North Cotswolds Sept Oct 2017

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September / October 2017

The Profile of the Perfect Holiday Cottage

With proper preparation, a high quality holiday cottage has the potential to earn you significant income. At Character Cottages, we market and actively monitor a portfolio of over 120 beautiful cottages in the Cotswolds and, in our experience, we consider that the following key factors are critical for success:

Style Today’s travellers demand high quality holiday homes that blend traditional character with modern, stylish finishes. Think smart, contemporary and unique touches, rather than bland, or overly traditional styles.

Size Most period cottages are small, typically with one or two bedrooms and they can face a lot of competition in the market. If yours is small, then make sure it really stands out from the crowd in terms of style! Larger cottages, sleeping 8 and above, have less competition and when presented nicely, command comparatively higher

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prices and perform very well throughout the year.

Location There is strong demand for high quality holiday cottages throughout the Cotswolds.

However, those that are located away from busy roads, are within walking distance of a nice country pub, have country walks on the doorstep and have rich character features such as inglenook fireplaces or thatched roofs, are in particular demand for that perfect weekend away!

If you have a stylish Cotswold cottage and would like to find out how much you could earn, then please get in touch!

www.character-cottages.co.uk letmycottage@character-cottages.co.uk Tel: 0208 935 5375

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inside

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22

Ensuring the Cotswolds are picture perfect

We learn about how a new partnership between Cotswold Tourism and the Picture Taker is helping promote the Cotswolds

Tour of Britain brings back memories September event brings nostalgia

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Cheque this out!

Local group celebrate clean up success

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06 New planning application checks business 08 New businesses and services local news: 10 Taxi Drivers exploitation awareness local news: 12 Local group have clean up success health 14 Preventing back pain events 16 Seasonal events across our area local news

FEATURED FEATURED

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18 Picture Perfect Cotswolds education 20 Dates for University Applications local news: 22 Tour Of Britain evokes memories garden view: 24 Beautiful Blackberries astronomy: 26 The Cassini Mission cotswold link 30 Advertising Details & Index local news: FEATURED

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Welcome to the September - October issue

We welcome Autumn with a wide range of local news, events and editorials, from slow cooked apples and spaceships, to preventing back pain and news from Cotswold District Council.

There’s key dates for University Applications on p20, whilst p26 explains the Cassini mission to Saturn.

Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories of local interest, please send them to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you.

I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in November.

Best wishes,

01609 777401 01609 779097 cotswoldlink.co.uk

Christine Campbell | Editor Cotswold Link Magazine is published in good faith and the editors cannot be held responsible in any way for inaccuracies in reports or advertising in

or advertising that appear in this publication and the views of the contributors may not be the those of the editors. Adverts and advertisers Cotswold Link carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. All information is appearing Your in Cotswold Link Magazine 4reports mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. Cotswold Link Magazine cannot be held Please responsible for any errors or omissions.

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New procedure in place for planning application checks

Following a public consultation, planners at Cotswold District have updated their planning application validation checklists to ensure applications contain the information necessary to allow proposals to be judged against new national and local planning policies.

This validation process checks that the correct planning application documents and fee have been submitted before the planning application is determined.

The updated checklists are now available on the CDC website.

The main updates are as follows: 1. A scale bar on detailed plans is now compulsory as most plans are viewed online and this will help with accurate measurements.

2. Clarification of the level of information needed on existing and proposed block and floor plans.

3. Clarification as to when an archaeological assessment is required.

4. Clarification that an air quality assessment will be needed for biomass proposals.

5. Clarification of the level of information needed for listed building and applications affecting trees 6. Clarification of the viability information needed for Affordable Housing and the cost of independent review by the District Valuer to be paid by the applicant.

7. Clarification of the level of drainage information needed.

8. Clarification as to when an Open Space Assessment is required.

9. Clarification of the level of information needed for a Waste Management Plan.

10. Clarification as to when a Statement of Community Involvement is required.

11. Clarification regarding the level of noise information required.

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W E N businesses

Royal Mail Delivery to over 15,700 homes & businesses

s & service our area

A4, Full Colour Format

in & around

“New To The Area” is a new business feature specifically designed to help new businesses and those that are offering new businesses and services to promote themselves cost effectively.

Businesses are invited to submit their adverts to this feature at the regular price and they will receive the

Local News, Editorial & Events

equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 15,700 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available. * Editorial must be supplied completed.

Contact us today to get your business in the Link!

Cost-Effective Local Business Advertising

Get your business in the Link!

01609 777401 / 01609 779097 01904 709462 / cotswoldlink.co.uk

See p30 for more details

Professional Coaching Service Are you stuck in a rut? Do you need help to achieve your personal or professional goals?

Are you really getting the most from your life or career?

As a professional coach, I work with people who want to enhance their lives or careers, and are serious about making change happen.

“It feels that my role in the business is now moving forward with far more clarity, purpose and potential than it was nine months ago - something which I believe is largely due to the coaching sessions with Phil”.

CK May 2017 I have over 25 years experience working in sports, educational leadership and professional development. I am now using my skills and experience to help people make positive changes to their lives and careers.

Whatever your goals, with a supportive, confidential approach, together we can make change happen.

