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THE COTSWOLDS PREMIER LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
•
JANUARY 2016
INTERVIEWS FASHION EVENTS INTERIORS PROPERTY BUSINESS TRAVEL SPORT
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Handmade be bespoke espoke kitchens in Cirencester C
www.benchwood.co.uk www .be enchwood d.co.uk
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Our new showroom Opening in Cheltenham 19 The Courtyard Montpellier Street Cheltenham GL50 1SR
For F or professional design dessign and craftsm craftsmanship manship call us
Telephone: T elephone: elephone e: 01285 643 3 071
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000 Contents Jan 2016:Layout 1
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64 62
31 125
35 JANUARY 2016
IN THIS ISSUE... 12
Real Life
15
Hot Property
From heartbreak to success, we meet Rosie Oliver
We feature some of the most beautiful properties that are for sale or to let in and around the Cotswolds
23
Aisle File
38
The Most Discerning Wedding Stationers
Your complete guide to creating the perfect wedding in The Cotswolds
We meet the suppliers to John Lewis for celebratory, luxury, printed material
39
COMPETITION
42
Wedding Fashion
52 55 59 62
Through The Garden Gate
Win all your personalised wedding stationery from The Letter Press of Cirencester
Ellie Sanderson’s bridal day at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Gardening gateaux extraordinaire
Cotswoldia The fizz has popped this January
Cotswolds Culture How the English put the downhill on the slopes
Castaway with leading couture designer, Suzanne Neville
64 68 78 84
Mrs & Mr Jones
95 99 105 111 115 116
Home From Home
121 125
Blasting Away The Fat
A glimpse of ‘sin city’ while parting in Vegas
Making Fresh Tracks on the Slopes Exploring the beautiful Alps
Beauty Elite Top tips from the Make-up artist to the stars
The School Report Our guide to the leading schools in The Cotswolds
The key to a happy boarding experience
Not Having To End in Failure Divorce doesn’t have to cause havoc in your life
Financial Prudence for the New Year Expert tips from Explain The Market
R&R Recuperate at The Fox Inn, Great Barrington
Style on the Slopes Fabulous fashion for cool looks in the snow
Out and About Your guide to the very best events happening in and around The Cotswolds this month
New exercises moves to get you motivated
Detox Heaven or Hell Claire in the County takes the challenge
SOCIAL SCENE: 67 Cousins of Cheltenham 82 Beards & Mont Blanc’s Black & White Party 94 Paul Baker Insurance Services Launch Party 122 A Very Cowley Christmas COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 5
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NEW YEAR SALE
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000 Editors Welcome Jan 2016:Layout 1
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Style Editor’s Letter Partner Mark Cuzner 07983 179225 mark@stylemagazines.co.uk Sales Executive Bethany Lynch 07807 126214 bethany.lynch@stylemagazines.co.uk Office Manager Carley Jones 01242 220239 office@stylemagazines.co.uk Production Consultant Hilary Collier 01242 220239 hilary@stylemagazines.co.uk Editorial Designer Nick Clark 01242 220239 nclark@stylemagazines.co.uk
COTSWOLD STYLE Cotswold Style: Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1TA Switchboard: 01242 220239 Accounts: 01384 410603 Email: office@stylemagazines.co.uk Publisher: Ray Siviter
www.cotswoldstyle.co.uk @CotswoldStyle Twitter followers
22,243 CotswoldStyleMagazine Facebook fans
5,297
Cotswold Style is published monthly by Live 24Seven Ltd, based at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Glos, GL50 1TA. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Cotswold Style will not accept liability for loss or damage. Dates, information and prices quoted are believed to be correct at time of going to press but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. Neither the editor nor publisher accepts responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. All rights reserved. ISSN no. 1756-6673.
CS
Welcome
Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a fun but restful Christmas period and are now looking forward to a happy and successful 2016. There are sure to be many impending weddings at the start of this year. The festive period is the busiest month for proposals and many newly engaged couples will already be looking at planning their dream day. This month’s Cotswold Style has a special wedding feature showcasing some of the ‘best in the wedding business’ locally. From Real Life weddings, dream dresses to picturesque venues, the most delicious cakes to original modes of transport; you will find all the information you need to help with your planning. The perfect wedding stationery is an essential part of any celebration and Cotswold Style is delighted that one of the UK’s most distinguished stationers, The Letter Press of Cirencester is giving one lucky couple a chance to win all their wedding day printed material from ‘save the date cards’, wedding invitations and ‘thank you’ cards. Details on how to enter the competition are on page 39. Many of you will be off on your winter skiing holiday (or planning one for the next couple of months). Our intrepid travel adventuress Lucy Garbutt makes fresh tracks highlighting three of her favourite spots in The Alps and we also have some great style ideas in the latest skiwear available. I am delighted to introduce you to our new celebrity Beauty Editor, Claire Hanson. Claire has been an elite Hair and Makeup artist to the stars for the past 18 years (in addition to being the personal assistant to singing legend Lionel Richie, who is due to perform at Kingsholm, Gloucester in June). Claire will be giving you all the best beauty advice she has mastered in her experiences working with celebrities from Madonna and Kristin Scott-Thomas to Sienna Miller amongst many, many others. For plenty of you, the New Year is all about a New You. Claire in the County has started her first ever detox with surprising results and our fitness expert Luciano Kydd shows you some great exercises to help motivate your new regime. He is also offering Cotswold Style readers some specially discounted fitness packages to get you moving and shed those unwanted pounds! Wrap up warm, keep healthy and have a fabulous January. Best wishes,
Emma Logan, Editor editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
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Start The New Year In Style at The Roses, Tewkesbury
Starstruck Exhibition Carol (15) Open from Tuesday 5 January
From Friday 8 January
Belly Dance Workshop The Elvis Years Saturday 16 January 10am -1pm
Thursday 21 January 7.30pm
Burns Night Whisky Tasting
Steve Turner Tuesday 26 January 8.30pm
Monday 25 January 7.30pm
Fairport Convention Thursday 28 January 7.30pm
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12A) From Saturday 30 January
Visit rosestheatre.org for full programme
Box Office: 01684 295074 Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 5NX The Roses is a Registered Charity, no. 1051708 10 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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REAL LIFE INTERVIEW
ROSIE OLIVER Cotswold Style met with writer Rosie Oliver who shows fairytales are written to demonstrate that sometimes dragons can be defeated… PHOTOGRAPHY: ANGUS BETHUNE
T was the year of 2009 when chartered mathematician and systems engineer, Rosie Oliver, from South Gloucestershire was due to have her life changed forever, and the saying ‘things happen in three’s’ was about to ring tragically true, as her world would never be the same as she knew it. At the very start of that year in January, Rosie sadly lost her mother due to a stroke. Four months later in May, Rosie’s husband was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer and he tragically died just three months after diagnosis in August. Shortly following this heartbreaking loss, life was bitterly cruel and Rosie was made redundant from her full time job. Inevitably, every family experiences bereavement at some stage, which can also bring fear for the future, but to be hit with such tragedy in quick succession like Rosie, can be soul destroying, with no surprise that focus on financial matters may drop down the priority list. With so much to arrange in terms of her future, finances and provisions, it was evident she could not do it alone. Rosie said: “My husband’s solicitors pointed me in the direction of financial planner, Stephen Willis, partner of Piercefield Oliver. I didn’t know whether I was coming or going, I had different solicitors dealing with my affairs, Stephen pulled it all together and sorted everything out for me.”
I
12 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
In addition to dealing with financial affairs, Rosie reflected: “At the time when everything happened, I was living in a house that was too big for one person and there was no way I could look after it. It was obvious that I needed to sell and find somewhere else to live.” With so much change in Rosie’s life it was quite remarkable how she ploughed through, but even for the strongest of people, there comes a time when enough is enough. She reflected: “It was after my first meeting with Stephen, he suggested due to my love of writing that I should take time out and complete a writing course. I wasn’t sure I could, but with everything that had happened in my life I just knew I’d had enough at that time. I decided to forget going back to a job in systems engineering, take his advice and help in sorting out my finances to be able to undertake a course, and apply to do a Masters Degree in Creative Writing. “I applied for the course at Bath Spa University in 2010,” described Rosie. “They gave me such a grilling at my interview that I thought I had failed to get a place and actually forgot all about it. However I was lucky enough to be accepted and was granted one of the 30 places, on what is seen as one of the top MA creative writing courses in the country.” A degree which not only got Rosie onto the first rung of the writing ladder but enabled her to complete her very first Science Fiction novel, a feline tale called C.A.T which >>>
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Style Interview
Rosie Oliver
COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 13
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Style Interview is now available to buy on Amazon. It was a truly heartwarming achievement and a change in life path for Rosie. A change, which her old teachers at senior school may find hard to believe as they were once worried she would actually fail her English O Level (GCSE)! Rosie recalls: “My teachers made me do Latin to help with my English. In the end I did pass, but I still had problems. However, I was not going to be beaten as I needed to write reports, so I just had to keep on practising.” It was this steely determination that led Rosie to begin amateur writing and subsequently have stories published in minor publications ever since; a little fairytale in itself. Having subsequently returned to work, juggling her writing with a full time job can sometimes be tricky, as Rosie describes: “I always put aside Sunday mornings for writing, it is the only way. It does take time and sometimes the problem is that I have too many story projects on the go so I have to concentrate on what is going to be the most productive. I have recently written a story that involves the Mona Lisa and time travel. Whether that gets published
or not though is always in the lap of the publishers!” Rosie’s life will never be the same but she has learnt to manage her grief. From her love of writing, she began to grow in confidence and move beyond just dealing with just her short-term responsibilities and soon began to realise and fulfill her life’s ambitions. Rosie enthused: “I began to explore my life’s intentions and make decisions on what it was that I wanted out of the rest of my life.” Equally as important, is planning ahead for life, which can be a daunting prospect in difficult times and also when alone. Rosie had always dreamed of visiting New York, a dream she never thought she would be able to fulfill on her own but with the confidence she had gained through her writing and encouragement from the team at Piercefield Oliver she achieved it. Rosie enthused: “I went to New York and combined it with one of my life long dreams of crossing the Atlantic by ship on the Queen Victoria. If it hadn’t been for Stephen making me focus and plan for these types of things then I would
“I have recently written a story that involves the Mona Lisa and time travel. Whether that gets published or not though is always in the lap of the publishers!”
14 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
never have done them.” With a small list of what she wants out of life now, Rosie furthered: “I now know what my aims and goals are and I have worked out how I am going to achieve and plan for them. New York is a simple example but it is the type of thing that if you don’t make plans for, you don’t do them. “In regards to my writing progress and planning ahead for my passion, it is not as successful as I want it to be yet, but my friends, family and colleagues encourage me to keep working away at it.” From being encouraged and supported to try something new and believe in yourself, writing has given Rosie a focus in life and has given her back confidence through a time when many may have admitted defeat to the inevitable demons and dragons that exist in novels but can arise through life. As G. K. Chesterton quoted: ‘Fairytales are not written to tell children that dragons exist. Children know full well that dragons exist. Fairytales are written to show children that sometimes dragons can be defeated.’
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PROPERTY
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Style Hot Property
Bafford Lane, Cheltenham Setting the scene: An architect designed detached family home which is presented in beautiful order throughout and positioned within a quiet enclave just off Bafford Lane. Why we love it: Overley Villa, which was built around 9 years ago, is a beautiful, contemporary family home enjoying stunning open plan spaces, flooded with light from the huge expanses of glass to the rear of the house. At the heart of the house a circa 32’ kitchen / dining room is beautifully fitted with a range of sleek modern units topped with polished granite worktops and complementary fitted appliances. Opening from the dining area there is a generous sitting room and a step leads down to a beautiful sun room with curved glazed walls which give a sense of bringing the outside in. A pair of double doors open from the sunroom directly onto the south facing garden. To the northern end of the ground floor there is a very well appointed and fitted study and further storage/file room beyond. This area also benefits from a large shower room and could therefore easily become a small self-contained annex if required. A bespoke curved staircase rises to the first floor galleried landing. Four double bedrooms are arranged around the landing, the smallest of which is currently fitted out and used as a dressing room. The master bedroom is a particular feature of the house with full en-suite bathroom and sliding doors to a balcony enjoying views over the garden towards Leckhampton Hill. The other bedrooms are well served by a large family bathroom with separate bath and shower. There is ample parking to the front of the house and a garage. To the rear there is a superb well stocked garden. Knight Frank, 123 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW Guide Price: £975,000; harry.bethell@knightfrank.com; 01242 246959 18 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Style Hot Property
Albert Road, Cheltenham Setting the scene: Making up a part of this exclusive park side development, a beautifully light and spacious 1st floor apartment with lift access, gated parking and direct access on to Pittville Park. Why we love it: Albert House is an attractive detached period style villa that was completed in 2008. Apartment 6 occupies the first floor of the front building, with easterly, southerly and westerly aspects. A lift leads up from either the parking level of the building or from the raised ground floor entrance, to the first floor. Internally, the apartment has been completely redecorated and re-carpeted and the style is open plan with a large drawing/dining room with kitchen area off and a beautiful triple aspect. The kitchen has been recently re-fitted with modern units and new appliances. On the westerly side of the building is a good size bedroom with a modern en-suite shower room. There are a further two bedrooms on the easterly side, one being of particularly good size, with a superb square bay window with floor to ceiling windows and a lovely aspect to Cleeve Hill. The apartment comes with an allocated parking space and use of a shared lockable storage area. The buildings also have private access directly into Pittville Park. EPC Rating C. Guide Price: ÂŁ465,000; Knight Frank 123 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1NW hayley.wilks@knightfrank.com 01242 246959
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VOTED BEST National Showroom of the Year 2015
41- 47 Fairview Rd, Cheltenham, GL52 2EJ
01242 237241 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5:00pm Saturdays
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01451 414234 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4:00pm Saturdays
www.obsidian-interiors.co.uk
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50% OFF Fat Reduction Treatment Ends 28th February 2016
Contact Emma Beddow, Clinic Director
07795 675 775 / 01242 370350 Lauriston House, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham GL50 1SS
www.cotswoldfabclinic.co.uk
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WEDDINGS
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Your complete guide to planning the perfect wedding... Bake King Cakes Cheltenham’s very own Mike Knight has been creating a selection of bespoke cakes for over 3 years. Since 2014 “Bake King Cakes” has become well known across the Cotswolds for creating mouth-watering custom cakes for any occasion. Bake King Cakes grew out of a passion for baking which resulted in Mike producing elaborate cake based creations whenever a friend or family member was celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Just like a perfect chocolate ganache (which tastes heavenly), word soon spread and within weeks Mike was producing custom cake creations, Wedding Cakes, Mini Cakes and 3D Cakes to satisfy his ever-growing customer base. Every element of your wedding day has been planned and designed by you down to the finest detail and your wedding cake should be no different. Contact Mike of Bake King Cakes today on 07963 171778, email: sales@bakekingcakes.com or visit www.bakekingcakes.com and make your special day delicious!
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Heliflight Why not use a helicopter as an alternative to a wedding car on your big day? We are experienced at getting the bride to the church on time, the newly wed bride and groom from the church to reception, taking in a tour of the local countryside and even whisking you to the airport for your honeymoon flight. Your photographer can capture your helicopter hovering just before it lands. A great shot for the album and an impressive part of your wedding video! Tel: 01452 714555 www.heliflightuk.co.uk
Lauren Charlotte Bridal Lauren Charlotte Bridal is a gorgeous boutique tucked away in The Courtyard, Montpellier, with a stunning range of bridal gowns from international designers such as Pronovias, White One, Essense of Australia, Benjamin Roberts and Alan Hannah.
The boutique is light and contemporary and offers exclusive bridal styling appointments where you really are spoilt for choice. With over 20 years of bridal knowledge, Charlotte will help you identify your unique style and our appointments are fun and relaxed with emphasis on looking after you until your big day. Prices range from £450 to £2000 and with a huge selection to browse through there really is something for everyone. The boutique opens by appointment and includes evening and weekends. Contact Charlotte for your individual bridal styling appointment now on 01242 226364 or email enquiries@laurencharlottebridal.com.
Matara Matara is an inclusive, unique place to unwind, relax and enjoy your preparation for marriage or other life celebration. Matara offers a beautiful Cotswold location with tranquil gardens, peaceful courtyards and secluded spaces. Overnight stays are provided in the Grade II listed country house, Kingscote Park, the Lodge or the Zen rooms. The Hilarium, our main space, with its beautiful, circular domed ceiling, invites joyful celebrations for between 50 and 150 guests. Let your imagination run wild and decorate the room in your own style! Matara’s food is provided by our in-house chef. We offer menus ranging from street food to canapés, from afternoon teas to a full wedding breakfast and we will work closely with couples to develop ideas
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Style Weddings Tewkesbury Park Hotel
Matara
within their budgets and which reflect their lives and personalities. This is one of the happiest times of your lives and we will happily work with you to ensure that your day is relaxed, joyful and memorable. Tel: 01453 861050 www.matara.co.uk
Spaceintense Spaceintense has been supplying marquees for private parties in Gloucestershire since 2002. The range of tents has been selected for elegance and practicality. For weddings most couples choose a traditional marquee featuring king poles down the centre and guy ropes all round. For a country look these installations are great unlined but for a dressed-up affair pleated ivory linings add an element of luxury. Spaceintense also install modular marquees. These range from 3m squares, the same size as a typical garden gazebo,
to lofty hexagonal marquees 40ft across and 22ft tall. The majority of these Chinese Hat structures have 20ft sides and can be linked together in numerous combinations to create a space as large or small as the event, or the garden it is
taking place in, dictates. The company has developed a comprehensive range of drapes to complement these tents; white voile drapes for weddings and Navy blue walling and star-cloth ceilings for nightclub events amongst other offerings. All the accessories necessary to complete the party are available from Spaceintense from Classic trestle tables to programmable LED lighting. Each year new elements are added and in 2016 the company will introduce a dramatic 70ft round Big Top. Tel: 01452 813658 www.spaceintense.co.uk
Tewkesbury Park Hotel Imagine your wedding at the new Tewkesbury Park, which combines the most stunning panoramic setting with an attention to detail that only a now familyowned business can deliver. Over the past year, Tewkesbury Park has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment. Offering a wide range of beautifully-appointed reception rooms, Tewkesbury Park is not only perfect for small and intimate ceremonies but also suited to much larger events for up to 200 guests. This Spring will also see the longawaited launch of nine outstanding, historic rooms in the main house. Indulgent and opulent, with outstanding views across the adjacent countryside, these rooms will represent the very height of luxury. Service and hospitality is at the heart of this family-owned hotel. With a huge choice of wedding options, Tewkesbury Park’s Wedding & Private Parties Manager, Sam Birch, will help you to create a spectacular event. What’s more, she’ll be on hand to guide you through all of the planning, as well as being with you on your special day. The wedding showcase on Sunday 10th January 2016 is a great opportunity to meet our team, see our refurbishment and
learn more about how your wedding can become the perfect day you have planned. For more details, call Sam Birch on 01684 295405 or email: events@tewkesburypark.co.uk
Wedding Days of Cheltenham Wedding Days of Cheltenham prides itself on customer service and choice. We showcase gowns from a number of the world’s best-known designers in our spacious and relaxed showrooms. Designers include Maggie Sottero, Augusta Jones, Charlotte Balbier, Ian Stuart-Bride, Ellis & Phil Collins Bridal, prices range from £900-£2600. We constantly update our “sale rail” to provide quality sample sale gowns at fantastic prices and you still receive service and advice. Also, we have a lovely
Bridesmaid suite where you can try a number of styles from Ebony Rose Designs and your choice of colours is endless!!! Or seamstress is on hand also to provide alterations and Bespoke items if required. We also offer evening appointments and we are flexible and here to help. www.weddingdaysofcheltenham.co.uk COTSWOLD COTSWOLDSTYLE STYLE OCTOBER JANUARY 2016 2015 25
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REAL WEDDING
Marcus Simic & Kerri Cove Manor By The Lake Marcus and Kerri were married on a lovely November day in the picturesque setting of Manor By The Lake in Cheltenham, surrounded by all their close family and friends. The bride and groom enjoyed a fabulous honeymoon in Goa, India. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.SHOOTTHEDAY.CO.UK
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With our beautiful showrooms and stunning gowns from world renowned designers in the gorgeous surroundings of Cheltenham Spa, we aim to make your experience a memory to last a lifetime.
Let your dreams of finding the perfect wedding dress come true here at Sarah Elizabeth Bridal... Offering a bespoke service for your special day Gowns from high-end designers that exude luxury and femininity such as: Suzanne Neville, Sassi Holford, Caroline Castigliano, David Fielden, Stephanie Allin and House of Mooshki Also providing the perfect accessories to complement your special day including, jewellery, shoes, headdresses and veils and much more... To book an appointment with Sarah, call
01242 257 103
or visit the website: www.sarahelizabethbridal.co.uk
info@sarahelizabethbridal.co.uk Sarah Elizabeth Bridal, 5 Montpellier Avenue, Cheltenham
Appointments are advisable
01242 224965 jane@weddingdaysofcheltenham.co.uk
Celebration space
Whether you choose to hold an intimate ceremony or a more lavish affair, the Kings Head hotel is the perfect choice. KINGSHEAD-HOTEL.CO.UK 01285 700 900 events@kingshead-hotel.co.uk 24 Market Place, Cirencester, GL7 2NR
Wedding Fair
Saturday 5th March from 11-3pm Admission: Complimentary VIP Tours: Please call our wedding co-ordinator on 01285 700 900 to book a preferred time to discuss your requirements
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REAL WEDDING
Maurizio Figini & Lucie Olejnikova Maurizio Figini and Lucie Olejnikova celebrated their beautiful marriage in Lucie’s home town of Opava in the Czech Republic. After their fabulous, dream day the bride and groom departed for a mini honeymoon in Prague. Lucie works IFA Dataflow in Cheltenham.
