LocalReach Street January 2023

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Disclaimer.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this magazine, we make no guarantee that the content will always be current, accurate or complete. We do not approve any of the services or products provided by advertisers in this magazine. Anyone using the products, services or advice from advertisers will need to carry out normal checks to make sure businesses are trustworthy and reliable.

LocalReach Ltd 2023.

Garden View

This month – Winter Scent

Getting outdoors into natural daylight, even on a cold, dank day is a mood booster. If you need an excuse to don woolly hat and gloves then what better than winter-flowering shrubs. Even better if you can cut a few sprigs to take back indoors. Chimonanthus praecox, known as Wintersweet is the type of shrub that looks rather unexciting in spring and summer, but in winter once established (which may take a couple of years) the bare branches erupt with lovely waxy yellow flowers which have an intense sweet and spicy scent.

For a little spot near the front or back door, think about Daphne bholua, a shade-loving, tiny, evergreen shrub which produces delicate pink or white blooms that look like they are made from fondant icing. They have a rich floral, oldfashioned scent.

I love a garden planted for winter. There are so many plants with wonderful shape and interesting evergreen foliage. But the thing that draws me out into any garden is scent, and fragrance is particularly uplifting in the depths of winter.

If space is limited you also try Sarcococca hookeriana. This is also a shade-lover and produced a very powerful jasmine-like scent which carries well on the breeze.

If you have more space and would like something more robust then plant Viburnum x bodnantense. It produces pom-poms of flowers in pastel pink or white which smell of warm vanilla and lilac. It also has an extremely long flowering season, starting in mid-autumn and going right through until early spring.

All of the above flowers can be cut, and will last for several days in a vase in the house. But January is also the perfect time to enjoy gardening indoors. My teenage son collects cacti and was gifted a striking, ornamental cactus with funky foliage a couple of years ago, called Epiphyllum anguliger. The wavy-edge leaves which oscillate along the stem give rise to its more common name, the Fishbone Cactus. As well as looking handsome all year round it has the delightful bonus of producing large creamy white flowers in winter which emit a wonderful scent in the evening, just one bloom can fill a room with a sweet fragrance.

You don’t have to be deprived of scent in the winter months. Make a New Year’s resolution to bring some fragrance into your garden, and your home.

Happy gardening.

By Rachael Leverton

Despite many coats of preservative, the structure of the wooden fence in our front garden rotted, and a recent storm sent it off down the road, thankfully missing the neighbour’s car. However, every cloud has a

As autumn takes hold, we hear from customers who choose ColourFence because their old fences have blown down or rotted through, causing anxiety about pets escaping or even unwanted intruders. This, paired with the fact that there is no need for ongoing maintenance allows them to break the expensive, monotonous cycle of painting, repairs and replacement. ColourFence is guaranteed not to warp, crack, shrink, rot or peel for 25 years†. Making it one of the world’s best maintenance-free fences. And, unlike other fences, ColourFence can withstand gusts of wind up to 130mph. There’s a choice of colours to harmonise and enhance your garden’s design. You’ll find our prices surprisingly competitive too. Why wait until an urgent replacement is needed? To see the full product range, call us today and find out why it makes sense to choose ColourFence.

Relationship Resolutions

It’s that time of year again. What’s your resolution? The top three people usually make are:

Lose weight Get organised Save more (or spend less)

Most resolutions fail even before the turkey leftovers run out. So, for 2023 why not make a resolution or two with your partner that will enhance your relationship? The major benefit of doing it together is having a readymade accountability partner. Here are our suggestions for the best relationship resolutions.

Communicate authentically – Make time to talk about the best bits in your relationship, and then talk honestly about any resentments you have been holding on to. Don’t be accusatory, make a pact to be constructive and resolve any problems as a team.

Together time – Schedule it in the diary if you have to. Have lunch or supper together without the kids at least once a week. If money is tight you don’t have to go to a restaurant. Cook together or just have a sandwich and a chat. When our kids were young, we created ‘our time’…lunch once a week on a Wednesday because this was the only time we were ‘together alone’. Even If I we hadn’t managed a proper chat all week, we knew Wednesday would come round again.

Date Night – If you can, take ‘together time’ to the next level and set aside a ‘date night’ once a fortnight, even once a month can make all the difference. Go to see that new film or play, or hit the bowling alley,

Take note – I used to put little post its in the kids’ lunchboxes when they were at primary school, along with a little treat. One day on a whim I did the same for my husband and he loved it, so I kept doing it. He then started to leave the odd post-it in my car or took the time to send me a sweet text message. The experts call these little gestures daily love habits and they help to create a loving atmosphere in a relationship.

