Penny for details regarding this offer and all other treatments available at the practice.

Read Julia Sibun’s advice on planning the perfect festival-themed party on page 48

Cotswold Homes readers can benefit from 10% off their first haircut – just quote CHOHASM15 when you book the appointment.

T 01386 841447 www.the-organic-hair-angels.co.uk

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alicE powEll

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ts and n e m ish ompl the c c a lk to ny a a t m e W al as too aph. h r l g l ment a e r s ’ w a r o p e P n y e uctor dia… a win r Alic n d , I e o y r v r o i t t r o n t i is on e gd missi simpl youn cing h a e a g r d n i n a g i r z n t la to list maki on a s r Trailb n t e o s t e s t i r r in te po ing in otors ime M r m P f e o sport th queen nying d a l p o m w testing in for two reasons – A: because I did not o Cots ut acc o have much sponsorship and B: because of my age, b a nd a I was not allowed to do a lot of testing, so I was e t sta quite a bit behind the other drivers. The team fantastic sponsors too, including SilverstoneHotels and Immun'Age, who have also been very supportive.

CH:When did you first get behind the wheel?

AP: Of a road car? When I was around 6 years old! My granddad and dad took me to some private land and taught me to drive. I don't really remember much, just that there were a lot of cushions involved! Of a racing car - when I was around 14, at a welcome day that Formula Ford ran at Silverstone. I got a few laps in a Formula Ford at a VERY wet Silverstone!

When did you first realise you had an aptitude for racing?

Ever since I watched Michael Schumacher on the TV. I was a huge fan of his. I used to ride my bike around the garden, creating little tracks, wearing a red suit and red helmet. I was also the commentator and would always win! I got the opportunity to have a go in a go-kart when I was 8, and from then on, I never looked back.

How did you turn that interest into a career and who helped you in the early stages of that transition?

I had huge support from my family. They have been brilliant and so supportive. I have had

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Tell us about the Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship in 2009, where at age 16 you became the youngest female driver in a Formula Renault race…How did this help shape your future goals?

I remember there being many eyes on me because I was the youngster. I did not get a lot of

I drove for, Manor Competition, taught me so much and that really helped me move on to the next level.

What was it like to come runner up for the Young Star Award at the Women of the Future awards?

How were you entered into the competition?

It was incredible! I was up against so many amazing people, which included Georgia Groome (the main actress from Angus, Thongs and Perfect

alicE powEll

Snogging). I believe my Mum entered me! We didn’t expect I would be the runner-up!

You set a record in the fourth round of the 2010 Formula Renault BARC Championship by becoming the first female to win a Formula Renault race in the UK. How did this historic win change you or your life?

It was an amazing feeling. My first ever race win in single-seaters - and to create history at the same time, it made it even more special. Formula Renault has a very rich history, and to go down winning a race in such a car and series, really helped my confidence and taught me that to succeed, you need to try your hardest to believe in yourself.

You’re very open about racing to win – it’s the first thing visitors see on your website. Can you describe the mental state you get into before and during a race?

This was many, many years ago! However, in our current lifetime, yes, I would like to be the first female to race in F1. Unfortunately, these days, you need a lot of backing and sponsorship, and I am talking millions...!

One Gym in Enstone, Oxfordshire), helped me so much with combining the two.

Computer data tells drivers and their teams about a racing performance. How does the more ‘technical’ side of racing interest you?

I watched Lizzy Yarnold triumph at the Winter Olympics and thought that the sport of Skeleton looked awesome! I wrote to British Skeleton asking them how I could have a go. They told me that UK Sport were running a ‘Power to Podium’ talent scheme and that I should apply. So that is what I did. I did not even think that I would get as far as I did! I really enjoyed the experience and I am sure I will apply again in 2016.

It interests me a lot. I currently engineer for a Formula Renault team in Europe (Manor MP Motorsport). Even though I count myself as still learning, I am really enjoying it and helping drivers coming up the ranks.

How do you handle the pressure that comes with competing at high level? When you won at the Zhuhai Circuit in the Asia Formula Renault Series in 2014 you had been out of the car for a while, and it was a late call.Yet you still triumphed during the first weekend race…

Through my career in karting and in the first few years of car racing, I really struggled with confidence. I remember I would be very nervous and sometimes panic. However, there would be races where I would be calm, but really raring to go! If only I remembered to remember these feelings and use them every time, I would possibly have had more success. These days, I am much less nervous and really focused. People do not realise how important mental state is in any sport.

I went there knowing I had nothing to lose. That helped ease the pressure a bit. I made sure I worked hard and also closely with the team, and studied the track as much as I could. It was a great feeling to have success far from home.

Would you like to be the first woman to race in an F1 car?

I really enjoyed the experience. Between each trial, it was quite busy keeping up my training for racing and my training for the Skeleton. However, Daryl, Dave and Wendy (at the Lotus Formula

Well, sadly women have already raced in F1.

You were also notably involved in the Team GB Skeleton Bobsled trials – and out of 1000 candidates were in the last 25 to be selected.

How was it balancing two very different sporting ambitions?

Why did you get involved in Skeleton in the first place – and will you try again for 2016?

Are there any pitfalls that come with being involved in your sport? What are the biggest frustrations, and how do you overcome them?

The biggest pitfall of all, as well as the most frustrating, is the cost to race. I am not talking a few hundred quid. To reach Formula One, it takes millions of pounds! If you are not from a very rich family, it makes it very hard to go out there and find sponsors who want to spend such money.

You also moved from Bourton Hockey Club to Reading, developing your skills as a player – what advantages has the move offered you?

I moved from Bourton to Reading for the challenge. I really enjoyed playing for Bourton and I still go to their Back2Hockey sessions and play for their mixed team. At Reading, the level is very high, as you have a lot of young players (several in the lower England teams) coming up and you really need to up your game so you do not get dropped to the team below. They have

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ents m e v achie r e h her and n l l o i e H r u press Ennis h a c c u i out s m t s o n e s e J d f es o he ha she w k S , i l r . e s e v e owe ire th Gam H m c i . d s p e a “I Olym e gam h t 2 r 1 o f 0 2 girl’ r e t s at the o p s the ‘ a w it!” e d e h as sh s sma d n a there

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alicE powEll

paid coaches (our coach in the 2nds team is a former England player) and I have learnt a lot and developed my game. I am really lucky to now have the support of Grays Hockey.

for a couple of days, and we visited a couple of factories and had a few talks. It was a crazy, crazy, busy couple of days, with no time for jet lag! I don't know how he does it.

Don't get me wrong, it is improving, but at a very slow rate.

What other sports do you follow – or participate in?

Who are some of your sporting heroes? And do you follow the exploits of other Cotswold School alumni such as top jockey Sam Twiston Davies?

Good question! I am hoping to possibly do some more things for Aston Martin in the future - they were fantastic in supporting me in the 24 Hours of Silverstone, earlier in the year. I am starting, already, to shift my focus to racing next year, possibly in the British Touring Car Championship, where the races are shown live on ITV.

I am very competitive, so enjoy team sports. I am a Tottenham Hotspur fan and a Gloucester Rugby fan, so I follow both. I would love to participate in these sports, but I just don't have the time.

What do you regard as your greatest triumph so far?

That's a tough question! I would have to say winning the Formula Renault BARC Championship in 2010. It was a tough year and went right down to the wire. To come out a champion, was amazing!

What was it like meeting Prime Minister David Cameron for dinner? He took you on a trade mission to India – what did your responsibilities in Mumbai entail?

David Cameron has been very supportive of my racing. Having dinner with him was an honour and he is a really nice guy. He was very kind to take me on his trip to India. We were only there

I admire the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and her achievements at the 2012 Olympic Games. She had so much pressure on her as she was the ‘poster girl’ for the games. However, she went out there and smashed it!

Sam was in my tutor group and we sat next to each other in Business Studies. We keep in touch by text here and there, but he is also mega busy.

I follow him as much as I can and he is doing an outstanding job.

2015 saw the women’s boat race (finally) put on an even keel with the men’s competition after decades.

As an ambassador for women in sport, do you think perceptions are shifting fast enough?

I think perceptions are slowly changing. Of course, not fast enough. Sponsorship in women's sport is still massively lower than men. One of the reasons why sponsorship is lower is because women's sport does not get enough media coverage.

What’s next for you?

Where are some of your favourite Cotswold hangouts?

When I have some free time, I meet up with a few friends at the Crown and Cushion in Chipping Norton. I spend a lot of time at Lotus F1, because I train in the gym. When I get a chance, I love to go to Cheltenham. I used to go to St Edwards Senior School (for my first two years of senior education), so it is nice to go back to Cheltenham. It is a lovely place. I try and catch a film at Cineworld, grab some food and maybe do some cheeky shopping!

Thank you, Alice.

To find out more about Alice and her career, visit www.alice-powell.co.uk

www.cotswold-homes.com

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The Jew of Malta

Master of Revenge

WKIN ETS TIC

The RSC’s production of the thrillingly bloodthirsty The Jew of Malta has opened to rave reviews.

We interview director Justin Audibert to discover more about his rendition of Christopher Marlowe’s most notorious work.

Intrigue, conflict and murder most foul:The Jew of Malta is the story of an extremely wealthy merchant, Barabas, who puts his formidable smarts to wicked ends after his estate is unfairly seized by a governor.

Set in a Malta cowering under the sword of the Ottoman Empire, as the ‘alien’ Jewish community is extorted and victimised, the time is ripe for a wronged man of extravagant cunning to make his terrible mark.

Like Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, where the titular merchant Shylock famously demands his ‘pound of flesh’, the play has often been met with accusations of anti-Semitism. But, as director Justin Audibert explains, it’s a far trickier, more compelling beast than that…

CH:There are certain parallels between The Merchant of Venice and The Jew of Malta. So how does Barabas stand up to Shakespeare’s Shylock – is he quite as nuanced a figure?

JA:That’s a big question, and a good one – I think his litany of misdemeanours is much, much bigger than Shylock’s. Without wanting to give anything away, there are quite a few deaths and murders that he comes up with in quite ingenious ways. He doesn’t go to settle matters in court - he seeks revenge in purely personal and bloody terms.

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So he’s obviously not quite as nuanced as Shylock.

But what the production does is show you that he’s clearly been wronged – it doesn’t necessarily justify what he does, but you see the culture that he’s come out of, where there’s one set of rules for one people and a totally different set of rules for another – in this case, the minority of the Jewish community.

If his society were peaceful, then he would get on with being peaceful. But he’s humiliated and stripped of everything that he has, so he feels that he has no other recourse than to wreak his own revenge.

What makes Jasper Britton a great Barabas?

Several things. One is that Jasper is one of the best actors at talking to an audience that you can possibly imagine. He makes the audience complicit with what he does – he talks us through it, walks us through his choices – so you end up cheering him on even as he’s committing these awful acts.

The other thing is that Jasper thinks like lightning.

The tricky thing is that with Shakespeare you see a character’s psychological development quite subtly – it gradually changes over time (and I suppose Shylock is a good example of that, in a way) but with Marlowe characters change on a sixpence, and Jasper’s nimble enough as an actor that you can 100% believe him doing one thing and doing something completely different a moment later,

which is a difficult technical feat. He masters that, really.

In what ways might Marlowe’s Malta remind us of the social and political landscape of modern day Britain?

It’s interesting [when you hear] about the antiSemitism of that time, because when we were rehearsing there were the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the attacks on the Kosher supermarket in Paris, and the release of a survey when 40-odd-% of people – even here in the UK – had expressed anti-Semitic clichés about Jewish people in some shape or form.

In a way in our society we understand, because it’s very prevalent in the media, the tensions between the Muslim community and the Jewish community.

Actually, the roots of Christian anti-Semitism are kind of glossed over a little more, when there was this really prevalent idea that Jews kind of owed a debt because ‘they’d killed Jesus’.There was a lot of suspicion regarding Jewish culture, and the rules that prohibited them in certain areas of the community came from the idea that they were not equal to Christians. We were looking at that, and hopefully the audience will draw their own parallels.

It’s quite an underperformed play, perhaps because there’s this question: ‘Is this an anti-Semitic play?’

Do you think it genuinely is, or is it more satirical in its intentions?

The Jew of Malta

It was a lot of fun poisoning the nuns.

Creating those nuns as characters was great fun, and poisoning them was exceptionally good fun.

anti-Semitic, I just think that there are more ways than that of reading the play.

There’s certainly more going on in it than that.

So, what’s the significance of the prologue, where we have what appears to be the ghost of Machiavelli popping up in a RMC (Royal Marlowe Company) shirt?

That was an idea that literally came to me at 3.30am. When you’re directing a play, I believe you have to let the audience know what kind of play it is within the first 90 seconds of that play. I went to bed thinking ‘What would Marlowe do?’ and that was my answer at 3.30 in the morning when I swung up out of bed.

I think it’s satirical of everybody’s prejudices. It’s anti-Semitic in the same way that it’s also antiChristian as well. I don’t believe that all friars are lusting after virgins and sleeping with nuns, and I don’t believe that all politicians are total hypocrites who break their word and are only in it for the money – but I think those things happen within those communities, if that makes sense. It’s a play that deals with hypocrisy in a massive way, and I

feel that in the production that we’ve tried to make – and you’ll have to judge this for yourself – it’s a play that deals with anti-Semitism rather than an anti-Semitic play.

At the same time, Marlowe probably never even met a Jewish person, and we wouldn’t ask his views on feminism any more than his view on antiSemitism. I’m not saying that he wasn’t, in some way,

I wanted to keep the prologue because he’s talking about people who would do anything to claim power and to keep power. What will people do to keep power, influence and wealth? What hypocrisy will they use to hide their true desires?

Keeping his spirit there was really important to me. It made it feel contemporary, and kind of mischievous as well. It’s done in houselights as a conversation with the audience, so they’re involved from the very beginning.

There’s lots of intrigue in the play – oodles of murders, plots galore – how did you manage all of the skulduggery on stage? www.cotswold-homes.com

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thE JEw of malta

SCANDALOUS LIFE, MYSTERIOUS DEATH: a briEf guidE TO ThE iNfaMOuS ChriSTOphEr MarLOWE I’ve been quite a ruthless cutter.The running time of the piece is only two hours and twenty-five or something, including the interval, and the play would probably be three hours ten. I’m a bit of a believer in ‘less is more’, as long as the verse is intact.That’s the bit I really liked, making those kind of editorial decisions.Young people seem to love the play and find it very clear, so that’s a great sign.

that I find really compelling. I wouldn’t want to do Marlowe plays all the time, but I enjoy that kind of punchiness. It’s really exciting.

In any play, if you get a character that tells the audience he’s really going to mess things up, it’s always great fun to watch him do it.

Could you tell us about the design of the play?

Without wanting to spoil anything for readers who might not be familiar with the play, was there a scene that gave you particular delight in bringing to life?

It was a lot of fun poisoning the nuns. Creating those nuns as characters was great fun, and poisoning them was exceptionally good fun.

What about Marlowe’s work do you like?

This place has taught me a lot more about him. I think I’ve seen pretty much all his plays, but I hadn’t necessarily read them. I read a couple of books on him that were brilliant: Charles Nicholl’s The Reckoning, that’s all about his murder, and The World of Christopher Marlowe, by David Riggs, which was really informative.

It seemed to me that this was a man who was constrained by his time. He had a great big intellect, and he was really ambitious, had a great imagination…but he felt constrained by religion and by social morality and by the political situation of his day and by his ability to make (or not make) money.

So that restlessness and intellectual curiosity led him to take work spying, to do coin counterfeiting, and led him also to the stage.

I think that anarchic mayhem is in all of his big protagonists – Tamburlaine, Faustus, Barabas. He’s thinking ‘What are the boundaries of human possibility?’ And I guess that’s really compelling. He makes brilliant parts for actors that they can drive through with real passion and energy. I guess there’s something really punky and anarchic about him

Well, Lily [Arnold, set designer] and I quickly decided we wanted to set it slightly before Marlowe’s period. We thought about Malta, and what it would mean at that time – a kind of bulwark for Christian Europe against the Ottoman Empire. We were thinking of sand, stone, heat – a hot environment, and somewhere with a horizon, a threat that’s out there in the distance. And I guess that’s what created the aperture at the back that looks out at a threat outside.The Swan lends itself to a set as simple as you can make, really. I think it is better to keep it simple in there.

The reviews have been very good.What’s it like for you when a production is met with glowing praise?

You’re never 100% happy. I popped back in the last weeks – things have changed, developed, everything looks good. But you have to stop tinkering at some point or else you drive everybody nuts. What was lovely was at the press day, exhausted as I was, I felt proud of the show.

So what’s in the pipeline for you?

I’m doing a show that’s coming to the Cotswolds, there you go! I’m doing Flare Path for the Original Theatre Company, which is playing at the Malvern Theatres, I believe, and also the Theatre Royal in Bath, later on in the summer. It’s a beautiful play about fighter pilots and their wives in the Second World War. Thank you, Justin.

fiNd OuT MOrE aNd bOOk TiCkETS aT www.rsC.orG.uK/MalTa

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

Born the same year as Shakespeare, the controversial Christopher Marlowe was Elizabethan England’s pre-eminent tragedian - until he was stabbed to death (reputedly in a drunken brawl) at the age of 29 on May 30th, 1593.

In life, Marlowe provoked much rumour.

Amongst other things, he was said to be an atheist, a secret agent in the employ of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, a counterfeiter, a homosexual and a general degenerate. To this day he fascinates historians and biographers, with murky Elizabethan accounts of his life fuelling much analysis and speculation.

What is indisputable is his enormous talent.

He is celebrated for his strident, ambitious (and occasionally bloodthirsty) protagonists – over-reachers who rise higher and higher before a terrible collapse.

Best known are Doctor Faustus, who does a deal with the devil for greater knowledge and magical power, only to squander it on petty trickery before being dragged away to hell; the murderous conqueror Tamburlaine, who arises from shepherd to world-straddler; and not to mention The Jew of Malta himself, Barabas, who retaliates against the usurping of his estate with terrible schemes of revenge.

Yet Marlowe’s protagonists are not simple, straightforward villains. They illuminate their respective worlds with the brightness and grandeur of their being – only to leave them poorer, duller places when that light is extinguished. In them, one glimpses into the brilliant, frustrated mind of the playwright himself, railing against a world of religious and social restrictions.

Whatever the circumstances of his early, highly mysterious death, Marlowe left an astonishing body of work. He challenged the status quo, and his revolutionary spirit still burns brightly on the page and the stage – and in the works of the greats to follow, such as one Mr William Shakespeare.

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RAYMOND BLANC

EXCLU

SIVE

OFFER

RAYMOND BLANC ~ A PROUD PAPA

COLLETTE FAIRWEATHER SECURES AN ENVIABLE INVITATION AS GUEST OF RAYMOND BLANC’S FAMOUS LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS, CELEBRATING HIS PAST AND PRESENT TEAM WITH A ‘DINER DES PROTÉGES’ AND THE RETURN OF TWO MICHELIN-STARRED CHEF MICHAEL CAINES.

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

FOR C HOME OTSWOLD S READ ERS

RAYMOND BLANC

LE MANOIR MAY HOLD TWO MICHELIN STARS, BUT IT HAS LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR SO MANY MORE. THOSE CHEFS THAT HAVE FLOWN THE NEST AND VENTURED INTO KITCHENS OF THEIR OWN HAVE AN UNDENIABLE ADVANTAGE OVER THE COMPETITION.

The national pride the French have for their cuisine is understandable; we Brits have been thinning our sauces and cooking our meat rarer and rarer over the last thirty years in attempt to narrow the channel-sized gap in our palates.

And although our UK chefs are now rivalling the competition ‘sur le continent’, we undoubtedly owe a huge national debt to one man in particular, the culinary catalyst that is Raymond Blanc. His voyage to our shores over three decades ago left his hopes as deflated and as lacklustre as the culinary offerings of the time. But - unwilling to admit defeat - his unrelenting drive to re-educate en masse has helped improve food in every corner of the British Isles.

The not-so-secret secret to his success is education. Like the best of pioneers Raymond

has invested in teaching, ensuring his vision will endure within many aspects of food creation and consumption.

reminds me of an egg which, when contained within a truffle will absorb, after time, the intensity and influence of the truffle itself.

Raymond has zealously welcomed every kind of diner, condemning the characteristic fastidiousness synonymous with fine dining, and encouraged a new and refreshingly simple way to enjoy eating and drinking with friends and family.

These fortunate chefs, having trained in a house of exacting standards, often head their own ways after graduation, expanding upon their knowledge and creating a signature style. Many go on to truly excel.

But where Monsieur Blanc has really broken ground is behind the swinging door. Le Manoir may hold two Michelin stars, but it has laid the groundwork for so many more. Those chefs that have flown the nest and ventured into kitchens of their own have an undeniable advantage over the competition.

As the chef world is such a small one, they are promoted not without reputation and most importantly recommendation, and so Raymond Blanc has remained a coveted influence in so many of his protégés’ careers - and personal lives, too. And having watched and guided from the sidelines for so long, like a proud papa on his porch, Raymond Blanc now welcomes back his extended family from their adventures, home to

To use a foodie analogy, the mentoring process

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RAYMOND BLANC

RAYMOND BLANC NOW WELCOMES BACK HIS EXTENDED FAMILY FROM THEIR ADVENTURES, HOME TO LE MANOIR IN ITS THIRTIETH YEAR, FOR A VERY FEW, VERY SPECIAL DINNERS – ‘DINER DES PROTÉGÉS’.

Le Manoir in its thirtieth year, for a very few, very special dinners – ‘Diner des protégés’.

Throughout the course of the year, the wanderers will return to familiar surroundings, and - working with the existing team of chefs - produce a tasting menu, resurrecting and reinventing some of RB’s signature dishes, whilst incorporating creations from their own restaurants for an intimate gathering of fifty guests.

The evenings commence with a champagne and canapé reception in the exquisite glass roof gallery, and mingling among the throng of guests and immaculately attired servers is Monsieur Blanc, introducing himself and his guests to one another, with a palpable sense of excitement and welcome.

Our protégé for the evening is Michael Caines MBE, who after having flown the Le Manoir coop in 1994, earned his own two Michelin stars at Gidleigh Park Hotel in Devonshire.

The dinner is held in the private dining room, where guests are seated in tables of ten. Once our glasses are charged, Raymond stands and officially (although in his typically enthused and flamboyant manner) welcomes us all into his home - Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and with pride ensures us all that there’s a tremendous evening ahead.

We feast on eight intricate dishes, each an edible 20

Cotswold Homes Magazine

work of art, including lobster combined with cardamom, lime and mango, salted cod with crab and samphire and exotic fruit ravioli with kaffir lime and coconut - each course complemented by beautifully selected wines.

The evening’s smooth flow is punctuated with an introduction to each course by the responsible chef, often playfully heckled by Monsieur Blanc.

It’s all very light-hearted – a far cry from the thunderous kitchen relations espoused by other well-known chefs.

to slumber in a delightfully contented glow.

After breaking my fast, devouring the best Eggs Benedict I have ever experienced, I take the opportunity to ramble through the gardens, meandering through the enchanting beds of flowers, fruit and foliage, contemplating the sculptures of the award-winning gardens.

Although the food takes centre stage, the night really revolves around the staff, past and present. As he dances between the tables, Raymond’s fervour is contagious. With conductor’s arms he enthuses his seated audience. But what is most endearing is that not a single opportunity is missed to praise the individual creator, concluding in a crescendo of parental pride as the entire kitchen and serving staff files into the room. Crushed between tables, chefs, and servers, sommeliers and pot-washers take their well-earned bow, with diners seeking the opportunity to congratulate them on their individual input.