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I am a member of The Association for Coaching and my professional coaching qualification is accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management and I follow the Code of Conduct set by The European Coaching and Mentoring Council.

Einstein once said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”.

In life, sometimes we can get stuck in a groove and need some outside help to move forward.

You can browse my website for further information, or follow my Twitter feed.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for an initial discussion to discover how coaching can provide a way forward for you.

Mobile: 07914 360352 philwaterscoaching@gmail.com https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philwaters-coach www.philwaterscoaching.co.uk Twitter @philwaterscoaching

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Porcupine: A real Turkish Delight!

We spoke to Porcupine partner Bob Hayward about the shops latest addition, stunning hand-crafted Turkish Mosaic Lamps.

“When I met the manufacturer in Istanbul, I had no idea how successful Turkish Mosaic lamps would sell here in the Cotswolds. For Porcupine in Chipping Norton, famous for its furniture, this would be a completely new direction.

However, once I had seen these charming lamps lit up, I was bowled over and confident they would compliment the pine and oak perfectly. Imagine my delight when the owner agreed to supply us directly, after all, he knew nothing about me or Porcupine. It meant no middle men, no agent, no wholesaler to cream off the prices. A direct supplier would ensure the keenest price, enabling us to pass this onto our customers.

Our first shipment arrived by Air Cargo within a few days. My partner Lindsay and I were so excited as we placed them around the shop. Even more so when we switched them on! What a difference it made, stunning!

I had to return to Turkey within a couple of days as I was on the lookout for Turkish cushions and table runners. Soon after this, Lindsay phoned, “There’s a problem with the lamps Bob”, I was surprised as one of our demands was that all the electrics were to EU Standard. “I’m joking,” said Lindsay, “The problem is we’ve nearly sold out. Can you visit Istanbul and order again?”

Here we are now with a delightful range of hand crafted lamps shining beautifully in our showroom. Sales have boomed and we now wholesale them to a variety of outlets, including garden centres, gift shops, oriental rug stores and lighting shops. That chance meeting in Istanbul certainly paid off.

Please call in and view the range, they make wonderful gifts as well as adding Turkish delight to your home.

Porcupine: Market Square, Chipping Norton.

Tel: 01608 641466

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Taxi drivers will help prevent exploitation of vulnerable people Taxi and private hire drivers across Cotswold District are receiving free training sessions to help them identify the signs that a young or vulnerable person is at risk of exploitation.

The training is being delivered by the Gloucestershire Child Sexual Exploitation team on behalf of Cotswold District Council and is mandatory for all drivers licensed by the authority.

Cllr Mark MacKenzie-Charrington, the CDC Cabinet Member responsible for Licensing, said: “Taxi drivers have an excellent opportunity to help prevent young people from exploitation. They know their communities well and, given this new training, they will be better able to spot – and report – issues which could put vulnerable children and adults at risk.”

His comments were echoed by CDC Senior Licensing Officer Michelle Bignell, who added: “We recently started these briefings for taxi drivers and they will continue through to early October. The drivers learn to look out for warning signals when they are out and about, and the reports they make should help to create a safer environment for vulnerable people across the district.”

“Taxi drivers are ideally placed to be the ‘eyes and ears’ in the fight to protect our young people against exploitation.

“They are in a privileged position of knowing a lot about the communities that they work in and sometimes they are witness to issues relating to vulnerable children and adults.

“With this training they’re able to spot the signs and report any issues.”

Any taxi or private hire driver who still needs to book a place should call the licensing team on 01285 623000 or email licensing@cotswold.gov.uk

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Cheque this out!

Local groups celebrate success in Clean-up competition 

Cotswold District Council recently arranged cheque handovers to the groups that were placed first and second in the Great Cotswolds Clean-up competition which ran during the spring.

CDC judging panel members Cllr Sue Coakley (Cabinet Member for Environment) and Gemma Moreing (Environmental Services Officer) recently visited Northleach and presented the first L to R; Gemma Moreing (Competition Judge prize cheque, worth and CDC Environmental Services Officer), Mark Ogden (Northleach and Fosse Lions), £500, to a local litter Cllr Sue Coakley (Head of Judging Panel and pick group drawn Cabinet Member for Environment, CDC), Cllr from local residents, Caroline Brady (Northleach Town Council) and Cllr Laurie Colton (Chair Northleach children from the Town Council local primary school, scouts, volunteers from the local Lions Club and the Parish Council. The judges also took a trip to the North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy to present a runners-up cheque for £300 to students and local residents who helped to clean up the village.

Cllr Coakley said: “I was very pleased to present these cheques to the winning teams, especially since the money will go towards schemes which will help them continue litter picking and to spread awareness about eco-friendly practices.

“Every group who took part in the clean-up competition did a great job and I should also mention that the joint third placed groups from Ampney Crucis and Meysey Hampton will both receive awards of £100 to help finance the siting of more dog poo bins in their villages. More generally, I am grateful to everyone who does their bit to keep the Cotswolds looking great – and long may it continue!”

Fancy doing a litter pick?

The Council can supply bags, pickers, gloves and high visibility jackets for clean-up work, and also arrange for special collections of filled bags after litter picks.

Please call 01285 623123 if you require assistance with equipment or collection of filled bags.