The thrill of the new – Go roller skating, or take a ballroom class, or learn to paint together. Maybe visit a local museum you’ve never been to, a

nearby stately home and garden. It doesn’t really matter what the activity is, it’s about having fun and creating a good memory together. It counts as a date too!

Say thank you – Yes he might usually clean the loos or put the bins out. You might always clean out the rabbit, do the grocery shopping and put the laundry on. Maybe you take turns to cook. We all tend to have chores that are ‘ours’ but try making the effort to say ‘thank you’ to each other. It will probably feel a bit odd or unnecessary at first, but everyone likes appreciation for the little things. A few words of thanks can mean a lot. It might be the only appreciation anyone has shown all day.

Laughter is the best medicine – Laughter is serious stuff! When life gets serious, we often forget to have fun. Tell your partner a joke, or an amusing story from your day; watch your favourite comedy show together or go to a comedy club. Laughter brings people together. It’s also a great aphrodisiac! Was there ever a better reason to make a relationship resolution?

By Kate McCarthy

Oven Cleaning – The Job We ALL Hate!

Are you embarrassed by the state of your oven? Do you hide your cooker door with a tea towel folded over the handle? Is your food being contaminated by past cooking? You’re not alone – the vast majority of us hate cleaning our ovens – it’s a messy job with dangerous chemicals and it seems to take forever. But the benefits of cleaning it really are worth the effort to get it clean. If your oven is greasy then each time you heat it up, the grease already caked on in your oven will start to vaporize and permeate and taint your lovely fresh food. You’ll also find that your oven takes longer to get up to temperate as the grease forms a blanket-like layer which has to be heated first before the cavity of your oven gets heated. Keeping that oven door glass clean not only looks nice but also gives you the chance to check your food whilst it’s cooking without having to keep opening the oven door (letting the heat) to see how it’s doing.

Feeling exasperated about the thought of cleaning your oven? Then let OvenGleamers help you - we offer a professional deep cleaning service of your cooking appliances and are the only local oven cleaning company that does not use harmful chemicals within your home. Give us a call and get your oven looking “as new” again.

Once your cooker’s clean again here are OvenGleamers 5 top tips for keeping your oven looking good between cleans:

1. Wipe up spills on the inside of the oven and oven door whilst the spills are still in liquid form.

2. Use an Oven Liner on the base of your oven or on the bottom rack to catch drips. These liners are non-stick and wipe clean easily or you can pop them in the dishwasher. (AGA clients can use these liners as non-stock liners in their roasting tins or baking trays)

3. Do not clean the exterior of an oven if it is hot. The heat will quickly evaporate the cleaning solution and leave a residue.

4. Soak the burner racks in warm, soapy water.

5. For stoves with flat top hob – simply spray with a gentle cleanser and wipe dry.

Dean Sheppard is your local OvenGleamer and can be reached on 01458 570082.

See our website www.ovengleamers.com for more details or check OvenGleamers’ Facebook page:

@OvenGleamersSheptonMallet

What do cuticles do?

The cuticle is the layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toenail. The function of a cuticle is to protect bacteria from entering at the nail root.

Our nails are made from keratin protein that is secreted by a layer of living tissue called the nail matrix situated at the base of the fingernail. The pale pink half-moon shape that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger is called the lunula and part of that matrix. It’s most clearly visible on the thumbs but isn’t visible on everyone.

Cuticles are delicate and they can get dry, damaged, and infected. Caring for the nail area and keeping it clean will ensure that your nails stay healthy. The easiest way to do this is to soak your hands and feet in soapy, warm water for around 10 minutes every few days. This helps to soften the cuticle and keeps your nails clean. Applying a moisturiser will help prevent dryness and cracking.

Because of their protective function it is inadvisable to cut cuticles as it makes it easier for bacteria to get inside which can lead to an infection. A better approach is to push the cuticle back gently and only and trim loose skin and hangnails.

It’s tempting to pick at cuticles, but this should be avoided, as should using harsh nail polish removers. Stick to an acetone-free formula.

If you use a nail salon, ask the technician not to cut your cuticles, and make sure that they sanitize their instruments.