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HORACE BARTON & SON Autumn / Winter 2015
Our new Autumn / Winter collection now with us
In store collections include:-
SCHNEIDERS, LAMBOURNE, RM WILLIAMS, LAINE & TAYLOR, MONTFORTIS, VIADESTE, JACK ORTON, SCHOFFEL, BROOK TAVERNER, FREDERICK THEAK, KILLY, MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR, ICEPEAK, PROTEST, SALOMON, TECNICA, ROSSIGNOL AND OAKLEY.
We look forward to seeing you in the near future.
12 Regent Street Cheltenham, GL50 1HE Telephone: 01242 516772 (next to the Everyman Theatre). www.horacebarton.co.uk sales@horacebarton.co.uk
Contact Matthew Brown (M) 07773 33 69 21 Wesley House Events, High Street, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire GL54 5L J (T) 01242 602 366 (E) enquiries@wesleyhouse.co.uk (W) wesleyhouse.co.uk 30 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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REAL WEDDING
Baron De Rose & Cleo Murray-Upton Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham Cleo and Barrons wedding was at the fabulous Ellenborough Park Hotel on a typical wet and windy autumn day. They wanted to hold it here for a few reasons, one was for that Cleo’s parents were married here many years ago and the other for the amazing view over the Racecourse, both bride and groom are frequent visitors to the course so a subtle horse theme was present at the tables. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.COTSWOLDPICTURES.CO.UK
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Welcoming
Tranquil
Kingscote Park Kingscote Tetbury Gloucestershire GL8 8YA 01453 861050 info@matara.co.uk www.matara.co.uk
Unique
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REAL WEDDING
Vic Wainwright & Dawn Oliver Raven Hall Hotel Set in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Dawn Oliver and Vic Wainwright married at the Raven Hall Country House Hotel, surrounded by stunning sea views. They were accompanied by close friends and family, not forgetting their faithful dog! Dawn and Vic stayed in the area to enjoy their honeymoon at Robin Hoods Bay.
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Wedding Showcases Make an appointment to meet our wedding planner for a grand tour of our dressed rooms and to discuss your special day.
Queens Hotel, Cheltenham Your wedding day deserves a beautiful setting in which to declare and celebrate your love.
S
ITUATED in the heart of our charming spa town, the iconic Queens Hotel Cheltenham offers a stunning blend of traditional and contemporary opulence. Opened in the year of Queen Victoria’s coronation and named in her honour, the Grade II listed English Heritage building boasts a wealth of original
features to give your special day a highly memorable touch. Our beautiful Regency Suite accommodates up to 120 guests and our dedicated wedding planner will ensure sumptuous food, an elegant environment and a perfect photographic setting for the most unforgettable day of your lives.
Within this dream setting, graced in past years by royalty and aristocracy, your celebrations will be your own: tailored and styled to your own tastes and ideas to create a unique day. Take the first step by taking a personal tour of our magnificent hotel and discussing your memorable day with us.
Queens Hotel, The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NN
01242 307800 www.queenshotelcheltenham.co.uk/weddings H6632@accor.com
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Style Weddings
THE MAJESTIC NEW QUEENS HOTEL MGallery by Sofitel celebrates the revival of a beautiful heritage property as Queens Hotel, Cheltenham becomes a stunning addition to the Collection’s UK establishments, joining Francis Hotel Bath and Castle Hotel Windsor. AN ELEGANT HISTORY The hotel was originally completed in 1838 on the site of the Sherborne spa, after it was moved stone by stone, further down the Promenade. Named in honour of the sovereign, the hotel first opened on the 21st July 1838, the year of Queen Victoria’s coronation. It was later listed as a Grade II English Heritage building in acknowledgment of its opulent design and stunning details.
REVIVING THE SOURCE OF HER HERITAGE As is true of every stunning MGallery by Sofitel property, Queens Hotel has a strong and unique personality, truly reflected through carefully crafted décor and the loving and loyal restoration of timeless details. The hotel is truly a place filled with history. Remarkable listed features harmoniously blend with contemporary touches, elegantly reviving the hotel’s heritage. In the lobby, guests are drawn to intimate seating areas rather than a formal desk and a stunning tiled floor
gracefully balances the high ceiling. The staircase leads visitors to elegant guestrooms, which include twenty-eight stylish Superior Rooms and four exquisite Suites. Nobly grounded in the heart of the Regency Spa town, Queens Hotel is also a heritage destination by its location. Queens Hotel is neighboured by a collection of beautifully preserved Regency buildings and sits prominently overlooking the groomed Imperial Square Gardens and Cheltenham Town Hall, home of many of the town’s festivals. The hotel has welcomed guests as impressive and distinguished as its own history. Eminent historical figures to have graced its halls include General Sir Charles Napier, the musician Edward Elgar, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and King George III, who spent five weeks in Cheltenham to drink its medicinal waters. DELIGHTFUL DINING AND OUR NEW CHEF Our recently appointed Head Chef Ben Harmer, has previously worked at La Gavroche and Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant and is passionate about working with local suppliers and using the best local produce. His new menu launches in January and offers guests a true taste of the area with fresh, quality produce sourced from local farms and artisan cheese makers, bakers and patisseries. As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant also offers Afternoon Teas
and Tiffins with both sweet and savoury selections, including finger sandwiches, scones and cakes plus either a selection of sweet treats or miniature English picnic items. Throughout January guests will be able to enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz with all Afternoon Teas.
GIN COCKTAILS AND SIGNATURE COCKTAILS – CHELSPA The hotel’s bar has also been refurbished, with a palate of cream and tonal browns, offering an intimate atmosphere friends and colleagues to enjoy a cocktail or two. Visitors can relax in the ambience of the hotel’s regal past, admiring the solid carved wooden bar, a gift from India to Lord Napier. The impressive bar now houses over 30 different gins, including two from Cheltenham distilleries. Queens’ own signature cocktail, The Chelspa, features Cheltenham Brennan & Brown gin, smashed cucumber and elderflower among its ingredients is given to the spa water when it was first bottled for drinking. Whether it be a celebratory dinner, or a cocktail after work, Queens Hotel is sure to add a touch of luxury to any occasion. Queens Hotel, Cheltenham The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NN 01242 307800 www.queenshotelcheltenham.co.uk
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Heliflight
CHARTER – PHOTOGRAPHY HIRE PLEASURE FLIGHTS
HELICOPTER TRAINING PPL – CPL – FI
CONVERSIONS – R22 – R44 – B206 H500 – E480 – H300
(UK) LTD
Why not use a helicopter as an alternative to a wedding car on your big day? We are experienced at getting the bride to the church on time, the newly wed bride and groom from the church to reception, taking in a tour of the local countryside, and even whisking you to the airport for your honeymoon flight. Your photographer can capture your helicopter hovering just before it lands. A great shot for the album and an impressive part of your wedding video Gloucestershire Airport, Hangar SE36 Staverton Gloucestershire GL51 6SR
Our Commercial Air Transport flights are conducted under HH Helicopters AOC GB2346 01452 714 555
TRIAL LESSONS – GIFT VOUCHERS
36 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
glosops@heliflightuk.co.uk www.heliflightuk.co.uk
www.laurencharlottebridal.com 01242 226 364
20B THE COURTYARD, MONTPELLIER, CHELTENHAM, GL50 1SR.
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THE FINEST WEDDING STATIONERY Discovering The Letter Press of Cirencester, a traditional, handcrafted printing press nthony Eyre, who learnt his traditional printing skills at Stonyhurst College and later with the William Morris Society, established The Letter Press of Cirencester in 1986. During the last days of letterpress printing in Fleet Street, Anthony managed to salvage a Vandercook proofing press with which he started printing and later a larger press which is still in use at The Letter Press today. That love of printing and its traditions is still at the heart of everything that The Letter Press handcrafts today. The Letter Press of Cirencester supplies quality stationers across the UK and in 1997, became a supplier to the John Lewis Partnership. It proudly still
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maintains this relationship while the world of print has changed so much with the introduction of computers and printers in virtually everyone’s home. The Letter Press of Cirencester has a range of different print finishes from gilt edging and foiling, to letterpress printing, all perfected over years of experience as specialists in traditional high quality, luxury, personalised stationery and wedding stationery. More recently letterpress printing has made a strong resurgence in popularity especially for wedding invitations. It has a certain boutique and craft appeal due to the deep impression or bite that can be achieved. Also very popular is
thermography, which produces slightly shiny, raised lettering mimicking engraving. This type of specialist printing means invitations can be printed onto very thick board that can’t go through normal printers, making the invitations look and feel even more special. You can add bevelled edging and gilt edging to emphasise the board thickness and therefore the quality, plus an array of coloured boards to match all wedding themes. This style of luxury printing is becoming ever more popular as the quality can be seen and felt, something normal litho and home printers cannot achieve.
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Style Weddings
Wedding Stationery Celebration
On Saturday 6th February 2016, The Letter Press of Cirencester will be holding a celebration of wedding stationery and invitations. They’ve invited all Cotswold Style readers to join them to review their extensive luxury wedding stationery and invitation collections, while enjoying a glass of fizz. There will also be a 10% discount on any Wedding Stationery purchased on the day, these savings do add up when you’ve got so much to plan and pay for. The day starts at 10am and continues through to 5pm on Saturday 6th February. Just pop along when it suits you, or telephone to make an appointment to ensure you have their undivided attention. At 4pm they will also be presenting the winning couple of our Wedding Stationery competition with their prize of Wedding Stationery for their up and coming wedding in 2016.
Specialist in Wedding Stationery Getting the right personalised wedding invitations is very important as it sets the tone for the big day to come and lets everyone know just what sort of event you are planning. It all starts with save the date cards and continues through to bespoke wedding invitations finishing with the all important thank you cards. The Letter Press can coordinate other stationery formats such as place cards for the wedding reception, table plans, order of service, menus and also wedding day information packs. In fact anything you can think of, they will ensure it is designed and printed for your perfect day. They have a large collection of personalised wedding invitation designs to choose from; some are classics and others a mixture of traditional and modern, while some designs are
contemporary but all using traditional printing techniques. To ensure you choose the right personalised wedding invitations you can order a sample pack for each of their wedding collections. In this sample pack you will receive a full set of wedding stationery so you can choose with confidence the perfect style. If you don't find the design of your dreams within their collections then they also offer a bespoke wedding stationery service where they can design the right luxury wedding invitations just for you. Take a look online at www.letterpress.co.uk or at their shop at 3-9 Cripps Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1HN and on 01285 659797 or email at sales@letterpress.co.uk.
Win all your personalised wedding stationery... Cotswold Style has partnered with The Letter Press of Cirencester for a chance to win all of your personalised wedding stationery. Choose from one of the beautifully designed collections and you can win a full range of wedding stationery from ‘save the day’ cards, your wedding invitations and and finally the ‘thank you’ cards. All we ask is that your wedding will take place in 2016 and we are allowed to share in your preparations via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. We’d like to follow you through your search to
find the perfect dress, the most fabulous wedding location and of course selecting your luxury personalised wedding invitations. Your wedding can be anywhere in the world, not just in the Cotswolds. If you already love to use social media then this is perfect for you! Please send in your names, address, email and phone numbers to editor@stylemagazines.co.uk using The
Letter Press in the subject field. We will announce the lucky couples names on January 31st 2016 via Twitter and Facebook. Good luck! Terms & Conditions: Your wedding must be taking place in 2016 and you agree to share your preparations with The Letter Press of Cirencester through all social media outlets. There is no cash prize alternative.
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www.promenadeantiques.co.uk
Our range of jewellery and antiques is larger than you would imagine and if you are looking to source quality diamonds, precious stones, gold, silver or time pieces then look no further. We also have a large range of one off pieces and individually styled antique and vintage jewellery items. A5446
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18ct white gold Sapphire and Round Brilliant-cut Diamond two stone ring, approximately 0.35ct | £3,250.00
18ct white gold natural Madagascan Sapphire 4.15ct and Round Brilliant-cut Diamond cluster ring | £5,950.00
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18ct yellow gold Trilliant Mix-cut Sapphire approximately 4ct | £3,250.00
18ct white gold Sapphire and Round Brilliant-cut Diamond two stone ring, approximately 0.35ct | £3,250.00
We specialise in secondhand and antique watches clocks & pocket watch time pieces including a range of premier brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Breitling, Longines and many more...
WE BUY WE SELL WE PART EXCHANGE
18 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1LR | Tel: 01242 524519 | info@promenadeantiques.co.uk
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Weddings Wed ddings at
The M McIntosh cIntosh fam family ily would be delightedd to welcome yyou ou to our wedding wedding showcase se on SSunday unday 10th January Januarry 2016 2 bet between tween 11am and an nd 4pm.
FFor or fur further ther details please call 016 01684 84 29 295405 95405 or email eevents@tewkesburypark.co.uk ventts@tewkesburr ypark .co.uk 40 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Style Weddings
REAL WEDDING
Matthew Rodrigues & Charlotte Simpson Manor By The Lake Charlotte Simpson & Matthew Rodrigues were blessed with perfect weather on their glorious wedding day, held at Manor By The Lake in Cheltenham. The bride and groom enjoyed an extended honeymoon in South Africa and Satri - Mauritius. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.MANGOPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK
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Aisle STYLE Leading Cotswolds Bridal Retailer, Ellie Sanderson showcases her spectacular bridal event at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID BOSTOCK WWW. DAVIDBOSTOCKPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK ou wont find a better location to enjoy a luxury bridal event than at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire. Add to that multi-award winning bridal retailer Ellie Sanderson, the world-renowned wedding dress designer Suzanne Neville, a bridal fashion show, canapés and Champagne and you have the wedding season’s hottest ever event! Tickets were sold in a heartbeat with brides travelling the length and breadth of England to see the catwalk show of Suzanne Neville’s fabulous 2017 collection. The models were styled by M.A.C.H Management and the Ellie Sanderson team masterminded the entire event in collaboration with some of the wedding industries finest; pop up shops from Aruna Seth shoes, Jenny Packham Accessories, David Bostock Photography and the whole occasion was styled by Le Manoir’s florist – Fabulous Flowers. On arrival each bride and her guest were shown to their seat to view a glittering show. Silk organza ballgowns drifted down the catwalk followed by timeless column line gowns with stunning back detail, topped off with a short flirty finale’ dress. The >>>
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Style Weddings
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brides were then treated to a one-on-one consultation with the team and Suzanne Neville. Over thirty excited and thrilled brides had personal appointments with all the experts and so many bought their dress on the day or booked their make up artist, florist or photographer. Each bride left on a high clutching a gift bag full of wonderful goodies such as chocolates from Le Manoir, a mini wedding cake from GC Couture, Suzanne Neville Perfume and plenty more. In fact we had so much fun that we just have to make it an annual event!
COLLABORATORS AT LE MANOIR EVENT WITH ELLIE SANDERSON DAVID BOSTOCK PHOTOGRAPHY (ALL THE IMAGES AND SHOW CASED) www.davidbostockphotography.co.uk CLARE HANSON, HAIR AND MAKEUP – MACH MANAGEMENT www.machmanagement.com FLOWERS AND VENUE STYLING BY FABULOUS FLOWERS www.fabulousflowers.biz POP UP SHOE SHOP - ARUNA SETH www.arunaseth.com WEDDING ACCESSORIES – JENNY PACKHAM www.elliesanderson.co.uk DRESSES BY SUZANNE NEVILLE AT ELLIE SANDERSON www.elliesanderson.co.uk www.suzanneneville.com VIDEOGRAPHER – MARK SHIPPERLY www.markshipperleyfilms.co.uk LUXURY WEDDING CAKES BY GC COUTURE CAKE www.gccouture.co.uk VENUE Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons Le Manoir Events team - Lance Kearle www.belmond.com/le-manoir-auxquat-saisons-oxfordshire
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Modular and Traditional marquees for weddings and those significant occasions.
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HOMES & GARDENS Building Modern Country Homes
www.yorkeconstruction.co.uk
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The perfect choice Glevum are one of the largest independent installer of conservatories, doors and windows in the south-west. A family-run firm, we have worked with customers for over 30 years to enhance and protect their homes with our high-quality range of products installed by our experienced team. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and much of our business comes from recommendation. More than 40,000 customers throughout Gloucestershire and beyond now benefit from the security and quality of Glevum doors, windows and conservatories. Exceptional product quality and customer service Whether you are looking for a brand new conservatory, replacement windows or advice on how double-glazing units can help with your energy bills, Glevum has the experienced team to help you. From design through to installation, we treat your home with as much care as if it was our own; our installers tidy up every day and our dedicated aftercare service team are there to advise you on your new uPVC doors and windows. We use only the highest quality product range, made locally which complements Glevum’s experience and reputation for trust and customer service.
Visit www.glevum.co.uk to see our latest special offers.
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Style Interiors
Happiness at Work Clive Burling reflects his happiness on his interior projects to date t’s another new year and a good time to wish everyone a happy one. It’s something we all do and rightly so. Happiness is a wonderful thing. Resolutions are always associated with this time too. In my opinion this is probably the worst time of year to commit to anything at all, especially if it involves any kind of abstinence! I much prefer to save my resolutions (should I need to make any), till later in the year when they are much more likely to be sustained. I made one such resolution a few years ago and it has worked very well for me. The resolution? Not to
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make any New Year resolutions! A happy new year is more than enough. What makes us happy though? For me it’s simple; spending my time doing things I really enjoy. Applying this to ones work really has to be the answer. That way, well it’s not really work at all is it? Over the past year or so I’ve recounted in this magazine a few jobs I’ve completed and here are images of some of my favourites. My stand out memory of this time has to be the excitement, satisfaction and happiness of clients seeing the results of my
labours. Visualisation can sometimes be difficult but seeing the before and after effect once a piece has been finished is a always a pleasure. Everyone is happy. What more could anyone wish for! I’ve got some very exciting projects booked in for 2016 and I look forward very much to telling you all about them. Whatever you have planned, resolutions or not, I would like to wish you a happiness filled year! clive.burling@gmail.com Tel: 07788257914
“What makes us happy though? For me it’s simple; spending my time doing things I really enjoy. Applying this to ones work really has to be the answer. That way, well it’s not really work at all is it?”
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Inspira onal ideas If you are considering any home improvements or an extension, conservatory or an orangery please call us. With over 30 years experience designing and constructing we can take away the stress and handle your project from conception through to completion. We also offer a full range of Bi-Fold doors composite doors and windows in either aluminium pvc or timber. You may be thinking about a kitchen or a bathroom again we can supply this for you. All our products carry a ten year insurance backed guarantee and Fensa with regard to window installations. From the spring you will be able to visit
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for your home and garden us at Evesham Country Park and see our range of products, currently we have the rotating garden pods on display. With over 30 years experience designing and building conservatories, orangeries and lanterned roof extensions, supplying and fitting bi-fold doors, composite doors and windows, we have the products to meet your desires. We will design and build you your dream extension right through to completion. So if you are thinking about something special for your garden come and see our exciting range of products.
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PHOTO: VICTORIA CRONIN
Croome Park
Through the Garden Gate Blow up those botanical balloons and celebrate in style as we leave you in the capable hands of our media horticulturalist, Camilla Bassett-Smith... on’t pack away that Christmas cake mixing bowl just yet – we need it – in fact we may need quite a few as there’s a rather large birthday on the horticultural horizon. This is going to be a gardening gateaux extraordinaire. Rich brown chocolate like the earth, iced in a swathe of grass like green with 300 candles popping up naturally all over the top as if they were the trees so vital to this birthday boy’s legacy……. No peeping, that’s it, just a few inches more and HAPPY 300th BIRTHDAY LANCELOT BROWN! (More commonly known as ‘Capability Brown’ due to his habit of visualising great capabilities of a given green space). We couldn’t fit everyone who wanted to celebrate this milestone into the local village hall and so have opted for an outdoor celebration in one of your first ever landscapes – Croome Park in Worcestershire. Just a short drive from the M5 and M50 – expect plenty of traffic on these routes as guests depart. (Although of course in your day, these
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were not part of your landscape plans and so let’s forget the modern motorcar for now!). Born in 1716, this man did to the British landscape what Shakespeare did to the written word – he made it sing. Before Capability Brown impacted on the landscape, everything was straight lines, parterres, fantastically formal in the manner of Versailles. Brown saw something different and it was in 1752, in the early days of his landscape gardening career, that he came to Croome. Brown had the vision and the Estate owner, the 6th Earl of Coventry, had the money and desire to impress. So with the merging of these two great minds like water to seed, the first solo Capability Brown garden sprang to life. From marsh land came a stunning park land framed by The Malverns, filled with impressive trees and shrubs, both native and from all corners of the world introduced by the great plant-hunters of the time. For example Croome boasts one of the first Ginkgos planted in this country. How do we know? Well,
thankfully, like me, the Earl of Coventry was a bit of a hoarder and The National Trust (who took over Croome in 1996) has inherited an incredible archive of receipts and plant lists showing what was where and when. A copy of a 1786 receipt tells of Iris, polyanthus and yellow raspberries on order and we know that long before Verbena bonariensis was the fashionable plant it is today, Croome was proudly praising these purple puffs.
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PHOTO: PAT GRIFFIN
Style Gardening
“So with the merging of these two great minds like water to seed, the first solo Capability Brown garden sprang to life.”
In order to produce a natural feel, Brown created a river and lake; perfection on the eye but also functional as it drained the surrounding area for the planting of his trees and shrubs. Shrubberies there are en masse. Not in lines, but long wiggly paths, taking you on a journey through nature – many areas taking different names from the Evergreen Shrubbery to the Home Shrubbery (nearest to the house and ideal for showing off to guests!).
The Hortus Croomensis – a guidebook for the Park published in 1824 and written by William Dean, then head gardener, tells us of over 5000 plants on site. In fact, so impressive was the collection that even before the book was written, at the start of the 19th Century, Croome was thought to be second only to Kew Gardens in terms of the variety of plants growing there. These included, of course, Brown’s iconic Cedars of Lebanon but also Turkey Oak, Catalpa, Swamp Cypress and London Planes planted next to the lake to create beautiful reflections of the bark on the water’s surface. So detailed is the Hortus Croomensis, that staff can locate trees and shrubs mentioned that still survive today and calculate what is missing and hence to be replaced in the style of what has gone before. 2016 is sure to be a continuum of celebrations of this great man’s gift to
our land. Talks are planned, including one at Croome on 9th February and a new book is eagerly anticipated by Dr Sarah Rutherford which promises to be essential reading. They say that all good things come in threes (or should that be trees?!) and England wouldn’t be England without the triple century legend that we celebrate this year. COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 53
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Carpet Emporium is truly a family business run by Don D’Ambrosio along with his wife Mary and cousin John who have successfully built up a carpet business with a ‘difference’. We are not your normal carpet business with just lots of pattern books or samples to choose from, we actually probably stock more carpet rolls and large room sized remnants than other carpet business in Gloucestershire. When people think of a carpet remnant they think of a small piece suitable for a small bedroom, but the remnants we stock are big enough to carpet several rooms.
the difference is...