But I can’t stop reflecting on the previous evening, and so I can only conclude that I have never felt so wonderfully spoilt than I have whilst in the care of Le Manoir. No special treatment: this is simply how every member of staff believes each guest should be treated. It was an experience I would be so delighted to repeat (regularly). And although this isn’t one I can enjoy on a weekly basis, contrary to common belief, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility for us mere mortals to savour one of these divine soirees with a little self-sacrifice. They are the most perfect way to celebrate a birthday, or an anniversary, just because these are the evenings that create memories, the glorious, forever kind.

The kind Monsieur Blanc should be incredibly proud to provide.

As the night draws to a close, we retreat to our room, a sumptuous combination of classic and contemporary. With our shoes left out to shine and our breakfast request submitted, we succumb

Evenings will be held throughout the year, hosted

by Raymond Blanc and a selection of his former protégés. Here are dinners scheduled from July to November:

RAYMOND BLANC

ALTHOUGH THE FOOD TAKES CENTRE STAGE, THE NIGHT REALLY REVOLVES AROUND THE STAFF, PAST AND PRESENT. AS HE DANCES BETWEEN THE TABLES, RAYMOND’S FERVOUR IS CONTAGIOUS.

• 15th July 2015 ~ Adam Simmonds: Kensington Pavilion, London Kensington. Awarded a Michelin Star in 2010, and held four AA Rosettes since 2008. Named 13th best restaurant in the Britain 2013 by the Good Food Guide.

• 21st October 2015 ~ Bruno Loubet: Bistro Bruno Loubet, the Zetter Hotel, London.

Twice winner of The Times – Restaurant of the Year for Bistro Bruno and L’Odeon.

Awarded a Michelin star whilst head chef at the Four Seasons.

• 16th September 2015 ~ Eric Chavot: Executive chef of Brasserie Chavot, Mayfair, London. Previously working throughout London, impressively holding two Michelin stars for over a decade.

• 25th November 2015 ~ Alan Murchison: Executive Chef L’Ortolan, Shinfield, Reading, numerous awards include a Michelin Star and Three AA Rosettes. Murchison is also Managing Director of the ‘10 in 8 Fine Dining

Group’ which includes L’Ortolan, La Becasse – Ludlow, Paris House – Bedfordshire and Restaurant Angelique – Devon. The objective being to create a group of ten fine dining restaurants outside of London by 2018.

For further information, visit www.belmond.com/lemanoir or call the events team on 01844 277 484.

TURN TO PAGE 5 FOR A FABULOUS OFFER FROM LE MANOIR. www.cotswold-homes.com

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M

CE WEALTH MA A L NA ’S P GE S E M

ST

T EN

JA

THE BARBURY HORSE TRIALS

AL S

BA

RB UR Y

INT S OR ERNA H L TIONA

RI T E

SET ON THE MARLBOROUGH DOWNS, JUST OVER THE BORDER IN WILTSHIRE, THE ST JAMES’S PLACE WEALTH MANAGEMENT BARBURY INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS TAKES PLACE FROM 9-12TH OF JULY. LIKE ALL OTHER TOP EQUESTRIAN EVENTS, THE TRIALS ARE HELD IN THE MOST BUCOLIC OF LOCATIONS. ALTHOUGH BARBURY CASTLE ITSELF IS NO MORE, THE INDENTATION OF ITS FOUNDATIONS DATING BACK OVER 2500 YEARS AGO STILL PENETRATES THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ANCIENT RIDGEWAY.

The purpose-built competition arenas and cross-country course play host to an abundance of Olympic riders and horses in addition to a wealth of shopping and attractions.

Unlike the four star Badmintons and Burghleys, Barbury is classed as a three star event by the eventing governing bodies. Simply put, this means the dressage test is less technical and the jumps are smaller and are created in simpler combinations, so to educate the younger horses and the less experienced jockey.

Yet, don’t be fooled - three star events are not to be sniffed at. The Olympics, for example, are created to a three star standard, to ensure a greater number of nations are able to compete.

We equestrians in the UK are spoilt when it comes to top eventing competitions, blessed with castles and palaces and their supporting parklands - we have become accustomed to the cream of eventing competition. Barbury may well be three star but year on year it welcomes a plethora of international equestrian talent.

little help from his grey gelding Avebury) dominated the competition, making history with a hat trick of wins. This winning combination is set to return this year to defend their title for a fourth year.

Previous competitors include our own homegrown top riders. Not to mention New Zealand Olympian, Andrew Nicholson, who has (with a

And it isn’t just the pinnacle of eventing talent who will be competing. Saturday visitors will also be treated to an all star celebrity relay race, ‘jump

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

Zara Phillips and AP McCoy

jockeys versus event riders,’ that last year saw such equestrian talents as seven times champion jockey John Francombe, Sam Twiston-Davies and twenty times champion jockey, AP McCoy MBE, challenging the likes of Olympians William Fox Pitt, Mark Todd and Zara Phillips, all in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

And if that wasn’t enough equestrian action,

THE BARBURY HORSE TRIALS

WIN

TICK

ETS

Sir Mark Todd

Zara Phillips

PREVIOUS COMPETITORS INCLUDE OUR OWN HOME-GROWN TOP RIDERS. NOT TO MENTION NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIAN, ANDREW NICHOLSON, WHO HAS (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS GREY GELDING AVEBURY) DOMINATED THE COMPETITION, MAKING HISTORY WITH A HAT TRICK OF WINS. British show jumping classes also feature among the Saturday and Sunday fixtures. Barbury is one of the few events to accommodate so many top equestrian disciplines so successfully.

One of the many joys of this particular event is the setting in which all of these classes are held. Due to the amphitheatre-like structure of the site, spectators can view the entirety of the cross-country course from a single position. And so you can picnic in the grounds and enjoy the unusual privilege of being able to view a horse and rider combination tackle the entirety of the course – a real luxury with this sport.Taking full advantage of these viewpoints are the perfectly positioned on-site restaurants, allowing for refreshment without excluding yourself from all the event action.

Clarke Montgomery

Although one can waste away the day dining in decadence enjoying such a spectacular vista, I would suggest that you get up close to the cross-country course.You won’t have to sharpen your elbows to get close to the fences, as crowds aren’t quite the problem here that they can be at so many events.

The Barbury Horse Trials also provide visitors with an abundance of retail therapy and family entertainment, including the ever-popular JCB kids driving course, all making it an event that can be enjoyed by all generations - and all levels of equine enthusiast.

Cotswold Homes has teamed up with St James’s Place Wealth Management to offer 2 x family passes on either Saturday or Sunday – turn to page 7!

FOR FURTHER EVENT INFORMATION, VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.BARBURYHORSETRIALS.CO.UK www.cotswold-homes.com

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CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE

Cheltenham Racecourse hosted its first event in the new grandstand, scheduled to complete this season, with an evening of champagne and delicious canapĂŠs, inviting guests to sample the gourmet menus that will be served to this exclusive club.

The Cheltenham Club, situated on the fourth floor, is a unique opportunity to own a table for the whole season at the course. With stunning views of the parade ring, horse-walk and course, overlooking the final fences and finishing post and looking out towards the magnificent panorama of hills surrounding the racecourse, this is certainly the new hot ticket at Cheltenham!

For details on The Cheltenham Club visit www.cheltenham.co.uk.

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Cotswold RDA

w Team Cotswold w

Cotswold Riding for the Disabled at Cheltenham Racecourse If the North Cotswolds is synonymous with horse racing, then the jewel in the crown of the Sport of Kings is undoubtedly the racecourse at Cheltenham, currently undergoing a multimillion pound expansion programme, where excitement culminates to fever pitch at the Festival each March. Many tens of thousands of enthusiasts congregate from all over Britain and Ireland to witness the Gold Cup, the grand finale of four glorious days’ horse racing, but few will realise the racecourse is also the home of Cotswold Riding for the Disabled.

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

Cotswold RDA delighted to welcome HRH Princess Royal to celebrate their 50th Anniversary In amongst the pressing crowds will be Cotswold RDA’s plucky volunteers with buckets, this year braving the freezing cold to raise over £10,000 from generous punters - most of whom, said helpers, had tales of woe in backing the wrong horses but gladly gave their last few coins to support this worthy cause!

It was back in 1965 that the Cotswold RDA founded a bespoke centre at Cheltenham Racecourse, the ideal setting for this wonderful charity, providing fantastic therapy and fun to people with a wide range of disabilities.

The Jackie Brutton Riding School started with just 12 riders who rode on borrowed ponies for two half days a week – celebrating their 50th anniversary as a member group of National Riding for the Disabled this July with a visit from Princess Anne.The centre now has nine ponies ridden by 180 people of all ages and disabilities, all supported by 120

volunteers - and is still looking to expand.

“Our aim is to ensure all our riders can aspire to achieve a goal, no matter what that might be. For example, if we can encourage a child or an adult who suffers with autism to communicate and help them make sense of the world, to say walk on for the first time or to spend thirty minutes in the saddle, or even hold their reins, then we know we are making a difference.”

The sense of achievement and enjoyment experienced by disabled riders is profound. After as little as twelve weeks over 80% of riders report greater physical strength and balance, improved confidence, skills and enjoyment in activities, a positive change in their ability and willingness to communicate during lessons and demonstrably improved relationship building skills extending beyond lessons to school and home. As the charity proclaims – it’s what you can do that counts!

The operation costs £140,000 per annum so the charity is always looking for interesting ways to find those funds, from trust foundations to small local fundraisers, but relies most heavily each day on its band of committed volunteers. “The charity is very grateful for every hour of time donated towards our cause, knowing how the horses and ponies will light up the faces of our disabled riders, enhancing their day more than words can describe and providing them with the unique opportunity to achieve that mobility only Cotswold RDA can offer.This is what dreams are made of, and is nothing short of life changing for all involved.

Cotswold RdA

“

aTed TowaRds The ChaRiTy is veRy gRaTeful foR eveRy houR of Time don lighT up The ouR Cause, Knowing how The hoRses and ponies will e Than woRds faCes of ouR disabled RideRs, enhanCing TheiR day moR RTuniTy To Can desCRibe and pRoviding Them wiTh The uniQue oppo aChieve ThaT mobiliTy only CoTswold Rda Can offeR.

“

“Volunteering at Cotswold RDA couldn’t be easier.

We have loads of different jobs that need doing so volunteers are bound to find something that suits their skills. We ride from Monday through to Thursday and on Sunday during school term.

How many hours volunteers are asked to put in is entirely flexible but the first step is to complete our Volunteer Application Form on www.cotswoldrda. org.uk, or telephone 01242 584420.”

Cotswold RDA receives no direct grants and relies entirely on the generosity of individuals, businesses and charitable trusts to undertake their activities.

There are many ways to make a donation and whichever option you choose, Cotswold RDA truly values all the support it receives.

With your help Cotswold RDA can: Provide more opportunities for people with disabilities to find out what they can achieve.

Deliver life-changing physiotherapy to more children and adults with disabilities. Offer more chances for independence, social inclusion, confidence building and fun.

CoTswold Riding foR The disabled Jackie Brutton Riding School Prestbury Park Racecourse Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL50 4SH Telephone 01242 584420 Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk

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tHe Cotswold ContendeRs!

WKIn ets tIc

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case

W e sho to th

wiTh ap mcCoy ending his pRofessional paRTiCipaTion in fRonT of a CapaCiTy CRowd aT sandown paRK afTeR a momenTous CaReeR of TwenTy seasons pResiding aT The pinnaCle of The spoRT, eveRyone’s eyes aRe now on The new ConTendeRs foR This season’s TiTle of bRiTish jump joCKey Champion, a ConTesT ThaT will be deCided on Ridden winneRs in naTional hunT RaCes fRom 26Th apRil 2015 To 23Rd apRil 2016.

Out in front and best placed right now, Richard Johnson has 29 wins under his belt so far, boasting an impressive 23% strike rate, £160,194 in win prizes and a total prize pot of £231,215*. Racking up more than 2800 wins during his career, only second to AP’s 4300, Johnson spoke to Frank Keogh for BBC Sport just after McCoy announced his retirement. He was candid about his own hopes and the frustrations of being perpetually runnerup to the great man, acknowledging that the championship is a numbers game and that AP will remain in the record books as the greatest jump jockey ever. It is clear his great friendship, admiration and respect for the jockey still motivates him to achieve the championship himself.

“Some years I have got closer than others. I rode 186 winners one year. I’ve never ridden 200 but I think that is the target I will be looking to get near. I know the bookies have prices on all of us but you’d be hard pressed to pick a winner. Without AP, it is going to be a much more open race and there will be a few lads who think they have a realistic chance 28

Cotswold Homes Magazine

tHe Cotswold ContendeRs!

we aRe waving goodbye To one Champion joCKey This weeK buT on wednesday he was oveRshadowed by The man i ThinK will suCCeed him in 22-yeaR-old sam TwisTon-davies. peTeR sCudamoRe, 12Th maRCh 2015 of getting there. It’s going to be a very competitive race and fingers crossed… being champion jockey would be my best achievement.” Indeed, Sporting Life reported in April that AP himself would fancy a flutter on Richard Johnson, quoting him on William Hill radio: “I’d like Richard Johnson to be Champion Jockey because he made me achieve a lot of the things that I did.” This will be by no means an easy fight, however, with two more local lads - Sam Twiston-Davies and Tom Scudamore - jostling for the same coveted position.

And I have a big opportunity to do just that next season – assuming I stay clear of injury and don’t make too many mistakes. For two decades AP has had the championship sewn up by the time the Festival comes around and hopefully I can step into his rather large boots in a year’s time.”

Sam Twiston-Davies has been sponsored for the last two seasons by local independent estate agency Harrison James & Hardie. Principal Director James von Speyr has been an avid race-goer and a member of Cheltenham Racecourse for years. “The directors have been delighted to champion Sam and to witness his meteoric rise during the last couple of years from relative youngster to star performer.

We have been thrilled by all the exposure that his success has brought for us, of course, and whilst we would love to sponsor him for a third season we realise we might have some serious competition ourselves, now!”

way you won’t be putting too much pressure on yourself … you’re able to ride comfortably.You’re always trying your best but that added pressure is something you don’t want, obviously, with riding for Paul Nicholls as well. I give it everything I can but at the same time you are only trying to keep the boys happy, aren’t you?”

Sam may not have ridden as many winners as Johnson but his strike rate is the best in the field at 26% and he has already racked up a total prize pot in excess of £131,000*. With Nicholls’ stable looking in fine form, surely he has a great chance?

Speaking to Betfred TV in April 2015, Sam TwistonDavies acknowledges he is a strong contender but explains his main desire is just to do well for Paul Nicholls and his father Nigel, and to keep injury free.

He keeps thoughts of the championship very much at the back of his mind. “The way I think about it is, go into the season as if AP is still riding because that

In third place at the bookies and third in the running according to the Professional Jockeys’ Association is Tom Scudamore, jockey for David Pipe, son of eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore and grandson of Michael, winner of the Grand National on Oxo in 1959.Tom is three wins behind Sam Twiston-Davies right now but has an impressive total prize pot of almost £165,000 to his name.

Tom wrote in the Mirror just before the Festival in March about his desire to become champion. “Let’s get one thing out of the way — I’m desperate to take over AP McCoy’s mantle as champion jockey.

Who knows what Tom made of his father Peter’s opinion only a few days later, when writing in the Daily Mail on 12th March following Sam’s triumphant win on Dodging Bullets in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. “We are waving goodbye to one champion jockey this week in AP McCoy but on Wednesday he was overshadowed by the man I think will succeed him in 22-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies. With the support of Paul Nicholls, his trainer-father Nigel and the potential backing of Newmarket-based John Ferguson, a big help to McCoy this season, there will be a healthy supply of ammunition,” said Peter Scudamore.

If you fancy a long-term bet then Johnson is currently the bookies’ favourite with odds on Sam Twiston-Davies and Scudamore at 7/2 and 9/2 respectively, whilst Barry Geharty trails in fourth place at 33/1. It’s early doors but one thing is for certain – the North Cotswolds racing crowd will be celebrating whatever the outcome. At Cheltenham Racecourse, preparations for the new grandstand are in full swing and everyone is looking forward with bated breath. If you fancy a flutter but want to check out the form, the Showcase at Cheltenham is the first big opportunity and Cotswold Homes has tickets to give away - just turn to the Competition and Offers section (on page 4) to find out how to enter! * stats correct on 22 June 2015 www.cotswold-homes.com

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Place Your Bets On This Season’s British Jump Jockey Champion!

Harrison James & Hardie are proud to sponsor local hero Sam Twiston-Davies Sales Bourton on the Water High Street, Bourton on the Water, Glos GL54 2AN Tel: 01451 822977

Lettings Stow on the Wold Church Street, Stow on the Wold, Glos GL54 1BB Tel: 01451 833170

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Country Homes Sales and Lettings Fine & Country North Cotswolds Head Office: Park Lane, Mayfair, London – 0207 079 1515

harrisonjameshardie.co.uk From first time apartments to grand country homes, simply the best choice to market your Cotswold home Image kindly supplied by Racingfotos.com

Tweedy’s in Town

This pastel portrait of Tweedy the clown in centaur attire is taken from artist Melodie Cook’s ongoing The Circus Drawn series. Her first portrait – that of Giffords’ regular Nancy Trotter Landry – won the Faber Castell Award at the Pastel Society Open Exhibition 2015, and graced the cover of our Spring 2015 issue. Limited Edition Prints are available at www.melodiecook.co.uk and 10% of profits go to the United Nations Refugee Agency.Tweedy’s costume is taken from the 2014 Giffords Circus show The Thunders. Inspired by Greek legend, the show featured a contortionist medusa and a wooden Trojan horse crammed full of acrobats.

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tweedy’s in town

Photography supplied by Giffords Circus

tWeedy’s In toWn the cotsWolds’ favourIte cloWn and gIffords cIrcus star on hIs begInnIngs, the ‘cloWn eggs’ and hoW young hopefuls can set theIr sIghts on the bIg top…

He’s been shot out of a cannon. He’s shaken his fist at the Greek gods. He’s been immortalised as a centaur in artist Melodie Cook’s accomplished pastel portrait. It’s safe to say that the life of Tweedy the clown has proven pretty unconventional.

Those familiar with Giffords Circus will be well familiar with his antics, but now it’s time to find out more about the best-loved funnyman in town.

Were you always the joker at school?

Yes. I was really small until I was about 16, so I had that little boy cheekiness – the way you get away with things because you’re little. I loved being small.

My friends used to say to me ‘you’re only funny because you’re small’ so I had this fear of suddenly shooting up and becoming really big.

I then had the realisation that I wanted to be the cartoon, rather than draw them and make them. I was about fifteen or sixteen when I had that epiphany, if that’s the right word. So I taught myself to juggle and to unicycle and do whatever tricks I could teach myself.

How did your first clowning job lead on from that?

It was difficult back then trying to do the research.There was no Internet, so trying to find out any information on how to be a clown or clowning was really hard. I wrote a questionnaire and sent it to circuses that I could get addresses

for. I sent out loads and got two back. On one, it said that the best way to learn is to join the circus and learn from other clowns.

They offered me a job off the back of that to do promotional clowning, which was to go to schools to do shows and hand out fliers in the street and things like that. I just had that lucky chance to step into the big shoes – obviously if I’d been rubbish they wouldn’t have extended me the job, but there was a bit of luck there.

How did you craft the Tweedy persona – is he an exaggerated version of yourself or is he somebody you created over time?

When did you first realise that you wanted to be a clown?

I always had a fascination with Laurel & Hardy and Buster Keaton and cartoons and things like that.

Originally I was going to go to art school to study animation, but then I realised for animation you needed a lot of patience and it can actually be quite dull…

I alWays had a fascInatIon WIth laurel & hardy and buster Keaton and cartoons and thIngs lIKe that. orIgInally I Was goIng to go to art school to study anImatIon, but then I realIsed for anImatIon you needed a lot of patIence ...

WIn

tIcKets

www.cotswold-homes.com

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Tweedy’s in Town

Tell us about your first meeting with Nell Gifford.

It was about twenty years ago. She was working in a circus as a groom. I wasn’t working, but had gone to see a friend. So I met her then, and a few years later I heard she had a circus, which I went to see in 2002.

I just really liked it and wanted to work there. But they had a contract that year already, so I came the next year – in 2004.

And do you have a favourite show out of all the Giffords productions?

One of my favourites – for personal reasons – was in 2005, my second year.You find your feet on a new show, because it’s different. 2005 was that for me – I felt like I had found the right character for the show.

Apart from that, they’re all good in different ways…

When you’re not on the job, how do you unwind?

When I started it was so difficult – I spent a long time going to video shops and finding a VHS video because I heard there was a twominute scene that was very funny.

He is an exaggerated version of myself – if I’m at a party and I start to get excited, it’s very similar. I think that’s one of the differences between clowning and acting…it’s part of you, the child within as they say.

Going back to a child, in a way.

That’s why I came up with this ‘lost property’ idea – it was kind of an excuse to have all my props in one place. I looked into different aspects of being lost – a character who is lost, being himself part of the lost property. But I do like coming up with fresh things.

You’re quite drawn to theatre, and made your acting debut at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre…

Have you had jobs besides clowning? Have you ever taken to anything quite like you have with clowning?

It was very odd for me, almost like working in reverse. I had to build up a ‘fourth wall’ to keep the audience separate. It was very hard not to acknowledge the audience, but I did enjoy the experience of creating a world and not ever stepping out of it. Acknowledging the audience has always been my ‘way out’, because if I’m in a pantomime and I forget the words then I can say ‘oh blast, I’ve forgotten the words!’ and get good laughs – but of course in a play, you just can’t shatter the illusion. So the pressure of getting things just right was an interesting experience.

Er…no! Fortunately I get enough work [these days] but there have been periods where I’ve had to sign on with an agency. What I did find is that it was useful to think at the end of the day: ‘Well, what went wrong today?’ and then use that!

Who are your favourite playwrights?

I’d love to do some Beckett, Waiting for Godot or something like that. I think they’re very close to clowning anyway, those sorts of characters, which is probably why I’m drawn to them.

You’ve created your own one-man shows. How do you go about making those?

Well, originally the Tweedy’s Lost Property show that I do was a way of using established routines I already did and tying them together with a slight narrative.

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And I wrote a lot of scripts from doing jobs, because things generally just sort of go wrong in life [laughs]. I kind of fall into the category of ‘natural clown’, which can be terribly frustrating when you’re trying to do things in real life.You get tangled up…

Can you give us an example of when things have gone horribly awry for you in the middle of a temp job?

I was once delivering big water bottles for water coolers.They’re stacked up quite high in the truck…I was in a city centre, somewhere quite busy, and they all fell out and utterly exploded on the ground and soaked me.The rest rolled all over the road and created a traffic jam. And I tried to install one of them in a posh hairdresser’s and didn’t quite know how to do it and soaked the carpet.

None of these things were really my fault…they’re just things that happened…

I find it very difficult to sit still. I’m always practising new things.Trying out new ideas. Watching comedy things on YouTube. I’m extremely lucky in that my job is my passion, so my downtime is a similar thing.

Supposing there’s a young boy or girl in the Giffords audience who looks at what you do and thinks ‘that’s it! That’s the career for me!’…What advice or guidance would you give them?