If you notice signs or symptoms of infection at the base of your nail, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

By Kate McCarthy

Shakshuka

Ingredients:

4 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely sliced

1 red pepper, diced

1 green pepper, diced

6 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp sweet paprika

½ tsp cumin seeds

½-1 tsp cayenne pepper

800g tinned tomatoes (use the best quality you can find)

2 tsp soft brown sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

4-8 eggs, depending on hunger

Small bunch of fresh coriander, roughly chopped

Living with Teens

The teen years are a time of body changes, brain rewiring, social pressures and exam stress. Parenting a teen can be hard work.

Conflict - Conflict is completely normal. Teens have to learn to become independent. They are hard-wired for it. Try to remain calm, listen and choose your battles. Decide what is worth taking a stand on and what isn’t.

Boundaries – Teens will test boundaries which is a source of conflict (see above). Set out clear guidelines about what is acceptable. Tell your teenager where you’re going, who with and when you’ll be back. Explain that this is for your safety and so they don’t worry. Tell them you expect the same in return, so that they are safe, and you don’t worry. Boundaries show you care. You teen knows this even if they choose to argue over them.

Individuals – Your teen is not an extension of you. Don’t expect them to agree with everything you say or believe. Teenagers should and will

Method:

Heat the oil in a large frying pan (with a lid) and add the onion. Fry gently until golden, then add the peppers and cook until they are soft. Stir in the garlic and spices and cook for another minute or two.

Pour in the tomatoes and mash roughly. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Taste and season. Add a little more cayenne if you like your dishes spicier.

Make 4-8 hollows in the sauce and break an eggs gently into each one. Season lightly, and turn the heat down as low as possible, cover the pan with the lid and cook for about 10 minutes until the eggs are just set. Sprinkle with coriander and serve with crusty bread.

Serves: 4 with bread

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30-40 minutes

test opinions and people. Agree to differ. Your teenager is more likely to respect your views if you respect theirs.

Interest – Show an interest in your teen’s day, whether at home or at school. Offer support and guidance with homework or revision. But please note that genuine interest is neither pressure nor prying. Just keep channels of communication open so they know they can talk freely to you about anything.

Family time - Your relationship with your child will change as they progress through their teens. Makes sure you spend some time together doing everyday things…sweeping up the leaves in the garden, sorting laundry, preparing supper. Don’t assume they won’t appreciate a family outing to the cinema, bowling or mini-golf now and then, or even a country walk. They may approach the event ironically as though they are humouring you but if they come it’s because they want to be there.

The work you put in to your relationship with your teen will pay dividends as they get older.

By Heidi Leonard

Normal People

by Sally Rooney

It’s the time of year for a feel-good romantic novel, one that can be enjoyed curled up under a blanket with a nutmeg-spiced hot chocolate.

Laurie is unlucky in love and stuck in a career rut. One day she is sitting on a bus when she spots a man reading at the bus stop. He looks up, their eyes meet and somewhere there is a spark. Laurie can’t stop thinking about him, wondering if they will ever meet. Her best friend and roommate Sarah is Laurie’s opposite. She introduces Jack, her new boyfriend to Laurie, anxious that they will hit it off except... her boyfriend is the man from the bus, the guy that Laurie has been dreaming about. No surprises here...classic romantic chicklit so far.

Cue heartbreak and hiccups, and the quest not to hurt a friend while pursuing your own ‘happily ever after’. But this novel actually spans a decade (unusual for a romance) of friendship, fate, unrequited feelings, forgiveness, heartache, and love. It’s not a typical love story...there’s good character development. It’s told both from Laurie and Jack’s perspectives, with the reader privy to their thoughts and feelings. It has all the nostalgia

(and a few of the cliches) of a Richard Curtis film, but the trio of central characters clearly care deeply about each other. Their friendship feels genuine, which in turn makes us care about them and gives the story its heart.

If this book doesn’t get made into a film at some point, I’ll be surprised.

Escape Room

by Christopher Edge

Ami is a clever, thoughtful girl who is gifted an escape room experience for her birthday. She’s excited arriving at The Escape, eager to solve puzzles and to make new friends. But Ami and the children who enter the escape room with her, never have anticipated the dangers ahead or how far their strengths and fragile new friendship bonds would be tested. It seems that far from playing simply to win the escape room, they are fighting for the continuation of the entire planet! The novel is aimed at ages 8-12. It’s short, fast paced, and full of twists and turns, so is particularly ideal for more reluctant readers, and the ending has quite a twist.