WHY CARPET REMNANTS? We also stock full rolls which will carpet a complete house. Many of these offer our customers a discount of up to 50% off normal retail prices. All remnants are perfect we do not sell factory seconds. We offer budget priced remnants to top quality 80% Wool Twist and 100% Wool Berbers, we also have many wool carpets that are now mothproof. If you cannot find what you are looking for in our extensive stock selection of over 250 rolls, we also have over 500 samples of carpets and rugs from all leading carpet manufactures in the UK and Europe. RUGS We also carry a huge range of rugs all from stock from bargain priced polypropylenes to 100% Wool Natural, plains and patterned. Many of the rugs stocked are discontinued lines which represent a big saving on normal prices. VINYLS Over 250 designs and styles of top quality vinyls available, from marble, wood, tile effect and many contemporary designs. DIVAN BEDS & MATTRESSES We have a large selection of different quality mattresses from budget priced open coil, to high quality 3000 pocket sprung, and also superb quality natural latex options. All beds and mattresses can be delivered direct from stock. WHY PURCHASE FROM CARPET EMPORIUM Carpet Emporium aim to make your carpet buying experience as easy as possible, we offer a measuring and planning service free of charge. We have experienced carpet fitters which we can fully recommend or we can deliver carpets direct to your premises for your own fitter to install. We have been providing flooring and rugs in the Cheltenham area for over 35 years.
Customer satisfaction is crucial to our business and we will always endeavour to bring our customer the best service and most competitive prices we possibly can.
01242 22 88 55
Give us a try before you buy we GUARANTEE value for money!
16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HA Open 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS – 9am-6.30pm
carpetemporium@hotmail.com | www.carpetemporium.co.uk
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Style Cotswoldia
Cotswoldia Angela Chancellor’s Fizz Has Popped This January re you starting the New Year with renewed vigour and full of good intentions? Or is January just one big giant hangover spent hiding under your duvet, regretting the preceding 31 days of gluttony and over-indulgence? Are you gripped by beer-fear and desperately trying to piece together what happened after your last intact memory of the office Christmas party? You were the life and soul of the party, weren't you? Who knew you were so good at balancing on tables. Where on earth did that giant bruise come from? As I am writing this, I have of course not yet heard all your disaster stories from the party season. So in the name of research I have been consulting that most reliable source of information and entertainment: the Internet. Oh glorious You Tube, hours and hours of fun watching others make a complete twit of themselves at office parties all over the land, the world even. No wonder most of our kids don’t bother with the telly anymore! As our readers will naturally be of the sort that put the ‘Style’ into the Cotswolds, models of grace and restraint, I will assume that none of you behaved so badly that you are now facing this year with neither employment, nor friends. You may however, have acquired a dress size over the season and if you haven't, please for God’s sake don't tell us. Most of us are feeling full of remorse, why oh why did we consume quite so much? How can we have forgotten the lessons we learnt just last January? Did you not heed the warning ‘Beware of the canapé’! It may be small and cute but it is evil, a bite-sized booby trap devised by your hostess to trick you into getting fatter than she is. They slip down almost unnoticed but the average calorie content is at least that of a Rich Tea biscuit or even a Lindt chocolate truffle ball and you wouldn’t normally go around scoffing at least 10 of those before supper would you? One thing is certain; reducing the Champagne belly will require some serious thought. With the average glass of
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fizz containing somewhere in the region of 90 cals, I fear that I have probably upped my daily calorie intake to that of a male professional athlete during the last month. Going teetotal in January has sadly never been an option for me, I have a birthday to celebrate and I am weak-willed and as drastic measures have never been my thing, I believe in coming down gently from the high that is December. So, I have decided to start my good intentions with my new discovery that is ‘skinny’ Champagne by G. Tribaut. Our French cousins know how to live the good life and I am more than happy to follow their lead. It purports to only have 275 cals a bottle and I have tins of soup in my cupboard with more than that. I have just placed an
order and as a responsible journalist, will let you all know what the team here at Style think - when we have properly sampled some. Meanwhile I will be switching from fermented grape to extracted vegetable juice and tackling my new spiralizer. If you have no idea what I am talking about, you need to pull yourself out from whatever rock you have been hiding under, as this is one trend that shows no signs of going away any time soon. You know something is truly taking hold, even in the provinces, when the greasy spoon a few doors down from Cheltenham’s new temple to all things juicy and healthy is taking note. Feeling slightly fragile recently, as can happen occasionally, especially during party season, I had a few minutes to spare before an appointment. I popped into Charlton Kings, thank goodness for the car park next to Teddies school, to dash into ‘The Core’ to get a seriously large dose of pepping up healthy vitamins to see me through the rest of the day. Suffering from some die-hard post apocalyptic cravings I then popped along to the traditional greasy spoon a few doors down to get a whopping great and truly fantastic I might add, good old bacon sarnie. My juice was met with much interest, not what I was expecting from the type of cafe more likely used to catering for clients with more traditional tastes. Risking derision, I allowed my friendly, new chums to satisfy their curiosity and sample my alarming looking beverage. The verdict: very nice actually. So there you go, didn’t I tell you.
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Style Culture
Cotswolds Culture Susan Blanchfield explains how the English put skiing on the downhill slopes There is an absurd but whimsically romantic rumour that occasionally surfaces around this time of year and its premise is that the English invented skiing. Of course this is not quite true. As a way of getting about on snow, skiing is at least six thousand years old. The Scandinavians and Russians for example skied for millennia with the express purpose of getting from A to B and there are plenty of artefacts dug from the bogs of their countries to prove it. England is a largely flat country with little in the way of snow and there would have been no reason for us to strap two planks of wood to our feet to travel. But the English are well known for their eccentricities when it comes to the utilitarian and it was the English who dreamt up the idea of climbing up mountains and skiing down them for the sheer hell of it. Downhill skiing as a leisure and sport pursuit is perceived by us today as such a completely natural and obvious thing to do that it is difficult to imagine not skiing this way; but the idea of going downhill was a peculiarly English invention that at first, had our Scandi and alpine cousins completely baffled. Until the English arrived on the scene, skiing was a horizontal rather than vertical sport because the countries that regularly used skis to travel considered downhill to be for people to feeble to manage cross-country. It was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – creator of Sherlock Holmes who first brought skiing to the attention of the English public when in 1894, he wrote an article explaining the basics and the attractions of the sport in the popular ‘Strand’ magazine. At that time skiing was almost unheard of here. The article triggered an interest from the English upper classes, which quickly turned into an obsession. Led by Henry Lunn who established alpine hotels in Murren and Wegen, which combined facilities for skiers, the English seized their rudimentary hickory
skis and set about colonising the Swiss Alps in droves. The bemused locals looked on as the English ‘madmen’ awkwardly shuffled up the slopes before charging down on their skis making ‘as much noise as possible’ before returning to do it all over again. And again… And again. Henry Lunn’s passion for skiing combined with a determination to create mountain holidays for wellbeing almost singlehandedly created the winter sports industry. And his spearheading of the building of funiculars in 1913 to take skiers up the mountain thereby eliminating all the hard work of climbing up them further increased the popularity of downhill skiing. Henry’s son, Sir Arnold Lunn – often referred to as the father of downhill skiing - was equally as determined to promote skiing. He demonstrated the English predilection for establishing rules and standards when he formulated the Kandahar Cup race in 1911. Named after the non-skiing Field Marshall Roberts of Kandahar who donated the cup for the original gruelling race, the ski club of the same name was set up to promote downhill skiing when it was not officially recognised as an alpine sport. Sir Arnold spent decades campaigning against stiff opposition from the Germans and Scandinavians to establish downhill racing as part of the International Ski Federation and Olympic events. In 1922 he conceived the idea of placing gates on slopes, which you had to ski around and
created an event, which he called ‘the slalom’. He became a passionate advocator of both sports and notorious amongst the established European ski fraternity who vehemently opposed his efforts to include the Slalom race in the 1936 winter Olympics. English determination won through however, the races were included and it was Sir Arnold who wrote the rules for both the downhill and the slalom, which remain unchanged today. So the English most certainly did not invent skiing but we gleefully revolutionised an established utilitarian form of transport in the face of huge opposition from our Euroepan neighbours. We shurgged off accusations of meddling madness and turned downhill skiing into a recognised sport; and our fondness for a seriously good time resulted in the transformation of dozens of sleepy alpine villages into vibrant winter holiday destinations. And we invented the modern day ski holiday turning an elitist leisure pursuit into an egalitarian hobby, enjoyed by millions each year. The reality in this case is much more impressive than the rumour. Gloucestershire’s own ‘Eddie the Eagle’ reminds us that it has been downhill all the way since… Susan Blanchfield is a Patron and Trustee of Cheltenham Festivals; she is a postgraduate doctoral researcher at the University of Gloucestershire and has a life long passion for the Arts in Education. Please contact Susan at: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
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UPHOLSTERY
TECHNIQUES THE SOFA MAKERS
Modern and classic furniture made in our Cotswold workshops Visit us at our new showroom Stanway Grounds, Broadway Road, Stanway, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 5DR
01242 621414 mail@uptec.co.uk www.upholstery-techniques.com
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Style Interview
Castaway COLLECTION
Leading British couture designer Suzanne Neville is the seamstress to the stars. Coming from the London College of Fashion, Suzanne’s first collection was purchased entirely by Harrods. Today Suzanne has stores across the globe together with over 50 stockists worldwide. Suzanne’s magical creations are at the forefront of bridal and eveningwear and frequent red carpets and TV screens across the globe. Her stunning designs have been worn by leading ladies including Elle MacPherson, Katherine Jenkins, Holly Willoughby, Darcey Bussell and a Spice Girl or two. Cotswold Style Columnist Ellie Mainwaring interviews Suzanne. Where in the world would you choose to be castaway to and why?
Somewhere remote but still with a touch of luxury. With its white sandy beaches and turquoise clear seas, Anguilla in the Caribbean would suit perfectly – complete paradise! What item of jewellery or accessory would you take?
What would be your last supper before departing?
Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, finished off with Chocolate Fondant for pudding. Funnily enough, I enjoyed exactly this feast just last night at a wonderful event at The Mandarin Oriental hotel in London.
I’m very lucky that my husband has great taste when it comes to jewellery and my engagement ring is my most cherished piece. I couldn’t be without it.
You can take one celebrity companion, dead or alive. Who will it be?
You can take the entire works of one musician to your desert island, who will it be?
Those close to me know I can never be without my black dress and boots. My whole wardrobe is bursting with different variations on this classic staple.
Likely to be an obvious answer, I’d choose Adele. Beside the fact that Adele’s voice is simply stunning, it would remind me of my Knightsbridge boutique, as the shop floor team love to play her back catalogue. An endless supply of Gin & Tonics! You can’t beat a refreshing Hendricks G&T, with ice and a slice of cucumber. What would be your luxury item?
I’m a hopeless romantic and love feelgood romcoms like The Holiday. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz are fabulous in this movie and I can watch it over and over. What movie would you take?
Mae West would be heaps of fun many of her life quotes are hilarious. What’s your most treasured wardrobe item?
Biggest memory item and what’s the story behind it?
The printed emails back and forth from when I first met my husband. To read through them is to remember falling in love. If you had a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to duplicate myself so I could meet all of the brides we work with around the world.
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T R AV E L
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r M & Mrs Jones
Somewhere for the Weekend? Our very own Cotswoldia couple, Mrs and Mr Jones, hosts our travel section. They thoroughly investigate destinations ideal for a little trip away revealing vital tips on a glamorous getaway and also provide the inside track to ensure the destination caters for a range of tastes and wallets. From the slickest city hangouts to peaceful boltholes, you won’t waste a moment planning your travels. This month we visit LAS VEGAS in the USA
LAS VEGAS
When Mr Jones first floated the idea of a trip to Vegas, Mrs Jones was a little sceptical. Considering herself a sometime culture vulture, she wasn’t convinced a trip to the glitz of ‘Sin City’ was really worth a gamble. A few bribes and a long flight later, Mrs Jones found herself thrust into the neon world of the Strip. While the 4.2 mile long Strip is synonymous with Las Vegas, the rest of the city spreads over 130 square miles in the midst of the Mojave Desert. What is now described as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’, didn’t take off until gambling was legalised in 1931. Stars such
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as Elvis, Sinatra and Crosby were drawn to the hotel stages during the post-war years when the mob ruled. But it wasn’t until the late 1980s that its current incarnation as a mega-resort destination began. As Mrs Jones soon discovered, there’s more to Vegas than just gambling. The city today boasts the most hotel rooms in the world and is built on the simple premise of having fun.
By Day
With the 8-hour time difference, Mr Jones was wide-awake at 5am and went down to the hotel’s casino for a few games of black jack, until Mrs Jones prized him away for breakfast. While drinks are free at the gaming tables, it’s
considered courtesy to tip the waitress. Most sightseeing by day is centered around the enormous resort hotels on the Strip, containing everything from shops to aquariums and shows to spas, not forgetting the obligatory casino. Outside of winter, join the bright young things chilling out poolside. To add a little culture to their visit, Mrs Jones explored the Bellagio’s art gallery, before testing out the Romaninspired spa at Caesar’s Palace. Mr Jones’ idea of culture was to sign up for a poker lesson, which would stand him in good stead for later. Coming across The Venetian, Mr Jones suggested a gondola ride and they enjoyed the perfectly recreated facades of the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of
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Sighs from the water, almost like being back in Venice. To understand the real culture of the city, journey downtown to the Mob Museum (themobmuseum.org), located in a historic courthouse where hearings of notorious gangsters once took place.
Shopping
With shopping on the agenda and a condition of Mrs Jones agreeing to Vegas, they ascended the spiral escalator to the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace. They soon found themselves walking along the cobbled streets of Rome, complete with stone statues and a ceiling adorned with blue sky and fluffy clouds. In the Grand Canal Shops at The Venetian, they strolled along a canal complete with singing gondoliers. These two shopping centres, as well as the new Crystals Mall and most of the luxury hotel malls, are full of high-end designer names. If you’re looking for stores such as Banana Republic, Macy’s or Victoria’s Secret, head to the Fashion Show Mall (thefashionshow.com) further down The Strip.
Getting Around
To save your feet, buy a 24-hour ($8)or 72-hour ($20) bus pass, which travels the length of the Strip and onto Downtown and Fremont Street. Some of the hotels are connected by free tram. Taxis wait outside the casinos and cost around $15 to $25 for most local journeys, plus a 10 to 15% tip. While there’s plenty to do in Vegas itself, experience some geographical wonders by taking a trip by helicopter or light aircraft to the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.
By Night
As the sun goes down, the Strip lights up and the city truly comes alive. Mr Jones, an Ocean’s Eleven fan, was keen to try out the tables at The Bellagio. Mrs Jones, however, had other ideas and they headed to Hyde Bar for an amazing view of the Bellagio’s fountains. Every half hour from mid-afternoon onwards, hundreds of water jets majestically dance to music, some bursting over 400 feet into the air. Almost as spectacular, the volcano in front of the Mirage erupts on a nightly basis; wowing spectators with smoke and fire. For a taste of old Vegas, visit the Fremont Street Experience downtown. Keep an eye out for the wedding chapels en route. Graceland is home to the original Elvis-impersonator wedding. Mr Jones was impressed with the idea of the Drive-Thru Chapel to keep things simple. Mrs Jones was not. Pedestrianised Fremont Street is full of casinos, gift shops, the famous Golden Nugget hotel and the infamous Golden Girls of Glitter Gulch. Canopied with the world’s largest video screen, look skyward for spectacular sound and light shows. Ever the adventurer, Mr Jones took a ride on the SlotZilla zipline. He found himself flying like a super-hero through the canopy over 100 feet up in the air. Mrs Jones decided the safer option would be an elevator ride up the Stratosphere for panoramic views of the Strip. No trip to Vegas would be complete without a show. If music’s your thing, look out for Elton John, Celine Dion or Lionel Richie, or be spellbound by the magic of David Copperfield or Penn & Teller. Cirque du Soleil has shows all
over town, from the sensually provocative Zumanity to the dramatic acrobatics of Le Rêve. There’s so many clubs and bars to choose from, but one of the Jones’ highlights, was the Times Square Bar in the New York New York hotel, where dueling pianos get the crowds singing until the early hours.
Eating
You’ll certainly eat well in Sin City, from all-American pancakes, burgers and steakhouses to restaurants owned by Michelin-starred chefs. All-you-can-eat buffets can be found in most casino hotels. At weekends, this turns into Champagne brunch. Servers expect 15 to 18% tips. To find out the best places to eat, try a Lip Smacking Foodie Tour (see spotlight box). Splurge Enjoy buffet breakfast at the Grand Luxe Café at the Venetian, or spoil yourself for brunch at the amazing Bacchanal buffet at Caesar’s Palace. For á la carte, try the Country Club at the Wynn for melting steaks (and healthy salads) overlooking the Strip’s only golf course. Blow your winnings at Joel Robuchon at the MGM Grand or Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesar’s Palace. Mid Range Tom’s Urban at the New York New York serves great American breakfasts, burgers and steaks. Delicious modern tapas can be found at Jaleo and amazing Greek food at Milos, both in the Cosmopolitan (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com), see review. Or head to the Top of the World (stratospherehotel.com). Budget Greenwich Village at the New York New York offers a great variety of >>> COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 65
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Spotlight on...
eateries including deli-style, take-out pizza and Mexican; Shake Shack in the same hotel serves succulent burgers.
Staying
Splurge Experience ultimate Strip luxury at the Wynn (wynn.com), Italian opulence at the Bellagio (bellagio.com) and luxurious suites and a fabulous location at the Venetian (venetian.com). Mid Range Plan ahead to book a mid-range room at the Greco-Roman inspired Caesars Palace (caesars.com) or the fun Big Apple themed New York New York (newyorknewyork.com). Budget On the Strip, the 1950s era Tropicana offers discounted rooms. Downtown, relive the original spirit of Vegas at the Golden Nugget (goldennugget.com).
When to go
The best times to visit are spring and autumn when temperatures are balmy. Summer can be stifling outside in the daytime, although all hotels are air66 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
Vegas has recently become a foodie destination with the who’s who of celebrity chefs opening restaurants on the Strip. To explore the flavours of downtown or the Strip, and get the inside track on the best places to dine, take a Lip Smacking Foodie Tour (vegasfoodietour.com). Mrs & Mr Jones booked the threehour evening Savors of the Strip tour. These small-group walking tours promise a VIP experience with no need for queues or reservations. Mr Jones was thrilled to learn there would be five different restaurants to try, while Mrs Jones was concerned she’d fit it all in. First stop was the Yusho grill and noodle house (yusholv.com), specialising in Japanese street food. They were seated immediately by the grill to watch the action. After sampling a couple of the draught cocktails, Mrs Jones fell in love with the melt-in-the-mouth boneless, stuffed chicken wings. Mr Jones savoured the Logan Poser Ramen complete with crispy pork belly and soft-boiled egg. Next stop was the romantic Bardot Brasserie at the Aria (aria.com), owned by Michael Mina, a Michelinstarred chef. Here the group shared delicate escargots in Chartreuse butter, succulent duck wings á l’orange and savoury pain perdu filled with chicken ragout, washed down with Prosecco. Estiatorio Milos in the Cosmopolitan (milos.ca) was buzzing with life and is the finest Greek restaurant in the city. Mediterraneancaught fish is flown-in fresh nearly every day. Mrs Jones used the rustic sourdough to mop up the juice from
conditioned. Winter (November to February) is cooler by day and temperatures can plummet at night.
Getting There
Flights arrive into McCarran International Airport. British Airways (britishairways.com) and American Airlines (aa.com) fly non-stop from Heathrow (approx. 11 hours). Virgin
the sensational tomato salad and Mr Jones enjoyed the tender grilled octopus. Just across from Milos, Jaleo is celebrity chef José Andrés’ modern interpretation of Spanish tapas. There’s plenty of drama with the central wood-burning fire used to cook authentic Valencian-style paella. Mr Jones was woken from his reverie when the chef rang a cowbell and yelled ‘paella’ indicating it was ready for service. The Ferran Adrià-inspired liquid olives equally wowed Mrs Jones. To round off the evening, the group was taken to Hexx at the Paris (hexxlasvegas.com). After working their way though a tasting of singleorigin chocolate in the exhibition kitchen, they were led to their table to feast on an array of chocolate desserts including sticky Aztec cake, silky mousse and cocoa nib pannacotta. Fit to burst, the Jones’ made their way to the nearest bar (chocolate martini anyone?) to debate which restaurant to return to the following day. (virgin-atlantic.com) and Delta (delta.com) fly non-stop from Gatwick (approx. 11 hours). United Airlines (united.com) and some of the European carriers fly in-direct from Birmingham (approx. 16 hours). An airport shuttle bus costs around $7 (one-way) to get to the Strip hotels. A taxi costs around $25 plus tip. Written by Sara Chardin
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event
Cousins Fashion Show Cousins of Montpellier invited regular and new customers to view the latest Joseph Ribkoff collection, guests were treated to fizz and nibbles at this hugely successful annual event. Photography by Angus Bethune
COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 67
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HAPPY SKI NEW YEAR Self-professed adventuress and Travel Writer Lucy Garbutt recommends making fresh tracks this winter to experience the magic of the mountains and highlights three of her favourite ski spots. y passion for skiing is as extreme as the mountains themselves. It is not just the feelings of true freedom that this unique sort of action holiday brings. It is the combination of all that is up for grabs; from rising early and blasting down a crisp, fresh verticality of snow, soaking up stupendous moving panoramas from the comfort of a chairlift, eating ones heart out sampling scrumptious regional cuisine and the fabulous après-ski. The ski hard, party hard elements of a ski holiday make it highly addictive and provide all the ingredients that ensure you enjoy a complete break from the routine of normality.