I’d say to watch lots of comedy. It’s a great way of learning and with YouTube now it’s just unbelievable, the access that you have. When I started it was so difficult – I spent a long time going to video shops and finding a VHS video because I heard there was a two-minute scene that was very funny. So watch lots, and practise lots of skills. It really helps if you’ve got a back-catalogue of skills to fall back on and turn into routines. At the end of the day, it’s extremely hard work – but it’s extremely rewarding.

Are there any strange clowning traditions that you’ve picked up from your time in the circus?

Have you heard of the clown eggs? It’s not so relevant to me now, but when I first started I had the full clown makeup.You have to have an original makeup design for your face and you get it registered by having it painted on an egg, which goes into a gallery.The eggs are currently on display at Wookey Hole.

Finally - if you could meet any clown from all of history, who would it be?

Stan Laurel, although he’s not a circus clown though he did do variety to start with. If I had to choose a clown-clown it would be Grock.To read his biography is very interesting. He had to perform in Nazi Germany, though he didn’t at all agree with what was going on at the time.

Thank you,Tweedy!

Find out more about Tweedy at his website, www. tweedyswebsite.com and discover more about Giffords Circus and Moon Songs at www.giffordscircus.com

A lido ReViVAl

let the cotswolds swim: a lido Revival

before the war, public lidos were all the rage. since then, many have suffered an ignominious decline. but now the great british tradition is coming back in fashion‌ 36

Cotswold Homes Magazine

Image: Brockwell Park (Lido) by Ruth Hydes Š TfL from the London Transport Museum Collection

A lido ReViVAl

What is it with Brits and taking a dip? In the 17th century, the popularity of spas put Cotswold towns Bath and Cheltenham on the map, as the natural waters were believed to have restorative properties. Once the 1846 Baths and Washhouses Act allowed councils to borrow funding for public washhouses, communal bathing took off. Soon swimming became an important part of the nation’s keep-fit routine.

Fast-forward to the 1930s, and 169 outdoor pools – known as ‘Lidos’ (a name believed to have been brought back by visitors to the Lido di Venezia) – had been built across the UK by local councils, who acknowledge the benefit they brought to communities. Sir Josiah Stamp declared in 1936: ‘Bathing reduces rich and poor, high and low, to a common standard of enjoyment and health.

When we get down to swimming, we get down to democracy.’

Many were architecturally ambitious and generously proportioned, drawing thousands of British bathers each summer. But after the war, their popularity waned dramatically as affordable intercontinental travel opened up new leisure possibilities for the population.

Mass closures ensued as councils closed down or mothballed once-glorious lidos, the only ones to survive usually buoyed by fierce enclaves of ‘can-do’ community spirit. But what did we lose with the slow extinction of our public outdoor pools? Artist Tracey Emin writes movingly of her childhood memories of Margate’s lido in the introduction to Janet Smith’s 2005 book Liquid Assets – the lidos and open air pools of Britain.

‘I started going there when I was eight, and it was just so exotic. It made Margate seem like the Mediterranean. Not like an English seaside town but somehow incredibly glamorous,’ Emin remembers. ‘It had a diving board that made me think of Elvis Presley.’

‘As an adult I swim almost every day now. When you jump into a pool, whatever negative energy you might be storing up, you just leave it behind at the water’s edge. It releases so much stress.’

‘That is why a big ambition of mine is to design a chain of lidos by the Thames, using a mix of river water and fresh water. They would be oval shaped, with an egg-like roof, which opens up when the sun comes out. And when that happened all the radio stations in London would make an announcement. “The London Ovals are opening!”’

Package holidays and quick, cheap flights might have diminished the public appetite for lounging in the unreliable British sunshine. But where community spirit runs strong enough, lidos do still flourish. We need look no further than Chipping Norton to see such an example, where an openair pool was opened in 1970 after a seven-year campaign that raised over £20,000.

When the opening of a new leisure centre in 2002 threatened the closure of the outdoor pool, KOPO (the Keep Our Pool Open) campaign arose

to fight, with the support of the Town Council, for the local treasure. After winning a one-year reprieve, they later stepped in and formed a committee that assumed managerial responsibilities for the site, improving aged infrastructure and rallying residents to the cause.

But far from just being a thirties throwback, Chippy’s is an unusually forward-thinking lido.

Sixty photovoltaic panels on the roof provide solar energy and underground heat help warm the water, leading to the Chippy Lido receiving a Agrivert Green Business Award at the West Oxfordshire Business Awards in 2013.

‘The community has effectively taken the pool back into its own control, having raised all the money needed to build it during the 1960s and then refusing to allow the District Council to simply shut it down,’ says trustee Claire Jarvis, who estimates the pool caters for 15,000 visitors per year (weather permitting, naturally).

Chipping Norton Lido

“as an adult I swim almost every day now. When you jump into a pool, whatever negative energy you might be storing up, you just leave it behind at the water’s edge. It releases so much stress.”

‘Every year local people help us raise over £15,000 to keep it open. Volunteers help with events, cleaning up before we re-open each spring and also donating skilled labour and expertise.’

‘It’s a special place because it’s somewhere that all generations mix and spend leisure time together.

It is also a ‘pool with a social conscience’ – we provide free swim sessions for the Over 60s, activities for young people such as mini polo and rookie lifeguarding, training for new lifeguards, employment for 25 people and a whole range of opportunities for people to keep fit and enjoy outdoor recreation, such as lessons and synchronised swimming.’

Chipping Norton also has the benefit of local Jeremy Clarkson’s star power. The motoring enthusiast and former Top Gear presenter has hosted ten auctions to raise funds.

Claire is optimistic about the lido’s future, and recognises the various benefits it brings to the community.

‘We have just had both the main pool and the toddler pool re-lined thanks to funding from Sport England, so the pools themselves are currently looking fantastic. Our next project is to build a pavilion where we can host indoor events and training sessions, and which can be used by people hiring the pool for private parties.’

‘As one of the places furthest from the sea, the Lido is our equivalent of a ‘day out at the seaside’ where people of all ages can spend time together, bring a picnic, swim, sunbathe, play games on the lawn, enjoy the café and steam room. The pool attracts visitors to the town and is a huge asset for

- tracey emin

its residents in terms of quality of life and leisure opportunities.’

But Chippy’s Lido is not the only one hereabouts.

For a taste of true thirties style, one should head over to Sandford Parks in Cheltenham. Opening in 1935 to excited newspaper headlines, it was celebrated despite debates that it had called into question the council’s largesse after a time of unemployment and depression. It was unusual in that it was one of the few outdoor pools to be heated. The Lido’s first manager was Lt Commander Roy Berryman Edwards, who was later called up by the Navy and sadly killed in his post as Rendering Mines Safe Officer while dismantling a mine in 1939.

By the 70s and 80s, straightened times and new indoor swimming caused an existential crisis.

In 1996 a charitable trust was formed and a 25-year lease signed after media and community campaigning threatened closure. In 2006 massive funding was required to overhaul infrastructure and an incredible £250,000 was raised from direct donations, with £50,000 from Gloucestershire Environmental Trust and £382,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund also supplied.

With summers getting ever hotter, it’s reasonable to say that the Second Golden Age of the Lido might well be upon us. At the time of writing, the world’s first (and seemingly oxymoronic) ‘manmade natural swimming pool’ is about to open: the King’s Cross Pond Club. With a wholesomely green plant-filtration system, this new pool might just herald a new generation of eco-friendly public pools. In the meantime, grab your trunks and bikinis and head to Chippy and Cheltenham for the best swimming around. www.cotswold-homes.com

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The hidcoTe Bower

The

Hidcote Bower

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The Hidcote Bower

Sculpture Artist Ali Grant captures the spirit of Hidcote Manor Garden following her residency Unveiled on the 28th of May 2015, the Hidcote Bower is an exciting new work that reflects the principles of one of the Cotswolds’ most stunning and individualistic gardens.

Artists in Residence, an organisation that matches artists with ‘unusual and innovative venues and institutes’, introduced Ali to the distinctive Arts and Crafts gardens of Hidcote Manor. The gardens are a sequence of spaces devised by former owner Major Lawrence Johnston, who spent over 30 years developing the garden and furnishing it with exotic plants.

“Ali Grant has captured the true essence of Hidcote with The Hidcote Bower. I know our visitors, new and old, will be inspired by her interpretation, which is both engaging and welcoming.”

‘There is a playful nature to Hidcote as the formality is transformed, creating a magical space,’ says Ali. ‘The bower is a symbol for fertility and growth, which is itself a kind of transformation and used by writers and artists alike.’

Ali is a perfect match for Hidcote: she has created large scale bronze works for public spaces, churches and gardens, and has shown works at Spitalfields, Roche Court, Michael House in Cambridge and Winchester Cathedral since completing an MA in Sculpture from the Royal College of Art in 2002.

Before it was cast in bronze, the bower was hand crafted by Ali in her studio, standing 1.8 metres high. Fittingly for Hidcote, it not only represents fertility but also plays with space – creating an enclosed ‘haven’ within, whilst framing the scenery seen through it, echoing the garden’s design aesthetic.

Ali’s key inspiration for the piece was the way the Arts and Crafts garden creates the impression of ‘rooms’ outdoors. After exploring the gardens, talking to gardeners and researching the history of Hidcote, she devised the idea of a bower, influenced in part by the work of William Morris.

Chris Charman, General Manager for Hidcote Garden, was delighted with the work. ‘Ali Grant has captured the true essence of Hidcote with The Hidcote Bower. I know our visitors, new and old, will be inspired by her interpretation, which is both engaging and welcoming.’

Ben Wright Photography

For more information on Ali and her work, visit www.aligrantsculpture.co.uk To find out how to visit Hidcote and to discover more about its history, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote www.cotswold-homes.com

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Sculpture in the garden

Sculpture in the garden

Ever thought of placing a piece of outdoor sculpture in your garden but were unsure where to start? Susan Dunstall reveals a few tricks of the garden design trade so that you can create a focus to love for years to come

Take a stroll through one of the beautiful Cotswold gardens open to the public this summer (see more about Ali Grant at Hidcote Manor Gardens on page 41) and your eye will be drawn to one of the many pieces of sculpture that are an inherent part of the planting and design. It may be a lichen-clad stone animal or a more contemporary work of art that you spot – either way, the garden would be the poorer for it if it weren’t there.

Garden designers will often use a sculpture as a focal point. By creating a focus, you slow the visitor’s path through the garden and persuade them to stop and direct their gaze. A garden is then revealed, slowly, rather than being swept over quickly. You can take your time to perceive your surroundings and become engrossed in the senses of sight, touch and smell.

Outdoor sculpture should not be viewed as separate from its surrounding environment.

When chosen carefully and sited sympathetically, a sculpture can enhance a garden and give emphasis to design and plantings throughout the year.

A sculpture can surprise, intrigue and draw attention. And by drawing attention, you then also start to notice the garden around it. A garden sculpture relates to everything around it – the weather, the light, the vegetation as well as the close and long distance views.

How to choose where to site a sculpture in a garden can, at first glance, seem a difficult decision. But once you’ve picked the type of art you want, and related it to your garden, the decision won’t be quite as hard. Choosing a sculpture with a particular garden in mind can reinforce the theme and feeling of a garden.

There are as many different types of sculpture out there as you’ll find types of gardens. Here are some of the most popular: •

Sculptures that mimic nature (such as plants, stones, rocks, pebbles) using patterns and formal elements of plant growth. These can be simplified or enlarged for emphasis.

• Human figurines or heads • Abstract sculpture with a strong emphasis on the material used (glass, metal, stone or wood).

• The garden itself, or part of it, becomes a sculpture or installation in its own right – a Japanese Zen garden might fall into this category.

When you’re picking a sculpture, you’ll probably have at the back of your mind what sort of response you’d like to stir in visitors to your garden. Is it pleasure, beauty, humour or more a feeling of calm and mindfulness? Or perhaps you want to create a sense of mystery and surprise?

So to generate those desired feelings, the content and form of the sculpture needs to fit the particular feel of the garden; and finding the perfect place within a garden is essential in that context.

Here are few things to consider when you’re searching for that ideal spot in your garden for your new sculptural piece: • Height - depending on the height of the sculpture, you have to make more effort in seeing it • Character – do you want it to be obviously on show, or more camouflaged and discreet?

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•

Placing it on a support (such as a plinth or platform) – this can regulate the height of your sculpture and secure it too. It can be made from wood, metal or stone.

•

Placing it on a lawn – if your sculpture rests on the grass, it gives a more casual and relaxed impression as it symbolically shares the same ground as you, your pets and your garden.

SculpTure in The garden

With my three-year association in designing David Harber’s award-winning sculpture gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, I’ve long been a fan of an exquisitely crafted piece creating a focal point in garden design.

In both of David’s Chelsea gardens in 2013 and 2014, the brief was to showcase twelve sculptures from his collection. Changing levels, natural materials, striking water features and different plantings styles were all used to create the backdrop for the works of art.

I’ve just returned from Chelsea 2015 and what a show it’s been! It was my third year of working on David Harber’s garden and we were delighted to receive the coveted Five Star Award again.

The concept this time was to create a natural woodland glade to serve as a spectacular backdrop for the new orb-like metal sculpture, the Filium. The garden used light, water and reflections to create that element of surprise with just a touch of magic.

Photos: Lynn Keddie www.lynnkeddie.com

“I’ve just returned from Chelsea 2015 and what a show it’s been!

It was my third year of working on David Harber’s garden and we were delighted to receive the coveted Five Star Award again.”

Susan Dunstall is a Garden Designer based in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, providing landscaping and garden design projects across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds. Designs cover any size garden and style, from contemporary to traditional, cottage garden to urban, Japanese or tropical. Contact her on 07879 842934 or visit www.susandunstall.com www.cotswold-homes.com

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The Big FeaSTiVal

COMES BACK FOR MORE Join Jamie Oliver and Alex James - and countless other musical and culinary superstars - at Alex’s Kingham Farm, FROM 28TH – 30TH AUGUST Grab the blankets and dig out the wellies and shades –The hottest festival in town is back for a bank holiday weekend extravanganza.

With stages showcasing sensational artists and foodie vans stacked with gourmet grub, the Big Feastival is proving year on year that the Cotswolds can deliver a family-friendly festival that doesn’t compromise on cool.

With this year’s glittering line-up announced, there are more reasons to celebrate than ever. Step forward rapper, MC and hip-hop superstar Dizzee Rascal, the sweet-tongued and fabulously-coutured Paloma Faith, chart-stormer Example, Faithless’ very own bard of dance Maxi Jazz – all these and so many more (Sophie Ellis-Bextor,The Feeling and Heaven 17 have just been confirmed) - are due to fuel three days of tunes and good times.

On the foodie frontlines Jamie Oliver once again will beshowing off his culinary skills, heading up an ensemble of chefs just as recognisable as the acts on the music stage. Hitting the AEG Big Kitchen this year are Monsieur Raymond Blanc, Monica Galetti, Mark Hix, Gizzi Erskine and Ashley Palmer-Watts – not to mention Jamie’s beloved mentor Gennaro Contaldo (be warned - the banter between these two is saucier than anything in the pan).

WKIN ETS TIC

For the little ones, CBeebies superstar Justin Fletcher (AKA Mr Tumble) and well-loved oinker Peppa Pig herself are heading up the programme of entertainments, which is set to include percussion, dance and yoga workshops.

But it’s not just the kids who’ll have the opportunity to awaken their musical talent. Head on over to The Udder Stage to warm up the vocal chords in workshop sessions run by experts from London’s Roundhouse, before performing on stage as part of The Big Feastival Choir. Not to mention that this will be the venue where you can get your shanty on with the Folk Idol competition (beards supplied) and dance the night away in a Silent Disco.

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Alex himself will be back at the helm of the Cheese Hub (how many other rock stars do you know who make their own cheese?) but those counting calories will find a nice counterbalance in the Healthy Living Zone with Deliciously Ella and Hemsley + Hemsley, a first for 2015.

Indeed, you’ll likely remember that healthy eating is at the centre of Jamie’s foodie philosophy and the Big Feastival is proud to raise funds for the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, which aims to educate the nation on the provenance and preparation of food. From the Kitchen Garden Project and Home Cooking Skills resources for schools to the community-focused Ministry of Food, the charity aims to shape society through better food education for all.

This year welcomes a brand new collaboration with The Art Of Dining, who will be hosting daily funfilled feasts at the festival. As a UK Summer Festival Exclusive, you will be invited to put on your walking boots, pack your torches, fill up your hip flasks and come on an adventure with ‘Gone Camping’ – an immersive dining experience like no other.

If you can’t wait to get on down for three days of Feastival fun but aren’t usually a happy camper, the Glamping Village offers a luxurious alternative. With a ‘pamper parlour’, concierge service, bar and relaxation area and top-class showers and loos, it’s a way to spend a long weekend in style.

It’s also one of the easiest festivals to reach for outof-towners.Those heading down from London will be delighted to learn that the action’s only a threeminute stroll from Kingham station.

To find out more about the Big Feastival and book tickets, please visit www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival or call the ticket hotline on 08444 539 047.

There is a special ticket offer for local residents living in the OX7, GL54 or GL56 postcodes – book before 14th August and receive 10% off adult and teen weekend and day tickets. Under 12s go free.

The Big FeaSTiVal

Alex himself will be back at the helm of the Cheese Hub (how many other rock stars do you know who make their own cheese?)

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Julia SiBun

wHOW

T O C R E AT E w

a perFect FeStIVal-tHeMed partY at HOMe JULIA SIBUN IS AN EVENTS ORGANISER AND DIRECTOR OF WESLEY HOUSE EVENTS BASED IN WINCHCOMBE. SHE HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN PLANNING WONDERFUL WEDDINGS, PARTIES AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS IN LONDON AND ACROSS THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND. HERE JULIA REVEALS HER TIPS FOR CREATING THE PERFECT FESTIVAL-INSPIRED PARTY.

Nearly every county in the country now holds its own festival to celebrate everything that is good about their region, whether it is food, drink or music. Never before have we been so spoilt for choice!

But you don’t have to go any further afield than your home to create a truly inspiring party atmosphere. How about doing it for yourself at home and inviting all your friends and family to a unique party setting in your own back yard?

A fun way to send out your invitations is to have them made in the form of a VIP lanyard, which would serve as both an invitation and a programme of events for the party.

Festivals are all about music, so aim to make that a focal point in your party. If you have any friends in bands why not get them to do a mini gig mid48

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party? Or for a more relaxed setting, just ask your musical friends to bring their instruments and have an impromptu jamming session so you can have a wonderful sing-along to some great music.

If you want to party all night (and we’re sure you will) without getting in trouble then why not have your very own silent disco? Headsets can be rented easily.

When inviting your friends and family suggest on the invitation that they wear Festival Chic – this will cover all sorts of outfits and everyone will feel in the party mood if they are allowed to choose their own festival gear! Encourage everyone to bring colourful wellies – whether it is dry or wet – as wellies are an essential of festival fashion! (and while you’re at it, why not host a competition for the best themed dress?)

On arrival, and to help the festival vibe, give your guests a fun, colourful wristband to allow them entry to the festival party – they’ll always have a memento of the occasion! Another fun idea on arrival is to present your guests with a pretty flower garland around their neck to help with the “flower power” atmosphere.

You will need a fairly large garden to entertain and to create a central focus erect a wonderful teepee or two. Teepees really do add atmosphere and are great to use if the warm weather should turn to showers. Use wooden tables and benches to eat from – keep everything simple, wooden and rustic!

Now for tables - put out hundreds of jam jars and coloured and clear glass beer bottles filled with brightly coloured gerberas, sweet peas and dahlias.

No arranging necessary: just pop them in the glass jars for quick, easy and colourful decorations.

Julia SiBun

Don’t forget to put out masses of tealights and candles on all your tables as well.

Hang crazy coloured bunting around the teepees – it’s easy to make and looks great blowing in the wind.

FESTIVALS ARE ALL ABOUT THE FOOD, SO CREATING SOME EYE-CATCHING FOOD DISPLAYS WILL REALLY MAKE YOUR SUMMER PARTY STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD. THE KEY IS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE YET UNUSUAL.

How about erecting your own festival flags? It is easy to purchase your own 2m brightly coloured flags on spikes or streamer banner flags – install them all around your garden (the more the merrier)! They truly look terrific, enticing people to come in (and they also sound amazing when they are blowing in the wind).

Be kind to your local farmer and ask if you can buy some small straw or hay bales – it’s the perfect way to assemble quick, festival seating around the garden. Cover the bales in brightly coloured picnic rugs. Also: why not make one giant straw bale sofa that the children will climb over all day long?

A quick way to create a festival vibe with seating is to put out lots of old fashioned stripey deck chairs – store them in a pile and let guests grab a deck chair and pop them up themselves wherever they want to sit in your garden – it all adds to their relaxed day out.

Open fires are very important to add to the magic of the day. One large bonfire either in a brazier or a kadai fire bowl located in front of the tents becomes the central focus of the party. Guests will sit round the warmth of a fire forever! They add atmosphere and warmth – and if you have a traditional kadai bowl you can actually place a grill over the top and start the cooking from here.

Festivals are all about the food, so creating some eye-catching food displays will really make your summer party stand out from the crowd. The key is to keep it simple yet unusual.

The mouth-watering smell of outdoor cooking is a vital part of the festival experience – make sure everybody is catered for with joints of meat cooking over the fire, big bowls of salads and fresh fruit. Why not try making and serving a huge paella from a giant paella pan? Also popular are pulled pork joints, cones of chips, homemade burgers and locally reared traditional sausages, spatchcock chickens and marinated skewered prawns.

But you can go another step further by involving your guests. Why not embrace another idea of outside catering and ask everyone to make their own pizzas and bake them in an outside pizza oven, or toast marshmallows over the roaring fire pit? If you have an unused garden shed or wendy house you could transform it into a late night pudding and coffee station serving homemade chocolate brownies, hot chocolate, baileys and coffee.

After all the dancing your guests might need a little boost of energy. Make a sweet stop by filling an old fashioned wooden wheelbarrow with a selection of pick and mix…and don’t forget to hand round baskets of ice creams and ice lollies during the evening – for the adults as well as the children!

At festivals, drinks are usually served in plastic cups – however, I suggest you try and come up with some novel drinks ideas to really make your party one to remember. If you have a water fountain fill it with ice and serve your beer bottles straight from the fountain, and look out for some large clear glass water containers and fill with refreshing flavoured waters, such as lemon, cucumber and strawberry-flavoured waters.

Another way to get in to the true festival spirit is to bring in kegs of your local beer, ale and cider – set up on a simple wooden trestle table they look fab, and guests can help themselves to their local favourite. If you really want to push the boat out you could have a whisky- and a gin-tasting station – or even hire a vodka luge and get your guests to drink straight off the ice!

Introduce lots of outdoor activities for the children – trampolines, skittles, croquet, giant games such as Jenga, snakes & ladders and dominoes (and don’t forget a bouncy castle). Set up a flower-crownmaking competition as well as face-painting which is a must for the children.

And why should the adults have all the musical

fun? Let the children unleash their inner rock star with an air guitar dance-off – you can buy blow-up guitars for as little as a pound – whoever has the best moves wins!

And let’s not forget another quintessential festival item that shouldn’t be missed: why not get guests to adorn themselves in glow sticks for the ultimate festival of light? If you have access to a brick wall, set up a massive projection and broadcast blackand-white movies or music videos all night long!

When the sun goes down your garden party can glow long into the night with the perfect festival lighting. Rig up some outdoor candles and fairy lights for that picturesque sparkle – hang glass jars of tealights by fishing wire from the low branches of the trees in the garden, and put out garden flares to mark all the routes home when it is time for your guests to gently start departing.