By Tash Donovan

I Want a Divorce

It’s good to talk

A divorce will be quicker, cheaper and less destructive if both parties co-operate and behave with maturity. Even if you can’t agree everything, try to remain civil because if you fall out and the divorce become acrimonious and prolonged, savings and any equity in your house will get eaten up very quickly.

Discuss things like who will petition who for the divorce and what grounds they will cite e.g. infidelity, unreasonable behaviour, or separation. Having a clear, uncontested plan will keep costs down.

Christmas is often a time when problems already present within a marriage come to a head. January is often when people decide they want to make a break. Divorce is a scary word, but if approached correctly the outcome can be positive for both parties.

What do you want from your settlement?

Think about your children, the house, and any shared finances. Try to remove emotion from the equation and be clear and realistic. Courts are not interested in why a relationship broke down and will try to be fair to both parties regardless. The fact your partner cheated will not mean that you get more money.

Consider mediation

Mediation is not marriage counselling. It is there to help both parties agree on the key issues such as childcare arrangements, what happens to the house, what happens to savings, pensions and investments. If you can agree on these matters than all the lawyers really have to do is draw up the agreements. In this way and the need for an expensive court hearing is avoided.

Mediation works best if both parties commit to find a solution that works best for everyone. It is not always free, but it is much less expensive than legal fees.

By Louise Addison

Scottish plaid (6)

Entice, coax (6)

Shape with many sides (7)

Circulate, deliver (5)

Grovel (5)

Spiky plant (7)

Calendar, schedule (6)

Despot, bully (6)

Touchable (7)

Scrutinise (5)

Pretended (5)

Teeming, jammed (7)

Victim, prey (6)

Delicate, fragile (6)

Subject matter (5)

Let go (7)

Seraph, cherub (5)

Nimbleness (7)

Beginning (5)

Essential feature (7)

Coalesce (5)

Captivate, fascinate (7)

Ebb, fade (7)

Kept away from (7)

Instruct (5)

Provide for (5)

Leave bread to rise (5)

Sea-dwelling duck (5)

2023...New You?

The New Year always brings many pressures on everyone to look at their lifestyle, health and appearance. We are encouraged to join a gym, to become a vegetarian or vegan or just to address our diets. A lot of these suggestions are based on sound advice but unfortunately our New Year’s resolutions typically last a limited period of time before we revert back to our old selves. Regular gym goers refer to the 6 weekers….the people who arrive in the gym in January and are never seen after mid February.

In real life, everyone looks straight at your face, so if you’re wanting to change and improve your appearance this is a focal point which should be concentrated on. If you wear spectacles, your choice of frame, the style, shape and colour is paramount in creating the ‘New You’! An optical stylist can help you choose the optimum combination so that you look your very best.

Eyetech’s qualified stylist Rebecca will look at your skin tone, your face shape and your prescription. She will also assess your personality type. Rebecca will then advise on what is going to enhance or complement your natural features, reflect your personality and be appropriate for your optical prescription.

Why not BOOK an eye styling appointment with Rebecca in our new styling suite at Eyetech, Street. Styling appointments provide individual attention and last about an hour. They are free to our Eyeplan clients but otherwise only cost £25. Appointments are limited so ring 01458 442178 and book your styling appointment. An accurate optical prescription is required and a full eye examination with digital eye scanning can be booked with either Adrian or Kirsty.

Advanced natural healing for a painful torn tendon

Mary Turner had been suffering hip pain from an unknown cause for years when she finally contacted Matthew Jackson to ask for help. Mary, a retired care worker from Dorchester, explains, “My work was quite physical and I thought it had probably caused the damage –but nobody could diagnose the exact problem! Four different physiotherapists all had different ideas and none of their solutions made any difference.”

Desperately searching for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, Mary came across the Somerset Health Practice and went to see Matthew. “He took an ultrasound and was the first person to finally detect that I had a torn tendon close to the hip. “I had read about PRP (platelet rich plasma injections) and this is what Matthew and clinic nurse Becky recommended. They were so reassuring and encouraging, I felt safe and fully informed. I had three treatments over three weeks. Each one was quite quick and didn’t hurt too much.

“It seemed incredible that enhanced blood from my own body should be so effective. In my honest opinion – after constant pain, spoiled holidays and feeling so worn downthis treatment has changed my life. I certainly recommend Somerset Health.”