M
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Children never forget their first skiing holiday and mine was no exception. Our first family skiing holidays were to Meribel. I will never forget our horsesleigh ride around the enchanting village with its pretty wooden chalets and fir trees draped in frosted snow. I loved the lunchtime cosy on-piste restaurants and sumptuous evening feasts and my first cheese fondue. We stayed in Meribel Altiport (1700m) and the holiday was frankly, off-the-scale indulgence. Not that I had any realisation at the time that the luxurious ski-in-ski-out chalet, complete with spa was not the norm for a family skiing holiday but it certainly established my life-long love for the sport. We departed our chalet directly into the heart
of the mighty Trois Vallees, one of the largest ski areas in the world and the adventures were plentiful and memorable! Meribel is my favourite family French resort and now has the added bonus of offering the ‘Patinoire Olympique’ with indoor swimming pool, water slides, climbing wall and ice-rink providing a wonderful alternative to skiing should the weather close in and be too much for the little ones. My first ‘friends’ ski holiday was to St Anton in Austria with its powerful party atmosphere. We stayed in a catered chalet in the pretty car-free village centre serenaded by the occasional Austrian harpsichord and bursts of song. The group split off into skiing posses
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depending on ability and while some found their ski legs for the first time on St Anton’s gentle, wide nursery slopes and discovered Glühwein in Anton Café, others tackled some pretty tough skiing. St Anton’s skiable peaks ascend to dizzying degrees pretty quickly, such as the near vertical drop of Valluga and Schindlers invigorating moguls and terrifying off-piste challenges with steep chutes and narrow gullies. At the end of each day we all fell into the Mooserwirt for a jar of beer to celebrate the day’s achievements and share the inevitable skithrill stories. This was a ski very hard and party even harder sort of holiday where we returned back to Blighty and work to recover! For romance the trendy little town of
Verbier in Switzerland wins my heart. Verbier is breathtakingly beautiful nestled in its high altitude setting of quaint wooden chalets facing the majestic white luminous Grand Combin massif. My husband and I once celebrated New Year here together with the wider community, who all gathered in the main square to sing and cheer in New Year and hug and kiss each other passionately – how very un-British! Our favourite thing to do in Verbier was to stop for a vin chaud at the mountainside yurt 1936 and treat ourselves to a delicious Swiss mountain lunch of raclette in Chez Danny. Verbier boasts the best après-ski, first stop being the Après Ski Bar at the Farinet overlooking the main square. Of course Verbier’s chic dining is second to none
and following a re-fuelling feast we generally ended up for an unnecessary night cap in the Farm Club. And then there is Val d’Isere… but that’s a whole story in itself! If you would like to make a beeline for the mountains this season or arrange a holiday anywhere else on the planet, a journey can be tailor-made by World Odyssey – for more information on anything to do with your next holiday please visit www.worldodyssey.com – follow us @World_Odyssey, become a fan on Facebook and/or call one of our travel specialists for advice on: 01905 731373.
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Do you suffer from needle phobia? Then our revolutionary ‘Magic Wand’ is here to help The Wand is essentially a computer-controlled dental injection where WKH ÀRZ UDWH RI ORFDO DQDHVWKHWLF LV FRQWUROOHG E\ D FRPSXWHU UHVXOWLQJ in less pain than traditional injections. From routine treatments to complex surgical procedures such as dental implants Arnica is the dental practice of choice for nervous, anxious and phobic patients. For more information about how we can look after your oral health and wellbeing in 2016 call 01242 655554.
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FA S H I O N H E A LT H & B E A U T Y The Most Intense Skin Rejuvenation Treatment Yet To find out more about this incredible new advanced skin treatment, please contact the salon for a consultation. Clients are remarking on how amazing their skin is after just one treatment!!!
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Style Health
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crossed teeth without the need to do any traditional dentistry on them at all and most cases are completed inside 6 months. Another alternative is to use composite bonding or composite veneers. This is a technique where again the teeth are usually only lightly touched if at all and tooth coloured resins are bonded directly to the tooth surface to correct alignment, colour, gaps or even replace missing teeth! In addition to all these new techniques we are excited to introduce our new dentist Dr Chloe Harrington; new to Pittville Lawn but not to Cheltenham. She has already been working in town for a couple of years and is in the middle of her Masters degree in implantology at Bristol Dental hospital, she is very much looking forward to complementing the team here at Pittville Lawn and bringing her energy and enthusiasm to all of her patients. To find out how the team can improve your confidence call 01242 225225 or visit www.pittvillelawn.co.uk
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Style Views
Unbelievable! Sandra Paul met with Ian Maxted from Gloucestershire Police to inform us how to be more Cyber-Savvy ave you started watching CSI: Cyber on Channel 5? I am a big fan of the crime series focusing on computer experts battling those who would use technology for criminal purposes. Last week I met Gloucestershire Constabulary’s own cyber-crime expert to find out about the work he and his team do to protect us. Ian Maxted, Safer Cyber coordinator for Gloucestershire Police, has been working in the public sector for a year. He began his career as an ethical hacker, employed by security-conscious firms to search out any vulnerabilities. His experience in IT service delivery, infrastructure etc. for defence contractors and Government departments means he has the ideal background to bring the public sector up to date to combat cyber-enabled crime. I jokily refer to Ian as a nerd and there is a slight pause. “I prefer the term ‘geek’ – it’s a bit more affectionate than nerd! I enjoy technology and things around technology. My previous interest is in social engineering, so I understand what makes people tick, why they become a victim of cyber crime.” Ian saw the appointment as a good opportunity to do something that used his skills, was meaningful and of benefit to others. “We have a responsibility to make sure that we are ready to deal with things if it happens. Whatever comes our way, we can as a county respond effectively.” Ian explains that ‘cyber crime’ is traditional crime e.g. fraud, blackmail, harassment etc. leveraged with technology. ‘Cyber-dependent crime’ on the other hand, relies on having computers to making it happen e.g. hacking, a denial of services, or traditional hacking where a system is hacked into, to extract data etc. Gloucestershire Police co-ordinate a group of regional police forces’ cyber units ensuring that individual forces are not duplicating effort or reinventing the wheel. “How can we work smarter?” is the
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name of the game according to Ian. “We support other forces. We look across the whole piece. What are the current trends? What are the emerging trends? Because some of us are a little further ahead, we share knowledge and deal with the issues proactively,” Ian continued. A network of specialist volunteers enhances Ian’s team with expertise in IT security, hardware, software etc. “Historically, volunteers have come to us through recommendations or they’ve seen us at an event and want to help – it’s been quite organic but extremely positive. We are running a review to see how we can encourage and support volunteers.” I asked Ian what we are likely to see in 2016? Ian is quite self-effacing and does not want to be seen as a guru in any way but when pushed he did say, “It is a marginally educated guess. We are being driven by retailers and banks to do more online. So we will see more victims as a result. “Security is only starting to be assessed as standard practice. “When a product is typically created it is for form and function, so the security piece generally comes afterwards. Assessments, people finding vulnerabilities and disclosing them - this work should be done in the initial stages not once the product has been produced. “Consumers do find it confusing and certification is not a fool-proof way to say to consumers that your products and
services are safe. But if we look at ‘Cyber Essentials’, (a Governmentbacked scheme) to be awarded, you have to embed cyber security. That, for me says the company values the importance of information. It shows a commitment to treating customer data with care.” How on earth do we protect ourselves? “Keeping with reputable brands is always good start. Ask, whom do I trust? Use good quality anti-viruses. Use the security features the banks give you. It’s in their interests and yours to make sure you take advantage of installing protection. If you’re not sure, trust your instinct. If it’s unsolicited email, mark it as spam, don’t follow the links and don’t try and unmask who sent it. If it is a generic message and not personalized, it’s not a targeted attempt to target you. If it is sent to you as an individual and you have a genuine cause to believe it’s a genuine targeting, we want you to report it. “The results of a GCHQ survey demonstrated that if you follow basic principles your likelihood of being affected are reduced by 83%. Basic principles include having good passwords, changing them regularly, updating anti viruses regularly, etc. “The biggest issues are around people. If you don’t have a security-oriented culture and you are not aware of the threats and risks, you will always be vulnerable to being a victim.” Ian used a great analogy. “Safer cyber is a bit like road safety – it took years of campaigning before people automatically ‘clunk-clicked’. If I didn’t wear a seatbelt today it would feel weird to me. This is where we need to be with cyber safety.” However unbelievable it may seem, I am going to get cyber-savvy in 2016 and will be enlisting more top tips from Ian, which I will share with you. Sandra@sandrapaulcoms.com
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Mind, Body & Soul We discover some of the new, sensational treatments or products available in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas to recuperate your mind, body and soul It’s January and that can often mean the most depressing month of the year, which feels like a perpetual hangover. You may be reading this whilst slumped on the sofa, with drab darkness and rain pouring outside and gloomily not looking forward to the week ahead. Perhaps it’s the prospect of returning to a job you don’t enjoy, the healthy New Year regime you are struggling to start or the fact you can’t even try and be healthy as the constant cold and damp prevents even the most hardy from going outside. It’s time therefore to pamper yourself and what better can that be, than being spoilt in your own abode? MACH Management is a national company providing elite hair, makeup and beauty treatments anywhere in the country from city centres to remote properties 24/7. Twenty Therapists alone cover the Cotswolds and so group bookings are therefore catered for as well as individuals. MACH Management covers anything to do with Hair and Makeup Artistry for weddings and private events and the Beauty team’s treatments include Deep Tissue Massage, Sport Massage, Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hot Lava Shell Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Luxury Customised Facials, Feet & Hand Massage, Back Neck & Shoulders Massage plus Reiki, Reflexology, Mani/Pedi (including Shellac and Gel) Waxing and Eye brow reshaping. A one-stop, at-home spa
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without the need to move! We booked a therapist to visit us on one such dark afternoon and MACH Management arranged for a delightful, highly experienced, leading therapist called Sam to come. She brought all the equipment you would find in any leading salon including a massage bed, fluffy towels and quilt, gentle music and of course delicious, customised high-end products for the treatments, discovered by her years of experience. Sam first performed a Deep Tissue Massage, on my tired and stressed out body, full of painful sinuses in the head, creaking shoulders and a sore knotty back (lucky Sam!). She had a fantastic massage touch powerfully getting into all the sore points using her hands and arms, manipulating muscles back into their correct place to completely energise the body. She changed her method when working the head and face – firstly using different oils and then massage techniques to release the build-up of tension around the sinus points. It was utter bliss when one felt the inner-blocked points around the forehead and bridge of the nose just ‘pop’ as the blood was able to stream back through and the sinuses cleared. The second treatment Sam provided was a Luxury Customised Facial for my husband, who has never experienced a facial before. After a thorough skin assessment he was diagnosed with dry
and sensitive skin so a double cleanse started the procedure before exfoliation and this was followed by a highly therapeutic face, neck and shoulder massage. This was well received from a man who can suffer acutely sore shoulders - sometimes spending up to 200 miles a week hunched over a road bike. Sam continued with a luxurious facemask and while this was setting, she gave a full scalp massage for optimum relaxation. What utter joy – especially that instead of having to get dressed and head back out to find one’s car then sit in traffic, we were able to pop on dressing gowns and continue to relax in front of our fire. There is no call out charge from MACH Management for their services and with a Deep Tissue Massage costing £70 for 60mins and the Luxury Customised Facial £80 for 60mins it is the best money spent! This is also completely ideal for a group of friends who are together for a weekend as one can have a complete hair, makeup and beauty service come to your door (or to that of where you may be staying), whenever you need it; in any town, rural village or location of your choice anywhere in the UK. For further information and to book any of the services from MACH Management, please contact: www.machmanagement.com Tel: 01367 241 044
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Style Health January is not only about detoxifying your body it’s also about replenishing your skin. Cotswold Style has tried and tested the following products which come with our full recommendation: Sisley’s Botanical D-Tox With the accumulation of fatigue, stress and a hectic festive month, this wonder product (to be used as a night cream for a one month detoxifying period), is an essential part of any woman’s beauty routine to remove clogged, overworked skin, lacking in radiance. Yes, after using it a couple of times you may have the odd ‘breakout’ but this is because the active ingredients are doing exactly what it says – detoxifying your skin. This product is completely brilliant and within a couple of days your skin will be looking healthy and utterly purified! www.sisley-paris.co.uk
Murad’s Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture This super-rich and intensely hydrating formula relieves dehydrated and chapped wintry skins. We found it perfect for parched complexions battling the elements but especially for combatting dryness caused by central heating. It seriously quenches the skin making it the optimum winter moisturiser and is non-greasy. A serious product, seriously worth using for the months ahead. www.murad.co.uk
extraordinary natural filler and has the ability to visibly reduce the signs of ageing. Now, for the first time, its remarkable capabilities are available in an easy-to-use pump pack so one can look youthful, plumped up and restored giving a flourishing skin. www.elemis.com
Environ Intensive Revival Masque
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+ Lipid Replenishing Body Balm Cocoon your body and transform very dry skin and irritated skin with this fabulous balm. This product is entirely suitable for children as well as adults as its paraben free and has a quickly absorbing texture. It’s highly comforting and luxuriates into the skin, completely calming it. The brand produces a number of great products in this range, which are well worth checking out. www.boots.com
This unique masque was produced by Environ founder Dr Des Fernandes, as a ‘face lift in a bottle’. The masque perfects the art of creating visibly luminous, radiant, smoother and younger skin through a combination of revolutionary ingredients. Ideally used for four to six months it’s recommended as a winter treatment and one can see the benefits immediately after the first use. Definitely a product to wallow-in whilst relaxing on a cold, winters night. Available from independent skincare therapists throughout the Cotswolds
Elemis Pro-Collagen Super Serum Elixir Star of the Pro-Collagen range this has recently been launched in its most concentrated form. It acts as an
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BEAUTY H E AV E N We introduce you to Cotswold Style’s new celebrity Beauty Editor, Claire Hanson t was a total joy to be asked to join the super team here at Cotswold Style as Beauty Editor and I hope that you will enjoy this page more and more as the months unfold. I will offer fun stories, an insight into the beauty industry and of course my beauty tips and recommendations. So, how do I qualify for this you may ask? Following a fabulous, diverse 18 years as a celebrity Make-up & Hair artist and for the past 8 years as Assistant to singing legend Mr Lionel Richie, I am now also co-owner and Creative Director of ‘MACH Management’, a company managing and providing ‘the
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Claire and Lionel Richie
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elite’ for ‘the elite’ in Make-up & Hair Artistry and Beauty and Holistic therapists. In the course of my work I have travelled the world several times over. This has allowed me to experience the effect of climate on skin be it tropical, temperate or extremes of cold. I make sure I am au fait with the appropriate countries’ brands and they are always at my fingertips. Through this experience I’m able to advise on products suitable for use in the many diverse, climatic conditions. Now, you may think this is extreme but it links perfectly with my first feature for you.
The start of another beautiful year very often brings two significant areas of conversation into the spotlight; a New Year wedding proposal and the upcoming ski holiday. January is always a creative month here at MACH. It is a time when we receive the most wedding enquiries and when people are looking towards ‘The New Me’. Nothing thrills me more in my work than guiding a future bride through her picture perfect looks or from seeing looks we’ve created for the latest glossies or from our team’s work at the recent film premiers. Delighted in being asked for advice by my clients both young and mature and from all walks of life, I started ‘A One to One Consultation Service’. I was not only being asked about ‘How To?’ but also to recommend suitable products, and advise on the latest technology in skincare. So, with all this being said, ladies (and of course, not forgetting the gentlemen - I will add a few tips here and there for the men in your lives), I’ve taken inspiration from the fact that we’re in the season of Winter Wonderlands be it here in our beloved Cotswolds or on the snowier climes of The Alps, The Dolomites or even The Rockies; it is the time of the year for special attention to our skin care. Skin routines don’t need to change dramatically but do make sure to prep and prime the skin well, in order for it to happily brave the elements. I’m totally in love with Green People Age Defy+ skin care - its easy to use and doesn’t require months of use in order to reap the rewards of its Organic super powers. It is a unique skin care regime that combines the miracle of nature with the brilliance of science. From exfoliating to replenishing our skin, face and body, the super food for the skin is here! ‘Beech Bud’, from the
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The Green People Range
‘Everlasting Youth Tree’ - one I will be planting pronto! Green people - www.greenpeople.co.uk From £10.99. Foundation… Ah the one bug bear of most ladies - finding the best one, I know! A tricky one at times but my advice would be switch things from season to season. Our skin changes from summer into autumn/winter as it does from winter into spring/summer, so these seasonal changes are the best time to try new products. A must have for both young and mature skin is Perricone MD ‘No Foundation Foundation’ £45.00 available from Space NK, and John Lewis. This lightweight, liquid foundation instantly defuses imperfections, corrects skin undertones and over time minimizes the appearance of fine lines and pores. If a dewy, glowing finish is what you are looking for (and this is usually a calling for winter skin) then this could be the answer. It is none chemical but mineral based and SPF 30 too. This little genie in a bottle is available in two shades. I’d suggest both shades, so you can mix them for all year round colour matching. Now there’s an art to using Bronzer in winter - and first things first ladies; apply little by little and blend. For the ‘sun shine in a flip top compact’ head to this little beauty by Calvin Klein CK. ‘One cream & powder bronzer duo’. It is a perfect natural looking
buildable duo colour, that thank goodness really does minimise your chances of the fake syndrome. £19.00 Available at Debenhams. We all need a little look of ‘pinched cheeks’ this time of year. So for an instant wow, (and easily popped into your bridesmaid’s clutch, or your ski jacket), or for a top up into the evening, take a look at Clinique’s ‘Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm’ available in 4 shades. This also works on the lips as a stain or with a gloss. I love ‘Ampd Up
Apple’. One of the MACH team used it on her client and she said, “I would even recommend this to my worst enemy, it’s so good” - and it is! £19.00 Available from Boots and Clinique. Lavera ‘Lip & Cheek’ is also another star quality product. Using only the purest plant extract, it is 100% free from the chemical nasties, which can be the cause of so many skin problems and irritants - their range is quite beautiful. ‘03 Fancy Melon’ is stunning on both pale skin tones right through to warm olive skin tones. £8.90 Available from www.soorganic.com For those ladies out there who prefer a super easy and practical way to apply more of a coverage, I couldn’t think of anything easier than a compact foundation. I recently tested Shiseido ‘Sheer & Perfect Compact’. I suggest using a Kabuki brush (small round Japanese brush - looks similar to
Shiseido
a man’s shaving brush) for application, using a circular motion. This product is rich in plant extracts that aid skin care as well as flawless make-up benefits. It gives a radiant, healthy glow that not only hydrates but also illuminates and corrects any blemish - a girl’s best friend, I’d say! I always like to add a little raw food to my daily diet - I find I feel much better for this as too does my hair and skin. Try this fabulous skin boost on your next rainy day and let me know how you get on: 1/2 avocado mashed with 1 teaspoon of Manuka Honey. Apply liberally to the face as a mask - lay back for 15 minutes (or it may slide). You will feel it start to dry. Wash off with luke warm water, followed by a splash of cold water. A great tonic for dry or irritated skin, as well as helping with overall skin appearance. Plus the other 1/2 of that avocado just means another 15 mins relaxation - Enjoy! I look forward to seeing you all here next month. Until then keep warm and have fun! Please contact Claire Hanson at: MACH Management Tel: 01367 241 044 Email: clairehanson@machmanagement.com www.machmanagement.com
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New Year, New Hair Party season is over. It’s time to get clean and Laura Leigh Hair & Beauty will show you how
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Make a clean start for the New Year with the golden rules of good hair care We all know at least one woman in our lives with perfectly groomed, non-frizzy, salon-worthy hair that could have bounced straight out of a L'Oréal commercial. She's the one who gets up early to blow-dry her hair, applies regular leave-in treatments, wet combs rather than tears through her locks and won't be caught dead straightening her hair without a good quality heat resistant product. Our lives can be too chaotic and busy and we treasure our lie-ins too much to spare the time. However there are a few simple steps you can add into your daily routine to improve the wellbeing of your locks.
Here are the top five hair care commandments from Laura Leigh: No matter what your hair type, check out the following simple dos and don’ts for healthier, happier and more manageable hair and banish bad hair days forever...
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wash your hair also depends on the type of hair you have. The curlier your hair is, the longer you can go between washes. The straighter it is, the faster the oil appears. If you have super straight fine hair, you may not be able to go more than two days without washing and lifestyle choices like going to the gym may also affect how often you shampoo your hair. “You may not be able to imagine not washing your hair after a workout but you could always rinse out sweat without shampooing. A water-only rinse will remove salt and sweat without stripping hair oils.”
Don’t over wash your hair
How often should you wash your hair? Cutting back could really help the condition, as washing it every day is a mistake. “Your hair's natural oils are designed to condition and protect your hair, so when you shampoo daily, it strips these vital oils away. It creates a vicious cycle of overproduction of oils and a need to shampoo often. Ideally, to keep your hair healthy, you only need to wash two to three times a week.” This is especially true for coloured hair, which can lose its shine quickly with too much washing. Buy a good-quality professional shampoo by Kérastase. Take into account your hair type and lifestyle choices, how often you need to
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Avoid hot showers
Healthy, beautiful, shiny hair starts in the shower so make sure you use the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type and level of damage. Your hairdresser will be able to prescribe the perfect products for you. Use shampoo on the scalp only - not on the ends of your hair. The shampoo will rinse down in the shower and try not to scrub the ends. Cool off in the shower. Blasting your scalp with extremely hot water will dry out your hair and create tangles that could result in breakage.