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Back to Back Back pain affects people in all age groups but is most prevalent in the over 50s. Health experts say that chronic back pain is increasing across the population due to our sedentary lifestyle both at work and during our leisure hours.

Around 4.2 million working days are lost to back pain by those in the 50-64 years age range.

A strong, healthy, stable back requires regular exercise.

The exercises should strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, and also the abdominal and oblique muscles that encircle the trunk like a corset.

Those of us stuck at desks for most of our working day can try these exercises whenever we have a few minutes spare. Try 10-15 repetitions and hold each position for a count of 15.

1. While sitting at your desk, put feet flat on the floor and hands on the edge of the desk. Push back, arching your spine into a convex shape, then reverse it into a concave position.

2. Stand about 30cm from a wall and place hands against the surface at shoulder height. Bend elbows to support upper body and, using abdominal strength, lift heels while keeping the back straight.

3. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, about half a metre from a wall. Face the wall and lean against it using hands, the back should be straight. Reach up with right arm and simultaneously lift left leg backwards and upwards. Repeat on the opposite side.

By Louise Addison

Bourton Library Opening Times

Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10am -1pm Wednesday: 2pm - 5pm Thursday: Closed Friday: 10am - 1pm & 2pm 5pm Saturday: 10am - 1pm ......................... gloucestershire.gov.uk/ libraries Tel:0845 230 5420

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Out & About n Fosseway Café Orchestra (Shipston-on-Stour U3A group) meets every Tuesday from 10.00-12.00 in Todenham Village Hall @GL56 9PL. No auditions. We can write special parts for players of 4 notes, but generally players are Grade III - VI. Total cost is £3.00 per session. 07967 423550.

n Via Fossa (Shipston-onStour U3A group) Advanced

Recorder Consort meet on Mondays @GL56 9SR. We play in 4 parts. Cost is 50p.

Contact Christine: 07967 423550

n Recorder Ensemble Beginners (Shipston-on-Stour U3A group) meet on Fridays @ GL56 9SR. Cost is 50p.

Contact Christine: 07967 423550 ........................................................

3rd September

n The Moreton Show

One of the country’s biggest one-day agricultural shows has something for everyone to see, do, taste and buy. That’s its appeal and what organisers pride themselves on providing. There are 350 trade stands showing or selling everything, from Combine Harvesters to Wellington boots and the very best locally produced food. All day, too, there is some thrilling entertainment in the Grand Arena and Attractions Ring. There is even dancing sheep... www.moretonshow.co.uk ........................................................

9th September n Mila Piano Trio

St Simon and St Jude Church have pleasure in presenting the Mila Piano Trio: 7pm Tickets: Adults £12, Under 16s £6.

Available from Wychwood Benefice Centre: 01993 832514 office@wychwoodbenefice. org.uk

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or from Liz Watts on: 01993 831759. St Simon and St Jude Church, Milton-underWychwood OX7 6JL ........................................................

23rd September n Macmillan coffee afternoon

1pm - 4pm Hailey village hall, Middletown, hailey, OX29 9UA. Homemade cakes and drinks, silent auction, plant stall, children’s fancy dress competition, lucky dip, guess the number of sweets in a jar, guess the name of the teddy and lots more!

Hope to see you there. ........................................................

23rd - 24th September n Made in the Cotswolds

A festival of creativity held throughout Chipping Campden and local villages centred around an art exhibition at the Cotswold House Hotel with artists demonstrating and selling their work. There are creative venues taking part throughout Chipping Campden celebrating all things Made in the Cotswolds, from locally produced wine and beer, to silver jewellery, floristry and architectural design. Plus much more besides. Suitable for all the family, most venues free admission (please check website).

Main exhibition open 10.30 5.00pm both days. Pick up an event brochure and map from the Cotswold House Hotel over the weekend or check out our website: w w w. m a d e i n t h e co t s wo l d s . org for further details of what’s on.

Cotswolds House Hotel, Chipping Campden, GL55 6AN ........................................................

Having an event?

Email us your event details to: events@jkanorth.com and we’ll publish it for you. Magazine distribution dates are on p30.

20th October

n Military Gardens - an illustrated talk by Richard Wheeler

7.30pm at Upper Rissington Village Hall Gl54 2QW The Gardening Generals included the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace, Cobham at Stowe and Orkney at Cliveden to name but a few.

Visitors welcome £3.50 to include refreshments. Contact Sue Brown on 01451 820233 for further details. ........................................................

Music at Stow’s Annual Festival

26-28 October at St Edward’s

Church, Stow-On-The-Wold GL54 1AB. Cotswold Male Voice Choir, with international soloist Angus McFee, 26 Oct, 7:30pm,£15.

Fairport Convention’s Golden Anniversary Tour, 27 Oct, 7:30pm, £25.

Toyah Wilcox, 28 Oct, 8pm, £20.

Free parking in Stow square after 6:00pm Tickets from Borzoi Bookshop 01451 830268 or Debbie@ HolidaysPlease 01451 810255.

Online from: www.

WeGotTickets.com - 10% fee.

More information from: www. musicatstow.co.uk ........................................................

Chedworth Roman Villa Heritage Open Day

9th September

Open day with free admission.

Art and sculpture exhibition

9th Sept – 8th Oct

Enjoy a range of artworks from artists, sculptors and mosaicists.