Matthew explains, “Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a nonsurgical, all-natural way to enhance

healing. The patient’s own blood is drawn and put into a centrifuge machine, which spins it to concentrate plasma in the platelets. This activated platelet concentration is then injected back into the body at the site of injury. Growth factors are released that regenerate damaged tissue and accelerate healing of tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.

PRP therapy has been proven in clinical trials and is approved by NICE, the UK regulatory body.

Exclusive offer

Somerset Health Practice is making a special, exclusive offer to LocalReach readers – free ultrasound scan worth £130.

*Offer open to the first 5 readers to book shockwave sessions, quoting the offer code JUMP INTO JANUARY!

Call 01458 860392 before 31st January.

About Matthew Jackson…

Matthew Jackson of the Somerset Health Practice is well known locally as a trusted osteopath and acupuncturist who is truly dedicated to helping and healing people through modern natural medicine. He is also an expert herbalist and registered practitioner, having trained in London and China with world class professionals.

Matthew is always studying new ways and gaining new qualifications to help his clients, taking a holistic approach. These include Shockwave and Laser therapy for pain, injury and wounds alongside hyperbaric oxygen therapy for longevity, chronic disease healing and enhanced performance. Look online for Somerset Shockwave and Origin Oxygen and read informative e-books.

For more information and claim your free assessment * call 01458 860392 Treatments are private and easy payment plans can be arranged to suit your budget Follow us ‘Somerset Health Practice’ on Facebook and Instagram, or ‘@glastoosteo’ on Twitter

Matthew Jackson - BSc (Hons) Ost, Dip Ac/CHM (China), Pg Dip CHM (OB/GYN), Pg Cert US (MSK) MRCHM, BMUS

“In my honest opinion, this treatment has changed my life”

How to Style it

The Black Skirt

Whether its maxi, knee length or mini; A line, flowy or slinky, most women possess at least one black skirt. If you’re anything like me, you mostly pass over this humble item of clothing when choosing what to wear. But when challenged to write a series on ‘how to style it…’ I thought it would be as good a starting point as any. My black skirt is a thick Ponte jersey and hits just above the knee but the following combinations can be adapted for any length or style of black skirt.

Black skirt + Black blazer

Channelling my inner Parisian I styled my black skirt with a camel-coloured top, my favourite black blazer, sheer tights, gold jewellery, red lipstick and high heeled nude court shoes.

Black skirt + Sweatshirt

I paired a faded slightly oversized wine-coloured

sweatshirt with black opaque tights and chunky black boots, then swapped out the boots and tights for white trainers. Both looked good.

Black skirt + White blouse

It’s a classic combination but can look like waitress attire or school uniform. The trick is to choose a blouse in a luxe fabric like silk or satin, that’s embellished with a frill, or cut away shoulders or a low back, and pair it with nude, black or metallic heels and classy jewellery.

Black skirt + Denim jacket

This is a great casual look when paired with a white or grey T shirt and trainers. Logo T shirts look particularly good, and if you’re more of a boot person, those chunky boots look great with this outfit.

Black skirt + Patterned tights

I haven’t worn patterned tights since school and now I’m 44 and I still think of patterned tights as being for teens. My daughter (who is very much a teen) persuaded me to try her black sheer polka dot tights and actually they did look very nice when I paired them with a plain V neck red jumper and black flats. Perhaps if your style is a bit more edgy you could try pairing a brighter patterned pair with military style boots, and add chunky jewellery.

Black skirt + Animal print

I am wary of animal print. I own a pair of leopard print flats and one dark leopard print V neck jumper, so I paired the skirt with the jumper and added opaque black tights and knee-length midheeled black boots with simple jewellery. I was surprised how classy it looked…and how long my legs looked!

Black skirt + Party top

I would normally consider my black skirt too boring for a party, but I tried pairing it with a sleeveless purple sparkly top, nude tights and some pretty gold party shoes I found in a charity shop. I added my black blazer and a black evening bag with a gold chain strap and felt quite sophisticated as I headed off to a 21st birthday dinner.

I hope I’ve encouraged you to pull out your black skirt and get imaginative with styling.

By Lorna Chalmers

Say goodbye to late payments for good

Do you struggle with late payments and bad debt? If so, you’re not alone. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, late payments cause 50,000 business to collapse each year, with 62% of small businesses suffering from late or frozen payments as a result of the pandemic. At this challenging time, it’s essential that businesses equip themselves with the tools they need to avoid late payments and improve cashflow.