Towel-dry before applying conditioner
Make sure you towel-dry your hair after shampooing and before you apply conditioner; excess water in your hair means the conditioner won't be able to penetrate the hair shaft and deliver the necessary moisture to keep hair looking healthy and shiny. Make sure you invest in a good quality conditioner and leave-in treatments or hair masks, especially if you have coloured hair. For curly, highly textured hair, always deep condition. Deep conditioning involves a conditioner that will add moisture and strength (protein) back into the hair. You should use heat to help the conditioner by either applying to hair while taking a shower and let it soak in while showering or by covering the hair with a plastic cap and applying heat from the outside like a hair dryer.
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Brush your hair regularly
Healthy hair needs regular brushing but don't tear through your hair mindlessly. For perfectly shiny, healthy and untangled hair, you need to brush your hair twice a day; once in the morning and once before going to bed, for about a minute each time. Comb wet hair, don't brush it. When your hair is wet, it is weaker, fragile and more susceptible to breakage. Try not to roughly-dry your hair with a towel, instead gently press the water out and do not brush your hair while it is wet. Use a wide-tooth comb, working from the ends of your hair on up. “Brushing from the roots causes damage – always brush from the bottom and work up.” Use different brushes for blow-dying and styling. At home, you should have a round brush for blow-drying and a Mason
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“For perfectly shiny, healthy and untangled hair, you need to brush your hair twice a day; once in the morning and once before going to bed, for about a minute each time.” Pearson or similar soft bristle brush for styling. Keep your brushes clean. Dirty hair brushes that are covered in hair, oil and product build-up, are breeding grounds for bacteria. Clean them at least once a month with shampoo and lukewarm water. A toothbrush will help you to get into all those tiny bristles.
Use a low-heat setting for hairdrying and point the nozzle down, not side-on
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As a general rule, one of the worst things you can do for your hair is over-heat it with excessive blow-drying and straightening. If you want to avoid dry and damaged hair you need to either rein in how often you use a hairdryer or pay attention to how you're using it and take care to apply heat protection products beforehand. Cut back on heat-styling tools. “Try not to use heat-styling tools daily. Flat irons, curling irons and even blowdrying can damage the hair shaft. Damaged hair is not able to retain colour the way that healthy hair can.” You can also bypass hot tools by multitasking your hairstyle, styling doesn’t always have to involve a hot tool. If you
spend the time blowdrying your hair properly on Monday, it should survive Tuesday and then on Wednesday try a fab high ponytail or topknot. Making your style last a few days will really help prevent damage. Always using protective styling products before blow-drying. “We are huge fans in the salon of Kérastase resistance ciment thermique. It is a resurfacing and strengthening, anti breakage milk for damaged hair. The thermo seal smoothes the hair and adds shine.” Try not to blow-dry your hair immediately after shampooing. Ideally, you should allow your hair to dry for about 15 minutes under a towel. This saves effort and also cuts down on the hairs exposure to the heat of the hairdryer. If at all possible, don't use the high heat settings of your hairdryer. The air stream should feel comfortable on the back of your hand. You should always be careful with heat but this is especially true if your hair is thinning. When blowdrying, keep the hairdryer nozzle pointed straight down and keep it about two or three inches away from the hair.
You need a bit of movement for the ideal blowdry. Start by flipping your head upside down, and shake your hair around. The more you move, the more volume you’ll get. Once it’s about 80 percent dry, flip back up and blowdry in sections. Work your way up from the neckline to the crown of your head so that you don't hit the same strand of hair multiple times. Smooth the hair with a round brush, focusing on the ends. The last three inches are key. Move your brush and dryer right down to the very tips and take your time. It will make all the difference. You should keep the hairdryer moving constantly to avoid applying too much heat in a single spot. We recommend dividing the hair in several portions and securing the strands with large clips or grips. Blowdrying lessons are available at Laura Leigh Hair and Beauty for £65. Complimentary Kérastase hair and scalp consultations are available upon request. Call the reception team for more information or to book an appointment on 01242 530598.
Laura Leigh Hairdressing, 22 Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3NU Tel: 01242 530598; www.lauraleighhairdressing.co.uk COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 81
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event Lisa von Hallwyl and Rob Appleby
Dinah Lane and Barry Williams
Ray and Sally Mitchell KB, David Savage, Kat Shayler and Alex Beard
Scott Edmunds and Samantha Roost
The Mont Blanc Black & White Party
Ben and Kirsty Mundigian
The Directors of Beards the Jewellers and Mont Blanc hosted a Champagne reception at Beards on The Promenade in Cheltenham. Guests were able to view the beautiful Christmas collection of fine jewellery, watches and writing instruments. Photography by Angus Bethune
Sophie Cudworth and Lady Thursfield
Gill and Steve Mould
Bel Woodward, Steve Coop and Andy Woodward Nicola and Judith Savage with Emma Logan
Peter and Christine Roost
Moreton Cullimore and Lawson Willett
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B US I N E S S
& EDU CAT I O N
www.ctfc.com
CONFERENCING AND VENUE HIRE AT CHELTENHAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB FROM MEETINGS TO WEDDINGS AT THE STADIUM AND SEASONS TRAINING COMPLEX
Call 01242 588107 or email john.finnigan@ctfc.com
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The School Report Celebrating your schools’ successes across Gloucestershire All Saints’ Academy All Saints’ Academy has had another successive year celebrating recordbreaking examination results at A Level and GCSE. Mr McNiffe said ‘our Year 13 students achieved a fantastic 100% pass rate at A Level with a significant improvement in students achieving higher ever grades at A*-B. The reason for this sustained improvement has been the focus on a high attitude of high expectations for all and encouraging our students to grasp the opportunity to succeed and excel in their learning. In a year when All Saints’ Academy achieved a Good Ofsted report with
MEET THE HEAD Bradley Salisbury, Headmaster of Dean Close School Bradley Salisbury was appointed Headmaster of Dean Close School in September 2015, having spent six years at the School as Deputy Head. He says: “The role of Headmaster at Dean Close School is not just any job, it is a specific job in the best school that I have worked in. It is specific in that the role allows me to be a teaching Headmaster, a Headmaster who is not constrained by many of the business pressures that can dominate the time of the modern, independent school Principal. With Jonathan Lancashire taking on the role of Warden and CEO, I am free to work on my own specialist area of education. Ever since my first day in the classroom in an inner city comprehensive in Bristol, and through a wide range of other successful schools as a teacher, Head of Department, Head of Section, Housemaster and Deputy Head, I have developed a deep love of and interest in education. As a father to three girls, all
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outstanding and exceptional features Mr McNiffe and the family of All Saints’ Academy are proud of this recognition. Mr McNiffe said ‘Ofsted recognised that the Academy has an extremely positive Christian ethos that leads to exceptionally good behaviour and contributes to the outstanding spiritual, moral and social development of every child at All Saints’. of whom have very different personalities and interests, I have been made aware that one size does not fit all. That genetics and upbringing plays some part in determining educational success but that there is much that we can do to impact on an individual’s future possibilities. Education takes place in every part of Dean Close, from the classroom to the stage, the muddy field to the concert hall. From the warm word of encouragement to the carefully chosen rebuke. It is difficult to quantify just why I think the Dean Close is an excellent school but the evidence is our pupils. They are not a typical product or the outcome of a successful branding exercise but have been encouraged to grow through the significant resources at their disposal, the time and expertise of the teachers and the care and support of their parents. When you are leading such a community as Dean Close, the responsibility is significant. But when that community is committed to the same goals, it becomes both a privilege and a joy.” www.deanclose.org.uk
The King’s School, Gloucester For parents seeking to realise their child’s potential and nurture their talents, The King’s School, Gloucester fulfils that dream. A hidden gem with around 575 girls and boys aged 3-18 years; it is the leading Independent Day School in the area. Offering academic excellence, small class sizes, outstanding pastoral care and a unique ‘Keystones’ programme designed to identify and develop individual talents. Established by Henry VIII in 1541 and set within the Cathedral grounds, the school offers an inspiring setting and provides a special sense of identity and powerful community unlike any other. The Choristers and Choral music are intrinsic to life at King’s, while the school nurtures and is extremely proud of both its sporting and acting talent. Monday to Friday a varied academic and extra-curricular programme including art, drama and music is presented with a vibrant culture of endeavour and scholarship which continues to thrive. The school’s dedicated bus services enable access countywide. The next full school Open Morning is Saturday 12th March. Come and discover how King’s can develop your child. For further details or to arrange an individual tour, please contact the Registrar Sharon Bird; 01452 337337, registrar@thekingsschool.co.uk. Alternatively visit www.thekingsschool.co.uk
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Style Education Beaudesert MEET THE HEAD
The basics “Beaudesert is an independent school and nursery for children aged 3 to 13, situated on the edge of Minchinhampton Common. There are 430 boys and girls here, all of them living within 25 miles of the school.”
Victoria Beevers, Head of Rendcomb Junior School
Mrs Victoria Beevers joins Rendcomb as Head of the Junior School. She is known in the local area, having worked at Dean Close and Cheltenham College Prep schools, and has also worked in state and prep schools in London and Oxford. She has a real passion for raising academic standards and ensuring pupils have an excellent learning experience in the classroom, as well as working with staff to provide the pastoral care which is so essential, particularly for young children. She says: Welcome to Rendcomb College Junior School. Rendcomb Juniors has a great deal to offer your child. It is an exciting place where we want children to flourish and be happy. Our staff want the best for the children in their care and will do all that they can to provide excellent academic experiences, strong pastoral support and exciting extra-curricular opportunities.
Parents are an essential component of a child's experience of school: if you are unsure about something, your child will soon pick up on it! Please help us ensure that your child is thriving at school by getting involved where you can and by asking any questions you may have. I am always happy to talk, so please be in touch with my secretary, Mrs Julia Nichols, on 01285 832310 if you would like to meet with me.
Take a tour Beaudesert’s next Open Morning is on Friday 18th March . 9.30am – 12noon. All welcome. www.beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk
MEET THE HEAD David Lloyd, Headmaster of Airthrie School
I joined Airthrie School at the start of the Autumn Term 2014 having previously spent thirteen years at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and prior to that, four years teaching primary children in London. I am excited to have come full circle in my own career and to have the chance to work with, and encourage, the intellectual curiosity in the young children that we have in our care today. At Airthrie we strive to challenge pupils through the Curriculum they study; by ensuring they have access to a large extra-curricular programme giving them the chance to develop the skills necessary to help them become well-mannered, rounded and balanced young people. It is very much the aim
What makes Beaudesert special? Beaudesert is a happy school, and parents comment again and again on how much they’ve seen their child or children’s self-confidence grow Headmaster James since being here. Our Womersley all-round approach to education means that every child has the opportunity to find and take pride in their abilities and achievements – whether that be in science, on the sports field or on the stage. Other popular factors include: fantastic facilities (such as 30 acre grounds, 3 science labs and a new performing arts centre); flexi-boarding and free after-school care; hearty, healthy school lunches; 30+ extra-curricular activities; and impressive academic results despite being non-selective.
that they leave us with the skills and confidence necessary to access and succeed in their secondary education. When I am not at work, I like to spend my spare time with my wife and young family out and about in the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds.
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Discovering D iscovering
potent potential ntial ssince ince 11541 541 Leading Independent Inde ependent Day School for girls or gir ls and and boys boys 3-18 8y years. ears. and we Come a nd see ee how how w e nurture nurrtur t re each h child child’s hild h ’s talents. t l t
www.thekingsschool.co.uk www .thekingsschool.co.uk school.co.uk 86 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
g in rm en y Fo Ev ar h n u xt io br Si at Fe 6 1 rm h fo t 20 In 10
For further For fur ther d details etails o orr to to aarrange rrange aan n individual in dividual ttour, our, ccontact ontact tthe he Registrar, Registrar, SSharon haron B Bird: ird: 001452 1452 337337 337337 or or registrar@thekingsschool.co.uk registrar@thekingsschool.co.uk
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Style Education
KING’S GLOUCESTER A Proud History and Exciting Future Staff and pupils of The King’s School, Gloucester are beginning the New Year on a high. Regarded as one of the oldest and finest schools in England, the Independent Day School for girls and boys is excitedly celebrating its 475th anniversary in 2016. The Cathedral school, founded by Henry VIII in 1541, has seen continual development to enable its pupils, from the ages of 3-18, to receive a first class education in an inspiring and historic setting. This January sees development continue with the opening of a state-ofthe-art centre for The Performing Arts. Named after a notable former pupil whose celebrated career as a poet showed his dedication to The Arts, The Ivor Gurney Hall provides a bespoke space for Drama, Dance and Music to continue to flourish at King’s. A full programme of events throughout the year will celebrate the rich history of the School, and will culminate in a Gala Celebration, to be held in Gloucester Cathedral, which after 475 years still remains very much at the heart of this unique School. Headmaster Alistair Macnaughton said: “As we celebrate the 475th anniversary of our founding in 1541, I am thrilled that we continue to make such progress. We are delighted that the hard work of pupils, parents, teachers, governors and the wider school community has been acknowledged in the glowing Independent Schools Inspectorate Report
on our school. We are confident that 2016 will be yet another wonderful year for King’s.” Inspectors visited the School last term and noted that the quality of the pupils’ achievements and learning were excellent, with attainment well above the national average. The inspectors judged that “Pupils’ personal development is a strength of the School” and that “Well rounded individuals are produced in line with the School’s aims.” Pastoral care was highlighted as excellent throughout the School, with the inspectors reporting, “Pupils of at all stages develop high levels of self-esteem, are comfortable with themselves, and feel valued as individuals.” The School was repeatedly praised for developing well-rounded individuals with qualities of tolerance, understanding, compassion and commitment. As the report puts it “King’s pupils develop a
sense of right and wrong from an early age. They are unfailing courteous and polite, and there is an air of civility around the School, with pupils who smile and are happy.” The inspectors recognised the positive contribution that the Cathedral has on the daily lives of King’s pupils by noting that ‘Pupils’ attendance in the awe-inspiring Cathedral adds a significant spiritual dimension to their School lives.” Particular strengths of the School curriculum were noted by the inspectors: “The quality of teaching at King’s reflects excellent subject knowledge and clear enthusiasm, which stimulates the pupils with lessons that are fast paced and challenging.” Reflecting upon the inspection Alistair added: “The recommendations from the last report have not only been addressed but goals exceeded. We cannot, however, rest on our laurels and our development plans will help us to continue to thrive and succeed in a changing world.” If you would like to arrange a visit to King’s please contact the Admissions Office on 01452 337337 or email the registrar, Sharon Bird at registrar@thekingsschool.co.uk. The next whole school Open Morning is Saturday 12th March 2016, from 10am-12pm.
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YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
OPEN DAYS 4 & 5 March 2016 REGISTER TODAY rendcombcollege.org.uk 01285 832306 @rendcombcollege #rendcombadventure
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A year to look forward to Victoria Beevers, Head of Juniors at Rendcomb College near Cheltenham, talks about New Year’s resolutions Have you made a New Year’s resolution? I suspect many of us have not. However, there may be a few of us who have determined to make a change at the start of 2016: we aim to give something up; we want to start something new; we want to improve something. Chocolate might feature in our plan (give it up?) or exercise (run at least once a week?) or perhaps we have decided to change direction within our work lives? At Rendcomb College, new-ness is not unfamiliar. Our school has two new Heads and a new building going up in the centre of our community. New children join the school each term and this January, I will be welcoming a number of new pupils into the Junior School. I wonder whether they made any resolutions as they began their learning journey at Rendcomb College? I asked our Year 6 pupils if they had made any New Year resolutions and below I have quoted some of them. These are genuine quotes, no rewording, promise! After the predictable comments about trying not to get into trouble or doing music practice regularly, the voice of
Katherine pipes up, “Open every door.” I love this comment for its double meaning. Wouldn’t it be a good world if we all opened doors for each other, rather than pushing past? I was struck many years ago by the challenge to be the one to step aside when walking down the street – something of a challenge in the busy streets of Cheltenham during the sales, but perhaps worth pursuing? Manners, courtesy and being thoughtful towards others are high on my list of essentials for children, even if it does mean a battle with my daughter as we work through the Christmas thank you letters! Open every door also tells me that, as the new year progresses, our Rendcomb children must open the door to new experiences and new challenges, taking those risks which build resilience, perseverance and strength of character. Be adventurous, we keep on saying! After Katherine’s comment, Owen reminds us we should “never give up” and Bas says he is going to try and “talk to people he doesn’t normally talk to.” Positive reflections, I feel. Arwen has clearly reflected on some
of her PHSE lessons considering mindfulness and says, “Say a compliment to yourself every day.” Being good towards others inextricably links with being good to ourselves; building selfesteem is another key element of growing up. I hope that the students and staff within Rendcomb are able to see how valuable and valued they are. But there are two resolutions which make me smile; they fit well into my life. Jake quietly murmurs, “Pack my bag the day before” and I know that in the busyness of my new headship, I need to be prepared for whatever each day throws my way. Finally, Jimmy echoes my inner voice when he says, “Read whenever you have a spare moment.” www.rendcombcollege.org.uk Tel: 01285 831 213
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100% Pass rate at A Level
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION TION 27-29 Christchurch Road Cheltenham, GL50 2NY
A thriving independent day, weekly and flexi-boarding co-ed prep school for children aged 3 - 13
We are now accepting applications ‘The Sixth Form curriculum meets students’ needs exceptionally well to prepare them for their next steps in education, training or employment – Ofsted 2014
Come along and try us out... Taster day: Wednesday 27th January This starts ast 3.50pm, you will get the opportunity to do four 25 minute lessons in the subjects you are interested in taking. There will then be a presentation in our Cotswold Hall at 6pm.
How do I apply? You can apply online via UCAS Progress or fill out a paper application form from our prospectus. If you would like to be sent one of these please email: jparr@asachelt.org To find links and more information on how to apply please see our website: www.asachelt.org/928/application-process If you have any queries about courses or applications please call: Mrs Parr on 01242 711225
Open Morning Friday 18th March 9.30 - 12.00 noon
Student Testimonial ‘I joined ASA Sixth Form from another school. I have found it easy to make new friends as the students here have made me feel welcome. The range of subjects on offer is excellent and will help with my future plans. My subject teachers are helpful and know their subject.’ Joshua Ngenga – From Cleeve School
Contact Details:
Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire t: 01453 837318 e: enquiries@beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk w: www.beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk 90 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
Website: www.asachelt.org Phone: 01242 711200 Address: All Saints’ Academy, Blaisdon Way, Cheltenham, GL51 0WH
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here potential is realised
Whole Sc Whole School hool Open n Morning Saturday March Satur daay 5th Mar ch 2016 Senior 9am-12.00pm, m-12.00pm, Pr Prep ep 10am-12.00pm 0am-12.00pm
Our community truly values the individual ccharacteristics haracteristics and qualities of each boy or girl. E ver y child’s child’s potential potential is is Every nurtured and develope d. Our academic value-ad dded scores developed. value-added consistently see us plac ced in the top 20% of all UK schools. placed Wycliffe W ycliffe Nurser Nursery, Nursery ryy, Preparatory Preparatory, y, Senior School & Sixth Form Form Co Co-educational -educational day d and boarding school for 2 -18 8 Please contact: Charlotte C Phillips (Senior) on 01 01453 1453 820412 or Wendy Wendy Roberts Robertson son (Preparator (Preparatory) y) on 01453 820471. 0471. Stonehouse, Glo Gloucestershire oucestershire GL10 2JQ | T Twitter witter wittter @W @WycliffeCollege WycliffeCollege
wycliffe.co.uk wyclif ffe.co.uk Founded F ounded 1882
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I can
succeed Residential & Day
Easter Revision Courses for A level and GCSE 4th - 8th April 2016 Highly qualified & experienced teachers, helping to maximise students’ performance in their summer exams Bookings Close 24th March 2016 For more information or to book contact:
Marie Carter : mcarter@deanclose.org.uk Tel 01242 248023 www.deanclose.org.uk
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Exams Can Be Testing – but help is at hand Dean Close School is pleased to launch a brand new Revision Course for Easter 2016, bringing a new resource to students in the Cheltenham area and beyond, who are looking for extra support at this critical time in their education. A highly regarded independent school in the Regency town of Cheltenham, the School’s campus style site is an impressive blend of Victorian and contemporary buildings within 50 acres of peaceful, landscaped grounds. This provides the ideal location for a stimulating and productive A Level & GCSE Revision facility for Cheltenham and further afield. Places will be available on a residential or non-residential basis and, alongside their intensive study programmes, Easter revision students will have access to the School’s library, computer suites and sporting facilities which will contribute towards a rounded and rewarding revision experience. All subjects will be organised and delivered by a team of highly qualified and experienced teachers, utilising the very best educational talents from across Gloucestershire, to maximise students’ performance in their summer examinations. With a maximum of eight per class, quality time is guaranteed for each and every student. The courses will take place over five days, from 4th to 8th April 2016, combining intensive subject revision sessions with the opportunity to use the School’s recreational facilities.
Subjects on offer include: A LEVEL
GCSE
English
English (Language & Literature)
Mathematics
Mathematics
Biology
Biology
Physics
Physics
Chemistry
Chemistry
Business Studies
Dual Award Science
Economics
Business Studies & Economics
History
History
Geography
Geography
French
French
Spanish
Spanish
Psychology
*AS Mathematics, Geography, French & Spanish are also available.