Contemplate the exhibits in the context of Chedworth’s beautiful surroundings and history of artisanship. Most exhibits are for sale.

Mosaic workshops

14th Oct and 4th Nov

10.15am-3pm Join mosaic artist Erica Bibbings for an inspiring workshop and create a mosaic masterpiece. £50 including materials and lunch. Booking essential on 0344 2491895.

October half-term activities

21st – 29th October

Special trail and craft activities, some include a small charge for the cost of materials.

Ranger art

workshops:

wild

24th – 25th October

11am-1.30pm Join James the ranger for a funfilled workshop, which includes foraging in the woodland and creating imaginary landscapes. £3 per participant Needle felting workshop Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, Cheltenham, Glos GL54 3LJ Tel: 01242 890256 chedworth@nationaltrust. org.uk Facebook: NTChedworthRomanVilla and Twitter: @NTChedworth ........................................................

Please note: the editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to events listed. Please contact event organisers directly. All events correct at time of going to press.

........................................................

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Ensuring the Cotswolds are picture perfect!

 Cotswolds Tourism has been working with local photographer Anthony Inwood (also known as ‘the Picture Taker’) to assemble a portfolio of high quality images that can be used to entice even more visitors to sample what the area has to offer.  Photographs of local towns, villages and rural scenes that Anthony is taking throughout 2017 are now appearing on Cotswold Tourism’s website, promotional material, and social media accounts – and feedback has been extremely positive.  Sally Graff of Cotswolds Tourism is very pleased with the results so far: “Pictures are always much better than text to highlight what this fantastic area has to offer, and we have been very pleased with the work Anthony has done to capture the essence of the Cotswolds as the seasons change through the year. The partnership has been very successful so far and we look forward to further collaborations so we can create widespread interest in the area - as well as inspiring local residents to get out and explore places on their doorstep.”  Anthony is also enthusiastic about the collaboration: “As a photographer based in Bourton on the Water I am privileged to be

Corinium Cinema to screen RSC ‘Live from Stratford-upon-Avon’  The Corinium Museum in Cirencester is delighted to announce it will be screening the Royal Shakespeare Company ROME season of plays at the Corinium Cinema. The performances are filmed live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratfordupon-Avon and broadcast to cinemas around the country and internationally.  Cinema goers will be able to track the decline of an empire through Titus Andronicus live on 9th August, followed by the tragic thriller Coriolanus on 11th October. There will also be a chance to watch Shakespeare’s greatest comedy Twelfth Night on

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surrounded by beautiful landscapes, towns and villages. I was awarded joint first place in the Landscape Photographer of the year 2016 competition run by Cotswolds AONB and, since then I have been overwhelmed by the connections I have made - most significantly with the Cotswold Tourism Partnership after I was awarded a tender for major 2017 project.

“There is no greater challenge than the weather so when the sun shines then you may see me photographing your town, village or countryside. I like to draw my viewers in, give them a sense of ‘I want to be there’ or ‘I want to walk down there’. I also love to photograph people having fun and children playing. During the next few years I hope to build my client base here in the Cotswolds to provide strong meaningful images that will promote this area we all love. For my Cotswold Image Library please visit

www.cotswoldimagelibrary.co.uk or my general website www.thepicturetaker.co.uk  One local firm that has engaged the services of the Picture Taker is Cotswold Grey of Moreton-inMarsh. Ben Slater of the company comments: “As a contemporary homeware company we have to present ourselves in a professional and aspirational manner. Our imagery needs to be sharp, current and shot in a flexible way to allow us to use it across multiple publishing platforms of screen and print. Anthony considered all our requirements and produced a great stock of images for us to launch with.

It’s certainly helped our shop, website and boutique accommodation offerings get up and running.”

14th February 2018.

Screening Dates: Coriolanus Wednesday 11 October, 7pm  A full-throttle war play that revels in the sweat of the battlefield, Coriolanus transports us back to the emergence of the republic of Rome. Caius Martius Coriolanus is a fearless soldier but a reluctant leader. His ambitious mother attempts to carve him a path to political power, but he struggles to change his nature and do what is required to achieve greatness. In this new city state struggling to find its feet, where the gap between rich and poor is widening every day, Coriolanus must decide who he really is and where his allegiances lie.

Twelfth Night 14 February, 7pm  Twelfth Night is a tale of unrequited love – hilarious and heart breaking.

Twins Viola and Sebastian, are separated in a shipwreck and forced to fend for themselves in a strange land.  Tickets cost £17 per adult or £15 for Friends of Corinium Museum, Season Ticket Holders and Roman Society Members. To book please call into the Corinium Museum or telephone 01285 655611. For more information about the Corinium Cinema please go to www.coriniummuseum.org

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Could private tuition benefit your child?

Barely a day goes by without schools making the news in one way or another.

Recent headlines have screamed: British Children bottom of the European League Table...and Crisis in the Classroom.

Is it any wonder that as parents we have never been more concerned about our children’s schooling?

Many of us are so concerned that we are employing private tutors to help our children achieve their goals.

How do I know whether my child might benefit from private tuition?

Is your child struggling with course work? Are they stressed about certain lessons? Do they avoid certain subjects during homework sessions?

Does your child find course material too simple? Do they complain of boredom and does the teacher accuse them of being disruptive or a daydreamer?