Remember: the key to creating the perfect festivalthemed party is to use what you have around you.

Turn everyday items into your very own festival features! With a little imagination, you’ll be the one to host the next festival that everybody can’t stop talking about. www.cotswold-homes.com

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Make the most of midweek catch-ups and enjoy 25% off lunch at The Old Stocks Inn when you dine in the restaurant from Monday to Friday.

The Old Stocks Inn, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF 01451 830 666 oldstocksinn.com info@oldstocksinn.com /oldstocksinn /oldstocksinn /oldstocksinn Terms and conditions apply. Please see our website for further information.

COTSWOLD CALENDAR

D L O W COTS

TS EN EV JULY - SEPTEMBE R

14TH JUNE – 5TH JULY FRESH AIR 2015, 12TH BIENNALE QUENINGTON SCULPTURE EXHIBITION, QUENINGTON

The biennial sculpture exhibition provides a unique opportunity to see a creative mixture of traditionally modern and cutting-edge contemporary work in a stunning outdoor setting. Fresh Air 2015 will take place from Sunday June 14th until Sunday July 5th at Quenington Old Rectory, Quenington, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5BN. www.freshairsculpture.com/fresh-air-2015

30TH JUNE – 11TH JULY CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

Cheltenham’s terribly classy annual festival of music returns, bringing with it Shostakovich 15, the Arcanto Quartet, Gabriela Montero and the New English Ballet Theatre. Please visit the website for full listings. www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music/whats-on/2015

4TH JULY STOW ON THE WOLD COTSWOLD FESTIVAL (WITH AN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY TWIST)

There’s a distinct transatlantic flavour to this year’s Stow on the Wold Cotswold Festival, so get decked out in stars and stripes. Stow has recently befriended the similarly-populated Massachusetts town of Appomattox, so head on over to see what the fruits of this special relationship may be – as we reflect on Stow’s own dramatic Civil War past. www.cotswoldfestival.com

4TH - 5TH JULY COTSWOLD SHOW AT CIRENCESTER PARK

Get ready for rural fun with show-ring attractions, stalls and delicious cookery demonstrations at Cirencester Park this summer. The Show Chairman is Lord Bathurst, at whose ancestral seat, Cirencester Park, the event is staged. www.cotswoldshow.co.uk

4TH - 5TH JULY STRATFORD-ON-AVON RIVER FESTIVAL

Since it was established, the Stratford River Festival has grown to become one of the region’s leading free festivals. 2014 was a record breaking year bringing nearly 50,000 revellers into the beautiful town of Stratford. For two whole days every summer the riverside comes alive. www.stratforward.co.uk/events/stratford-river-festival

15TH MAY – 20TH SEPTEMBER GIFFORDS CIRCUS, VARIOUS VENUES

The Cotswolds’ favourite artisan circus, Giffords, is back with their sensational new show Moon Songs. Clown Tweedy is shot from a cannon and then turns into the man in the moon, a bear gallops past on a pony, the little man laughs and chaos reigns in this topsy-turvy lunatic world. See www.giffordscircus.com for tour dates and details.

25TH MAY – 14TH SEPTEMBER SMALL HARE PASSPORT TRAIL, CIRENCESTER

Find the small hares in shops and buildings in and around Cirencester.

Enter the Prize draw if you find them all and solve the mystery hare puzzle! Passports available from Town Council Information Point at Bingham House and the Visitor Information Centre at the Corinium Museum. www.cirencesterharefestival.org.uk

12TH JUNE – 26TH JULY LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA

The LFO 2015 season includes performances of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. Longborough Festival Opera has an intimate auditorium seating of just under 500, with an orchestra pit for up to 70 players, and is situated in the heart of the Cotswolds in the picturesque village of Longborough. www.lfo.org.uk 52

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8TH - 18TH JULY CHELTENHAM CRICKET FESTIVAL

Gloucestershire has been playing in the stunning grounds of Cheltenham College for over 140 years, making this the world’s longest running cricket festival on an outfield. The ground’s idyllic setting has provided a perfect backdrop for the Festival throughout its history, a great attraction for cricket fans, new supporters and big cricketing stars. www.gloscricket.co.uk/cricket/cheltenham-cricket-festival

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9TH – 20TH JULY NORTH COTSWOLD ARTS ASSOCIATION EXHIBITION, ST EDWARDS’ HALL, STOW-ON-THEWOLD Preview Thursday 9th July 6.30 to 8.00pm and then daily, 10am to 5pm until Monday 20th July, last day finish 1pm. View a fantastic collection of work, including landscapes, portrait, animals, photomontage, prints, pastels, oils – all at competitive prices. www.sites.google.com/a/northcotswoldsarts.org/ncaa

11TH – 12TH JULY TEWKESBURY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival has been the high spot in the town’s summer calendar since 1984. It is now widely regarded as the largest free medieval gathering of its kind in Europe, and attracts re-enactors, traders and entertainers, and visitors from all over the world. www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org

10TH - 12TH JULY CORNBURY FESTIVAL, THE GREAT TEW PARK

One of the Cotswolds’ most quintessential festivals is back, bringing Razorlight, Tom Jones, Lulu, Billy Ocean and The Fratellis. Perfect family fun, packed with tunes, Cornbury is sure to deliver this summer. www.cornburyfestival.com

17TH – 19TH JULY THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO, FAIRFORD

A thrilling spectacle for aviation enthusiasts and casual bystanders alike, see some of the most sensational aircraft created fly-by at Fairford this summer. www.airtattoo.com

17TH – 19TH JULY COTSWOLD BEER FESTIVAL, POSTLIP HALL, WINCHCOMBE

If you ever needed an excuse to drink delicious beers in a beautiful setting, this is it! What a wonderful way to spend a Cotswold weekend. www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk

24TH JULY – 2ND AUGUST GUITING MUSIC FESTIVAL

Bringing Classical, Jazz and Folk music to the Cotswolds, the 45th Festival stars folk star Hattie Briggs, Jazz legend Purdy, violinist Lizzie Ball and many more – in fact, this year’s just bursting with talent, so check out the nifty website for full info. www.guitingfestival.org

24TH – 26TH JULY HERITAGE DIESEL WEEKEND AT GWR, TODDINGTON

11TH JULY BATTLE PROMS PICNIC CONCERT, BLENHEIM PALACE

The 2015 Blenheim Palace Battle Proms Picnic Concert takes place directly overlooking the impressive South Front of the Palace. The stunning Palace grounds include 2,100 acres of formal gardens and ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland. Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and is a World Heritage Site. The Battle Proms at Blenheim is especially poignant in 2015 as it honours the 50th anniversary of Churchill’s death. www.battleproms.com

Come and see the GWR’s magnificent collection of heritage diesel locomotives this July after two successful galas. Enthusiasts and interested onlookers will be well served by the beautiful machinery on display. www.gwsr.com

25TH – 26TH JULY RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL, CHARLBURY

Head towards the water for this free family-friendly music festival in an idyllic riverside setting in the Cotswolds. With more than 40 acts from rock, indie, jazz and folk playing across three stages. Saturday 25 July (12pm – 10pm) Sunday 26 July (11am-8pm). www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com

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31ST JULY - 2ND AUGUST MOTORING HERITAGE AT PRESCOTT

This will be the perfect summer event for anyone who has an interest in pre-war motoring. Come along to Prescott and see some of the old greats hit the track again. www.prescott-hillclimb.com

31ST JULY – 2ND AUGUST THE 41ST ANNUAL GLOUCESTERSHIRE STEAM AND VINTAGE EXTRAVAGANZA, SOUTH CERNEY AIRFIELD NR. CIRENCESTER

This year the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza will include a Steam Arena, fuelling non-stop steam action. Be prepared for a dazzling array of vintage cars, tractors, commercial vehicles, buses and coaches, motorcycle, miniature steam vehicles, industrial trucks, emergency vehicles…phew, now we’re feeling quite out of steam. www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

6TH – 9TH AUGUST WILDERNESS FESTIVAL, CORNBURY PARK

23RD AUGUST TEWKESBURY CLASSIC VEHICLE FESTIVAL, TEWKESBURY SCHOOL SPORTS FIELD

Featuring an incredible array of classic and vintage motors (plus a performance from The Haywood Sisters and a wide range of market stalls) the Tewkesbury Vehicle Festival will bring an old school cool to the Tudor town this summer. www.tewkesburycvf.org

28TH – 30TH AUGUST JAMIE OLIVER & ALEX JAMES’ BIG FEASTIVAL, KINGHAM

Great tunes and even better food – Jamie Oliver and Alex James have really cracked the festival formula with the Big Feastival. Hosted on Alex’s Kingham farm, this year’s festival will see appearances from Dizzee Rascal, Raymond Blanc and Paloma Faith – plus so many more.

See our write-up on page 46 for more. www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival

The Cotswolds’ artsiest music festival is appropriately helmed by the ground breaking Icelandic artist Bjork, who with her surreal stylings will help make this Wilderness one to remember. But it’s not just tunes – a programme of talks, debates, theatre and art workshop events make Wilderness a highlight of the Cotswold calendar. www.wildernessfestival.com

7TH – 8TH AUGUST LAKEFEST, CROFT FARM WATERPARK

Pitch up by the waterfront for some lakeside festival fun. Lakefest’s fourth birthday will be making a splash with appearances from The Magic Numbers, Goldie Lookin Chain and the unforgettable Cheeky Girls. www.lakefest.co.uk

12TH – 16TH AUGUST HARTPURY HORSE TRIALS

Five action-filled days of competition all held within the stunning surroundings of Hartpury College, Gloucestershire. The event gets underway with the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Qualifiers on Wednesday before moving onto the Optimum CCI1*, Magic CCI2* and Superflex CIC3* from Thursday. www.equineevents.hartpury.ac.uk

13TH – 15TH AUGUST FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION, CROPREDY, NR BANBURY

Organised by long-enduring band Fairport Convention, the Cropredy festival draws devoted hoards of music-lovers year on year. See online for the line-up and a ‘virgin’s guide’ to this unique knee’s up! www.fairportconvention.com

15TH AUGUST BATTLE PROMS PICNIC CONCERT, RAGLEY HALL, NR ALCESTER

The ever popular Battle Proms Picnic Concert will return to Ragley Hall on Saturday 15th August, the 70th anniversary of V-J Day, for an exceptional evening of sublime classical music, carefully choreographed Spitfire and cavalry displays, dramatic cannon fire and a stunning firework finale. The picturesque lakeside setting provides a stunning backdrop. www.battleproms.com

28TH – 30TH AUGUST STROUD FRINGE FESTIVAL, STROUD

A festival for the incurably curious, filled with breathtaking beauty and the bewilderingly bizarre for the delight of children and the astonishment of adults. Enjoy vibrant culture and musical performances, from poetry to punk, fine art to folk, comedy to chaos theory, and everything in-between, set in one of the most exciting, creative towns in the Cotswolds. www.stroudfringe.co.uk

29TH – 30TH AUGUST THE PHOENIX FESTIVAL, CIRENCESTER

Brainchild of the Ozone Youth Club and supported by Cirencester Town Council and the Cirencester Community Development Trust, the Phoenix Festival is organised by young people with the passion to bring exciting live music to Cotswold audiences. ‘Bands, solo acts, duos, choirs, good food, great drink and the exceptional vibe of the great people of Cirencester - who could ask for more?’ www.phoenix-festival.co.uk

29TH – 31ST AUGUST EVESHAM FISHING FESTIVAL

Come celebrate all things fishing with Evesham’s top angling event.

Packed with stalls and drawing crowds of thousands, it’s a great day out for all – whatever your affinity for fish. www.eveshamfestival.com 54

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COTSWOLD CALENDAR

31ST AUGUST WINCHCOMBE COUNTY SHOW

Enjoy a day of unique entertainment at Winchcombe with a myriad ‘have-a-go’ opportunities. With terrier racing, Punch and Judy shows, fortune-telling, bungee-jumping and an appearance from The Chain Saw Tree Pirates who will create wood sculptures before your eyes, this is a county show not to be missed. www.winchcombeshow.org.uk

17TH – 20TH SEPTEMBER THE BLENHEIM INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS

Situated in the gorgeous grounds of Blenheim Palace, this leading three-star horse trials attracts some of the world’s best event horses and riders. But not only that – a shopping village makes Blenheim a must-visit for horse fans in search of summer fun-times. www.blenheimhorse.co.uk

31ST AUGUST BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER FOOTBALL IN THE RIVER

See your local team make a splash with this well-loved yearly event.

Join the hundreds lining the banks of the Windrush as footballers get properly soggy in the river – you might just end up a little wet yourself.

4TH – 6TH SEPTEMBER DIDMARTON BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, KEMBLE AIRFIELD

Didmarton Bluegrass Festival is one of the UK’s premier bluegrass, Americana and old time music events, held every summer at Kemble Airfield in greenest Gloucestershire. Now in its 27th year and under last year’s new team, Didmarton 2015 is hosting another awesome line-up of international and UK artists. www.didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk

5TH SEPTEMBER MORETON IN MARSH AGRICULTURAL SHOW

Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, the Moreton Show features everything great about this region. With processions of prize-winning livestock, produce competitions, fashion, food, endless trade stalls and a show ring hosting non-stop entertainment, come along and see why the Moreton Show is one of the best events on the Cotswold calendar. www.moretonshow.co.uk

5TH – 6TH SEPTEMBER PRESCOTT HILL CLIMB BRITISH & MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS WEEKEND

19TH SEPTEMBER NAUNTON CLASSIC & VINTAGE TRANSPORT SHOW & FETE, NAUNTON

Following last year’s inaugural Classic Car and Vintage Transport Show at which 70 cars, motorbikes and other vehicles were displayed, Naunton is once again organising a second motoring themed event with all the attractions of a traditional village fete thrown in. This year’s event will again be held on the village’s picturesque recreation field overlooking the River Windrush and the medieval Dovecote.

Speed Hill Climbing is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, featuring a huge range of vehicles – from humble saloons to F1engined single-seater supercars. Come and witness what is often the deciding event of the seventeen-round series championship. www.prescott-hillclimb.com

6TH SEPTEMBER TETBURY CLASSIC CAR SHOW

A thrilling variety of classic cars will be displayed at Tetbury again this year – last time around, over £5,000 was raised for charity Allsorts, and organisers aim to do even better this year. www.tetburyclassiccarshow.org

12TH - 13TH SEPTEMBER NORTHLEACH STEAM & VINTAGE SHOW

Northleach has long been associated with steam rallies – since the 2013 revival the Show is going from strength to strength. Vehicle and steam enthusiasts alike should not miss the chance to see these impressive engines in action. www.northleachsteamshow.co.uk

16TH – 20TH SEPTEMBER TETBURY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

If ever you needed a reason to indulge, Tetbury provides it in spades with the Tetbury Food and Drink Festival. Whether committed foodie or casual nibbler – pop along and take a bite. www.tetburyfooddrinkfestival.com

20TH SEPTEMBER CLASSIC CAR RALLY, SUDELEY CASTLE

Due to the success of the 2014 event, this year’s event will be held on the private North Lawn, directly in front of the Castle for a spectacular backdrop. See classic vehicles in the most gorgeous setting imaginable this year at Sudeley Castle. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/event/classic-car-rally

26TH – 27TH SEPTEMBER MADE IN THE COTSWOLDS, CHIPPING CAMPDEN

The creatives of Chipping Campden are exhibiting across various venues this summer. From tours of artists’ studios to talks and demonstrations and galleries hosting varied and evocative artworks, don’t miss Campden’s veritable treasure trove of art. Get all the details at www.madeinthecotswolds.org www.cotswold-homes.com

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FARM PARK

SUMMER AT ADAM HENSON’S COTSWOLD FARM PARK Fun rides, demonstrations and special events: Adam Henson reveals just what will be going on at the Cotswold Farm Park over the sunny months As you might well expect, summer can often prove to be our busiest season. It’s about this time that the park is awash with the faces of new visitors – and some who’ve been returning since they were children, who now have families of their own!

Don’t miss our seasonal farming demonstrations: milking (15th April - 20th December) and the sheep show (4th July - 20th December). A member of the team will take you through the process of milking with the assistance of either a Gloucester cow or one of our Saanen or Toggenburg goats. As for the sheep show, it’s excellent fun: essentially a pageant of history on four legs! Some of our rams climb up a pyramid-shaped stage and help us to demonstrate how sheep breeding has changed over the last 4,000 years. Some lucky children will get the chance to join in with our staff, and dress up in period costume.

great reason to come along at this time of year.

And here’s something else that’s proven very popular with our visitors: fun rides. We’ve had a twoyear break but we’ve revamped for 2015, purchasing 30 new jumps so that we can now offer up to 60 jumps in total. All are optional and aim to cater for a wide range of riding abilities.

The course is 10 miles long (with an optional shortcut avoiding the road sections and the ford crossing.

The shorter route is around 7 miles long). We are encouraging all riders to book online in advance this year. Start times are staggered and we are limiting spaces: this ensures each participant has the time and space to enjoy their ride.

(I don’t want to spoil the surprise just yet, but we are also planning on running a series of summer weekend events - they will all be included in the normal ticket price.)

I’m not a keen rider myself but I have a special soft spot for my Exmoor pony, May. She was born in 1989 and we’ve had her from a foal, - she is the most friendly of our lot! She has retired this year and so will not be having any more foals. But my daughter, Ella, has her own horse and loves to ride - so I think she will get lots of use out of all the new jumps!

Apart from anything else, summer is usually peppered with new births – we see litters of piglets, calves and Exmoor pony foals delivered. It’s another

If you’d like to find out more about Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park, visit www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

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FARM PARK

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Famil TICKE y T

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YOUNG FARMERS’ BALL

Everyone had a ball!

Photography by Lucy Driver

From Left to Right- Charlie Langston, Henry Leonard, Luke McDonagh, Toby Bindon Smith

Jess Ricketts, Ester Phipp. Deborah O’Kane

Rachel & John Righton

Lauren Sherrard & Gemma Jeffrey

Tom McDonagh & Molly Gaden

Vanessa Pitman & Paul Phipp

moreton in marsh young Farmers’ Summer Ball was held on Saturday 13th June at mount Pleasant Farm, Oddington. more than 400 guests attended the ball to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the club.

The event was held in aid of two charities - 'Kate’s Careers' and 'midlands air ambulance Charity'. Club secretary molly Gaden said: “These are both wonderful charities that have great significance for many people in the local area and we wanted to raise as much money as we could by offering local businesses the chance to sponsor the ball.

“We are very grateful to both Harrison James & Hardie and the NFU, as well as many other local companies who supported us on the evening! The night was hugely successful with previous and current members of all ages enjoying a yummy three course meal and dancing through the night to Toppers Disco, whilst reminiscing on the last eighty years of the club!"

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YOUNG FARMERS’ BALL

Jojo Holloway, Alexandra Botting, Holly Claydon Bevan, Becky Archenhold, Jess Fidler

Lucy Shurmer & Adam Shipman

Tabitha Rogers, Rachael Eayrs, Gemma Long, Annie Hall

Lisa Cartlidge & Verian Gaden ( Daughter & Mother)

Christy Greves, Molly Gaden, Jasmine Lyon

Vicky & Alastair Graham

Bruce Churchley & Val Hughes

Some of the Young Farmers’ Committee: Christy Greves ( Programme Secretary) Jack Orghton ( Social Secretary) Jasmine Lyon ( Treasurer) Tom McDonagh (Chairman) Molly Gaden (Secretary) Will Haines (President) www.cotswold-homes.com

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FARMER’S WIFE

Photography by Sarah Matthews

Anna MacCurrach on facing adversity, moving forward and finding the best living arrangements for feathered friends

SUMMER Local readers will know that since my last summer article I have closed my lovely farm shop. 2014 was a very difficult year for my family as, coupled with the stresses of opening and then closing the shop, our young son had a serious hip condition to contend with.

One of the knock-on effects of the combination of all of this was that I had neither the time nor the inclination for anything beyond life’s daily rituals. Just getting through the day was as much as I could ask of myself. The surest sign that things are getting back on an even keel, however, came when I put my name down for some ex-cage hens from the British Hen Welfare Trust…and surely hens are the most obvious accessories for any self-respecting farmer’s wife?

Whilst battery farming has been illegal since 2012, the current ‘worst-best’ option really doesn’t sound like a brilliant alternative to me.

The birds are kept 40-90 to a cage, with a perching area, a scratch pad and space to nest but they are denied fresh air, sunshine and the all-important dust baths. At eighteen months old and already past ‘peak production’ they are then sent to slaughter.

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I am aware that the need to keep laying hens in these conditions is entirely consumer driven and I have no argument with the farmers. On this farm, though, we take pride in ensuring our animals enjoy a rich life before they are sent to slaughter and now’s our chance to make a difference for some hens – six out of the almost half a million that the BHWT has re-homed since it began. I am not sure how many of these subsequently got eaten by a fox (possibly whilst enjoying the dust bath), one of the major perils of free-range living.

“On this farm, though, we take pride in ensuring our animals enjoy a rich life before they are sent to slaughter ...”

Collection was (organised with military precision by a team of volunteers) made from a gorgeous farm in Wiltshire. We handed over our donation in exchange for six birds, so devoid of feathers you could almost call them ‘oven ready,’ and took them home to the freshly spruced up hen house.

By night two things were looking promising when we found three had taken themselves upstairs to bed. Perhaps they will be easier to train than the children after all! This afternoon, day three, four of the six were happily scratching about for food and two were upstairs fighting – presumably getting the pecking order established. Either that or they were yet to work out how to get down again…

For more information on the British Hen Welfare Trust visit www.bhwt.org.uk

BRITISH HEN WELFARE TRUST

Currently celebrating its tenth year,The British Hen Welfare Trust was originally set up to educate the British public about laying hen welfare. Widely applauded for its re-homing initiative, the BHWT has already found pet homes for over 463,000 commercial laying hens otherwise destined for slaughter.

Television has proved a major factor in changing public opinion from the very outset. Jane Howorth, the Trust’s Founder, was moved by a Panorama documentary in 1977, illustrating the stark conditions inside battery cages.The remit from the outset was to be pragmatic – using consumer clout whilst supporting the British egg industry by encouraging people to check food labels.

Increased consumer awareness has led to big name companies switching to free range eggs, including Hellmanns Mayonnaise in 2011, and such policy changes have improved the quality of life for tens of thousands of hens.The charity has also contributed social creatures. With Jamie Oliver, Jimmy Doherty, Amanda Holden and Kate Humble as important patrons, the trust also enjoys the support of many other TV celebrities including Deborah Meaden, Caroline Quentin, Alistair Stewart and Alan Titchmarsh.

to improving veterinary diagnosis and treatment of backyard hens, helping to facilitate the training of vets across the country as demand for better hen care has escalated in tandem with the trust’s profile.

Re-homing increased exponentially in 2008 after Jamie Oliver presented a Channel 4 programme, Jamie’s Fowl Dinners.This caused a huge surge in interest and a rapidly expanding national network of volunteers.The same impact was felt again in 2010 following a BBC2 documentary presented

by Jimmy Doherty - The Private Life of Chickens filmed at the trust’s Devon HQ, demonstrating the behaviour and psychology of chickens as complex

ABOUT 80% OF US NOW BUY FREE-RANGE OR ORGANIC EGGS BUT 50% OF EGGS IN THIS COUNTRY STILL COME FROM BATTERY FARMS. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PROCESSED FOODS - QUICHES, BISCUITS, CAKES, MAYONNAISE, CHEAP ICE CREAM ETC. SOME SUPERMARKETS HAVE PHASED OUT BATTERY EGGS COMPLETELY AND IF THIS CONTINUES WE MIGHT SEE THE 50% COMING DOWN TO ABOUT 30% AND THEN DISAPPEARING COMPLETELY, SAYS JAMIE OLIVER.