In addition to the intensive revision sessions, time will also be set aside for core study skills which are crucial to success, covering areas which are known to undermine exam success: • How to organise study time • Making good use of study materials • Reading texts with clear understanding • Taking effective summarised notes • Methods to revise and learn material efficiently • Understanding the focus of exam questions • Writing clearly-argued answers • Responding well to stimulus material • Organising exam time effectively
Headmaster, Bradley Salisbury, said, “We are delighted to be the first School to bring a Revision Course to Cheltenham. Open to all students, it will meet a number of different needs such as help with focus, exam technique or just the right environment in which to revise. If students wish to reside here, they will benefit from our superb boarding and
recreational facilities which offer an allround, positive revision environment”. Places will be available on a first come, first served basis so early booking is advisable. Payment of the full course fee is required to reserve a place for your selected subject, at the time of booking. For full details, to download an application form or book your place visit: www.deancloses. org.uk/courses. COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 93
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event Sonia McColl OBE, Paul Baker, John and Vee Potter
Gary and Caron Johnson
Paul Baker and Gary Johnson
Carol and Gerald Nines
Ian Hayter and Neil Brimble
Paul Baker Insurance Services Launch Party
Katie Hayter and Jenny Stagg
Paul Baker Chairman of Cheltenham Town FC invited friends and business people from around the town to the launch of his company specialising In Park Home & Leisure Home Insurance. Guests were treated to wine and nibbles at the Hewlett Road office in Cheltenham. Photography by www.thousandwordmedia.com Neil Miller and Chris Bush James McCaffrey, Lindsey Morgan and Ian Hayter
Keith Morgan, Steve Rowe and Alex Melvin
Paul Baker with Gary and Caron Johnson Martyn Goodchild and Tony Manners
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Home from Home Paddy Moss, the Head of Dean Close Prep School in Cheltenham, explains the key to a happy boarding experience A successful school places huge importance on both pastoral and academic matters. This means working together in both the formal and informal aspects of school life, since a happy and secure child is more likely to participate in the full range of experiences offered to them during their formative years. In a boarding environment, this culture is particularly important. It is the quality of the boarding house staff and their effectiveness at championing this culture that makes the difference. They are the key to a happy boarding experience since time spent with resident matrons, the house tutors as well as the house parents is invaluable. At Dean Close Prep School all staff are required to make contact with parents in their form group in the first few days of term simply to ask ‘How’s it going?’ This staff-parent bond is particularly important amongst our boarding community. Parents require a vivid sense of the caring adults looking after their children’s welfare whilst they are away from home; individual attention to each child coinciding with awareness of their needs. The parental trust of the boarding house staff to ensure that their children are both nurtured and stimulated can only be achieved by proactive house parents who are willing to share their extended home. From my experience, the most successful boarding houses are those where the house parent’s unique character is evident. Whether it be the football team they support or their passion for bike racing, their interests and enthusiasms are
“...we find that more often than not, new pupils are quickly infused with the supportive and caring culture of the school, adapt their behaviour accordingly and thrive.”
shared and enjoyed by their temporary family and known about by far flung parents too. Whilst safety and security in a boarding environment are a given, the balanced diet of age appropriate activities and downtime distinguishes boarding experiences. Clearly the boarding experience does not suit all children and the period of transition for new pupils is crucial. However, we find that more often than not, new pupils are quickly infused with the supportive and caring culture of the school, adapt their behaviour accordingly and thrive. Experienced boarding house parents often find the healthy balance of separating the academic side of school life and their boarding home life. Whilst prep or homework may be expected to be completed in the boarding environment, the expectation is that boarding houses are places for rest and play, rather than work. The boundary setting and expectations of behaviour remain the
same and are delivered in a loving and secure manner. These days’ house parents display great ingenuity in the vast range of games and activities on offer both during weekdays and weekends. At Dean Close these include go-karting, Kapla modelling, foodie theme nights, board game extravaganzas, sports in the gym – to name just a few. So much so that the experience seems more akin to an adventure camp than to a typical home. It is little wonder that boarding places are in such high demand. www.deanclose.org.uk
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Local
National
International
New Year, New Start? There is a myth in family law that divorce lawyers are bombarded with telephone calls on the fi rst Monday of the New Year, because the New Year has led unhappily-married couples to look to the future and decide to make a change. Statistics actually show that there is no massive leap in new client numbers. When a couple split up, there will usually be three
Once both parties are happy that they
aspects of their lives that need to be sorted -
have had full disclosure from each other,
the divorce itself, financial arrangements and
negotiations begin to see whether a settlement
arrangements for the children.
can be reached instead of going to court.
The divorce itself is fairly simple and is rarely
This can be achieved via collaborative law
defended nowadays; as long as a “fact” can
(otherwise known as the “friendly divorce”)
be proved, then usually the grounds that the
or mediation; the parties can also negotiate
marriage has irretrievably broken down can
between themselves or through solicitors. If
be shown to exist. The “fact” required is one
they cannot agree, they may need to go to
of the following: that the parties have been
court, and whilst the parties can still reach
separated for five years already; that the
an agreement on finances until the final
parties have been separated for two years
hearing, sometimes a case simply won’t settle.
(with both parties’ consent); that one party has
Ultimately, a judge can impose a financial
deserted the other for a period of two years;
order on the parties without their agreement.
that one party has behaved unreasonably; or that adultery has been committed.
The children should live with the party who has been their main carer, but the court will want
The divorce process itself will usually take
to know that the children will have contact with
about six months, although it can be held up if
the other parent. It can make those decisions
financial agreement cannot be reached.
if agreement cannot be reached on how that
The financial arrangements tend take between six and 12 months; more in particularly complicated cases. The parties have to reveal their assets, their income, their liabilities and their pensions; the court can make various orders to make sure that their needs, and most importantly, those of their children, can be met.
works in practice. The child’s best interests should be central to the whole process. The court process should take no longer than six months and usually any matter affecting children is resolved within three months. Nine out of ten couples avoid going to court and settle the child arrangements themselves. We are happy to offer a free hour of initial
Usually the parties will fill in a financial
advice for those thinking about divorce
statement, known as a “Form E” and attach
or separation. Please contact Mathew
documents including bank statements,
Waddington on 01242 268026 or at
property valuations, or mortgage statements.
mwaddington@hcrlaw.com
Harrison Clark Rickerbys Ltd is authorised and regulated by the SRA
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When your view changes, we are here to help Divorce & Family Law Services •
Divorce & Family Law
•
Disputes involving children
•
Financial Disputes
•
Domestic Violence
•
Alternative Dispute Resolution
•
Mediation
•
Co-habitation / Living together
•
Pre / Post nuptial Agreements
Cheltenham: 01989 476612 www.hcrlaw.com With you every step of the way Offi ces at: Birmingham | Cheltenham | Hereford | Thames Valley | Worcester | Wye Valley By appointment: London
2015
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Style Advice
Divorce: Creating a brighter future Life Style Coach Dominique Ventura says that Divorce does not have to end in failure The word ‘Divorce’ itself can cause havoc in your mind and body. It represents most of the time a failure, an end. But actually sometimes it is necessary and can mean closing the door to the past, opening the door to the future, taking a deep breath and stepping through to a new start in life. Whilst going through the process of divorce the level of pain you wish to inflict upon yourself really depends on how you mentally face the entire process. As I have mentioned in a previous article, the bottom line is: Do you wish to be in control in the driver’s seat? If you do, this thought of failure will not rule your life forever. You might at this moment be feeling the stress more than your ex-partner but you can actually reverse the process and deal with it much better than him or her. As an arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards, when life is dragging you back it means it’s going to launch you into something great. Just focus on that fact keeping your aim straight and true. It is up to you and nobody else. One strategy on waking each morning is to send a positive thought however small to yourself; even plan a positive, enjoyable action for you that day. This positive thought or action can change your entire day from one of cloudiness to one of sunshine. However, we are also allowed to feel hurt and to be submerged by black thoughts from time to time before, during and after any separation. Let it be, let it flow, let it hurt but never let bad feelings rule us forever. Our own eyes even need to be washed by our own tears, to enable us to see with a clearer view the new life stretching before us. Being stuck in the past is like walking forward with your back facing the front. You’ll always miss out on what’s in front of you. In adversity some believe by holding on, or hanging on in there, that these are signs of great strength. There are times when it takes much more strength to know WHEN to let go and then DO it. The power of positive words associated
with the power of positive thoughts can help you cope with any traumatic situation. You have to ban words such as “I wish” or “I can’t” and replace it by “I will”. Do not dream about a better life but instead create a better life - day by day. It is a fact that there is always one partner in a divorcing couple stronger than the other. The strongest will suffer less. It is exactly the same in a ‘love’ relationship. The one who loves the most is the weakest. Sometimes the weakest comes to realize this and transforms the balance by both thinking and using positive words, phrases and thoughts. Whenever you talk to others or to yourself about yourself, every word and thought is computerised within your brain; be aware of this and try to use only positive wording. Bill Clinton (ex-President of the United States) describes in his biography, a little, obese, black teacher who taught him during his teenage years at school. Darren, the teacher, would enter the classroom to unbelievable chaos - pupils throwing pieces of chalk at him, jumping on the tables, shouting out loud and much more. Darren suffered this for months, until one day as he was sitting down at his desk, he said out loud to them, “I have a secret for you!” All pupils, including Bill Clinton, went quiet and sat down. He said to them: “Every morning, I go
to the bathroom wash and do my teeth, then go in front of the mirror and say to myself, ‘Darren, you are a beautiful man’. Then I go to meet you lot! And I say to you that you will never, ever, manage to hurt me because I know who I am”. The class became even quieter and week-byweek came to love and respect the man they had so cruelly treated. This story is just to prove the fact to you that the right message sent to yourself can transform your life after divorce in a very positive way. You become a ‘New You.’ If you really decide to be in control, you can. The financial aspect can be targeted separately in a correct way and with the right attitude. Your children will continue to support you if you show them throughout this passing phase, your love, care and understanding. Your positivity will be their positivity. Perhaps a good motto might be… I am too POSITIVE to be doubtful. Too OPTIMISTIC to be fearful, And too DETERMINED to be defeated, I am ME. For further information regarding Life Style Coaching and Seminars, please contact: Dominique Ventura Managing Director Tel: 01367 241 044 www.machmanagement.com
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WESTMINSTER IN THE COTSWOLDS Emma Logan has asked the county’s MPs to inform Cotswold Style readers what they have be doing to represent their constituencies both locally and from Westminster
Neil Carmichael
NEIL CARMICHAEL, MP FOR STROUD The Chancellor’s commitment to introduce fair school funding as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review last November is great news for our county’s schools. A new funding formula will set a national rate that every school will receive for each pupil, with additional funding for those with extra needs. Crucially, from 2017-18 onwards the resources schools and local authorities will receive will be based on pupil characteristics rather than historic political calculations. The Department for Education will consult on the detail of the announcement in early 2016. The announcement signals the beginning of the end to the current unfair system, which has lasted for decades and led to a situation where the ten best funded areas of England receive
102 JANUARY 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
an average of £6,300 per pupil of schools block funding, compared to just £4,200 in the ten worst funded areas – with no objective basis for the difference. Amongst those who suffered under this formula were Gloucestershire schools. In December I joined with colleagues as petitions from over 100 constituencies calling for fair funding were presented in the House of Commons chamber. Over 2,500 Stroud residents signed my petition, including many readers of Cotswold Style - thank you for your support. As Chair of the Education Committee I had already written to Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education urging her to bring forward proposals for fairer funding as soon as possible and I am delighted the Chancellor has made this commitment. The Education Committee will be scrutinising the details of the reforms early this year when the consultation starts. This reform will make a huge difference to Gloucestershire schools, which are historically one of the lowest funded counties in the country. I am delighted that the Government has committed to introduce a national funding formula for English schools, ending the postcode lottery that means children in Stroud lose out for no good reason. As always, the devil will lie in the detail and we will need to see the full detail of the consultation, but in principle this represents a huge step
forward and is a decision of lasting significance. Neil Carmichael is the Member of Parliament for Stroud and Chair of the Education Select Committee. Contact Neil at neil.carmichael.mp@parliament.uk or his constituency office on 01453 751 572 Neil Carmichael is the Member of Parliament for Stroud and Chair of the Education Select Committee. Contact Neil at neil.carmichael.mp @parliament.uk or his constituency office on 01453 751 572.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
GEOFFREY CLIFTON-BROWN, MP FOR COTSWOLDS There are two issues I would like to highlight in this month’s article. Firstly I recently held one of my regular public flood meetings in Cirencester and Moreton-in-Marsh. These provide an excellent opportunity to bring together all the agencies
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responsible for flood prevention in The Cotswolds and for members of the public to question them on various issues. The general consensus at both meetings was that these series of public meetings have brought about a cultural change in the various authorities represented at the meetings, that they really are taking notice of the problems that people in each community encounter. Many of these problems have now been resolved and those that remain are being actively investigated. It is fair to say that there was frustration that the large flood relief scheme for the West and South of Moreton-in-Marsh has not been started. On the other hand, individual flood level protection has been implemented for many houses in the North and East of the town. I was also pleased to have the opportunity to hold a debate in the House of Commons regarding the current funding situation affecting the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. They are potentially facing a £1.56 million cut in their funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) due a change in the criteria for specialist institutions. I think this is incredibly unfair and damaging to the acri-tech industry in the UK. I have therefore been contacting Government Ministers to see what can be done about this situation. You can read the transcript of the debate here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/ pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151126/ debtext/1511260004.htm#15112644000 255 I am pleased that the debate seems to have moved the argument along and I was happy to play a role in that. Ministers and HEFCE will now continue to liaise with the RAU in the hope that this decision can be altered. www.geoffreycliftonbrown.co.uk
Alex Chalk
ALEX CHALK, MP FOR CHELTENHAM Happy New Year! As we look forward in 2016 I believe Cheltenham is well placed to enjoy a great year. In 2015 important foundation stones were laid for some exciting progress. First, John Lewis announced that they are opening a flagship store in the Beechwood Arcade. Soon we can expect work to begin on the old facade. With a vibrant new frontage this is an important step towards revitalizing our High Street. Let’s see the tacky tarmac in-fills replaced with proper paving at the same time! In due course this will mean another 250 people employed locally and a great boost to our reputation as a retail destination. Second, education is close to my heart. In the year when my eldest daughter reaches school age, I will continue the campaign for greater funding for our excellent schools. Cheltenham’s schoolchildren receive less per head than the national average and I have been speaking out in Parliament about this injustice. Last year we received the excellent news that the Government will be introducing a new funding formula. I’ll be keeping up the pressure for a fair settlement for Cheltenham. Other campaigns I will be pursuing this year include for cheaper parking. It is simply not sustainable that parking here is significantly more expensive and less flexible than in rival centres like Gloucester or Cribbs Causeway. I’ll also be pressing on with my ‘grot spot’ campaign, with bent railings, graffiti and derelict buildings all in my sights. In Parliament, I continue to sit on the Justice Select Committee and also I cochair the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling. I am also working on my own Commons campaigns, including seeking greater protection for victims of
stalking, following the dreadful experience of a Cheltenham GP. I also want to take up the issue of improving care for mothers whose children are born with tongue-tie. It’s something, which can cause great – and unnecessary – anxiety. But here in Cheltenham let’s look to 2016 with hope and optimism. Whether it’s pressing on with our Cyber Innovation Centre or welcoming new restaurants, it’s going to be a good year. www.alexchalk.com
Laurence Robertson
LAURENCE ROBERTSON, MP FOR TEWKESBURY I hope all readers had a happy Christmas and are enjoying a peaceful New Year. As an MP, I’m often asked what I would wish for in 2016. Without wishing to sound too grand, obviously, along with many others, I hope for peace in the world, an end to terrorism and senseless killing and an end to hunger, disease and poverty. We can’t bring these objectives about all at once but we can continue to chip away at them and work towards creating a better world for everyone. Locally, I will continue to work to try to help to protect people from flooding, as well as towards bringing about improvements to the ‘Missing Link’ and better-funded schools in this area. I will also be continuing to work to help to ensure we continue to enjoy high employment levels in this area and relative prosperity. There will be many decisions taken in Parliament during the course of this new year and as always, I will be seeking the views on constituents on all these matters. The benefit of having a small majority in Parliament is that the government has to listen to back benchers like me and I in turn pass on the views, hopes, fears and aspirations of my constituents! www.laurencerobertsonmp.com COTSWOLD STYLE JANUARY 2016 103
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Welcome to Leckhampton Bathrooms and Kitchens, Cheltenham's Premier Bathroom & Kitchen Showroom At Leckhampton Bathrooms and Kitchens we present you with the finest, quality kitchens available. We supply complete kitchens, Appliances, Worktops, accessories and fittings from the best manufacturers in the industry such as: Keller Kitchens Keller have been making contemporary and affordable, designer kitchens for over 75 years. It is Dutch manufacturing at its best. A beautiful and functional kitchen can be designed to suit your lifestyle. They offer a choice of styles that include rustic, nostalgic, classic and modern designs. Additionally, Keller manufacture a handle-less range of doors, for those who prefer a sleek finish. And the stunning New GL X-TRA Range with Door / Carcase colour match handle trim. Mereway Kitchen Mereway Kitchens are leading manufacturers of high quality kitchen furniture; all their kitchens are constructed using traditional materials and methods with an obsessive attention to detail. Siemens Appliances Siemens - The Future Moving In. Siemens has been at innovation's cutting edge for over 160 years. They manufacture a collection of kitchen appliances that can be mixed and matched to suit your lifestyle. All of them offering a perfect balance between eye-catching design and innovative technology. Jetstone Ceramic Worktops Ceramic worktops are currently gaining in popularity in the kitchen sector. Jetstone now has more than 30 colours available in ceramic, including several series with a unique finish, such as metallic, rust and concrete. And, in view of the increasing popularity of this material due to its extremely practical properties, the ceramics range is only going to grow over the coming years. 100% Hygienic – 100% Stain Proof – 100% Flame & Heat ProofVirtually Scratch Proof. Corian Solid Surface Worktops DuPont™ Corian® Solid Surfaces Make Creative Visions Real Engrave it. Colour it. Thermoform it. DuPont™ Corian® solid surfaces can be whatever you imagine it can be. Undulating, virtually seamless, organic shapes, bold effects of colour and translucency – if you can dream it, you can create it with Corian®. And this is just the beginning of the story. Call into the showroom to discuss your Kitchen requirements with one of our design specialist who will help you make your dreams reality.
Mead Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7EG Tel: 01242 262606 Fax: 01242 253103 VAT Reg No. 618 1426 52 www.lbkonline.co.uk | sales@lbkonline.co.uk
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EXPLA N THE MARKET Guy Shone offers advice to restoring some financial prudence this New Year anuary is one of the worst times for getting into trouble with household finances. Unsecured consumer debt in the UK is now running at over £300 billion and we’d be forgiven for thinking it is just people on low incomes that struggle. The reality is that debt problems affect everyone in society. I spoke to the debt charity StepChange this month who told me many people who contact them earn high salaries. Peter Tutton, Head of Policy at StepChange Debt Charity, explained: “Those on higher incomes often have more access to credit but if they suffer an income shock, such as redundancy, reduced hours or even a reduced bonus, problems can quickly ensue. 14 million people suffered a shock to their income last year and 6.5 million used credit to cope, making them 20 times more likely to fall into problem debt.” Debt remains a taboo and evidence suggests high-earners have the biggest problem when it comes to talking about money worries. According to recent research 1 in 8 Britons may have got into trouble at Christmas but only 1 in 100 would be prepared to talk to anyone and ask for advice. ExplaintheMarket conducts research to get under the skin of big economic issues. Over Christmas our team interviewed city workers with money worries. One told us, “Part of the problem was my pride – I thought – ‘People like me don’t phone debt advisers. I’m a success, well known in the city. Best just crack on and make another deal’. I now see that was a mistake, which only made things worse”. Another told us, “I was worried an adviser would tell me that a private school was a luxury – but to our kids it’s all they know. I just couldn’t bear to wrench them away from their friends”. A recent report by ‘Schools Week’ revealed independent schools might indeed be getting tougher on struggling parents. Around 70 parents across the UK have been declared bankrupt after being pursed though the courts for
J
About Guy...
school fees. Despite this figure there are many examples of schools dealing compassionately with parents who are quick to flag issues in an honest and open way. The middle-class debt problem is not just a British issue. The American finance writer Alison Schrager highlighted last month that “America is full of high earning poor people”. Lots of complicated investments but no practical ‘emergency cushion’. Getting used to a high income can often bring a false sense of security. A lack of conventional savings can also compound the problem. So what can be done to restore some prudence after Christmas? Well if it is unpalatable to take advice from a ‘debt charity’ then how about the Wall Street Journal? They have some useful tips for nipping debt in the bud when you are a high earner. I have adapted them below Downsize your lifestyle: Try cutting back on expensive gifts to boost monthly cash flow, choose less expensive restaurants, fly economy class and give the budget supermarket a try. Keep a diary and record the difference between your expectations & the real experience. Were there any benefits you didn’t expect?
Think of a spending plan rather than a budget: This will have you focussed on what you want to spend in the future - as opposed to a budget which tells you how much should spend based on what you have spent in the past.
Guy Shone is an economist & business expert who appears regularly on BBC News, BBC Breakfast, BBC World, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s today programme, Sky News and ITV News. Guy is the former City & Business columnist for the Metro newspaper and now runs the research business ExplaintheMarket. Guy spent most of his 17 year career in the City. His previous jobs were the Head of Research for global investment group Old Mutual plc and Research Director for the government backed Money Advice Service. In 2012, he was commissioned by the UK government to produce the largest study ever done into the financial behaviour of UK families. He has recently moved to the Cotswolds with his wife, daughter and dog (called Lollipop).
Simplify your investments: Get more involved in your investments. Talk to your family about your goals and make your adviser or family office work harder to explain how they are protecting what is important to you. If they only discuss the performance of financial products & cannot make the link to your real life then consider getting someone else to help. And finally…
Stop being special: Wealth like fame can cause people to vastly over complicate life. An attitude of ‘Normal people require X but I require Y’ can infect all sorts of thought processes from where to shop to how to save money. Most of the time this premise is counterproductive so if any of that applies to you then ditch it for a few months and enjoy being normal. Guy can be reached on twitter @GuyShone
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Cheltenham’s Original and ONLY Authentic West Indian FAMILY Owned Caribbean Restaurant Authentic and stylish Caribbean cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere
CARIBBEAN TASTER EVENINGS A chance to come and sample some authentic Caribbean cuisine on
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A Complimentary Bottle of Wine for every two persons when you purchase a minimum of two courses each. (6 different wines to choose from) Head Chef, Dave Carter and the team are eager and passionate about our casual but classic dining concept. ‘Probably the best you have ever tasted’
COUNTRYSIDE CONCEPT. WE WILL BE CLOSED FROM 2 ND JANUARY, REOPENING 12 TH MARCH 2016.