Do you feel that your child is neglected by the system because they are nei-

ther special needs, nor especially gifted?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions then your child might benefit from private tuition.

What sort of tutor should I choose?

School is probably the best place to start.

They know your child already and might be able to offer ‘in school’ help.

What do I look for?

It sounds obvious but you really need someone who can teach! Being specialised in a subject area is great but teaching skills are everything. A tutor should be able to relate to a child and explain things at his level.

Once or twice a week for two or three months is a good starting point. After this time you should have a good idea how much tutoring is helping your child.

What questions should I ask?

Check professional references and

qualifications.

Ask to see a copy of their CRB (criminal Records Bureau) check Ask about any career gaps on their CV If the tutor is employed at a school you can ask for a reference from the head teacher.

Introduce them to your child so you can see how they relate to each other The right tutor can boost results but more importantly they can also boost a child’s confidence and self esteem.

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AN EXCITING YEAR AHEAD FOR 6TH FORM STUDENTS The final year in school for a 6th former can be as exciting as it is challenging. The excitement comes in the form of selecting both

Date

Event

SEPTEMBER 6th 2017

UCAS Applications open for 2018 entries (Candidates can select upto 5 universities)

OCTOBER 15th 2017

Deadline for Oxford and Cambridge applications, plus Medicine, Veterinary Medicine / Science and Dentistry at most other universities

JANUARY 15th 2018

Deadline for the majority of other university applications

FEBRUARY 25th 2018

UCAS Extra opens, for students who haven’t received any offers. They can apply for one course at a time (Available until July 2018)

MARCH 24th 2018

Deadline for some art & design courses - others may have a 15th January deadline so be careful when checking relevant course details

MARCH 31st 2018

The majority of Universities will have accepted or declined applications

MAY 2nd 2018

Student who received offers prior to 31st March must reapply by today

MAY 31st 2018

Deadline day for Student Loan Application – This can take 6 weeks to process. The Student does not need a confirmed place to apply.

June 31st 2018

Last day for Students who wish to apply for courses that still have vacancies. Following this date, applications will have to go through clearing

JULY 5th 2018

Clearing Opens. Students who fear that they might have missed their grades can begin to research which courses still have vacancies

AUGUST 16th 2018

A Level Results

the course they wish to take and their preferred University. These last two factors can aid with the adrenaline to push the student forward and over the finish line next summer.

Applying for a place at University The table opposite is a guide and an insight for all parents and students as to the important dates they are going to encounter over the next 12 months. They should all be guided by the efficient and experienced staff at their respective schools.

First and foremost all applications to UK universities for full-time undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Note that many colleges and universaties also recruit through the UCAS system.

Part-time courses differ and the respective application needs to be made directly to the University.

There is flexibility within the system, for example should you miss the January deadline students can still apply up until 30th June, but universities do not have to accept the application and it will be marked “late”. To keep abreast with notifications then sign up to the UCAS Newsletter: https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/five-reasons-signucas-newsletter In the meantime may I wish students of all ages, a happy and successful year ahead.

For further information: www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/ucasundergraduate-when-apply www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/03/11/applying-touniversity-important-ucas-deadline-dates/ www.coursefinder.telegraph.co.uk/ John Harris

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21

New video captures the ‘buzz of expectation’ as Tour of Britain approaches!

There’s only a few weeks go before the OVO Energy Tour of Britain begins, and a great new video has just been launched which provides a tantalising glimpse of the excitement building towards the Cotswolds leg of the race on Saturday 9 September.

On that day, riders taking part in Stage 7 of the Tour will enter the Cotswolds via Charlbury and ShiptonUnder-Wychwood, continuing to Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-theWold, and Moreton-in-Marsh. They will then head towards Winchcombe and Cleeve Hill before finishing along the Promenade in Cheltenham town centre.

Henry C. Staelens of PinPointMedia comments: “The creative concept behind the film was to convey how all different levels of cyclists can enjoy the sport and how beautiful the Cotswolds is to visit - it wasn’t hard to make it look picturesque! Using a fantastic local musician such as Huw Eddy and his band tied it all together and gave it a real ‘party’ atmosphere. But the real stars are the local residents who feature, and it really allowed us to meet so many fantastic characters and cycling enthusiasts. The end result conveys a real buzz of expectation as the OVO Energy Tour approaches.”

Cotswolds Tourism - working closely with Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, and West Oxfordshire District Council – engaged PinPointMedia to create an eye-catching video which captures the mounting momentum across the area as 9 September fast approaches.

Sally Graff of Cotswolds Tourism is very pleased with the result: “The towns and villages across the Cotswolds are amazingly photogenic and provide a magnificent backdrop for promoting the OVO Energy Tour - and also the visitor experience generally.

Tour of Britain evokes memories of Milk Race 50 years ago!

and sunny day. To add to the drama, the morning session beginning at Swindon was a team time trial, and resulted in the exotic sight (for those days) of a winning Soviet Union team speeding along the Fosse Way and taking the honours in Stow.

With less than a month to go before the OVO Energy Tour of Britain cycle race gets underway, excitement is building in Cotswold towns and villages along the route which the competitors will follow on Saturday 9 September (Stage Seven).