The trust runs regular re-homing days at pop-up points across the country. As well as assisting with hens on the day, the charity is always keen to hear from people who can provide towing facilities for hen transport and/or have facilities such as a covered barn or stables with a parking area, as well as carers who are able to help with the occasional hen not fit enough to be re-homed immediately.

Even if you can’t re-home a hen, simply by making informed choices about what you eat at home, and when out and about can still make a huge difference to thousands of hens’ lives. Better still - spread the word! Display a poster, distribute leaflets and subscribe to the BHWT magazine. It all helps to get people who don’t keep hens to think about the products in their weekly shop and to increase awareness of the work of this wonderful charity.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE PHONE THE TRUST ON 01884 860084 OR EMAIL INFO@BHWT.ORG.UK. www.cotswold-homes.com

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Moreton-in-Marsh Pig show

a l l

a b O u t

the mOretOn-in-marsh

what dO yOu knOw abOut the histOry, breeding and presentatiOn Of pigs? shOw Organiser julia sibun reVeals that there’s a whOle lOt mOre tO the humble hOg than yOu may think…

Many of us reading this article do not have any idea how many traditional breeds of pig there are in this country and that many of those breeds are on the vulnerable and ‘at risk’ watch lists of the Rare Breed Survival Trust.

The British Pig Association was founded in 1884 and one of the principal aims of that organisation was to be the official breed society and to maintain the Herd Book for the following breeds of British pigs – Berkshire, British Landrace, British Saddleback, Duroc, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Hampshire, Large Black, Large White, Mangalitza, Middle White, Oxford Sandy & Black, Pietrian, Tamworth and Welsh.

The majority of these traditional native breeds of pigs have less than 500 breeding sows, which is why they are at risk of extinction. One of the most important tasks of the British Pig Association therefore is to register the birth of all pedigree litters of pigs so that this group can maintain and hopefully increase the number of registered breeding pigs in each of these breeds. The target must be to lift numbers beyond the 1,000 sow level to ensure the safety and survival of our unique genetic heritage of pig.

Some breeds have not been so fortunate and those which have become extinct include the Cumberland, Lincolnshire Curly Coated, Ulster White, Dorset Gold Tip and Yorkshire Blue.

It is important, therefore, to maintain a high profile for all our breeds of pig by encouraging our population to buy farm-reared traditional breeds of pig (which taste second-to-none when compared with mass reared pork). As a nation we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the quality of our food. Keeping our traditional 64

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breeds of pig in good standing, both as to breeding numbers and as to quality of their meat, is essential if we are to maintain the quality of what we eat.

We can cross them for hybrid vigour, but the bloodlines of these traditional breeds that enabled this country to lead an agricultural revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries are essential to

maintain the quality long term of our food. The paradox is that if we want to preserve these breeds and enable them to flourish, we must eat them – demand encourages the breeders to increase supply.

One of the key ways that we can promote these wonderful breeds to the population is to hold

Moreton-in-Marsh Pig show

further attractiOns fOr VisitOrs tO the pig shOw include a ‘guess the weight Of the bOar’ cOmpetitiOn ...

judging competitions around the country to allow the public to witness at first hand each breed of pig being shown in the judging ring.

Agricultural shows also allow pig breeders to meet and discuss their own breeding operations, the buying and selling of their young stock and using each other’s breeding sows and boars as required to expand their breeding herds and bloodlines.

Pig judging was first introduced to the Moreton-inMarsh Show in 2014 and the organisers, Julia Sibun and Mervyn Forster, were overwhelmed with the number of entries from so many breeds. The Pig Show was well supported by local sponsors and the Patron of the Moreton-in-Marsh Show, Lord Dulverton, presented the trophy for the Show Inter-breed Champion.

The Champion pig at the Show last year was a Middle White gilt, bred by Mervyn Forster. This was a wonderful tribute to the Middle White breed, which has been in existence since 1852.

Their Herd Book (precise detail of the Middle White bloodlines) was founded in 1884 and this breed remained very popular with butchers all over the country, particularly in London, where the breed was known as ‘the London Porker’ as the carcass could be cut into small joints favoured in the first part of the 20th century.

The planning for the Pig Show this year is in full swing and it has been agreed that once again there will be classes to represent all the pig breeds as follows: Large White, Middle White, British Lop, Welsh, Duroc, Hampshire, Large Black, Oxford Sandy & Black, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Tamworth, Berkshire, British Saddleback, Landrace as well

as separate classes for the highly popular Kunekune pig.

plant hire business full-time, which is based just outside Stratford-upon-Avon.

Four eminent British Pig Association Judges will be attending the Show this year to carry out the difficult task of judging all the classes and they are Phil Fowlie from Anglesey, Brian Mulkeen from Lancashire, Jonathan Cloke from Solihull and Hannah Rose from Somerset. A good cross section of Judges from all over the country are going to make the journey to Moreton to ensure a high quality of judging takes place.

As well as rearing his own herd of British Lop pigs, James also has a herd of British White cattle and a flock of Lleyn sheep. James is a true credit to the world of young farmers and works extremely hard in maintaining and promoting traditional breeds of livestock, as well as showing the animals to the public at National Agricultural Shows.

One of the keenest supporters of the first pig show last year was young local farmer James Brain.

James has been breeding British Lop pigs, one of the rarest of the native pig breeds, for the last six years. The British Lop is unique in being the only native British pig breed to maintain its own independent breed society, dedicated to fostering its development and promoting its future.

James recently completed his studying at Moreton Morrell Agricultural College and is now working for his grandfather’s agricultural contracting and

James says “I am pleased to be able to support the growth and expansion of the Moreton-inMarsh Pig Show – it is wonderful to have another Pig Show put on the map, particularly one that is being held at a premier one-day agricultural show in the country which draws on breeders from all counties.”

Mervyn Forster says “There is a lot to do before pigs can be brought in to the judging ring. Pigs need to be gently introduced to the rigours of the judging ring at home first. The young pigs need to understand the use of the handlers’ ‘bat and board’ which are the two tools of the trade used to www.cotswold-homes.com

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Moreton-in-Marsh Pig Show

One of the key ways that we can promote these wonderful breeds to the population is to hold judging competitions around the country to allow the public to witness at first hand each breed of pig being shown in the judging ring. encourage pigs to walk around the ring at a controlled pace in front of the Judge. The board gently guides them in the right direction and the bat or ‘stick’ keeps them moving as they are inclined to stop and snuffle and dig at the ground!”

“Once the animals are familiar with the ring the next phase is to ensure they are presented to the highest quality of presentation – and the pigs need to be washed under a hose with a pig shampoo.

This brings their colours to the fore and removes every trace of dirt from the animal. One of the secrets of maintaining that lovely clean look on the white pigs is the application of wood flour to their bodies!”

Exhibitors need to be correctly turned out in the judging ring as well as their animals! Exhibitors need to wear a smart clean white coat with their exhibitor number clearly visible for the Judge.

Judging takes place breed by breed and within each breed there are four judging classes. A sow class (that is a female pig who has had more than one litter of piglets), two gilt classes one for those gilts born in January of the year of the Show and one for those gilts born in July of the year of the Show – a gilt is a female pig or has had no litters of piglets or just one litter of piglets, and lastly a boar class, and a boar is a male pig.

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At the end of judging these four classes the four winners go forward into the Breed Championship class whereupon a Champion and a Reserve Champion will be chosen and awarded a rosette.

At the end of the judging of every breed the Champion from each breed will go forward into the Championship whereupon the Show Inter-breed Champion will be chosen.This is an extremely high honour and the winner receives a magnificent silver trophy engraved with the name of their pig, the year and the name of the exhibitor.

This year, in 2015, we are all extremely fortunate that Lord Salisbury, President of the British Pig Association, has agreed to present the Interbreed Champion Pig Trophy which will be the final presentation made on the day.

In addition to the pig breed classes that have already been mentioned, there will also be Young Handler Classes being run this year – with Champion Young Handler of the Show.The classes are available for Under 12 years and the Over 12 years.These Young Handler Classes are absolutely vital to keep the interest and enthusiasm of the next generation of pig breeders alive.

To encourage more pig breeders from all over the country to the Moreton Pig Show, there will also be additional added incentives for the top Oxford

Sandy & Black pig breeder and the top Large Black pig breeder to qualify for the Newbury Show, being held in September, and the Pedigree Welsh Pig Society have agreed to hold their very own Welsh Champion of Champions 2015 Competition.

The Welsh Champion of Champions will be an excellent competition and will draw on all the champion Welsh pig winners from all over the country to compete to be the top Welsh Pig in the UK 2015.

Further attractions for visitors to the Pig Show include a ‘Guess the Weight of the Boar’ competition – a magnificent British Lop boar will be presented in the Pig Marquee, which members of the public can then meet.

There will also be many breeds of sows and litters on display including a Middle White sow and litter, a Tamworth sow and litter, a large British Lop sow and litter and a Large Black sow and litter.The children absolutely love coming to see the piglets running around the pens chasing each other!

All in all, the Moreton Pig Show has so much going on to support, promote and educate all the visitors to the Show about these wonderful British traditional pig breeds – not least how we are to maintain and improve their profile to avoid these animals becoming extinct for the next generation.

terrier raCing

G N I S A H E C R A H E TH

ACING R R E I R LAR TER U S TO P A O P K R O E O V L S THE E . WE TAKE A A R I A DS… F E W W H O O T R H F C S E FUN O 15 MORETON RITE WITH THE H T L L A IT’S FAVOU THE 20 L O A I T N S RETURN A PEREN H C U S ’S WHY IT Five yapping, wriggling terriers are placed in the starting box at one end of a field. Two are not sure why they’re there, one wants to back out completely and the two others are champing at the bit. In the distance there’s a man controlling a mop head on a pulley rope (the ‘hare’) and he’s trying to get the dogs flared up by teasing them with the hare whilst they’re still in the box. The crowds start to yell for their favourite terrier, the tannoy announces the countdown… 3…2…1… the box flies open and they’re off.

The chaos that then ensues is what keeps people coming back to watch the terrier racing year after year, and it’s why it’s been a permanent fixture on Moreton Show’s schedule of events since 1971.

When that starting box gate is lifted, gales of laughter ripple through the crowd and the sheer joy is apparent in every watching face. For every focused dog chasing the hare into the straw bales at the far end of the field, there are three more that are running round the edges, barking at each other, playing with fellow terriers and generally enjoying the sense of freedom of being off the lead.

Commentator Peter Godwin is as much a part of the event as the collection of terriers, large and small, who try their luck in the racing each year. Peter’s the one who gives the crowd a little background on the dogs (and the owners) entering, adding those anecdotes that will raise a smile. When the terriers’ excitement can’t be contained any longer, Peter ensures everyone watching feels it too.

If you have a budding terrier-racing champion, then why not give them a chance to unleash their harechasing instinct (and you and they will have a lot of fun too!). The terrier racing, like last year, will take place in Moreton Show’s Attractions Ring. Heats take place throughout the day with the grand final being held as the last event on the schedule.

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THE CHAMP For the last two years, Bob, the cheeky whitehaired Parsons terrier with the black eye patch has romped home with the winner’s trophy. His distinctive markings and friendly nature, not to mention his absolute determination to not let go of the mop head when he’s caught it, have made him a natural crowd-pleaser. Cries of ‘Go Bob’ ring out when he’s seen taking part and his owners are frequently asked if he’ll be racing again this year. But can he make it three wins in a row? You’ll need to be ring-side to find out…

THE YOUNG PRETENDER With youth on his side, Stanley, a handsome Border / Jack Russell terrier cross is a strong contender for the title when he races for the first time at the Moreton Show in 2015. Still a puppy when Bob won his second title, this year Stanley hits maturity with a bang and has been known to outpace his main rival in the speed stakes. But will youth win out over wisdom? Can Stanley channel his focus and get to the hare before Bob?

the artist’s CaraVan

t h e

c a r a V a n ARTIST NIC VICKERY-BROWN TELLS US EXACTLY WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT THE MORETON SHOW – AND THE STORY BEHIND HER TRAVELLING GALLERY, GERTIE… I've been a visitor to Moreton Show for years, and had my first show stand there last year. I love the variety you get – there’s everything from dog and horse shows and stunt bikes, to my particular favourite - the livestock classes.

I have been drawing since I was a child, and more often than not, animals have been my thing. As my Dad worked in a paper factory there was never any shortage of something to draw on!

I moved on to doing friends and families' pets, then started to be asked to take on commissions.

My youngest son started school full time 4 years ago, and I've been lucky enough to be able to build a studio (‘The Ladyshed’) in the garden.

Now I can really draw in earnest, have set up my website, and sell my own originals, prints, cards and even cushion covers online. It really is the best job ever!

I don't really have a favourite animal to draw what I really like is to have a variety of different characters to draw. It's nice to have a mix: I've just finished a pig, and next week I will be working on a portrait of two dogs. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

When I'm working, I usually have a new idea for a print or an original for sale, alongside a commissioned picture. So it's generally two pieces that I have in progress at any one time. I love the flexibility that pastels give me: they are ideal for depicting fur and feather, and bringing an animal to life. I also secretly quite like getting messy, which I generally do!

Gertie, my 1960s caravan, came into my life a couple of years ago. She was an eBay buy, and came about from one too many episodes spent in wet and windy fields with a flighty gazebo, and me desperately trying to hang onto it…

She was one of those mad bought-unseen buys, and did need a lot of work to get to how she

looks now. I love her, and with her stylish new awning, she makes an ideal show stand (plus somewhere to stay) and she is a bit gorgeous.

So gorgeous that on her first outing to The Moreton Show last year, she was awarded 'Highly Commended' in the trade stand competition, which I was so chuffed about. (In fact, so many people passed comment on her, that I am now hiring her out for weddings, events, and photoshoots).

You can find what I'm up to, and new work at www.nicvickeryanimalartist.com www.facebook.com/nicvickeryanimalartist twitter @nicvickerybrown Gertie also has her own Facebook page and Twitter account now www.facebook.com/pages/Quirky-GertieVintage-Caravan-Hire/280812428796730 twitter @quirkygertie

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aManda hanleY

Now On Burford High Street!

How will the new showroom change the way she works with clients?

‘Generally, I take on two or three major projects each year.The Gallery will be, quite literally, a ‘shop window’ for my work and the Studio will still be a working office, allowing me to have larger items on display by appointment.The greater part of my business will continue to be the bespoke service I’ve always offered for those who need specially designed furniture, kitchen and whole home design.’

‘I’m sure the new venture will be what everyone now calls ‘a journey’. I know you have to go that extra mile to offer excellent service and to be sure that I continue to live up to my own exacting standards I’ve chosen a friendly, dedicated and knowledgeable team to work with me at The Gallery. I’ll be there too, of course, and available for consultations every day. I am sure it will be hard work but that’s very much business as usual for me!’

Regular readers will recognise Amanda Hanley and no doubt many will have taken advantage of her exclusive discounts in Cotswold Homes magazine for her lovely range of sofas, fabrics and wallpapers. Some may also have visited her at home in her luxuriously furnished, inspirational studio where she has worked for the last ten years, collaborating with many clients from the Cotswolds and London on the refurbishment and re-modelling of their homes.

Many Burford residents will also recognise Amanda as the smiling and enthusiastic leader of Cotswold Youth Choirs.The two elements of her work and family life have rather serendipitously provided inspiration for her next project. Having worked on scores of glamorous commissions, Amanda is now opening a new showroom - The Gallery at No. 69, in the centre of Burford High Street - right next door to the Methodist Church where the choirs rehearse each Saturday.

‘One of the joys of my job is being able to meet

all sorts of interesting clients, and these often develop into lifelong friendships. As much as I socialise regularly with work, I also like to be very much involved in the local community too, and the choirs are a perfect opportunity for me to use my creativity and organisational skills in a different way. When I saw the vacant premises next door I knew immediately it was a great opportunity, especially as the timing was right to expand. It’s in a fantastic location and so exciting - I can’t wait to open!’

There is no doubt Amanda possesses formidable abilities, renowned both for her breadth of knowledge after thirty years in the industry and for bringing in large projects to time and budget. She originally began working in London before moving to the Cotswolds twenty years ago, where she has since established excellent relationships with many quality specialist suppliers and a reliable, consistent team of skilled local craftsmen and builders, in order to realise her stunning and imaginative projects.

How would Amanda define her style and what will we find in The Gallery?

‘Originality and stunning colours underpin my style. I love ‘quirky’ - mixing classic and contemporary designs to create something uniquely beautiful.You have to stand out and continually evolve your design ideas but never let go, though, of the best traditions. I have been having such a good time stocking the shop, choosing an eclectic range of luxury products - exquisite furniture and interior ‘objets’ sourced from France and Belgium, original art pieces and stunning Mulberry and GP&J Baker fabrics. New stock will arrive weekly and many of my pieces will be limited editions, so repeat visitors will always find something new to admire.’

To celebrate the launch and exclusively for readers of Cotswold Homes, Amanda is offering a 20% discount until the end of September on a wide range of gorgeous products including sofas, lighting, wallpapers and fabrics. For details, turn to the Competition and Offers section on page 8. www.cotswold-homes.com

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Cotswood Fine Furniture

The Finest Furniture,

Made for You

We put the spotlight on local bespoke furniture makers Cotswood Fine Furniture. that has found homes all over the world (indeed, recommendations have seen orders arrive from as far away as Japan). But never have they wavered from their design ideals.

“Rather than buy in components we manufacture every wood product we sell, from doors to drawers to carcasses. We strive to supply a product that is not only unique but of the finest quality we can achieve at a realistic price for the customer.”

‘We mix old and new technologies, from liming oak and fitting cabinet doors and drawers by hand, to investing in the latest machinery to guarantee accuracy and finish. Put simply: you pay for what we truly believe is a very well built product at a competitive price which will last you for many years to come.’

Customers Oliver and Nicola Lincoln from Blockley had this to say about their kitchen commission:

Cotswood Fine Furniture is a small, bespoke furniture manufacturer based in North Gloucestershire.With over twenty-five years of experience in designing and manufacturing furniture to customer specifications, they’ve built up a refined portfolio that includes unique bedroom, kitchen and bookcase commissions.

Cotswood’s philosophy is simple enough, but it’s the formula for their success. ‘We really pride ourselves on three things: quality, flexibility and – most importantly – customer service,’ say Cotswood.

‘We don’t just do work for households, but companies both large and small, the trade and retail sectors – even government departments!

‘This range of experience really enables us to use our creativity – matched with the client’s own vision – to realise a brief to its fullest potential.’ Such as it is, there has never been a ‘Cotswood range’: all furniture made has always been – and will always be – made to order.’

Since its beginnings specialising in freestanding, one-off cabinet pieces, they have produced furniture 72

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They were completely superb and it’s lovely to do business with a local firm of proper craftsmen.

‘Cotswood were fantastic. I was reasonably certain about how I wanted the kitchen to work, and they expanded upon that and had loads of great ideas (like a ‘gadget garage’ – I wanted the kitchen clutter free, so everything is hidden in there). Also, the big larder is superb for keeping the kitchen organised and tidy. I sourced nearly all the appliances (with a bit of help from Laura) and just fed their dimensions to her so she could build them into the design. ‘[Where] Laura really excelled was the overall look and feel of the room, she advised us on the whole space, not just the kitchen end. She was fun to work with and has real vision. They were completely superb and it’s lovely to do business with a local firm of proper craftsmen.’

Visit Cotswood’s workshop by appointment www.cotswood.com / 01386 700110 / enquiries@cotswood.com Cotswood Fine Furniture Ltd. 102 Northwick Business Centre Blockley Moreton in Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 9RF

Cotswold School

Once, Twice...

Four Times Outstanding!

The Cotswold School has been judged ‘outstanding’ - for the fourth consecutive time - following an Ofsted inspection in March 2015.

Mr Will Morgan, Principal, said ‘While the school’s last three consecutive Ofsted inspections were all ‘Outstanding’, this is our first as an Academy and it has been carried out under Ofsted’s new and even more rigorous inspection criteria. To receive ‘Outstanding’ across all categories is a truly fantastic achievement.’

The categories listed by Ofsted for which The Cotswold School received its ‘Outstanding’ ranking are: Leadership and Management, Behaviour and safety of pupils, Quality of Teaching, Achievement of Pupils and Sixth Form Provision.

When asked what the key is to achieving an ‘Outstanding’ ranking, Mr Morgan said: ‘Hard work, and dedication from an enormous team – one that is made up of talented staff, enthused, happy students, supportive parents and a superb Board of Governors. Together we have a single focus: that each individual student achieves.

‘The Ofsted inspection was particularly robust and inspectors spent long hours drilling down into student data, scrutinising teachers’ marking and lesson plans, examining our extra-curricular provision and extension programmes, assessing how individuals progress at The Cotswold School.

‘As a school we were so grateful to the parents who also felt moved to write to the Inspectors independently and to all those who took part in Ofsted’s Parent View survey. The Chief Inspector commented to me that she had seldom seen such praise from parents and carers. This sort of evidence cannot be staged for a two day inspection – it is a reflection of the sustained hard work and commitment of a fantastic team over many, many years.’

Ofsted’s ‘Outstanding’ rating for The Cotswold School backs up the large number of accolades already received by the school this academic year: The Daily Telegraph‘s league tables (August 2014) placed The Cotswold School at 21st in the country at A Level.

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“The Ofsted inspection was particularly robust and inspectors spent long hours drilling down into student data, scrutinising teachers’ marking and lesson plans, examining our extra-curricular provision and extension programmes, assessing how individuals progress at The Cotswold School.”

The Sunday Times ranked The Cotswold School in the Top 20 Comprehensive Schools in England and Wales (November 2014) for both GCSE and A Level.

In March 2015, The Cotswold School qualified for an SSAT Educational Outcomes Award by being in the top 10% of non-selective schools nationally for high average grades achieved by students at GCSE. Mr Morgan concluded: ‘I am immensely proud. We all are. These accolades and the Ofsted inspection ranking, while giving us a chance to celebrate, also inspire us and spur us on. We will push on - aspiring to even greater achievements from all our wonderful young people, preparing them to meet and embrace all the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.’

Find out more about The Cotswold School at www.cotswold.gloucs.sch.uk

Cotswold School

Top Jockey Alumni Return to School for a Cotswold Charity Drive

The Cotswold School was pleased to host a very successful charity supper event – sponsored by Harrison James & Hardie – to benefit The Injured Jockeys Fund and the British Heart Foundation in the lead up to the Cheltenham Festival.

The evening featured BBC Sport’s Tom Clarkson in interview with 4 superb jockeys – and Cotswold School alumni – Conor and Kieran Shoemark,Tom Bellamy and Sam Twiston-Davies. (Sam’s brother, Will Twiston-Davies, was also due to join his fellow jockeys but had received a call to race in Barbados.)

Tom Clarkson interviewed the jockeys for nearly an hour asking them about their work, the issues and dangers they face, life in the weighing room and they also offered tips for the upcoming Festival.The probability of a jockey falling is 1 in every 7 races, making the support provided by The Injured Jockeys Fund so vital.

“Tom Clarkson interviewed the jockeys for nearly an hour asking them about their work, the issues and dangers they face, life in the weighing room and they also offered tips for the upcoming Festival.”