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A Taste of the Sea By Shelle Duffin irst of all, Happy New Year! Having over-indulged in the festive period with turkey, mince pies and chocolate treats, washed down with copious amounts of delicious mulled wine, I can only imagine that if you’re anything like me, the diets and detox will be in full swing. I’ve always found January to be quite dull - the come down from Christmas, the strain of keeping those all-important resolutions in action and the cold, dark days that brutally remind us that we are still in winter. However, rather than put you in a total state of doom and gloom, let me instead arouse your taste buds and get 2016 off to a mouth-watering start. As a child, I hated seafood - I’m not sure why - I think it was because my friend from school hated it and therefore, I decided I did too – a common trait when you’re 6 years old.
F
However, having spent many summers as a child holidaying with my family on the Cornish coast, my dislike for seafood was soon altered. One afternoon, my Father took us to Harlyn Bay, just down the coast from Padstow. Instead of being given the usual entertainment of a bucket and spade to build sandcastles, an activity which occupied myself and my sisters for many glorious, though competitive hours, he introduced us to mussel picking. At first, I had no idea what these peculiar looking shells were, but I happily went along with it. I think more so to see if I could fill my bucket to the top first, which of course, I did! But it wasn’t until we returned home, did I realise that what we’d caught was to be our supper that night. With my dislike for seafood momentarily forgotten and replaced with the image of being the family’s ‘hunter gatherer’, I got to work scrubbing and pulling off the ‘beards’
from my ‘catch of the day’. Dad, who is rarely found in the kitchen other than mealtimes, then demonstrated to his four puzzled daughters how to cook these little gems of the sea. He placed what we now know to be called ‘mussels’ (and not the same as the ones in his arm) in a saucepan of water, wine (which immediately excited us, being children, and alcohol legally off limits - this feed was looking to be the best ever!), garlic and herbs. The smell was intoxicating and before long, supper was on the table and our prized catch was ready to eat. It was delicious and a real taste of the sea - this is where my evergrowing love for seafood began. Mussels are very reasonable to buy, even cheaper if you pick them straight off the rocks, though given this time of year; I doubt any of you will be venturing to the beach. This is a light yet warming recipe, and a dish that won’t destroy the diet.
remove their hairy beards. • If any of the mussels are open, gently tap them to see if they close and if they are still open after a few minutes, throw them away. • Melt the butter with olive oil in a saucepan and add the bacon, cooking until it’s crispy - then place to one side. • Add a little olive oil to the pan, pour in the mussels, garlic, onions and cider.. • Cover with a lid and cook for 4 minutes until the mussels have opened – stirring occasionally.
• Once cooked, remove the mussels, leaving the juices in the pan. • Place the mussels to one side and keep warm - throw away any mussels that are still closed. • Add crème fraiche to the sauce and bring to the boil for a few minutes. • Add tarragon, parsley, bacon and season. • Stir in the mussels and serve immediately with chunky bread.
Mussels with bacon and cider Serves 6
Ingredients: 3kg fresh Cornish Mussels 12 chunky rashers smoked streaky bacon, thickly sliced 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped 600ml good cider, (for those on detox, the alcohol reduces when cooked, therefore it doesn’t count!) 200ml crème fraiche Handful of tarragon leaves, roughly chopped Handful of parsley, roughly chopped Olive oil A knob of butter Salt & Pepper Method: • Scrub the mussels thoroughly and
Writer’s note: Mussels are in season in each month featuring the letter ‘R’.
For more recipe ideas, reviews and articles, check out my blog – myboiledeggsandsoldiers@blogspot.com; or follow me on Twitter – @Shelle_Duffin, Instagram – shelleduffin, Pinterest – shelleduffin
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New Year Spa Day Offer with a restorative back massage using ‘beyond organic’ ingredients by ila-spa The ila Kundalini Back Treatment is a sixty-minute, gentle nurturing back massage that uses the very best organic ingredients with specific massage techniques alongside chakra-and-sound healing to leave you feeling totally rejuvenated. This soothing treatment has a profoundly restorative effect. £120 (usually £150) also includes full use of the Aquarias Spa facilities with a light lunch and refreshment served in the spa lounge. This offer is valid Monday to Thursday and from January 11th to January 28th 2016. Treatments cannot be exchanged and the offer is subject to availability. To book call Aquarias on 01666 827 070 or email aquarias@whatleymanor.com Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa Easton Grey Malmesbury Wiltshire SN16 0RB Web whatleymanor.com @Whatley_Manor
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R&R A monthly column exploring the perfect location to clear your head and spend quality time with the ‘lovely one’ in your life This month Guy Shone reviews The Fox Inn, Great Barrington My wife Suze and I spent our pre parenthood days frivolously sampling hotels and restaurants. Since parenthood, those opportunities seemed to have dwindled. So, you can imagine my delight when I was invited to review a hotel and even more delightful it coincided with Suze’s birthday, which meant babysitters (or the Grandparents as we usually call them) were already lined up. We were off to Great Barrington, a quintessentially Cotswold village near Burford with picturesque houses, a village hall and The Fox Inn with its 3 newly renovated bedrooms and 4 luxury riverside mews rooms. The pub is set on the banks of the River Windrush and is nicely hidden away down long winding lanes. Certainly not a place you would stumble on, definitely one for people in the know. After a full day with work we arrived fairly late and with the autumn nights setting in the views would have to wait until the morning but what we did notice was the glorious sound of nothing. Absolute peace. Having a mere 30 minutes earlier left the sounds of chaos only a 4 year old and a hyperactive puppy can create, it was a welcoming treat to our ears! We headed in through the main door of the 17th century inn and were greeted by the hairiest concierge I’ve ever met,
Chester – the resident dog, snoozing in the warmth emitting from the log burning stove. A few locals were chatting away at the bar and a game of darts was going on in the corner. One word sprang to mind. Homely. We received a friendly welcome from Paul the landlord who then showed us to our room. Heading outside and round to the back of the pub we were taken to the barn conversion. As it was Suze’s birthday Paul had made sure we got the Bridal Mews as a treat. And what a treat it was! A light and airy room with exposed oak beams and a high ceiling. The king size wooden sleigh bed looked cosy and inviting after my long day and the delicious silence we’d experienced when stepping out of the car continued into the warm bedroom. At the end of the bed was a large window with shutters, which we were told in the day light would treat us to stunning views over the river. That would again have to wait until the morning. Despite our rumbling stomachs we really did have to push ourselves to leave the room and head back to the bar for dinner. Now, I must point out that we sampled this pub on a Wednesday evening. For us, it meant a nice quiet night, with quick personal service and welcoming but non-intrusive chatter from the landlord. You can easily imagine the draw this
place has for the locals. We reviewed the menu with its delicious array of meat and fish dishes on offer. My ever more moderate wife declined the starters, saving herself instead for the pudding, although once my starter of chilli seasoned calamari arrived, her eyes lit up and I knew deep down I wouldn’t be enjoying the entire dish to myself. For main I had the ham hock and Suze opted for the pulled pork burger. Delicious meat cooked perfectly, so it came as no surprise to us when we later found out that the landlord, Paul was the son of a butcher and prided himself on the cuts of meat he served up. In fact the ham hock in particular was so good it got a second attempt, by Chester who 20 minutes later emerged with what I suspect was the bone from my plate! After a hearty apple and berry crumble for pudding we retired to our cosy room, to enjoy the peace and quiet on offer. Which didn’t fail to deliver. With prices at around £150 for the riverside mews rooms we both agreed it would be a peaceful retreat for nature lovers wishing to explore the beauty of the local area. In fact we headed back out that way a few days later to explore with our own dog. The Fox Inn, Great Barrington, Oxfordshire OX18 4TB Tel: 01451 844385 www.foxinnbarrington.com
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The Cotswold Gent Praises the virtues of our young in the county – A New Year. Hopefully a good one – at least the first one for a long time where my beloved children are all at the ‘in between’ stage of public examinations! We have just passed the first Christmas holiday for a long time where there has not been life or death revision issues – or indeed fights about revision, how much of it is really necessary, and how much (or little) time should be devoted to it and of course the very reasonable proposition that it might be accomplished quite successfully while listening to an IPod and watching an episode of Breaking Bad at the same time. For many however, the ongoing scholastic achievements of their off spring will once again be the focus of the coming year, with the never ending ratcheting up of pressure on small people to achieve great success so that their lives will not be ‘ruined’ and they will be consigned to a life on benefits street (which, it seems likely will be renamed no-more benefits street) going forward. Every time we attend our parent teacher evenings at school – nowadays with our child whose progress is being reviewed – itself an enlightened change from my school days where the harsh words were delivered sotto voce whilst I was in absentia – I am always left startled by the enormous amount of effort the teachers are putting in to enable our children to achieve their potential. Fortunately again we are blessed in
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this county with a wonderful mixture of extraordinary schools and colleges. With some of the leading public schools in the country, as well as the finest grammar schools and academies delivering world-class education to our children, one might imagine that Gloucestershire is delivering far more than its quota of amazing young people into our universities and apprenticeships and jobs. It is inspiring to live in a place where new life and growth in our towns can be seen quite visibly in the numbers of young people making great efforts to succeed on their chosen paths. The seemingly endlessly complicated world we appear to be preparing to hand on to our children – complete with its staggering levels of debt, poverty, conflict and division between haves and have nots would seem therefore to be a huge indictment of whatever system of education that our own generation was subjected to thirty odd years ago. That seems to be a curious state of affairs on a number of levels. The self same schools and colleges were here in Gloucestershire then (and in some cases for a hundred or more years before that) as they are now – delivering bright young things into a world beset with different but equally compelling challenges. I would like to think that most of us did not embark on a life dedicated to the willful, or indeed passive de construction of civilisation, as we know it! However as a generation we seem to have set about consuming all that we can with
seemingly no thought for the consequences (some of which have only been revealed by comparatively recent scientific research). We have built, developed, imported and consumed all that the world has to offer without any real thought as to the impact it will have on our communities, employment opportunities, countryside and the next generation – our own children. So I for one would like to doff my hat to those young people and to their teachers in our schools; to recognise that as we exhort and cajole them into achieving more and more As and A stars at whatever exams they are studying for the truth behind our exhortations must be that we are hoping against hope that they will be smarter than us – more selfless, more caring for their environment and more determined to do the right thing by everyone as they lead their lives. For the world we are currently delivering, whilst full of exciting and huge opportunity, is also encumbered with the legacy of our generation. It will not be lost on us or our children that as our generation approaches superannuation, we will be looking in addition to them sorting all the other fabulous problems we have gifted them, to support our welfare needs in retirement. Perhaps a little gentleness might temper the lash therefore as we drive them to their academic successes this year in recognition of the enormous task we are asking them to take on. Happy New Year to you all.
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Style Ski Goggles from Dragon, £96 www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk
e TopShop Coats from th ction lle co SNO om www.topshop.c bolle, £59 Goggles from shop.co.uk sse las www.sung
Electric , £59 Goggles from s-shop.co.uk www.sunglasse
Offtracker Skis by Lacroix, £848
Offtracker Helmet by Lacroix, £148
HIT THE SLOPES Keep the heat up with the coolest ski wear for 2016 Salopettes fro m the TopShop SNO collection www.topshop.c om
Hat and headband part of the TopShop SNO collection www.topshop.com
All clothing part of the TopShop SNO collection www.topshop.com
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LADIES THAT LUNCH AT THE GREENWAY HOTEL, CHELTENHAM Until Friday 29th January 2016 Get together with the girls at The Greenway Hotel & Spa for a three-course lunch and a glass of wine from Monday to Friday. £29 per person. www.thegreenwayhotelandspa.com WINTER GLOW AT THE GREENWAY HOTEL & SPA Until Thursday 31st March 2016 Treat yourself to some winter pampering. Includes three hours use of the spa facilities, robe, slippers and towel and a 55-minute treatment. Choose from either a stress alleviating full body massage, a full facial or a relaxing back neck & shoulder massage with an exfoliating facial. Quote JAN16 when booking £55 per person www.thegreenwayhotelandspa.com
AUDREY HEPBURN: PORTRAITS OF AN ICON, THE WILSON, CHELTENHAM Until Sunday 31st January 2016 An exciting and rare opportunity to view photographic portraits of Audrey Hepburn by some of the 20th century’s most celebrated photographers. The exhibition is a fascinating exploration of Hepburn’s transformation from dancer and chorus girl, to film star and fashion icon, to celebrated and respected humanitarian. Entry: £7 (free for ages 16 and under) www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk BEAT THE NEW YEAR BLUES AT TUDOR FARM HOUSE, FOREST OF DEAN Monday 4th January to Monday 29th February
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Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 at the boutique style Tudor Farmhouse, with its award-winning restaurant. Guests also receive a free cream tea and hot chocolate making kit. Quote FIRESIDE3 when booking. There’s 14 acres of beautiful paddocks, fields and woodland to explore – and work off those Christmas calories. 3-night package from £380 www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk THE ELO EXPERIENCE 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Friday 8th January, 7.30pm Now celebrating their 10th year, one of the world’s foremost tribute acts, The ELO Experience recreates the stunning performances that went hand in hand with the Jeff Lynne and The Electric Light Orchestra’s chart success. With more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band on the planet, The ELO Experience takes you on a musical journey through time. Tickets: £23.00 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk NEW YEAR, HEALTHY YOU AT THE FOODWORKS COOKERY SCHOOL Thursday 14th and Tuesday 26th January, 7 to 9.30pm Raw food classes at The Foodworks will help you work off all those mince pies! Learn top, quick, easy tips to prepare healthy meals, the course includes a delicious supper. For details contact Foodworks 01242 870538 www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk
LET’S HANG ON, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Saturday 16th January, 7.30pm
Given the seal of approval by Frankie Valli himself, who called the show ‘dynamite’, this musical journey through the career of the legendary frontman and his band the Four Seasons returns following huge demand. This award winning show features an anthology of hits including Grease, December 1963 (Oh What a Night!), Sherry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Walk Like A Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and many more! Definitely not a night to be missed! Tickets: £24.50 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY AT THE EVERYMAN Sunday 17th January
LONDON SWING ORCHESTRA – NOEL & COLE BACK TO BACK AT THE EVERYMAN Saturday 16th January
The London Swing Orchestra presents a sparkling musical revue of the lives of
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two of the greatest musical theatre composers of the 20th century, Noel Coward and Cole Porter. Prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk
A full live band enhanced by projection photos and original film footage bring the music of Simon and Garfunkel to life on stage, featuring such hits as Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Mrs Robinson. Prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk
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Your comprehensive guide to what’s going on in The Cotswolds... with Sara Chardin THE 39 STEPS AT THE EVERYMAN Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd January
Alfred Hitchock’s classic spy thriller is brilliantly and hilariously recreated for the stage as the smash hit Olivier awardwinning comedy. Four fearless actors play 139 roles in 100 minutes of fastpaced fun and thrilling action. Times and prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk
celebration within the beautiful surroundings of Highgrove. Following tradition, the Haggis will be piped in and an ode to the Haggis recited before it is served. The evening begins at 7pm with Highgrove Champagne and canapés served on arrival with a piper playing in the background. The 3-course dinner will be accompanied by Highgrove organic wines throughout. Tickets: £95.00. Prebooked ticket entry only. Phone the customer services team on 0333 222 4555. www.highgroveshop.com ONLY FOOLS AND 3 COURSES, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Saturday 23 January, 7.30pm
Ayckbourn’s sharp, acerbic wit reveals the secrets, lies and deception which simmer beneath the surface of family relationships, at times wildly comic, and at others poignant. Times and prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk WEDDING SHOWCASE AT THE KINGS HOTEL, CHIPPING CAMPDEN Thursday 28th January, from 6pm Arrive for Champagne and canapés, chat to our wedding professional then enjoy a talk from our specialist wedding cake maker. Free event www.kingscampden.co.uk THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Friday 29th January, 7.30pm
PUDDING TABLE, THE MONTPELLIER CHAPTER Wednesday 20th January, 7.30pm
Join us for the dinner event of the year, combining fine food and comedy action, served up Only Fools and Horses style. Marlene & Boycie are hosting a Gala Dinner, but will things go to plan with Del, Rodney and Uncle Albert on the guest list? Will Raquel put in an appearance and sing? Expect an evening of chaos and mayhem with extra large portions of comedy. Tickets: £38.00 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk Sumptuous sweets and decadent desserts will be devoured at The Montpellier Chapter’s all new Pudding Table. For one evening each month, diners will enjoy a glass of wine on arrival and a light seasonal main dish. They’ll then be invited to feast on a selection of five puddings in the hotel’s Drawing Room. Booking is essential. 01242 420164 Price: £35 per person www.montpellierchapter.com BURNS NIGHT BLACK TIE DINNER AT HIGHGROVE Friday 22nd January, 7pm Enjoy a traditional Burns Night
SPONSORED BY MONTPELLIER WINE BAR
ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN AT THE EVERYMAN Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th January
Celebrating their sixth year, this critically acclaimed show will toast the occasion in the best possible fashion, with some of the greatest moments in rock guitar history. A virtuoso band of the finest musicians on the planet will take you on a two and a half hour foot-stomping ride featuring the music of The Who, Led Zeppelin, ELO, Bruce Springsteen, ZZ Top, Van Halen, ACDC, Queen and much more! Tickets: £29.00, £24.00 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
FAMILY CINDERELLA AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Until Sunday 10th January Polish your pumpkins, grab your glass
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t u o ab slippers and dust off your ball gowns. The Everyman’s annual, family-friendly pantomime is back – bigger, better and funnier than ever and featuring the return of Tweedy and William Elliott as Cinderella’s mother, Baroness Hardup. Created by the same team, which brought you last year’s record-breaking show, this year it’s the original rags to riches story and everyone’s favourite panto, Cinderella. Will Cinders, played by Ruth Betteridge, get to the Ball? Will she find her Prince Charming or will the wicked stepsisters win the day? Tickets: from £10.50 Box office 01242 572573 www.everymantheatre.org.uk
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK AT THE BACON THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th January Promenade Productions bring laughter and mayhem with their traditional family pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. Just when you thought the Christmas festivities were over, this award-winning society makes certain you start the New Year with a bang. With all the fun-filled ingredients of a feel-good family show, no one will be too young or too old to enjoy the escapades of Jack and his mates. Will Jack reach the top of the beanstalk? What adventures await him at the top? Tickets: £10 to £14 www.bacontheatre.co.uk
CHARITY DIVAS AT THE DAFFODIL, CHELTENHAM Saturday 6th February Sponsored by Willans LLP and in aid of LINC. A three-course dinner to include a glass of fizz on arrival. Members of Cornwall’s Duchy Opera will perform opera between each course. Tickets: £45 www.lincfund.org THE GREAT BRITISH BREKKIE 2016 FOR WINSTON’S WISH Monday 8th to Sunday 14th February Winston’s Wish is calling out for
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with old Style Cotsw
families, friends, colleagues and classmates to join them and help raise £50,000 to support bereaved children by hosting a Great British Brekkie. You can mull over some muesli, muffins or maple syrup pancakes, or get sizzling with sausages, scrambled eggs or smoked salmon. You could even go glam with a champagne breakfast.
The possibilities are endless, but they will all set you up for the day and raise vital funds for bereaved children at the same time. Register for free at www.greatbritishbrekkie.org.uk www.winstonswish.org.uk
SPORT NEW YEAR’S DAY, CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE Friday 1st January Raise a glass to 2016 with friends as large and enthusiastic crowds begin the New Year in style, with festive fresh air and fantastic racing.
Tickets: from £15 for adults and £5 for juniors if purchased in advance. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk BRASS MONKEY SWIM, SANDFORD PARKS LIDO, CHELTENHAM Sunday 3rd January, 11am to 1pm
A tough sporting challenge at Sandford Parks Lido only for the most hardy of swimmers. This is a swimming race over two distances 500m (10 lengths) and 1km (20 lengths). The water of the main pool will be filtered, circulated and chemically dosed but the temperature will be extremely cold. It is mandatory that all competitors must wear a winter wetsuit and silicon hat for this event with boots and gloves a suggested addition. It is recommended that only seasoned experienced winter swimmers who are acclimatised to swimming in very cold water take part. Tickets: £15 for 500m race, £20 for 1km race www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk GLOUCESTER RUGBY V LEICESTER TIGERS, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Saturday 30th January, kick off 3pm
www.cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk
GLOUCESTER RUGBY V LONDON IRISH, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Saturday 2nd January, kick off 3pm Gloucester Rugby take on London Irish.
Gloucester Rugby take on Leicester Tigers. Tickets: from £15 for adults and £5 for juniors if purchased in advance. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk
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Looking forward to a year of good health Animal advice from our friends at Vets on the Park If you are looking for a great gift for you pet this New Year which at the same time will save you money then have you considered a Pet Health Plan? Most veterinary surgeries now run these special health plans that allow you to budget for all the day to day health needs for your pet, whilst saving you money by offering large discounts. Most health plans come with a reminder system where the clinic prompts you to give the tablets or apply the flea drops. Pet Health Plans are not pet insurance, which you would use for accidents or illness, but they cover the regular things the vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and maybe even microchipping and neutering. We have been running these Plans at our clinic in Leckhampton since 2012 and have found that our clients find them great value for
money but, most importantly, they find the regular vet visits for our staff to dispense and apply the flea and worm very convenient. Many clients struggle to give a worm tablet to their cats but the vets always seem to make it look so easy. However young or old your pet, a Pet Health Plan is designed to adapt to your pet's needs, from puppy to kitten, to adulthood and throughout the senior years. At Vets on the Park our senior plan even includes an annual blood screen for the early detection of disease such as diabetes, thyroid disease or liver and kidney problems, giving you the reassurance of knowing that you are providing the best possible protection and care for the pets in your life. For more information on Pet health Plan visit www.vetsonthepark.co.uk/services
for your pets in your life - your vet for life
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New Year… New Training Programme Cotswold Style’s Fitness Expert, Luciano Kydd has devised some exercises you will need, to blast away fat and build lean muscle Happy 2016 and what an awesome year you have in front of you! Before you start to turn your health and fitness lifestyle around (especially if you are just starting out or are already familiar with training), in this article I have outlined 3 exercises that should be a staple benefit to your training programme.