One of the key locations which the cyclists will visit is Stow-on-the-Wold, which played a key role during the 1967 Milk Race, the most prestigious cycling event in Britain at that time.

Stage Two of the 1967 Milk Race - from Swindon to Malvern - passed through Stow on 29 May. The town was an important point on the Tour because it acted as a breakpoint with this stage was divided into two parts, with Stow as the breakpoint. This meant that Stow hosted a finishing line and a re-start, with the action in the town all taking place over a couple of hours in the middle of a very warm

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“I would like to thank all the local

Local resident Rob Brown recalls the events of 1967: “When I watched the 1967 Tour pass through Stow, I was 14 and a keen photographer. I took a number of action shots at the finish line of the team time trial section in the town, and the intensity over the closing yards was really something.

The crowd was swept along with the drama but, unlike today’s races, spectators were kept right off the road - partly I suppose because it remained open for traffic throughout!

At that time, the Tour was a strictly amateur affair, as were many of the major sporting events at that time. Like now,

cycling clubs who participated in the making of the video, including those from North Cotswolds, Charlbury, Winchcombe and Cheltenham, as well as the professional Bike Channel Canyon team. Viewers will see all age groups enjoying the experience of riding conventional bikes, electric models, tandems, sit down bikes, and Bainton rental bikes.”

Residents and visitors alike will enjoy a family zone at Pittville Park, a street market and demonstration zone outside the Municipal Offices on the Promenade and the finish line and promotional zone in Imperial Square.”

Cycle clubs and local town and parish councils along the Tour route are being encouraged to share and promote the video, which should help boost the number of locals and visitors lining the route on stage 7 – or perhaps joining in the party at the finish in Cheltenham!

the field of riders in 1967 included many competitors from overseas, but that did not stop a British rider – Les West – from claiming the overall victory.

“The cycling events in my day were on a smaller scale compared with their modern day equivalents. Nowadays, it’s great to see so much interest in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, and, indeed, cycling in general – I can’t get over the number of participants and spectators.

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GARDEN VIEW

Beautiful blackberries

Autumn’s scent is sweet and sour.

There is a definite tang in the air which indicates that summer is drawing to a close.

apart will do. You can also grow them over sheds and walls.

Plant the blackberry plant in manure, or compost-enriched soil at the base of the

Don’t be sad though, autumn has its

frame and gradually train the plant up it,

compensations, especially at harvest time:

tying in the shoots as they grow. It will

picking early apples, cold from the tree and

spread to cover the frame and provide

dappled with dampness is one of life’s little

an annual crop. Remember to cut out old

pleasures. But if you don’t grow fruit in your

fruited stems each autumn and tie in the

own plot you don’t have to miss out, just

new ones.

look to the hedgerows. As kids we used to dig out an empty ice cream tub and go

If space is limited there are some lovely

blackberrying in the autumn. It seems to

new compact varieties available.

have died-out a bit as a family pastime but that means there’s more for the rest of us!

There are plenty of thornless, highly fla-

Don’t worry about breaking any laws. If the

voured varieties. Ashton Cross produces a

fruit is growing in the wild it is anyone’s for

heavy crop of intensely flavoured fruit and

the taking.

Merton is a compact thornless which produces enormous blackberries and is very

But why stop at wild blackberries. How

suited to a small space.

about growing your own? It’s very simple. My dad used to grow them over two

I encourage you to plant a blackberry bush

discarded wrought-iron gates he found in

this year and in the future you will enjoy

a skip! You don’t need anything quite that

one of the purest pleasures autumn can

elaborate. Rig up a simple post and wire

offer.

frame. Two 2m / 6 foot posts knocked into the ground 2m / 6 foot apart and joined together with horizontal strands of galvanised wire spaced about 45cm / 18 inches

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Happy gardening,

By Rachael Leverton

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A Good Read

The

Cotswold Sky

Spacecraft to be deliberately crashed into Saturn Launched on 15th October 1997 Cassini’s final mission concludes dramatically on Friday 15th September when it is deliberately crashed into the planet of Saturn.

Illustration of Cassini spacecraft prior to one of its dives between the planet and its rings (NASA) By this date it will have completed the 22nd and final dive between the 1,500 mile (2,400km) wide gap between Saturn and its rings.

Cassini’s Discoveries Since arriving at Saturn in 2004 Cassini has discovered water vapour geysers on the moon of Enceladus along with evidence of liquid oceans beneath its surface and hydrothermal vents that could culminate in providing evidence of life. In addition there is the possibility of the moons Rhea and Dione also containing water.

A report from NASA informs that the most recent of Cassini’s discoveries has been the identification of a molecule in the thick atmosphere of Titan, the largest of Saturn’s moons. It is believed that this molecule is instrumental in producing complex organic molecules which may “have acted as the basis of the earliest forms of life on Earth”. This leads to the hypothesis that Titan’s atmosphere may resemble that of Earth’s early atmosphere. Scientists are now asking the question “Can some exotic type of life begin and evolve in a truly alien environment, that of liquid methane?”

Why does Cassini have to be destroyed?

The answer is relatively simple, Cassini utilises 33 kilograms of radioactive plutonium to provide the power to drive the radio isotopic generators. Only 1% of its power source is now avail-

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able. Should Cassini be left to orbit without its own power source there is the danger of it being drawn in by the gravitational energy of one of the other moons. Should this happen the moon that it hits will be permanently polluted extinguishing further research.