The interviews over and cheese boards served, a charity auction took place featuring Lots such as: a day as an owner at the races, breakfast and a morning on the gallops with Nigel Twiston-Davies and another with Martin Keighley Racing. There were dinners and vouchers kindly donated by The Hollow Bottom, The Plough Inn and Stirrups Restaurant. BBC Radio commentator Cornelius Lysaght gave a lucky bidder the chance to spend the afternoon with the 5Live Racing Team at Cheltenham Races. The final Lot was supplied by Conor Shoemark: a pair of racing breeches signed that day at Sandown by a multitude of jockeys

including the legendary A P McCoy who raced at the Cheltenham Festival for the last time this year.

The school hall was transformed into a dining room to accommodate 150 guests who enjoyed delicious food prepared by caterer Kate Pennell.

A bar was provided by PTA volunteers and guests were entertained by Blue Anthology – the excellent jazz trio of Henry Yates (keyboard), Finn Pett (double bass and vocals) and Sunday Lendis (vocals). Waiting service was provided by enthusiastic members of The Cotswold School’s Equestrian Team. www.cotswold-homes.com

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COTSWOLD SCHOOL

Fashion Guru puts The Cotswold School on the Catwalk Fashion visionary George Davies (the man behind Next, George of Asda and Marks & Spencer’s PER UNA collection) has supported The Cotswold School’s own annual Fashion Show through the George Davies Charitable Trust for many years.

Building upon that fantastic relationship, Mr Davies selected The Cotswold School as the venue for a new venture: a show to launch his own new children’s and women’s wear range FG4, with proceeds going to benefit the school community.

This new charitable fashion show venture was developed ‘with a view, to bringing the whole community together,’ says George, ‘to benefit the young people and give them a really exciting experience.’ Mr Davies’ new collection was modelled by students from The Cotswold School as well as from Bourton on the Water and Great Rissington Primary Schools, who were also joined by several brave members of Cotswold School staff on the catwalk. Meanwhile, the talented

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stylists of VUOLO hair and beauty in Northleach and makeup artists from Space NK Apothecary in Cheltenham generously volunteered their services to ensure the models were catwalk ready on the night. A pop-up shop opened after the show, giving the audience an opportunity to try on and buy items from Davies’ exciting new FG4 range.

Headmaster Mr Morgan said ‘the launch of the FG4 collection at The Cotswold School was an enormous success. As well as raising muchneeded funds, the opportunity for us as a school to work in partnership with professionals such as the FG4 team and involve students has been incredibly valuable. While some pupils modelled clothes, others were involved behind the scenes assisting Front of House, producing the show’s lighting and sound and others worked as photographers. Just as George envisaged at our initial meeting, this event brought our community – pupils, parents, friends and local businesses – together.The result was a resounding success and we do hope to be able to repeat it in the future.’

FREESTYLE 360

‘GET FIT FOR THE BEACH…IN JUST 8 WEEKS!’

INSTANT BEACH BODY WEIGHT-LOSS ADS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL OF LATE. ARE ‘IMMEDIATE RESULTS’ SCHEMES REALLY HOW WE SHOULD VIEW FITNESS? We are all very much creatures of habit. We experience waves of ‘get fit fast’ spirit, wanting to turn it all around in 12 weeks - burn all our fat in no time at all. Then there’s the inevitable dropping out of our newfound discipline, as we give way to temptation and consumption. Soon enough the guilt, and the sudden inspiration to get fit right now, return…

But it isn’t easy, is it? Stress, work, lack of time and family commitments all play havoc with our desire to be fit, lean and looking good.

Now, there is no problem with raising the bar to meet targets and deadlines. It keeps us focused and on track and of course we can work these around busy times in the year. But would it not make sense to find a balance that is consistent hitting the middle ground and, in turn, scratching a little deeper that the surface, then, in turn, keeping and maintaining a manageable fitness level throughout life?

If this is the case, then maybe taking a closer look at the more meaningful areas of fitness and wellbeing become more important.

As a fitness professional, I look at a number of key factors that illustrate a greater level of health and fitness than simply the size of a bicep and six pack. On the following page you’ll discover some of the important areas we aim to improve and how best to go about it.

Photos: Tim Spittle’s New Freestyle 360 Gym and Mud Run Course, Blockley 78

Cotswold Homes Magazine

FREESTYLE 360

HEART RATE

– Average resting heart rate sits around 72 beats per minute. As you get fitter, this will generally get lower, with very fit individuals running around the low 40s.

TRAINER TIP: Try wearing a heart rate monitor during workouts and optimise your training. Work out your maximum HR (Approximately 220 minus your age) then work within zones. 75% will improve fitness, 85% will optimise fat burning and over 90% used within intervals will raise metabolism and see very effective results.

BLOOD PRESSURE – Between 90/40 and 140/90 is the range of healthy BP. The top figure relates to activity and the lower figure relates to the resting pressure.

TRAINER TIP: Regular exercise can see effects on raised blood pressure (but always get it checked by your doctor). As you get fitter and maintain exercise your BP can lower, so it is often a good idea to monitor at home, first thing in the morning and before stimulants such as tea or coffee!

“ALTHOUGH DIET AND GENETICS CAN PLAY A ROLE ON AN INDIVIDUAL’S L EVELS, EXERCISE CAN ALSO HAVE MANY BENEFITS FOR IMPROVEMENT.” BIO-IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS

– This is measured by a set of scales taking into account your age, gender, height and weight. Although often not wholly accurate, the system is good to use as a marker for general health and fitness. An electrical current applied (painlessly) measures opposition to its flow within the tissue.

TRAINER TIP: This is great to see longer term progression and you can use the following guideline measurements to see quite significant health improvements. It shows the following:

BODYWEIGHT – your weight in kgs or lbs BMI – Your body mass index should sit between 18.5 – 24.9

BODY FAT % - Total body fat ranges between 21 – 36% depending on age

BODY WATER % - Shows your hydration level MUSCLE MASS – Shows amount of lean muscle mass you carry

BONE MASS – Shows amount of bone mass BMR – Basal Metabolic Rate – The rate your body uses energy when you are resting for vital organs to function which can assist working out your calorific requirements.

METABOLIC AGE

– Comparing your BMR against what it should be of the same age

VISCERAL FAT – Shows the amount of fat stored in the abdominal cavity

CHL/HDL & GLUCOSE TESTS:

Good and bad cholesterol measurements and glucose (sugars in the blood) are indicators of increased risk of cardiac disease and diabetes.

TRAINER TIP: Although diet and genetics can play a role on an individual’s levels, exercise can also have many benefits for improvement. We recommend you should be screened regularly by your doctor or a certified health screening service.

There are many more measurements such as waist-to-hip ratios, skinfolds or skin thickness, postural assessments and tests that can determine one’s state of health, not forgetting strength and flexibility. Perhaps some of the above are a better determination as to whether or not you are really fit this summer?

So, in conclusion, yes, do take up the challenges that test us beyond the norm. Get ready for summer, build a solid core for skiing, elevate your cardio-vascular ability for a 10K run or half marathon…but at the same time, focus on maintaining a sensible level of wellbeing that can fit around your unique lifestyle and, in return, minimising your risks and exposure to a host of dreadful conditions such as CHD, diabetes, cancer, postural abnormalities and obesity.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE AND BETTER EQUIP YOURSELF AGAINST MANY HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES CONTACT TIM@FREESTYLE360.CO.UK OR CALL 01386 700039. www.cotswold-homes.com

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REVERED RACHEL ROSBOROUGH

What difference does it make?

Reverend Rachel Rosborough on the huge changes small acts can bring – from a tiny donation to a single vote.

You may have noticed (unless you were briefly in a very remote part of the world) that we had a general election at the beginning of May. I was intrigued, during the campaign and the days that followed, by the campaigning, by the commentary and by the media reporting – much of it encouraged us to think about how the election result would affect us as individuals. Would we be better off, would we pay less tax, see more improved services? And of course, we all pondered this and it probably contributed to helping us decide how to vote.

We, of course, want to know how a change of government will affect us, how it will impact our own lives. But, at the same time we are reminded, and there was a fair degree of comment on this too, that we live in a society where we all contribute through taxation etc. to ensure that certain things are provided for everyone – the NHS, education and so on. And, in addition, we ensure that there is a safety net of welfare for those who need it.

Alongside the election coverage, we saw, via our TV sets, the scenes of devastation in Nepal caused by two earthquakes along with images of people desperately trying to cross the Mediterranean, fleeing their home countries for a chance of a new life. I guess most of us have pondered what our response should be to these world events, to the needs of people who we will never meet but who, through disaster or poverty of war or something else, have been left in desperate need.

I believe our response must be to act. Christian faith tells us to love God with everything we have, but it also tells us to love our neighbour as ourselves and Jesus made it very clear that our neighbour is not necessarily the person close to us, or like us, but the person in need. Unfortunately, the world’s problems can feel so great we can be left feeling helpless, like we cannot possibly make a difference.

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

For less than 60p a day, a child in the Philippines, Uganda or Rwanda can go to school.

For the past twenty years, I have been involved with a charity that works with some of the poorest people in the world. One of the things they do is run child sponsorship programmes. For less than 60p a day, a child in the Philippines, Uganda or Rwanda can go to school. In addition, some of that amount is put into community projects. I recently had a letter from the charity to tell me that things are so improved in the Filipino village where my sponsor child lives, that they no longer need the support of the charity and would I be happy for my sponsorship to go to a child in a neighbouring village. Ten years ago the village had no running water or electricity and people’s wooden houses were built on bamboo stilts over the estuary. Now the village has water, metered electricity and concrete paths between the houses, children are in school and the village is thriving. In ten years, thanks to the small amounts people have given each month, a whole community has been transformed, and it is now in a position of self-sufficiency.

Just as in an election, where one or two votes can

make a difference, so too a small act of kindness can transform a person or even a community - be it a note to a neighbour in your street, a meal for someone on their own, or £18 a month to sponsor a child.

I heard a story many years ago that reminds us that seemingly small actions of mercy can yield lifechanging results.

A boy was walking along a beach after a great storm.

The storm had washed thousands upon thousands of starfish onto the beach.The boy began to pick up the starfish and one by one he would throw them back into the sea and save their lives. An old man watched the boy as he came towards him. When the boy was close enough the old man said, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I am putting the starfish back,’ he replied. ‘Why bother?’ asked the old man. ‘After all, there are so many you can’t possibly make a difference.’ The boy looked quizzically at the old man. He stooped down, picked up a large starfish, and threw it in the sea. ‘Well it sure made a difference to that one!’ he said.

WHAT THE GAMEKEEPER SAW Adam Tatlow is a Guiting Power-based gamekeeper who has managed to capture the natural world’s most unguarded moments. Though not a photographer by trade, his work has been published in several national newspapers and is sold and exhibited regularly across the Cotswolds. He now also delivers talks and presentations. For news and to see a gallery of his work, head to www.cotswoldkeeperphotography.com

www.cotswold-homes.com

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DENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

DENTAL HEALTH

MATTERS TOOTH WEAR

Dr Trevor Bigg, Milton Dental Practice BDS, MGDS RCS(Eng), FDS RCS(Ed), FFGDP(UK)

Due to advances in medical science, the population of the UK is living longer than ever before. Living longer means that our teeth are retained for longer as well. Although this is a good thing it brings its own set of problems, namely tooth wear.

What is Tooth Wear?

Tooth wear is divided into three types: • Attrition This is best described as ‘tooth-on-tooth’ wear. In past centuries coarse food caused much wear to the teeth. In modern times our food is nowhere near as coarse as it used to be, but we’ve replaced the wear from food with habits such as bruxism, the repeated clenching or grinding of teeth. Bruxism wears down the biting surfaces and can cause fractures of teeth and fillings.

• Abrasion Abrasion is caused by the action of an external force on the tooth surface. The classic example of this is toothbrush abrasion. A conventional hand toothbrush is sometimes used with too much pressure, particularly if we want to remove staining on the teeth. This can form a groove at the gum margin, where hard enamel gives way to the softer material covering the root. With the toothbrush alone, it’s possible to cut deep within the root surface and even through to the nerve of the tooth - leading to an abscess.

• Erosion Erosion comes from acid attacking the teeth surface. The acid can come from within the body or from the diet. Erosion from within the body is caused by gastric reflux, or heartburn. Many people suffer from this complaint, which becomes more common as the years pass by, but many more have reflux to a lesser degree and are not aware of it. Erosion from the diet is caused by 82

Cotswold Homes Magazine

“Living longer means that our teeth are retained for longer as well. Although this is a good thing it brings its own set of problems, namely tooth wear.” the consumption of acid foods and drinks.

How do we prevent Tooth Wear?

We can reduce its effects by taking the following steps:

• Erosion – medication can be helpful in reducing gastric reflux. Diet discussion with the dentist or hygienist will help reduce acid from food and drink.

• Attrition – regular visits to the dentist will ensure that any tooth wear is monitored closely.

Sometimes a night guard is worn to reduce further wear. Damaged areas can be repaired using toothcoloured fillings, see www.drbigg.com/gallery.

If you want more information about the contents of this article, go to www.dentalhealth.org/ tell-me-about/topic or contact Penny at Milton Dental Practice on 01993 831 396 or email penny@drbigg.com and come to see us for a consultation.

• Abrasion – change to a modern electric toothbrush with a Pressure Sensor. This lights up if we push too hard and prevents further wear.

For details of an exclusive discount for Cotswold Homes readers, please see Trevor Biggs’s offer on page 9!

THE ORGANIC HAIR ANGELS

DIVINE HAIR CARE FROM THE ORGANIC HAIR ANGELS

SEE O UR

OFFER

ON PA GE 9

WE KNOW IT’S BETTER FOR OUR BODIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT - BUT CAN ORGANIC PRODUCTS AND ECO-CONSCIOUS BUSINESS SENSE REALLY PROVIDE THE SAME SORT OF SENSATIONAL LOOKS THAT MODERN WOMEN HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO? Well, if you don’t think so, there’s a superb salon nearby that’ll be only too happy to enlighten you. Chipping Campden is swiftly becoming the hair-care capital of the Cotswolds - thanks to the heavenly stylings of The Organic Hair Angels.

These girls believe in eco-conscious, toxin-free hairdressing - and theirs is a timely philosophy indeed. For too long we’ve been blitzing our hair into submission with potent chemicals, seeking sensational new short-term looks at the cost of whatever it is that we might be exposed to. Call it divine intervention.

But in an age where even the word ‘organic’ can seem just like another marketing angle, you need somebody who really knows their stuff to ensure you make the right decisions regarding your hair.

Handily, owner Charlotte Goulding is just such a guide. ‘It can be difficult to know what is best for your hair. Chemicals can irritate the scalp

and remove natural oils, but some organic products can be expensive and not quite as good as they first seem…’

photo shoot spheres, she’s got the skills needed to match the shape of your face to the perfect hairstyle.

‘At Organic Hair Angels we don’t just choose the right products to care for your hair – we select the ones that also make you look and feel incredible.’

Her ideas are reflected in the design of the salon, where the theme is ‘upcycled opulence.’

Together with companion angels Gemma Shuard and Becky Pye, she dispenses top class cuts, restyles and colourings to the Cotswolds clientele.

Charlotte’s methods have been developed in

“AT ORGANIC HAIR ANGELS WE DON’T JUST CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS TO CARE FOR YOUR HAIR – WE SELECT THE ONES THAT ALSO MAKE YOU LOOK AND FEEL INCREDIBLE.” step with the growth of the organic product market, and as a result she’s developed a keen eye for product, examining the global market for the most competitively priced goods in an attempt to make the best hair-care affordable.

With extensive experience in the television and

If you’d like to know what the Organic Hair Angels can do for you, call 01386 841447, book online at www.the-organic-hair-angels. co.uk or drop by the salon at 2 Rosary Court, High Street, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6AL www.cotswold-homes.com

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The Old Dower House, Bourton on the Water

ÂŁ800,000 SALE AGREED

The Old Dower House forms one wing of an impressive and historic manor situated in the heart of Bourton on the Water. Set behind high stone boundary walls, the property has its own sweeping, gated and gravelled drive, bordered by landscaped gardens with spreading manicured lawns and mature trees. Now an innately unique and desirable property, this Grade II Listed property has been comprehensively and sensitively updated.

Entrance Hall | Dining Hall | Kitchen | Conservatory | Cloakroom | Sitting Room | Master Bedroom | En-suite Bathroom | Second Bedroom | Bathroom | Second Floor Bedroom | Bathroom | Double Garage with Studio | Bedroom | Shower Room | Gardens | Driveway | Parking | EPC: exempt Fine and Country Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 824 977

Bourton on the Water | Moreton in Marsh | Stow on the Wold | Mayfair | Lettings

Wyck Hill Lodge, Nr Stow on the Wold

Guide Price ÂŁ775,000

Wyck Hill Lodge is a delightful and traditionally-styled Cotswold stone Grade II Listed lodge and is constructed originally of natural Cotswold stone under a slate roof. It has a pretty front gable facade with a stone mullion window flanked either side by covered areas set on pillars, one of which has retained the original Cotswold stone mullion window and the other of which has a stone mullion window filled in. The property has been extended more recently in natural Cotswold stone under a slate roof and now provides extensive and versatile accommodation.

Entrance Hall | Drawing Room | Study | Dining Room | Kitchen | Utility | Bedroom | En-suite | First Floor Bedroom | En-suite | Second Floor Bedroom | En-suite | Garden | Stable Block | Paddock | EPC: exempt Fine and Country Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 824 977

Country Homes from harrison james & hardie

Hillside, Bourton on the Hill

GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ650,000

A lovingly restored Grade II Listed village property with an abundance of character features including the large, original bread oven and a wealth of recovered historical artefacts, dating back to as early as 1815. The property also boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, flexible accommodation space and off road parking.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Dining Room | Family Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Utility | WC | Five Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms | Garden | Off Road Parking | EPC: exempt Fine and Country Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 653 893

Bourton on the Water | Moreton in Marsh | Stow on the Wold | Mayfair | Lettings

Dumbra, Ilmington

ÂŁ525,000 SALE AGREED

A deceptively spacious character cottage, constructed of Hornton stone, Dumbra has been tastefully extended and offers beautifully presented accommodation whilst occupying a prime position within this popular North Cotswold village.

Entrance Porch | Sitting Room | Dining Room | Family Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Utility Room | WC | Master Bedroom with En-Suite | Second Bedroom with En-Suite Shower Room | Third Double Bedroom | Family Bathroom | Garden | Parking for Several Vehicles | EPC Rating: D

Fine and Country Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 653 893

Country Homes from harrison james & hardie

HOT PROPERTY - ASK THE EXPERTS

Hot Property ~ Investing in the North Cotswold Marketplace As an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North cotswolds is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the uk, situated in the centre of the country, crossed with major road networks and a mainline train route on its way to london Paddington. Gorgeous villages dotted around picturesque ancient towns have always provided desirable opportunities for the second home and holiday let market, being populated with picture postcard cottages and fabulous period homes that cater for everything from bijou romantic to multi-generational family get-togethers. A short supply of period properties has ensured a quick recovery in price from the impact of the recent recession, with market values reaching new heights over the last two to three years. indeed, since the advent of the worldwide web, the trend for city dwellers has been increasingly not to wait for the holiday season or retirement before enjoying the Cotswolds but to re-locate the entire family and to commute instead. Places such as Bourton on the Water, upper rissington and Moreton in Marsh, being well provided with amenities and great schools, have seen the development of much needed new homes over recent years. Whilst these new-build developments have gone some way to responding to demand, and 90 Cotswold Homes Magazine

although a percentage of affordable housing is intended to accommodate local families, the price of the average modern property in the north Cotswolds now exceeds the previous height of the market in 2007 and many local young couples and families are simply unable to afford to buy. as a result, the burgeoning demand for starter and small family properties to rent is attracting a new type of investor into the north Cotswold market place - the professional landlord. in Cotswold homes’ Hot Property we showcase some of the most gorgeous properties to let or for sale through harrison James & hardie. the North Cotswolds specialist residential estate agency recently celebrated ďŹ fteen years as leaders in the local market place and the three directors - Karen harrison, James von Speyr and Caroline Gee - are greatly respected for their wealth of experience. in our ask the experts column, Caroline Gee considers the impact of new trends in the main lettings marketplace. Meanwhile, andy Soye of Character Cottages gives some sound advice regarding potential proďŹ ts in the holiday let industry, providing assessments on three properties offered for sale by harrison James & hardie that are ideally suited to the investment marketplace.

HOT PROPERTY - ASK THE EXPERTS

Ask the experts

Caroline Gee

The North Cotswolds Residential

Q A

Lettings Marketplace

I am considering investing £500,000 to £600,000 in the North cotswold residential lettings market place.would I be better to buy one large village property or two smaller modern town homes, and what are the common pitfalls of becoming a landlord? it used to be the case that during a time of recession lettings would boom and then tail off as the sales market began to indicate reliable signs of recovery. however, the last recession has changed the residential lettings marketplace, possibly for many years, affecting prospects for a generation of young people who are still finding it impossibly difficult to get on the housing ladder (at least, without significant help) and are therefore facing the likelihood of long-term letting. We currently have over 100 managed properties on our books and a constantly renewing list of applicants for anything that becomes available. We are therefore able to let properties sometimes within hours, providing they are priced sensibly. it is certainly a landlord’s market right now, no matter which type of house you choose. the average needs-based applicant is seeking a two or three bedroomed modern family home with off-street parking and a manageable garden in a practical location with accessible amenities. For this sector an estimation of letting value is relatively simple, secured on the number of bedrooms, with a margin of as much as ten per cent upwards if the property is presented in immaculate decorative order, for example.this is a very active part of the marketplace with a high level of reliable interest. lack of choice for would-be purchasers favours investors in this needs-based part of the market right now but if, as the government has promised, an easier route is made possible to a ready supply of affordable local new-build homes, then the current high demand could slow down.

Period properties by comparison will always be driven not by financial exigency but the desire to enjoy something from a limited supply. investing in the choose-to-let market is a comparative slow-burner but will attract applicants prepared to pay handsomely for the right property in the best possible location.the value of such an investment will drift generally upwards over the years, no matter what the prevailing financial climate.the good news is that high earners are increasingly choosing

to rent such properties in the north Cotswolds, seeking out beautifully presented homes in stunning locations and paying thousands of pounds for the privilege each month. applicants do have a much wider search area, so we utilise our regional and national Fine & Country marketing platform to access as many suitable applicants in this upper quartile lettings marketplace as possible. the larger the sum of monthly rent and the greater your investment, the more it becomes important to suit the applicant to the property, not the other way around. a loud and lively young family will not be best placed in a quiet cul-de-sac of predominantly retired neighbours, for example.You need to find tenants that you will be happy with beyond mere affordability, to get the right match in order to achieve a positive experience for everyone. of course once tenants are installed, whether it’s a terraced new build or a fabulous period home, all properties require regular maintenance and there are a host of regulations that govern lettings. landlords often have busy working lives but in any case prefer not to have to deal directly, relying upon our efficiency to do everything from arranging detailed inventories and a schedule of regular inspections to organising a team of trusted tradespeople that can attend swiftly to the niggling issues that tenants will expect to be resolved quickly, from faulty boilers to leaking taps.