The Chin-Up Chin-ups and pullups are very superior exercises to include in your training programme for a number of reasons such as building overall upper body strength, improving individual grip strengths of the hands, shaping the back muscles and a catalyst for building biceps muscles. They also activate the lower abs more than exercises such as hanging leg raises and abs wheel roll out and are far superior to using machines such as the Lat pulldown or the assisted chin up machine. A good way to actually gauge if your upper body is strong or weak is to try doing strict bodyweight chinups without the aid of swinging from the legs; give them a try and you will know what I mean.
The Face Pull The face pull along with the external rotation (exercise not shown) is one of those great exercises you will want to have in your training programme to help bullet proof shoulders for years to come. It’s also a great exercise for individuals who currently suffer with shoulder problems. Apart from improving and keeping the shoulders healthy this exercises also helps with improving upper body posture, especially individuals who suffer from rounded or internally rotated shoulders, due to desk bounds jobs or overuse in pressing-type exercises for the chest and front Delts.
The Overhead Squat The overhead squat, as with the normal back and front squat is fantastic because it’s calorically expensive on the entire body, works the body’s entire muscle groups, while helping to develop a strong core all around. Along with those benefits, the overhead squat is a great exercise for mobility and stability of the shoulders, as
well as aiding and increasing flexibility in the hips, knees and ankle and more so, it helps to mobilize the thoracic spine especially for those of you who lead a desk bound job along with a sedentary lifestyle and are getting that hunch back look. More so it can be done in the comfort of your own home with something as simple as a broom stick handle over your head - what are you waiting for? Grab one now! As with any exercise and training programme make sure you have a grip with the basic techniques, or get proper guidance and coaching before engaging in any exercises as it could lead to injury. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive health and training plan, please get in touch. Please visit www.kyddfitness.co.uk or get in touch directly by emailing me at: info@kyddfitness.co.uk
Cotswold Style’s Fitness Expert, Luciano Kydd’s ‘New Year, New You’ Personal Training Offer: As the slogan says, if you, your friends and family are looking to improve your general health and fitness, maybe drop 1-2 dress sizes or loosen your belt buckle, improve your energy levels or be more focussed in your business and day jobs, please don't hesitate to get in touch at info@kyddfitness.co.uk or check out my website at www.kyddfitness.co.uk where you can read about individuals’ results and improvement to their health and fitness. Book your session personal training with kyddfitness now, or before 31st January 2016 and save massively on any of the 3, 6 or 12 month training plans with price ranges from £300-£1000 per month, depending on your tailor-made package. (Usual packages cost £500-£2000 per month).
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event
Lisa Channing, Paula Hughes and Maeve Craven
Zoe Webb and Fiona McFarlane Louise Baxter, Georgina Baxter and Claire Berry Lucy Garbutt, Susan Blanchfield and Emma Logan
Aisling Macleod and Jen Cook
Sarah Horrocks and Nikki Kontarines
Annabel Rayer and Ellie Mainwaring
A Very Cowley Christmas Despite the winter downpour, hundreds of Cotswoldians turned up to Cowley Manor’s Christmas fashion and shopping extravaganza at the end of November. Guests drank cocktails whilst perusing an array of fabulous stalls and helped raise money for Winston’s Wish Bereavement Charity. Photography by Angus Bethune Andrea Stevens and Emily McPherson
Samantha Lai, Anna Jones, Vivienne Lovett and Katherine Head Frank Kenyon-Slaney and Lucy Garbutt
Tasha Brown, Samantha Rayson and Rachel Hibbert
Fleur Vidler and Zonnie Burton
Chloe Moorhead and Kat Paterson-Browne
Nicki Pang and Jo Whittet Nick Weston, Gabbi and Terry Croft
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Katherine Dielesen and Lou Shakespeare
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Harbouring ambitions to be National Hunt Champion Trainer read recently that a man who had won the lottery was so confident that he could repeat the feat went on entering with the same numbers until he won it again some months later. This is the time of year for prophecy. There is a cold blasted hill just outside Bourton–on–the-Water where the weird sisters of Shakespeare’s The Scottish Play would have hours of fun speculating on the fortunes of the Master of Bourton Hill Farm. They need not bother. Ben Pauling, still very much closer to twenty than forty, confided that he would be lying if he didn’t harbour ambitions to be National Hunt champion trainer. This was not the boast of arrogant youth or heady fantasy on ethereal substance, rather a planned charter of steadfast career progression. Son of a farmer and veined with all things equine, Ben took the highly acclaimed degree in Property Land Management at Reading University whilst keeping up with riding, mainly concentrating on point to pointing and riding out for various trainers in the area. In 2007, after graduation, Ben worked for bloodstock agent David Redvers in sales, breaking and pre-training. It was here that his enthusiasm for the training
I
Betlive Radio’s expert racing pundit Nigel Aplin, met with Ben Pauling, a young trainer hailing from the Cotswolds
Ben Pauling
of horses grew and after six months, he was encouraged to learn his trade with a trainer at a racing yard, none other than champion trainer Nicky Henderson. Nobody just happens along the path of being apprenticed to a trainer like Henderson, as no aspiring chef would suddenly find himself sous chefing alongside a Marco Pierre White. You’ve got to be good - you’ve got to be very good. In 2013 Ben decided to take the huge step and leave Nicky’s to pursue his own training career. He moved, with his then new wife Sophie, and set up training in the Cotswolds near Bourton on the Water, not far from where he grew up. He started with 15 horses and saddled his first winner Raven’s Tower in a handicap hurdle at Plumpton racecourse on November 4th. He sent out a further eight winners, ending his first season with a total of nine. There are arrogant young trainers and jockeys who think they are owed the noble legacy of the turf purely as testament to their early success. Ben is not one of them. Crafting a trade at the hands of a Henderson means refining the art of patient development both in terms of man and beast. There is nothing Pauling likes more than breaking in a young three year old and nurturing them through the early days of schooling from bumper to
hurdler. One of his most exciting prospects is Barters Hill who, as a five year old, won the Aintree Bumper and is being aimed at the Cheltenham Festival in one of the showcase novice hurdles. He also nods me in the direction of Paddy’s Field who he believes can be ‘top draw’. Looking every inch a potential chaser, A Hare Breath likes pushing his weight around, backed off the boards when winning at Cheltenham in November. Ben had taken him to the Lambourn gallops of Nicky Henderson, as he didn’t have anything as quick to go with him at home, “The work watchers could see how good he was and backed him down from 25/1 into 3/1 favourite, he sluiced up”. Ben thinks Silver Scotch could be good enough to have a crack at the Kim Muir and also wants us to keep an eye on Local Show and Drumacoo. Sometimes the stature of the person takes over from the job they do. Running thick in the Pauling blood is patience, loyalty and a primeval instinct to do a job the right way. He will not become champion next year or even the next, as with the wisest pig who didn’t have his house blown down, he will build his foundations with stone. The fun will be had by watching Pauling bring on his novices, as he say’s, “People will have horses with me because they enjoy seeing a horse develop, bonding with it and enjoying the total experience”. We too will enjoy the journey. Nigel Aplin, formally Head of Broadcast for William Hill, is founder of www.betliveradio.com, which features a daily digest of betting banter.
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Claire in the County DETOX… HEAVEN OR HELL? If you had asked me 48 hours ago, says Claire Thayers, the answer would have been hell! s I sit here now, having spent two of the most valuable days of my life with Helena Cavan (pictured) and her team at The Milestone Detox in Winchcombe, the answer is a YES, it’s heaven. My friends fell about laughing when I mentioned the detox word; they know me so well! For those of you who don’t, I am the wrong side of 50 (just), 2 stone over weight (3 actually but that’s our secret), hate water (I actually wretch) and I like chocolate (ok, I own up, I am a chocoholic) and I only drink black coffee, with sugar and haven’t been to an exercise class in my life and thrive on stress. The truth is, I ache from head to foot, cannot sleep, suffer panic attacks and my skin is awful. Doctors have just prescribed drugs but I hate taking pills … so I thought, what have I got to lose? I arrived to the loveliest welcome by Helena into the most beautiful of homes. After a brief introduction, I was weighed and measured and invited to have an Essential Elements cellulite wrap, how could I refuse? I did have to smile as my upper arms, thighs and tum was wrapped in cling film … that’s a LOT of cling film. Wrapped up in my ultra-thick and luxurious bath wrap, I met with the girls in the orangery to meet the very man who has created the most incredible agereducing cosmetic range and the gel that I was soaked in - John was inspirational. I loved my room with every luxury catered for - I even had an Earthing sheet on my bed to ground me whilst I slept. I was woken at half seven with hot water and lemon, an Aloe Vera gel to drink and a couple of capsules of digestive enzymes. I was also experiencing a banging head and craving a bacon butty and black coffee. It was to be, that they were replaced by a wheatgrass shot and then, the exercise – Pilates. Everyone was looking gorgeous in
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beautiful exercise kit, straight out of a Lulu Lemon marketing campaign – me, in an old rugby shirt but I went with it … until I felt the need to be sick. I was so ill but was relieved to hear from Helena that as I was so toxic she expected it. Good job she didn’t tell me that when I had arrived! I didn’t give in though and I even made the ‘mindfulness’ walk up to Bellas Knapp and enjoyed the meditation enroute (in truth - it gave me time to catch my breath and avoided the need for the air ambulance). The hardest bit on the hill was drinking clay (yes really), whilst lashing with rain. Being handed a jam jar full with what looked like muddy looking water, we laughed - I visualised chocolate milk and it worked! Bizarrely its amazing stuff as it helps to settle the stomach and helps clear out the toxins. Warming by the fire (over a delicious glass of red – juice) we met with Tabitha James Kraan who owns a leading hair salon based in Stow-on-the-Wold. She talked to us about her organic hair care products - it’s well worth a visit her range is sublime. After a session of Yoga we made a wonderful discovery about raw food –
how to make nut milk, which seeds to enjoy and other exciting superfoods. By now I wasn’t even hungry - I learnt that if we have the nutrients we need, we don’t crave food. More fabulous detoxing treatments I experienced was a lymphatic massage which was so gentle I fell asleep and a chance to enjoy the infrared sauna that draws toxins out, a PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields) mat which increases energy, decreases stress and encourages better sleep and the Chi machine (pure bliss), which gently massages the body providing a passive exercise that improves blood circulation, oxygenation and detoxification. So I left, still with a thumping head but a totally different perspective on life – this is truly life changing. Three weeks on, I have lost ten pounds in weight, I am caffeine and chocolate free, I love salads and Aloe Vera and fingers crossed when I get call back to the Doctor’s for my diabetes check, I will no longer be high risk and I can control my cholesterol by eating more oats. I have never been fearful of dying but I am fearful of chronic diseases and had sort of resigned myself to the inevitable but how life can change in just two days of tender care at Milestone Detox. Detox heaven is far more appealing than an early grave and with my history that would mean me being consigned to stoking the fires in hell – so it is an easy choice! A huge THANK YOU to Ella Majchrzakowska, Ethel Cowling, Sue Nash, John Hamilton, Tabitha James Kraan, Shelagh Greygoose and Jonathan and Helena Cavan. www.themilestonedetox.com Claire Thayers & Associates, Corporate Social Responsibility, South West www.clairethayers.co.uk
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BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrid now on sale at Cheltenham Volkswagen he Volkswagen Golf GTE is available to order from today, costing £28,035* RRP. And unlike Volkswagen’s other electric vehicles (the e-up! and e-Golf) which are sold through a network of 25 e-Retailers, the GTE will be available through all of the company’s franchised sales outlets. The name of Golf GTE reflects its standing in the line-up alongside the petrol-powered GTI and diesel GTD, while its pricing also reinforces this position. The new car is driven by two engines: a 1.4-litre 150 PS TSI directinjection petrol engine and a 102 PS electric motor. Together, they produce a maximum power of 204 PS and a theoretical range of 580 miles, while maximum torque is 350 Nm (258 lbs ft). A six-speed DSG gearbox developed for hybrid vehicles is standard. The electric motor is integrated into the gearbox housing, while further hybrid components include power electronics and a charger. An electromechanical brake servo and an electric air conditioning compressor make for energy-efficient braking and air conditioning. There are five operating modes: ‘E-mode’, ‘GTE mode’, ‘Battery Hold’, ‘Battery charge’ and ‘Hybrid Auto’. In pure electric mode (activated at the press of a button), the Golf GTE can travel up to 31 miles. Electric power can also be saved – for example when driving to a zero-emissions zone – and in electric mode, the GTE is capable of speeds of up to 81 mph. With the TSI engine engaged as well, the Golf GTE can sprint from zero to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds and on to 138 mph, yet returns a combined cycle figure of 166 mpg and CO2 emissions of 39 g/km. As such it is expected to be exempt from VED and the Congestion Charge. The Golf GTE’s 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged in 3.75 hours from a domestic mains outlet, or 2.25 hours from a domestic wallbox.
T
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The Golf GTE is available in fivedoor bodystyle only and in one highly-specified trim level. Visually, it combines elements of the e-Golf and Golf GTI, with C-shaped LED daytime running lights (e-Golf) and aerodynamic horizontal ‘fins’ (GTI). Where the GTI features red, the GTE has blue accents, including across the radiator grille and into the headlights (which as on the eGolf are LED), while 18-inch ‘Serron’ alloy wheels are fitted as standard. Inside too, the GTI’s red highlights are turned to blue – including the stitching on the steering wheel, gear lever gaiter and seats, and a blue stripe in the tartan pattern on the sports seats. Touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio and Bluetooth is standard, while optional navigation includes bespoke EV features
“The name of Golf GTE reflects its standing in the lineup alongside the petrol-powered GTI and diesel GTD.”
such as the ability to identify potential destinations on electric range, and charging points. The GTE also has an e-manager which allows the driver to preset vehicle charging, as well as interior cooling or heating and these functions can be operated remotely using the Car-Net app on a smartphone; a three-year subscription is standard in the UK. The speedometer and tachometer are familiar, and the latter is supplemented by a power meter in the central display, which shows the status of the battery, whether or not power is being used and the intensity of any regeneration. (*RRP OTR after £5,000 Government plug-in car grant has been deducted).
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Style Motoring
We meet the team who are leading the way at VW Inchcape... STEVE TOOMER Used Car Sales Manager Steve has been in the motor trade for nearly 22 years and has worked for some of the most prestigious vehicle brands such as Land Rover, Jaguar, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Audi & VW. Steve is married to Nicola, who works alongside him at the dealership and has a son called James. Outside of work, Steve (when Mrs Toomer allows!) is an avid golfer but also plays Veterans football and coaches his son’s local Under 13’s team for Leckhampton. Steve is passionate not only about cars but also about the dealership and Volkswagen and strives to give every one of his customers an unforgettable experience, as well of course, a great deal! He would love to invite you to the newly refurbished dealership for a coffee and chat and assist you with any questions or queries that you may have or maybe enjoy a test drive in one of the stunning new VW models. CLAIRE AMESON General Sales Manager Claire has been with Cheltenham Volkswagen for 3 years. She began her career spending 4 years at Audi and moved to Bentley Cheltenhamwhere she gained her first
Bosnia, and Northern Ireland… If you want the best finance deals available on New & Used Volkswagens, Justin is the man to come and see.
experiences with the Volkswagen Group. Living in Evesham, Claire has a huge knowledge of the motor trade and excels in making sure everyone in the dealership gives exceptional customer service and prides herself on the results that the dealership attains. Why not pay Claire and her team a visit and chat about the great deals that are available at the moment and also ask about our JANUARY SALES EVENT! JUSTIN HARPER Transaction Manager Justin has been in the motor trade for 12 years and brings his experience to Cheltenham Volkswagen from brands such as Jaguar, Audi and BMW. He is married to Mel and has 4 children, and they live in Tewkesbury. Outside of work, Justin likes to socialise with his family and they all love travelling the globe. Justin spent his earlier life serving his country in the army for 7 years in destinations such as The Falklands,
LEE EVANS Transaction Manager Lee has worked at Cheltenham Volkswagen for the past 8 years, where he started as a young, fresh-faced, sales executive and worked his way up to his current position in the company. Lee lives in Charlton Kings, with his girlfriend Sian and their beloved dog Darla. They can often be seen walking her around the local hills and villages, albeit when Lee is not walking around one of the many golf courses he frequents in the area! As you may guess Lee’s passion is not only cars but also golf and he has managed to get to a very respectable handicap of 7 but when he isn’t playing the game, he is working tirelessly to get the best deals available for all of Cheltenham Volkswagens customers. Pop in to say hello to Lee and have a coffee whenever you are free. VW INCHCAPE Tewkesbury Rd, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 9AH Tel: 01242 851754 Email: cheltenham.volkswagen. contact@inchcape.co.uk www.inchcape-volkswagen.co.uk/retailcentres/volkswagen-cheltenham/
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Unforeseen Pothole Costs Escalate Motoring advice from Reinventing The Wheel The cost to the taxpayer is rising exponentially as claims for replacement wheels are at an unprecedented level as are the costs of administering those claims. Sadly potholes are here to stay or at least for the foreseeable future but you already knew that didn't you. Councils are facing a serious shortfall of funds and a backlog of work estimated at between 12 to 15 years. The cause is years of under-investment in our highways coupled with some rather extreme weather patterns witnessed over recent years. Without doubt potholes have become one of the biggest scourges of modern day motoring and at their worst, positively dangerous. At Reinventing The Wheel we have the answer to 95% of the bent or buckled wheels we are presented with, and with prices between ÂŁ50 and ÂŁ100 depending on the severity of the damage, at a fraction of the cost of replacement wheels.
Established in 2005 we are a team of wheel repair professionals committed to delivering first class repairs and outstanding customer service. This focus has gained us an enviable reputation as the leading alloy wheel refurbishing service in the area. Of course we do all the pretty stuff from minor rim damage to stripping wheels back to bare aluminium but our process for repairing bent wheels has been developed in-house and we believe is unequalled by the few competitors that do exist. There are now machines available on the market that claim to do the same and we bought one to evaluate it but cracked most wheels we attempted so it now sits gathering dust in the corner of the workshop. Our customers include the most prestigious car retailers in the county and beyond, but our mainstay is the private customer who knows he is getting value for money which is why you will
find us recommended on many online car forums. We are not a bodyshop who turns to wheels when things are quiet or a powder coater more used to garden benches and JCB buckets than the complexities and intricate nature of wheels. Everything has been designed with wheels in mind; from the preparation and painting areas, the repair processes, tools and products used. All this allows us to achieve a superior result whether it's a simple scuff or a major restoration. Due to the complex nature of wheel repair it is very difficult to give quotations over the phone but please feel free to drop in anytime Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:30 for a firm price or to discuss your options and have a look at some of the different finishes available. Alternatively send us some pictures via our contact form on the website. Tel: 01684 291 900 www.reinventingthewheel.co.uk
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This Month with Kate Justice
Championing Procrastination Will Kate Justice even try to sort her domestic chores out? egrettably, I am beginning the New Year with a very long list of things to do. And I don't mean exciting or dramatic things like, Swim With Dolphins or Climb Mount Kilimanjaro. What is actually on this list... is a load of domestic drudgery along the lines of Clean The Oven... and Sort Out The Garage. Those two items were on the list this time last year too. Ugh. All that's happened is that both are now much bigger projects than they were then, so are even harder to face and they also have friends like Re-hem The Curtains and Clear Out The Pantry alongside them. The reason I give as to why I have such an enormous list varies, depending on my mood (and level of honesty). Too busy versus too lazy sums it up fairly well. One thing is for certain though – I am a CHAMPION, when it comes to procrastination. There is always something else that simply must be done before I Vacuum The Stairs or Scrub The Dog Bowls. For example; phone my mother / pop to the neighbour's / have a medicinal glass of wine. This ability to avoid creating the sought after (futile) scene of domestic bliss, where the oven is sparkling, the garage is clear, stairs and dog bowls are clean etc. is sadly – and annoyingly rather self perpetuating. There is now SO much to be done before household bliss is achieved, that it seems, in fact, an impossibility to ever finish everything, which leads to the idea of starting it in the first place equating to madness. Madness, I tell you. So why on earth would I? Especially when I need to call mother, pop nextdoor... have that glass of wine. And anyway, the garage will look less messy and the oven less filthy after wine. So, every January, I try to make my New Year's Resolutions tie in with undone jobs. The fresh start and brand new annum provide so much opportunity and optimism! Writing out the list – while seeing the entire year spread luxuriously in front of me, feels
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“...So why on earth would I? Especially when I need to call mother, pop next-door... have that glass of wine. And anyway, the garage will look less messy and the oven less filthy after wine.” like an exciting challenge, rather than the daunting and depressing prospect of too much to do and simply not enough time plus motivation to do it, that I will suffer from... by February. Top of the resolution list, then is: Do All Jobs On List.... and the deadline is the end of the year (well, it is a resolution for 2016 after all). Now you can see how happily I will compile the chores and projects into what appears to be an enormous undertaking worthy of a five figure salary and not really mind: Up until the end of December, I was running out of time and facing failure on things like the cooker / garage but
once the New Year kicks in, we begin again and all of a sudden I have 12 long, time filled months ahead of me in which to get them done. Very liberating – as it clearly means I therefore do not even need to think about starting anything for ages. Told you; I'm a champion. If it wasn't for that blasted tax return looming like an ugly January spoiler, I'd be happy in my busy / lazy procrastination cycle until December comes round again. Drat. If you would like to share your stories with Kate Justice, please email the Editor at editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
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Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches
Lots 233, 202 & 226 featuring in the January auction
Monthly Auction of Antique & Modern Jewellery Thursday 14th January at 11am For more information about free valuations and consigning to auctions at Fellows, call 0121 212 2131 or email info@fellows.co.uk
VIEW THE FULL AUCTION CALENDAR ONLINE AT WWW.FELLOWS.CO.UK Jewellery Quarter Saleroom | 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham, B18 6HA Mayfair Office | 2nd Floor, 3 Queen Street, London, W1J 5PA
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F so ree u fo nd bui r J sy lt an s t i n ua em ry
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We have been creating beautiful handmade kitchens in the Cotswolds for over 20 years and our business flourishes on personal recommendations. Our own team of local craftsmen are passionate about making your dream kitchen a reality.
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