It is believed that with a good amateur telescope the destruction of Cassini will be viewable from Earth. However; the event will be well publicised and shown on the relevant national news programs plus newspapers and astronomy magazines.

Further reading on Cassini: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/ new-insights-into-titans-complexchemistry https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html Cassini: the final countdown – by Keith Cooper (Astronomy Now)

Diary

Autumnal Equinox - Friday 22nd September, 21.02 hours (British Summer Time). The moment when the Sun crosses the equator on its way south.

Sunday 29th October - clocks go back one hour.

The Planets Mercury, Venus and Mars These 3 planets can be seen each morning dancing for position at around 06.00 hours. To observe look East and low in the sky as the following images show. Their positions with each other will slowly change over the 2 month period, but please note that Mercury can be difficult to observe and will not be visible during October. Venus is predominantly bright and difficult to miss, thus it is often referred to as the Morning Star.

Jupiter: Can be observed slowly disappearing within in one hour of sunset, so by the end of September Jupiter will no longer be in view.

Saturn: During September Saturn will set around 22.30 hours and during October will be the only prominent planet in the evening sky setting around 21.30 hours by the end of the month.

John Harris

The First Phone Call from Heaven n Mitch Alom One day a phone rings, then another one, and another. Now a small church in a small town in Michigan needs to deal with the question of what really happened. And it is only a matter of time before the country, and the world, is asking the question too.

All the calls have one thing in common: the callers are deceased and want to tell their loved ones about heaven; to tell them that death is not the end. The town becomes a place of pilgrimage for people who are desperate to hear from their own friends and family.

Of course, some are sceptical. Single father Sully – still grieving for his wife – is concerned when his young son starts asking why his mum hasn’t phoned him. So he sets out to unearth the true source of the phone calls.

This touching novel is beautifully written and builds to a page turning climax. Will Sully find out where the calls are coming from? Or are they really coming from heaven?

Ultimately, the novel isn’t about where they came from. In fact it doesn’t really matter. Alom draws on our natural fear, not of our own deaths but of losing a loved one. What he offers is a story of a group of people who draw hope and comfort from these seemingly miraculous events. And that is the inspiring message from this book. Maybe heaven exists, and maybe it doesn’t, but whether you believe or not, you can still take something from this thought provoking novel.

Tom’s Midnight Garden n Phillippa Pearce When you are born you occupy a small slot within history and for that period of time you live your life in your own way. But how much thought do you give to those people who came before you? Your house or your school now may have been someone else’s house or school; a place where someone else grew up and had hopes for the future.

Tom is getting ready to enjoy his summer holiday when his older brother comes down with measles. To ensure that he doesn’t catch it, Tom is sent to stay with an aunt and uncle who live in a small flat at the top of a large old house. This is not how he imagined spending the summer. One night he is lying in bed, unable to sleep, when he hears the old grandfather clock in the house chiming. He counts the chimes. 9 … 10 … 11 … 12 … 13. And so the most amazing and magical summer of Tom’s life begins as he meets Hatty, a young girl who wears strange clothes.

This 1958 novel is a children’s classic and is frequently rated as one of the best children’s novels published since the war. It is inspiring with its message that life is to be lived to the full and reminds children that even their grandparents were young once.

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A brief history of British curry!

I’d always thought of curry as a recent introduction to Britain but bizarrely it all began with the Dutch in the 16th Century. They were world-leaders in the trading of pepper and because they had a monopoly they were able to sell it at an extortionate price.

So Elizabeth I granted a Royal Charter to a small group of merchants allowing them to create a trading company which became known as the East India Company. Its initial purpose was to secure a better price for pepper than could be obtained from the Dutch.

Actually the British had never been keen on trading with India, which was viewed rather arrogantly as simply a handy stopping-off port and a place to exchange goods like cotton and linen. But the Dutch made life very difficult for other traders so private armies, dedicated to the protection of European traders, were set up all along the coast of India.

At the time India was ruled by Emperors and Mughals and there was a lot of in-fighting. The Europeans took full advantage of this and seized whole regions and territories for their own purposes. Eventually the Mughals yielded to the British and the East India Company profited, becoming extremely powerful and influential.

The reign of the British Raj was a decadent period and this was expressed in their food. Indian chefs were trained to cater for a western palate and there was a tremendous

cross-over of cultures which resulted in a fusion-style cuisine.

When the British returned to their home country they still craved the spicy Eastern flavours they’d left behind.

It’s unsurprising therefore that the first published recipe for curry appeared in a 1747 book, The Art of Cookery.

Initially it included just coriander seeds and pepper. Subsequent editions added ginger and turmeric. Even Mrs. Beeton included a curry recipe, which used all manner of spices, in her Book of Household Management.

The first ‘curry house’ in Britain was opened by Dean Mahomet, who came from an eastern Indian middle class family.

He chose London because of its cosmopolitan atmosphere, and The Hindostanee Coffee House opened on George Street at the turn of the 19th century.

Curry houses became extremely popular but fell into decline during the two World Wars when people were preoccupied with survival and rationing.