Solution

Bishop Jones provides everything you need to get paid on time, avoid credit risks and cover cash gaps when you need to. The platform integrates with your accounting software in a few clicks to provide credit control, risk insights and single invoice finance, all in one place. With automated payment reminders, you’ll never chase an invoice again.

Benefits

• Get paid faster without the hassle - Bishop Jones’ credit control tool integrates with any mail server, so automated payment reminders are sent from your own email address.

• Say goodbye to late payments and bad debt for good

- Use the risk insight tool to view the credit score and payment history of any business and fully understand your customers.

• Fund future projects and cover cash gaps - Finance one or multiple invoices with no long-term commitment or hidden fees.

• Easy to set up and to use - Connects with your accounting software in a few clicks.

Bishop Jones chases invoices so you don’t have to The average business spends two days a month manually chasing invoices. Bishop Jones’ automated credit control tool chases your invoices for you, sends monthly statements and thank you emails, so you can reinvest that time into growing your business.

Spot risk and avoid late payments

Protect yourself from the threat of late payments and bad debt by gaining insight on your customers’ credit score and payment history. View all your debtors in one place and download their live credit reports at the touch of a button.

Access a flexible finance solution

Unlock cash from your unpaid invoices in a few clicks, with no long-term commitment or hidden fees when you apply for single invoice finance with Bishop Jones.

Grow your business

Bishop Jones provides you with everything you need to get paid faster, avoid credit risks and cover cash gaps when you need to, without the added time commitment. With cashflow taken care of, you can put time back into what you do best — growing your business. Want to know more, give us a call.

Win While You Save

The history of

Premium Bonds

November 1st 1956, Premium Savings Bonds went on sale. These didn’t earn interest, instead each £1 bond received a unique number and had an equal chance to win a prize in a monthly draw. £5 million worth of bonds were sold on the first day (about £121 million today).

So that each £1 bond had an equal chance of winning a prize, the draw needed to be truly random. Because of the complexity of the task, the Government used the team behind the Second World War code breaker, Colossus, to build a piece of Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment, dubbed ERNIE. This machine generated bond numbers based on the signal noise created by gas neon diodes. The original ERNIE was the size of a van and took 10 days to complete a draw. Over the past several decades ERNIE has been through several iterations the current machine is ERNIE 5, which was introduced in 2019. ERNIE 5 is powered by quantum technology which uses light rather than thermal noise to generate random numbers and takes just 12 minutes to complete a draw.

Do you own any Premium Bonds? More than 21 million of us own at least one, and their history dates back to the 19th century.

By 1861 the British Empire was wealthy but ordinary citizens were not. They had little opportunity to save. A Huddersfield banker called Charles Sikes wanted to change this. He proposed a scheme to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Gladstone. Gladstone approved and decided there should be a savings bank within, “...an hour’s walk of every working man’s fireside.”.

The Post Office Savings Bank was established to provide cheap funding to the Government, and the Ordinary Savings Account was born. Because the funds were secured by the Government people felt it was a safe way to invest so the project was a success with 2500 branches opening within two years.

During the First World War, the Government needed to borrow more money, so in 1916 it launched War Savings Certificates in 1916 and followed those with National War Bonds in 1917. These raised £433m (around £24 billion based on today’s values).

During the Second World War there was a similar National Savings campaign and deposits rose from £509m to £1,982m between 1939 and 1946. After the war the Government wanted to encourage people to save again and on

Back in 1956 you had to own a bond for six months to be entered into the draw, now it’s one full calendar month. Initially you could only invest £500 maximum, and the biggest prize was £1000. In a time when the average weekly pay was £10 per week, and average house prices were just under £2000, it must have seemed like a huge sum.

Today, you can hold up to £50,000 worth of Premium Bonds, and the maximum prize is £1 million with two chances to win the jackpot each month. There are also many smaller prizes down to a modest £25. 82 billion bonds go into the draw each month so the odds of any individual bond winning a prize (no matter how small) is 24500 to 1. More than £350 000 of bonds from 1956 are still active today and eligible for entry into the monthly draw.

Believe it or not, even in the present economic climate there are currently over 1.6 million prizes worth more than £63 million which have not been claimed. Perhaps now might be a good time to check to see whether you have any old Premium Bonds in your name, which have been forgotten about. You might get lucky!

By Jamie Maxfield

NOTE: Before making any financial decisions you are advised to consult a professional, financial adviser.