Whichever type of property you do choose to invest in potential problems can be very time-consuming, so ensure that you enjoy the rewards without the headache by employing professionals to do it properly for you! caroline Gee is director of lettings at harrison James & hardie Fine & country North cotswolds. she has been working in the local market place since 1994 and is ARLA qualified. She and her experienced, dedicated lettings team are based in stow on the wold, the most central location to manage a property portfolio in excess of 100 properties, with instructions in all price ranges located as far afield as Broadway to Northleach, and Burford to Shipston upon Stour. To find out more about a range of letting services or to register your requirement for a property to let, simply telephone caroline Gee or katy hackling, lettings Negotiator, on 01451 833170.

www.cotswold-homes.com

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Lettings

The Old Bakery, Paxford

ÂŁ1,595 PCM

A most charming period Cotswold stone village house formerly an Old Bakery standing in a prominent position in the heart of the village within walking distance of the popular Churchill Arms.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Sitting Room | Dining Room | Landing | Four Bedrooms | Three Bathrooms (Two Ensuites) | Garden | Parking | EPC Rating: E Fine and Country, Harrison James & Hardie, Stow-on-the-Wold 01451 833 170

Broadway House, Flagstone Farm Upper Swell

ÂŁ2,950 PCM

A charming detached Cotswold barn conversion situated within 14 acres of woodland enjoying character features but with modern day living.

Entrance Hall | Cloakroom | Drawing Room | Kitchen One (with white goods) | Snug | Kitchen/Breakfast Room Two (also with white goods and which will seat 16 guests) | Two Ground Floor Bedroom Suites with En-Suite Shower Rooms | Four First Floor Bedrooms | Four Shower Rooms | Study/ Bedroom Seven | EPC Rating: F | There is also ample parking, enclosed gardens and 14 acres of woodland, a games room and tennis/badminton courts.

Fine and Country, Harrison James & Hardie, Stow-on-the-Wold 01451 833 170

Bourton on the Water | Moreton in Marsh | Stow on the Wold | Mayfair | Lettings

Lettings

The Old Stables, Bourton on the Water

LET AGREED

Woodcote, Longborough

LET AGREED

A detached Cotswold stone character cottage with courtyard garden, off road parking and within walking distance of Bourton on the Water.

Entrance Porch | Sitting Room | Kitchen/Diner with Integrated Appliances | Ground Floor Bedroom with En-Suite Shower Room | Two First Floor Bedrooms | Family Bathroom | Off Road Parking | Courtyard Garden | EPC Rating: E

A stunning example of a detached village bungalow, occupying an elevated position along a peaceful no-through lane.This beautifully refurbished and recently extended property boasts exquisite views across open countryside.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Master Bedroom with En-Suite | Two Further Bedrooms | Study/Bedroom Four | Shower Room | Utility | Garden | Parking | EPC Rating: E

Harrison James & Hardie, Stow-on-the-Wold 01451 833 170

Harrison James & Hardie, Stow-on-the-Wold 01451 833 170

5 Brewery Row, Little Compton

LET AGREED

Oakhaven, Little Rissington

LET AGREED

A delightful stone built cottage having been recently refurbished and decorated yet retaining many of its original features, situated in a picturesque Cotswold village to the front.

Sitting / Dining Room | Kitchen /Breakfast Room with Appliances | Two Bedrooms | Bathroom | Front Cottage Garden | Rear Courtyard Garden | Outbuildings/Store | EPC Rating: F

A beautifully presented four bedroom property in the pretty village of Little Rissington.

Sitting Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Cloakroom | Master Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom | Three Further Bedrooms | Family Bathroom | Off Road Parking | Private Rear Garden | EPC Rating: D

Harrison James & Hardie, Stow-on-the-Wold 01451 833 170

Harrison James & Hardie, Stow-on-the-Wold 01451 833 170

Country Homes from harrison james & hardie

Prior Bank

94

AProper BunFight

Cotswold Homes Magazine

Prior Bank

Prior Bank is a unique property set in arguably the finest position in the much soughtafter Cotswold village of Blockley. Enjoying exceptionally stunning views over neighbouring rooftops to far reaching countryside, Prior Bank offers the rare opportunity to acquire a one-off property in a central yet almost completely private spot. Last on the open market in 2003, the current owners conceived an extensive renovation project to restore the property into a beautiful and contemporary family home, including the removal of a raft of conifer trees to unveil the spectacular view that is enjoyed so much and will be most missed.

Built using locally reclaimed stone the property offers no indication of its age, having been constructed only in 1976 yet effortlessly blending in with neighbouring cottages that have stood for several hundred years more. Arranged over two floors, the accommodation follows the more

unusual ‘upside down’ style: living space is located on what is technically the first floor and all four bedrooms can be found downstairs - an inspired decision, taking into account the breathtaking views that are on offer. All rooms within the property face out onto the panoramic landscape and are drenched in natural sunlight.

Entering the property from ground level at the front of the house, you will find the heart of the family home in the form of a large and inviting open-plan living room with a family / kitchen breakfast room to one end. Warmed by an impressive log burner, the stylish kitchen opens directly out onto a balcony, with views that wrap around almost the entirety of the house. The ideal G & T terrace, this is a space to unwind and to take in the most magnificent aspect over the village.

Also on this floor are the more formal and equally beautiful triple aspect sitting room, plus a utility room and shower room perfect for visitors.

Prior Bank provides an extremely rare opportunity to purchase a oneof-a-kind property within the heart of this quintessential Cotswold village ... www.cotswold-homes.com

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Prior Bank

…we were confident not only of the level of interest but also the likely amount of competition even before viewings took place and that allowed us to agree a sale quickly at the best possible price for our vendors accordingly, all within a few days.

A flight of steps leads down to a master bedroom with luxurious en-suite shower room, two sizeable double bedrooms, one single bedroom and a family bathroom.The versatility of these rooms is clear - currently one is cleverly used as a further family room, leading out as it does onto a decked area and still enjoying the same lovely countryside views.

From this level, one walks out directly onto generous and well-tended gardens that enjoy considerable privacy from neighbouring properties.The clever addition of a steel spiral staircase leads back to the first floor – it’s a resourceful way to link both spaces effortlessly. Within the garden is a detached former garage that has been converted into a home office that also has the benefit of a shower room, offering potential for guest accommodation separate to the main house.

Prior Bank provides an extremely rare opportunity to purchase a one-of-a-kind property within the

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

heart of this quintessential Cotswold village and achieved an agreed sum considerably in excess of its marketing price following competition from several buyers almost immediately after it was launched for sale. Says Tom Burdett, Branch Manager of Fine & Country North Cotswolds, the international marketing brand of local independent estate agency Harrison James & Hardie: “Contrary to the previous height of the market in 2007, today buyers are looking in a much wider geographical area and so sometimes don’t bother to register with an agency until they see an interesting property appear on a website such as Rightmove.

It has been a buyers’ market for a long time and perhaps habits have become somewhat ingrained but now, with a settled government, great interest rates and a real sense of confidence in the local market place, potential buyers who take this stance will and do miss out on rare opportunities like Prior

Bank. Before the launch we had already phoned all our suitable registered applicants to alert them that something special was coming up for sale and had booked multiple viewings on the first day. As a consequence, we were confident not only of the level of interest but also the likely amount of competition even before viewings took place - and that allowed us to agree a sale quickly at the best possible price for our vendors accordingly, all within a few days.

“Harrison James & Hardie has a deserved reputation for being very proactive and over the last fifteen years we are lucky to have maintained the lion’s share of the North Cotswold marketplace.

Our Fine & Country upper quartile connection is very important to our marketing strategy too, as it allows us to access local, regional, national and international buyers very quickly. My advice is, if you are ready to buy now and are interested in a property such as Prior Bank, not to wait until you see something you like the look of but to register your requirements with us now so that we can get to know you. We will keep you informed of any suitable properties and, more than that, we secure exciting new instructions like this one to our agency exactly because vendors are reassured we know who the right buyers are out there, right now.”

Prior Bank

www.cotswold-homes.com

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THE Manor HoUSE

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Cotswold Homes Magazine

THE Manor HoUSE

THE SQUARE, STOW ON THE WOLD OFFERED FOR SALE WITH DETAILED PLANNING CONSENT, THE MANOR HOUSE PRESENTS AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT AN HISTORIC BUILDING SITUATED IN THE ANCIENT COTSWOLD CENTRE OF STOW ON THE WOLD. THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE FOUR LUXURY APARTMENTS, EACH BENEFITING FROM OFF-STREET GATED PARKING, AND A SMALL RETAIL PREMISES FACING ONTO THE HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE. For centuries, Stow on the Wold was an important trading place for the wool industry, situated on the crossroads at the heart of the North Cotswolds between Cirencester and Stratford, Cheltenham and Chipping Norton. Today, the sheep are gone but the market square remains an essential hub, renowned as the glamorous, affluent centre of the North Cotswolds and as such, a thriving tourist destination. The square is flanked by independent outlets offering luxury goods and gifts, alongside the established galleries and antique shops for which the town is also famous, and of course numerous delicatessens, inns, coffee houses and tea shops to cater for the regular influx of visitors and holiday makers.

To the western edge of the square stands The Manor House, its history as varied and in some ways as influential as the town itself. At the end of the 18th Century it was owned by Mr. Webb, a surveyor, whose responsibility it was to chart local maps of property boundaries, for which purpose he employed a young local man, William Smith, who stayed with him for four years as an apprentice. William Smith eventually became renowned for his map-making of the British Isles, and is respectfully known as the Father of English Geology.

In more recent years the Manor House has undergone various transformations, passing from living to mainly commercial usage, as with most of the buildings surrounding the square. Part of the Manor House has been home to the famous Fosse Gallery for over 35 years, renowned as one of the principal art galleries outside London and, as such, will be retained by the owners as a going concern.

Cleverly designed by Eastabrook Architects of Stow on the Wold, the conversion of the remainder of this substantial building proposes to make maximum use of potential living space, enhancing the integral character and utilising the Georgian proportions of the original property.

Four new apartments, situated above and to the side of the Fosse Gallery, have been approved, and the courtyard behind the main house will provide off street, gated parking.

...FLOODED WITH LIGHT, BLESSED WITH ELEGANT PROPORTIONS AND HIGH CEILINGS, OFFERING DELIGHTFUL VIEWS OVER THE MARKET SQUARE TOWARDS THE CHURCH, LOOKING DIRECTLY OUT OVER THE ANCIENT STOCKS AND GREEN BELOW…

Presiding over the fascinating hustle and bustle of the town centre, the apartments will undoubtedly make excellent lets – indeed, the current owners already operate three neighbouring cottages as successful holiday homes (Windrush, Coln and Evenlode – these properties also form part of the sale). With generous and pleasing proportions, the apartments should equally attract permanent residents or those seeking a pièd-a-tèrre with easy access to amenities – the location is ideal for commuting to London from Kingham station, for example. www.cotswold-homes.com 99

THE Manor HoUSE

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THE Manor HoUSE

WITH GENEROUS AND PLEASING PROPORTIONS, THE APARTMENTS SHOULD EQUALLY ATTRACT PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR THOSE SEEKING A PIÈD-A-TÈRRE WITH EASY ACCESS TO AMENITIES – THE LOCATION IS IDEAL FOR COMMUTING TO LONDON FROM KINGHAM STATION, FOR EXAMPLE.

THE PLANNING PERMISSION CONSISTS OF Apartments One and Two Two split-level apartments situated to the rear of The Manor House, both providing two double bedrooms and generous living accommodation, overlooking the stone tiled rooftops of neighbouring properties and the street scene below.

Apartments Three and Four Situated on the first and second floor respectively, accessed from the side by an internal hall, leading up an original grand staircase with an ornate arched stained glass window.These apartments are flooded with light, blessed with elegant proportions and high ceilings; both enjoy delightful views over the market square towards the church, looking directly out over the ancient stocks and green below.

A small Retail Premises Next to the art gallery and prominently located on the corner of the building, will enjoy an excellent trading position suited to a shop or offices, subject to the necessary planning consents.

Apartment One (approximately 615 sq. ft.)

Arranged over two floors, accessed from the courtyard, with two bedrooms and bathroom on the upper ground floor leading up to an open plan living room and kitchen on the first floor.

Apartment Two (approximately 720 sq. ft.)

Arranged over the first and second floor, having its own entrance and staircase on the ground floor leading up to double guest bedroom on the first floor, and up again to the second floor, with an open plan living room and kitchen, master bedroom and bathroom.

Apartment Three (approximately 753 sq. ft.)

Situated on the first floor, boasting an impressive living room overlooking the square, with feature fireplace providing a decorative focal point, a separate kitchen, two double bedrooms also overlooking the square, a shower room, main bathroom and store.

Apartment Four (approximately 786 sq. ft.)

Situated on the second floor, having an open plan living room and kitchen looking out onto the market square, flanked by two double bedrooms also with views over the square, and a bathroom.

The Manor House is offered to the market by Fine & Country North Cotswolds, the international marketing platform of Harrison James & Hardie.

For further detailed information and to arrange a viewing strictly by prior appointment, please contact Katy Freeman on 01451 824977.

www.cotswold-homes.com 101

Look out for our new and beautifully re-designed Cotswold Homes website, launching during the summer!

Simply visit www.cotswold-homes.com

HoT ProPErTY - aSk THE EXPErTS

Ask the experts

Sue Ellis

Q A

What is the Help to Buy ISA scheme?

A few weeks ago, I heard in the news that as part of the latest budget the Government is looking to launch a further Help to Buy scheme that will connected to an ISA. What is this scheme & how will it work?

There are currently two Help to Buy schemes already in place, both of which only requiring a 5% deposit to be provided by borrowers. These are in the form of an ‘equity loan’ solely available for new build properties and a ‘mortgage guarantee’ which also targets second hand properties, available to both home movers and first-time buyers.

The new Help To Buy ISA scheme introduced by the Chancellor George Osborne will be launched in the Autumn of 2015 and will specifically target first-time buyers and the problems they face trying to come up with a sizeable deposit, together with the low interest rates being received on savings at present.

Basically the scheme encourages first-time buyers to save by giving them a ‘bonus’ in the form of 25% of the savings they have managed to accumulate through the Help to Buy ISA. A point to note is that there is a maximum monthly savings amount of £200 and the maximum bonus is £3000 (equivalent to £12000 worth of savings) and will be paid and calculated when they buy the property.

First-time buyers can have an account each so those buying together can both potentially receive the bonus and, in addition, the Government has stated that £1000 can also be deposited when they first open the account – both of these features giving further encouragement to save and benefit from the scheme.

As the savings will be held in an ISA, for basic rate tax payers this means that this will be equivalent to saving

completely free of tax for their first home. There is a maximum purchase price limit of £450,000 in London and £250,000 in the rest of the UK. The ISA accounts will be provided by a number of banks and building societies and in the most part go through the same process as opening a regular ISA, including a minimum age limit of 16 and having to provide a National Insurance number. An important point to note is that they cannot also have a Cash ISA in the same tax year (i.e. subscribing to a Help to Buy ISA with one provider and a cash ISA with another). The Help to Buy ISA accounts will be able to be opened for four years after the scheme starts – however, there is no time limit on how long they can save into the ISA and no time limit as to when they must purchase a property.

Each provider will set their own interest rate on the ISA so as with any investment accounts it will be worth shopping around to see who offers the best rate. The final details are currently being discussed between the Treasury and the banks and building societies that will provide the scheme but will be announced, as already mentioned, later in the year.

Some brokers have voiced their concerns saying that it will do little to help first-time buyers in London.

However, in the main, anything that can further help young people get their first footing on the housing market would seem to be a welcome proposition!

Sue Ellis works alongside Johnny Magee as a Mortgage Broker at JEM Financial Planning. The team has over 50 years’ experience in investment, retirement and inheritance planning, mortgages, protection and general insurance. To speak to Sue or Johnny, telephone 01386 840777 or visit www.jemfinancial.com

Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority www.cotswold-homes.com 103

HOT PROPERTY - ASK THE EXPERTS

Ask the experts

Robert Hamilton

Q A

How to maintain a septic tank

Searches show that the cottage I am buying has a septic tank and I confess I am worried enough to consider withdrawing my offer – should I be concerned?

Few things gladden the heart of this surveyor more than an easy-to-open manhole cover revealing shiny, ceramic drains flowing freely beneath. More often in the Cotswolds, heavily corroded covers with broken handles create a shower of rust as they are finally levered open, also giving me back pain and trapped fingers, but this is a good sign because clearly the drains haven’t caused a problem for years. Similarly, your septic tank is unlikely to be a worry if you abide by a few simple guidelines.

The Cotswolds’ interesting drain infrastructure relates to the old age of many properties. In newer properties, rainwater from roofs and road surfaces is directed into rivers and only foul / wastewater (from baths, washing machines and so on) drains into the sewage system. In older properties, combined drains direct everything to the treatment works – in fact, this was one of the problems of flooding in recent years, when overloaded drains caused sewage discharge. Either way, in a treatment works the wastewater is screened for grit and solids before being allowed to settle.The heavy sludge at the bottom is taken off for further treatment whilst microorganisms work to clarify the remaining wastewater before the cleaned water is returned to rivers and eventually out to sea.

Your septic tank acts just like a mini treatment plant.There are many varieties from old brick-built two-chamber types allowing wastewater to ‘soak-away’ via crushed stone and gravel to modern tanks (from sophisticated manufacturers such as Klargester) where decomposition is aided by air pumped through the system - these are really mini-sewage plants suitable even for small housing developments. However, all types rely on friendly bacteria to function properly.

In a septic tank, solids settle in the first chamber to be digested and mineralised by bacteria whilst liquid flows to the second

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and third chambers, each time settling until the effluent flows out into the ‘drainage field’ or soak-away and only requiring an annual ‘pump out’ to remove the settled matter. It should not smell nor pool with water round about. Constant foul odour or slow / backing-up drains are telltale signs that your tank needs pumping. One should limit the volume of water travelling through, which you can do by using ‘Hippos’ in WC cisterns and ensuring that rainwater is diverted into a separate harvesting system, but bacteria regeneration kits are not necessary providing the tank is well maintained and in regular use. A domestic salt-operated water softener, on the other hand, will benefit the system as well as your pipework and sanitary goods.

The golden rules of sensible maintenance apply to mains drainage as well as a septic tank.

1. Use ‘eco’ detergents and soaps.

2. Don’t dispose of chemicals or wash paintbrushes in the sink and don’t tip away cooking fat / coffee grounds down the drain, either.

3. Most importantly don’t flush wipes, dental floss, nappies or sanitary products down the loo - wrap, bag and bin anything other than toilet paper, as “biodegradable” products will still clog drains and/or take years to break down.

If you are sensible with maintenance, your septic tank will be very efficient - it will function almost effortlessly for many years and certainly is not a valid reason to withdraw from your property purchase.

Central Surveying has offices in the Cotswolds and Knightsbridge, specialising in independent professional surveying and property consultancy services for commercial and residential clients in the Cotswolds, South West and London. Robert Hamilton works from Naunton in the heart of the North Cotswolds.To contact Robert, telephone 01285 640 840 or visit www.centralsurveying.co.uk.

HOT PROPERTY - ASK THE EXPERTS

Ask the experts

Andy Soye

Mat Faraday

How Much Do You Really Pay To Market Your Holiday Home?

Q A

I have just found out that my holiday letting agent is including a booking fee in the price guests are paying to book my property, however these fees are not on my monthly statement and the agent takes them for themselves. The agent has told me not to worry, as “the guest pays the booking fee”, but I wonder if these fees are affecting my profits and if they are fair?

When you sign up with a holiday letting agent they will typically discuss the prices and rental income that you can expect to achieve for your property, then quote a commission percentage for generating these bookings.

What’s less well known is that when a guest books your property, the agent or website often takes an initial fixed amount from the value for themselves, as well as taking their commission percentage on the remaining amount.

The fixed amount is typically referred to as a “booking fee” or an “administration fee”, and is often only referred to in the detail of the agent’s terms and conditions.

Letting agents often say “Don’t worry, the guest pays the booking fee, not you”. In reality of course this is meaningless, as the guest is only interested in the total price of their holiday cottage, not in how this money gets split between you and your letting agent. This is best demonstrated by comparing the difference in the income you would generate from two identical properties, marketed via two different agents. Both agents charge a commission fee of 20%+VAT and agent B also charges a £30+VAT booking fee:

Booking value paid by guest Booking fee (inc VAT) Booking value quoted to owner Commission paid to agent (inc VAT) Net owner income Amount paid to agent

Agent A

Agent B

£350 NIL £350 (£84) £266 £84

£350 (£36) £314 (£75) £239 £111

Assuming 55 bookings per annum, which is reasonable for the Cotswolds, the impact of using agent B is to reduce your profits by approximately £1,500.

Alternatively, it is the same as paying a commission percentage of more than 26%+VAT. There is no doubt that if an agent or website asked for £1,500 as a fixed annual fee, or a commission percentage of 26%, no one would pay it, but by pretending that a booking fee is not a real cost to the owner, the agent is often able to get away with it.

Another impact of the booking fee is that it reduces agent B’s incentive to try to maximise your letting income, as a significant proportion of their income is only dependent upon the number of bookings they generate for you, not the value of these bookings. For these reasons, at Character Cottages we have never believed in the confusing and opaque practice of booking fees, we charge a flat commission percentage and we work hard to maximise every owner’s income and profits.

Assuming that the financial performance of your holiday home is an important consideration, it is vital to calculate the cost of any booking fees or other “hidden extras” levied by your letting agent or website on top of their commission percentage, and decide if this is an acceptable reduction to your profit. If you are unhappy and would like to understand what other options may exist for you, then please just pick up the phone, or email us, using the contact details below.

Andrew Soye and Mat Faraday are both qualified Chartered Accountants and are the founders of Character Cottages, one of the leading luxury holiday letting businesses in the Cotswolds.

Telephone: 020 8935 5375 Website: www.character-cottages.co.uk Email: owners@character-cottages.co.uk

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A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY

A Place Country Q in the

I HAVE AROUND £600,000 TO SPEND ON A PROPERTY TO USE FOR WEEKENDS WITH MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WHEN I CAN ESCAPE THE CITY, BUT WOULD OTHERWISE NEED TO LET IT OUT ON AN OCCASIONAL BASIS, WHICH I SEE YOU ARE HAPPY TO DO. AS I HAVE NO TIME FOR MAINTENANCE AND AM VERY TALL, OLD COTTAGES WITH LOW BEAMS ARE NO GOOD FOR ME! A MODERN YET CHARACTERFUL, DETACHED PROPERTY WITH A LOVELY GARDEN IN A GREAT COUNTRYSIDE POSITION WOULD BE IDEAL, PROVIDING A MINIMUM OF THREE BEDROOMS AND LOTS OF GROUND FLOOR SPACE. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WOULD BE A WISE INVESTMENT?

Yew Tree House

…AS EXPERTS IN THE LOCAL MARKETPLACE, ANDY SOYE AND MAT FARADAY SUGGEST THREE SUITABLE PROPERTIES THAT WOULD SERVE WELL AS A DESIRABLE OCCASIONAL HOLIDAY LET AND SECOND HOME…

A

Yew Tree House

WE HAVE CHOSEN THREE PROPERTIES ALL IDEALLY SUITED TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS BUT QUITE DIFFERENT IN CHARACTER – A PERIOD FARMHOUSE CONVERSION, A ‘60S COUNTRY LODGE AND A MODERN CHALET BUNGALOW IN A PREMIUM VILLAGE LOCATION, CONSIDERING THE SUITABILITY OF EACH PROPERTY FOR THE HOLIDAY LET MARKET AND PROVIDING AN ESTIMATE OF GROSS INCOME, ACCORDINGLY.