The fall of Hitler and Indian independence in 1947 led to more people from the sub-continent relocating to the UK and once again there was a surge in popularity for spicy cuisine. Curry is now firmly embedded into British culture.

When you next bite into a poppadom give a thought for the history of the curry and impress your fellow diners with your knowledge.

By Colin Tyler

Enjoy Chicken Tikka Masala This chicken tikka masala is an easy but flavoursome version of everyone’s favourite mild-medium curry!

Ingredients Serves: 4 4 chicken breast fillets, cut into 2.5cm cubes 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 2.5cm piece root ginger, roughly chopped 400g tin chopped tomatoes 4 tablespoons natural yoghurt 1 onion, chopped 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons masala curry paste salt and pepper to season 1 tablespoon plain flour 50ml water 3 tablespoons fresh coriander, chopped coriander leaves to garnish

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Method Prep: 20min / Cook: 20min / Ready in: 40min - Put the tomatoes, garlic, ginger and yoghurt into a blender or food processor and process until the mixture is smooth and set aside.

- Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and fry over a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly.

- Stir in the masala curry paste and fry for a further 1 minute over a medium heat, stirring once or twice.

- Add the tomato mixture and chicken to the pan and mix together. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the flour and water together and stir into the pan off the heat. Return to the heat and bring to the boil stirring constantly.

- Cover and cook over a gentle heat for 15 minutes.

- Sprinkle in the chopped coriander and serve immediately garnished with coriander leaves.

Serving suggestion Serve this chicken tikka masala with naan bread and mango chutney.

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Index Attractions & Events Chedworth Roman Villa: p17 Magicland: p16 Builders & Contractors Bonner & Milner: p7 Calarel Developments: p7 Hill-top Joinery: p6 Hooper Joinery: p29 Morgan Roofing Services: p6 N & D Construction: p31 North Cotswold Builder: p29 RJB Window Restoration: p12 Stable Build Company: p25 Thomas Contracting: p31 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p1 Cleaning Services Bee Clean: p4 Casio Oven Clean: p23 Chem Dry: p10 Maid in the Cotswolds: p19 MRK Services: p25 Dental Cirencester Dental Practice: p15 Education Burford School: p1 Cotswold Tutor: p20 Phil Waters Coaching: p8

Sherborne Pre-School: p21 Youth Education Service: p20 Elderly Services Hearing & Mobility Store: p14 Electrical Services ARC Electrical: p12 Cotswold Aerials: p27 KR Electrical: p3 P Wheeler Electrical: p31 Vision Repairs: p4 Fencing Logs & Fencing: p25 Flooring Kingham Carpets: p10 Parsons Flooring: p11 Food & Drink Burford Garden Centre: p3 Horse & Groom: p5 Inn at Fossebridge: p16 Kilkeney Inn: p17 Watercare: p32 Wiltshire Farm Foods: p23 Furniture Amanda Hanley By Design: p1 Armstrong Interiors: p4 Hill-top Joinery: p6 Hooper Joinery: p29 MRK Services: p25 Once A Tree: p13 Phil Dadge: p29

Porcupine: p9 Roundabout: p19 Gardening & Outdoors H & H Groundworks: p25 Logs & Fencing: p25 Mower Medic: p25 Thomas Contracting: p31 Thomas Fox Landscaping: p25 Healthcare & Wellbeing Charles Wright Massage: p14 Cirencester Dental Practice: p15 Madeline James Counselling: p14 Paul Brookes Foot Health: p15 Phil Waters Coaching: p8 Burford Foot Clinic: p14 Runnerbean: p21 Hearing Aids Hearing & Mobility Store: p14 Home & Interiors Amanda Hanley By Design: p1 Armstrong Interiors: p4 Country Bathrooms: p3 Country House Curtains: p11 Fosse Fires: p11 Kingham Carpets: p10 Once A Tree: p13 Parsons Flooring: p11 Paul The Painter: p29

Holiday Cottages Character Cottages: p2 Hypnotherapy Training Jacquelyne Morison: p15 Internet Provider Gigaclear: p27 Locksmiths Just Carpentry & Locks: p11 Logs & Fuel Cotswold Logs: p32 Logs & Fencing: p25 Motoring ACM Truck & Bus Repairs: p31 Cotswold Garage: p32 Oven Services Casio Oven Clean: p23 Cookers & Co: p23 Pets & Animals Dial A Dog Wash: p19 Vets Home Visit: p15 Plumbing Chris Smith Plumbing Services: p6 Gas & Oil Services: p23 ID Godden & Co: p12 Property Maintenance Coln Clearances: p31 Full House Services UK: p13 Hill-top Joinery: p6 Hooper Joinery: p29

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Just Carpentry & Locks: p11 Recruitment Burford Garden Centre: p3 Removals Coln Clearances: p31 Sewing Sewing Tuition: p21 West End Sewing: p21 Sports & Leisure Cotswold Archery: p16 Dance with Pat Anslow: p17 Runnerbean: p21 Sound & Vision ARC Electrical: p12 Cotswold Aerials: p27 Vision Repairs: p4 Stoves Fosse Fires: p11 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p20 Jacquelyne Morison: p20 Sewing Tuition: p21 Windows RJB Window Restoration: p12 The Index is a free service offered to our customers. No responsibility can be held for errors or omissions. Multiple entries included on a space available basis

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