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Yew Tree House

A Place Country in the

Yew Tree House is all but detached, linked only by a tiled roof to the neighbouring farmhouse, and has clearly been thoughtfully designed to provide a wonderfully practical living space ...

Yew Tree House

Our first choice is Yew Tree House, a village home on the outskirts of Lower Brailes, on the northeastern fringe of the Cotswolds, with excellent access to Stratford Upon Avon. Built in 1989 from reclaimed materials on the site of a former farm and sharing this delightful location with two other equally attractive homes,Yew Tree House is all but detached, linked only by a tiled roof to the neighbouring farmhouse, and has clearly been thoughtfully designed to provide a wonderfully practical living space, with much character and charm, whilst the orientation of the property affords the generously proportioned garden much privacy with distant countryside views. A sitting room with an open fire and a formal dining room both have patio doors into the garden, a comfortably proportioned kitchen has room for a table and chairs, and there’s a separate study for you to work in, if you need it! Based on sleeping eight adults, this property should happily generate £45,000 gross revenue per annum.

Yew Tree House

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A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY

The ground oor has glazed doors at either end, a well-designed kitchen to one side with a huge wooden topped island that makes cooking eminently sociable.

Bedlam House

Bedlam House

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A Place Country in the

Our next choice is Bedlam House, boasting a showcase open-plan ground floor offering around 750 square feet of gorgeous space. Bedlam House is set just outside the village of Great Wolford and enjoys almost complete privacy.

It’s a glorious, brightly lit three-bed home, with a child’s dream of a garden - broad lawns graced by mature trees, bordered by woodland and looking out onto open farmland. The ground floor has glazed doors at either end, a well-designed kitchen to one side with a huge wooden topped island that makes cooking eminently sociable.

In the main part of the room, mullioned leaded light windows and wide polished floorboards give traditional character and provide a very sociable space, simple and informal, where one can keep a large dining table, ready for lots of guests at a moment’s notice. Secluded, rural but close to the nearby towns of Chipping Norton, Moreton in Marsh and Shipston on Stour, this wonderful cottage has lots of appeal and should deliver in excess of £37,500 gross revenue per annum.

Bedlam House

Bedlam House

Bedlam House

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A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY

Flowerdown

Flowerdown

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A Place Country in the

Flowerdown

Centrally positioned on a little lane in the centre of the highly desirable village, within walking distance of a well-regarded local pub The Lamb Inn, this cottage is an instant winner!

Or you could choose Flowerdown in Great Rissington, a detached Cotswold stone threebedroomed home albeit in need of a little modernisation, with heaps of potential if you are able to commission a local builder to help you make the most of its assets. Centrally positioned on a little lane in the centre of the highly desirable village, within walking distance of a well-regarded local pub The Lamb Inn, this cottage is an instant winner! Quietly tucked away, it has a lovely safe garden, perfect for children and pets, and somewhere to make the most of outdoor dining in the height of summer. There are many ways to re-configure the present arrangement of space but just by keeping to it, this property should deliver around £37,500 gross revenue per annum.

Andy says:

"It’s lovely to be able to make good use of a second home as an appreciating long-term asset and, in the meantime, to be able to generate sufficient income to cover on-going costs, and many of our clients do exactly as you propose. Our estimated gross income is based upon an average volume of 55 bookings per year, so if you are planning to visit frequently then please take this into account."

All three homes are currently offered for sale by Fine & Country North Cotswolds, the international marketing platform of local independent estate agency Harrison James & Hardie. To view Yew Tree House or Bedlam House, or to find out more information, please speak to branch manager Tom Burdett at the Moreton in Marsh office on 01608 651000 or to view Flowerdown, please contact branch manager Katy Hill at the Bourton on the Water office on 01451 822977.

www.cotswold-homes.com 111

Glenesk, Moreton in Marsh

£499,950

4 Millbrook Ley, Broadwell

£425,000

A recently refurbished family home centrally located within this popular market town. The property benefits from ample parking and a Westerly facing landscaped rear garden.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Dining Room | Kitchen | Utility Room | WC | Master Bedroom with En-Suite | Guest Bedroom with En-Suite | Third Double Bedroom | Bathroom | Parking | Garden | EPC Rating: D

A beautifully presented home situated in a quiet close within a much sought after Cotswold village. The property benefits from a pretty cottage garden and a detached double garage.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | WC | Master Bedroom with En-Suite | Two Bedrooms | Bathroom | Mature Garden to Rear | Detached Double Garage | Off Road Parking | EPC Rating: E

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

39 Beceshore Close, Moreton in Marsh

£425,000

Blake House, Blockley

£395,000

A well-appointed family home offering flexible accommodation located in tucked away position on the edge of this much sought after residential development.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Dining Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Study | Utility Room | WC | Master Bedroom | Ensuite | Three Further Bedrooms | Bathroom | Double Garage | Garden | Parking | EPC Rating: D

A beautifully presented Cotswold Stone three bedroom property benefitting from stunning countryside views and located just off the popular High Street of Blockley.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Kitchen/Dining Room | Three Bedrooms | Two Shower Rooms | Further Bathroom | Small Decked Garden to Rear | Driveway | EPC Rating: C

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

harrisonjameshardie.co.uk

Moreton in Marsh | Bourton on the Water | Mayfair | Lettings

47 Lysander Way, Moreton in Marsh

£315,000

1 Walnut Close, Moreton in Marsh

£275,000

A recently built three bedroom detached property set on a corner plot with enclosed garden and garage. The property is well-presented and built to a high specification.

Entrance Hall | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Sitting Room | WC | Master Bedroom with En-Suite | Two Further Bedrooms | Family Bathroom | Garden | Garage | Off Road Parking | EPC Rating: B

A well-presented town house located close to the centre of this popular market town with views over the duck pond.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | WC | Master Bedroom with En-Suite | Two Guest Bedrooms | Study | Two Bathrooms | Garden | Parking | EPC Rating: C

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

Hornes Cottage, Longborough

£275,000

3 London Road Terrace, Moreton in Marsh

£189,950

An end of terrace stone built cottage located in the heart of this prime Cotswold village. The property offers scope for some improvement and benefits from parking and a detached cottage garden.

Porch | Sitting Room | Kitchen | Dining Area | Two Bedrooms | Bathroom | Detached Garden | Off Road Parking | EPC Rating: E

A two bedroom traditional town house located close to the towns amenities and benefiting from delightful gardens.

Entrance Hall | Sitting/Dining Room | Kitchen | Bedroom | Bathroom | Spacious Attic Bedroom | Garden | EPC Rating: D

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 651 000

view all our properties at harrisonjameshardie.co.uk

9 Newlands Court, Stow on the Wold

£550,000

Windy Ridge, Church Westcote

£499,950

A stylish Cotswold stone retirement cottage, situated in a highly sought after and exclusive development on the Western edge of Stow on the Wold.The property enjoys a private garden and access to communal manicured grounds with views over neighbouring countryside, available no onward chain.

Entrance Hall | Study | Cloak and Shower Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Sitting/Dining Room | Three Double Bedrooms | Bath and Shower Room | Garage | Parking | Garden | EPC Rating: D

A detached four bedroom property situated in an elevated position in the delightful village of Church Westcote.Windy Ridge has been home to the current family for many years and enjoys rear garden of approximately 180ft, off road parking and integral garage.The property would benefit from some upgrading and has potential to extend subject to necessary consents.

Entrance Hall | Sitting/Dining Room | Conservatory | Integral Garage | Four Bedrooms | Family Bathroom | Shower Room (originally bedroom five) | Front Garden | Driveway | Generous Rear Garden | EPC Rating: F

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

Spring Cottage, Stow on the Wold

£475,000

Tarneki, Lower Slaughter

£450,000

A beautifully presented and generously proportioned four bedroom family home located on the Eastern edge of this historic market town.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Dining Room | Conservatory | WC | Master Bedroom | En-suite | Three Further Bedrooms | Bathroom | Garden | Gated Driveway Providing Parking | EPC Rating: C

A link-detached Cotswold stone fronted cottage style property situated in the desirable village of Lower Slaughter, the property offers open plan living and well stocked rear garden with views across to the church and neighbouring countryside. Available no onward chain.

Entrance Hall | Open Plan Sitting Room/Dining Area | Kitchen | Conservatory | Integral Garage | Master Bedroom with En-suite Shower Room/Sauna | Two Further Bedrooms | Family Bathroom | Front Garden | Driveway | Generous Rear Garden | EPC Rating: D

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

harrisonjameshardie.co.uk

Bourton on the Water | Moreton in Marsh | Mayfair | Lettings

Mossway, Stow on the Wold

£450,000

3 Gorse Close, Bourton on the Water

£450,000

A detached, extended Cotswold stone fronted property, situated on a quiet lane within walking distance of the town centre.The property enjoys a secure south facing garden and has been lovingly updated throughout with a spacious open plan kitchen/breakfast room, ideal for entertaining or family living. No Onward Chain.

Entrance Hall | Cloakroom | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Dining Room | Utility | Sitting Room | Study/Bedroom Four | First Floor Master Bedroom | Walk-In Wardrobe (with plumbing for an en-suite shower room) | Two Further Bedrooms | Family Bath and Shower Room | Front Garden | Lower Entertaining Gravelled Area | Side Garden | Patio and Gravelled Rear Area | Stone Storage Shed | EPC Rating: C

A spacious detached three bedroom bungalow situated in a quiet cul-desac on the eastern edge of Bourton on the Water.The property offers scope for loft conversion (subject to the necessary consents) and is available with no onward chain.

Entrance Hall | Sitting/Dining Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Master Bedroom | En-suite Shower Room | Two Further Bedrooms | Bathroom | Garden to Front, Side and Rear | Double Garage | Off Road Parking | EPC Rating: D

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

Flat 21, Sherborne House, Sherborne

£289,950

Wayside, Little Rissington

£279,950

A well-presented two double bedroom apartment forming part of the grand building of Sherborne House situated in its own beautifully kept grounds with countryside walks, tennis court, indoor heated swimming pool, orangery and allocated parking space. Ideal as a weekend retreat or holiday investment, available with no onward chain.

Entrance Hall | Refitted Kitchen | Sitting/Dining Room | Two Double Bedrooms | Refitted Bathroom | Access To All Facilities | Parking | EPC Rating: E

A recently upgraded two bedroom, period stone cottage situated on a quiet lane in the village of Little Rissington,The cottage benefits from a generous garden and planning permission to extend to create a kitchen/ dining room and bedroom (Cotswold District Council - Application Ref 15/00809/FUL), and is available with no onward chain.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Two Double Bedrooms | Bathroom | Rear Patio Garden | Outbuildings | Further Generous Lawned Garden | EPC Rating: F

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

Harrison James & Hardie, Bourton on the Water 01451 822 977

view all our properties at harrisonjameshardie.co.uk

BOULD HOUSE

LIVING THE DREAM The Best of Both Worlds Bould House is positioned within the very desirable village of Shipton under Wychwood - a large, serene village of predominantly Cotswold stone properties, both old and new, arranged around a traditional green and surrounded by beautiful open countryside. Part of the appeal of the village is undoubtedly its serendipitous position on the edge of the Cotswolds, being set within a triangle between the A40, the A44 and the A429 and therefore just ten minutes’ drive from Burford, Stow on the Wold and Chipping Norton, with excellent access to Oxford and Cheltenham, and blessed with a regular service at nearby Charlbury, a local station on the train line to London Paddington. In 116 Cotswold Homes Magazine

2002, Caroline and her young family moved into Bould House after being won over by the wonderful village location and size of the property. “Finding Bould House really was beyond my dreams, providing everything my family have ever needed – it was simply beautiful,” says Caroline.

“The long, private garden was perfect for the children and better still, we needed to make very few improvements. It’s a lovely design, very solidly built, and each room is a great size, with different levels to provide plenty of interest. In fact, the wow factor that sold it to us was the magnificent stairwell, creating a large open space in the middle of each level that

BOULD HOUSE

...The wow factor that sold it to us was the magnificent stairwell, creating a large open space in the middle of each level that just opens up the entire house and fills every part with natural light… just opens up the entire house and fills every part with natural light. Recently we re-painted the woodwork inside and out, and we have refurbished the main bathroom to include a Jacuzzi bath and television, but it really hasn’t needed any improvements – it has worked so well for us and we have loved living here as much as we hoped. I know most of all I will miss the space, the peace and quiet and the birdsong, particularly when relaxing in the rooms that look out over the garden. The location, being up a little drive, is very secluded but Shipton under Wychwood itself is extremely sociable - the gastro pub next door has been very handy for family suppers and there are two more pubs that are equally sought after, plus a welcoming

church, a library, an active cricket club and a super primary school. Of course, having the station nearby makes it ideal for anyone intending to commute – indeed, we have young professionals as well as retirees from the city in the village, who appreciate the accessibility of this location as much as the delights of rural life.

It really has proved the best of both worlds and we know the next residents will love it as much as we have done.”

Bould House is offered via Fine & Country North Cotswolds at the offices of Harrison James & Hardie in Bourton on the Water. For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Sophie Keogh on 01451 824977. www.cotswold-homes.com 117

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…

NEW or OLD, TOWN or COUNTRY? Following a wonderful holiday in the Cotswolds we are determined to move here permanently but have to content ourselves with a second home for the next few years. We have a budget around £550,000 but we can’t agree on what to buy. My husband favours a new build property in Moreton in Marsh, something close to the train station that we can lock up and leave, but I am desperate for a period cottage with open fireplaces and loads of character, roses around the door, the whole works! Can you help us to compromise?

Tom Burdett and Lucy Driver of Harrison James & Hardie have been affectionately called the North Cotswolds’ answer to Kirstie and Phil, and are undoubtedly experts in the second home market place. Both born and raised locally, Lucy was the company’s first employee when it launched fifteen years ago whilst Tom left the Cotswold School after his ‘A’ levels to become an apprentice with the firm - ten years later, he is Senior Branch Manager at the offices in Moreton in Marsh.

Lucy Driver says: “Interestingly, most decision-makers are women when it comes to choosing the family home, so without wanting to perpetuate the argument I am going to offer something that will fulfil your heart’s desire, and suggest to your husband that you simply get a taxi to and from the station at Moreton, just a couple of miles away!

“West Cottage is simply delightful. Tucked at the bottom of a long driveway, with plenty of off-street parking, it is a perfect hideaway enjoying peace and tranquility within the heart of Bourton on the Hill. West Cottage forms one half of a pair of semi-detached cottages, a typical Cotswold idyll with an abundance of characterful features including open fireplaces and exposed wooden floorboards. Rich in history, it also offers the opportunity to update the existing accommodation to create a home more suited to modern day living, and would be equally ideal as a main home or a weekend retreat.

118 Cotswold Homes Magazine

“Stepping into the cottage you will find an inviting dining hall, currently used as a second sitting room, with an impressive inglenook fireplace.

Off the dining hall is the kitchen, large enough for a dining table, enjoying a beautiful view of the well-tended cottage garden, whilst the more formal sitting room also has an open fireplace and exposed wooden beams. On the first floor there’s a double aspect - and therefore beautifully light-filled - master bedroom, and a second smaller bedroom with built-in storage, both served by a large bathroom and separate WC. Leading up to the second floor are two separate staircases to two further double bedrooms,

West Cottage

both enjoying high ceilings and exposed beams, linked by a spacious landing and another large bathroom, ideal for when guests are staying.

“Undoubtedly one of the main draws of this property is the stunning mature cottage garden, a view that all of the main rooms look out onto, and which enjoys a westerly facing aspect, thereby getting the most of the day’s sun. This has been lovingly cared for by the present vendors with manicured lawns, a wide variety of plants and shrubs and a large vegetable plot, bordered by traditional stone walls - you couldn’t be offered a more perfect slice of country living!”

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION‌

West Cottage forms one half of a pair of semi-detached cottages, a typical Cotswold idyll with an abundance of characterful features including open fireplaces and exposed wooden floorboards.

West Cottage

West Cottage

www.cotswold-homes.com 119

LoCAtion, LoCAtion, LoCAtion…

2 Peelers Court

a recent conversion of the historic police station and named after sir robert Peel, a former Prime minister credited with the formation of the modern day police force, this nineteenth century building offers an intriguing slice of history ... tom Burdett says: “Very few people end up buying to their exact brief and, if I had a pound for every time someone described the traditional period cottage as their ideal home, I would be rich by now - but of course, practicalities do matter!

Lucy’s choice is the perfect example and I can see you don’t like the idea of a bland modern town home, but I also understand why your husband is concerned with the realities of living at a distance - low maintenance and easy access to amenities are important considerations. West Cottage should reassure you that there are desirable period cottages in your price bracket when you come to live here full time, but I would like to suggest a proper compromise for now that I think you will love, too!

“2 Peelers Court in Moreton in Marsh will give you plenty of charm and period character but also address your husband’s more practical nature. A recent conversion of the historic police station 120 Cotswold Homes Magazine

and named after Sir Robert Peel, a former Prime Minister credited with the formation of the modern day police force, this nineteenth century building offers an intriguing slice of history, set in a central position within this popular market town. One half of this charming Victorian building, it has been carefully and painstakingly developed by its present owner to create a gorgeous town house with flexible accommodation, finished to the highest standard. With well-proportioned rooms, high ceilings and retained features that tell a story of its fascinating past, the property has the unusual benefit of secure off-road courtyard parking for up to three cars, accessed via electric gates, and its own private courtyard garden and private electric-gated pedestrian entrance, too.

“Entering the property, you are greeted by an inviting entrance hall leading to a sitting room with a large bay window and most attractive fireplace.to the rear is a stunning kitchen/breakfast room and an adjoining dining room, both with glazed doors that

lead to the courtyard garden.the shrewd installation of a wet room adjoining the dining room allows for the alternative use as a bedroom suite, should you wish to entertain guests, for example. Upstairs is a master bedroom overlooking the picturesque street scene, served by a luxurious en-suite bathroom. to the rear is another bedroom complete with an original Victorian fireplace and a well-appointed en-suite shower room. And to boot, everything you could possibly need for a weekend in the Cotswolds is right on your very doorstep, and only a five minute walk from the train station! An extremely rare opportunity to purchase a period home that has been comprehensively updated to the highest possible standards, it’s ideally suited as a second home and I would highly recommend that you come and see it!”

Both properties are currently offered for sale by at the moreton in marsh branch of Harrison James & Hardie. to contact tom or Lucy, please telephone 01608 651000.

LoCAtion, LoCAtion, LoCAtion‌

2 Peelers Court

2 Peelers Court

2 Peelers Court

2 Peelers Court

www.cotswold-homes.com 121

Bolton Farm, Offenham £925,000 An exquisite Georgian farmhouse, Bolton Farm offers a unique opportunity to purchase a substantial family home with an abundance of period character and steeped in local history. The property sits within a plot of approximately ten acres comprising landscaped gardens and paddocks including a large spring-fed lake, and benefits from a stable with further outbuildings.

Entrance Hall | Sitting Room | Dining Hall | Kitchen | Study/Further Reception Room | Utility Room | Cloakroom/Shower Room | Cellar | Master Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom | Three Further Double Bedrooms and One Single Bedroom | Family Bathroom | Gallery Landing/Sitting Area | WC | Integral Double Garage with Storage Area | Outhouse/Boiler House | Large Storage Barn (which could accommodate further vehicles if required) | Stable and Gardens including a courtyard, terrace and lawns extending to about 1.5 acres | Paddock | Lake and Field | Large Front Field of Approximately 5 Acres | EPC Rating: D Fine and Country Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 653 893

Pound Cottage, Lower Slaughter £795,000 Situated in one of the Cotswolds’ most famous and archetypal villages, Pound Cottage is a beautifully presented individual stone property positioned in a charming location, enjoying lovely views of the River Eye running through the centre of Lower Slaughter. Dating from the eighteenth century, Pound Cottage has recently been renovated to a high standard with enormous attention to detail, taking care to complement and preserve the original period features.

Entrance Porch | Sitting Room | Snug | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Master Bedroom with En-Suite Shower Room | Bedroom Two with En-Suite Shower Room | Second Floor Double Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom | Garden | Garden House | Allocated Parking Space | EPC Rating: E Fine and Country Harrison James & Hardie, Moreton in Marsh 01608 653 893

Moreton in Marsh | Bourton on the Water | Stow on the Wold | Mayfair | Lettings

Upper Rissington UPDATE

Look Out Above!

Parachute Team Drop In On The Rissington School!

How appropriate that the village of Upper Rissington, formerly an RAF base and flying school during WWII, saw in the official launch of the new primary school site at Upper Rissington with a special visit from the RAF Falcons, kindly arranged by Upper Rissington resident Wg Cdr Wayne Loxton, CO of the Airborne Delivery Wing at RAF Brize Norton. Head Teacher Mrs Bannister was delighted. “I must thank everyone who helped or attended the Grand Fete at the official opening of the Upper Rissington site.

Everyone who came along said how much they enjoyed it; even with the rain there was still such a lovely relaxed atmosphere and an amazing £1,100 was raised for our new library in just over two hours. The icing on the cake was certainly the display by the RAF Falcons to open a school building in an area steeped in RAF history!”

Three of the four classrooms are already occupied by children up to Year 3 and from September, most primary school children will no longer have to make the bus journey to the old site in neighbouring Great Rissington but can simply walk across the fields to get to school.

The new building is one of the most important developments in the planned expansion of the old RAF village, supporting around three hundred new homes, with a central market square of shops and a new village hall. As Upper Rissington continues to grow over the next two years, soon the school will become full.

Fortunately the new site has been designed with extension in mind – good news, given it also provides wrap-around care with a breakfast/ after-school club, and a nursery. The government recently doubled free pre-school education to

Head Teacher Liz Bannister and Chair of Governors Colin Campbell flanked by the RAF Falcons Display Team

126 Cotswold Homes Magazine

“My thanks go to Kier Construction for such a wonderful building! The last two years have seen an enormous amount of work to get ready for this big day and everyone can be duly proud of such a wonderful result.”

Colin Campbell, Chair of Governors

Upper rissington UpDAte

“I must thank everyone who helPeD or attenDeD the granD fete at the offIcIal oPenIng of the uPPer rIssIngton sIte. everyone who came along saID how much they enJoyeD It; even wIth the raIn there was stIll such a lovely relaXeD atmosPhere anD an amaZIng £1,100 was raIseD for our new lIbrary In Just over two hours.”

Photography: Wayne Fisher/ david Harrison

thirty hours a week, so this new nursery will undoubtedly be very welcome for young families following the closure of the previous village nursery some time ago.

children and adults to socialise as often as we can, of course, so these events help to bring us all together as well as being excellent fundraisers,” says Mel Simpson, chair of the Friends.

the new school building is already equipped with a gymnasium and professional catering kitchen but fund-raising efforts will continue to raise money for the library; local businesses are being approached to donate to the Beautiful Books campaign whilst the Friends of the rissington School have been organising a series of events – a table-top sale at Victoria Hall, visitor car-parking at Cotswold School, a charming musical evening when the children demonstrated impressive skills with piano, wind and string instruments, and a summer ball for parents. “As we are one school with two sites, it is very important for all

Meanwhile, the new neighbouring village hall also provides great regular opportunities for residents of all ages to meet and socialise. It’s a fantastic provision – a double height sports hall with changing rooms and showers, a separate community room and kitchen to cater for coffeemornings and playgroups, all blessed with plenty of outdoor space. the village field is regularly in use for outdoor sports and provided a perfect spot for the RAF Falcons to descend, as the parachutists performed their spectacular display to celebrate the launch - an historic occasion for the village and the school. www.cotswold-homes.com 127

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