LocalReach Street March 2023

“Brilliant

- Anne Brown, Cornwall

Community Notices are back!

Due to popular demand we are bringing back Community Notices to LocalReach as of the April issues. So if you are a local; club, group, school, church, association etc and want to advertise your event or just make people aware of what you do, we want to hear from you. We will place this free of charge for you. Simply go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the form on the Community page or email editor@localreach.co.uk. We want to help as much of the community as possible, especially the groups that have very little income and no budget for advertising.

Are you looking for more business?

Advertising in LocalReach is a fantastic way to reach all your existing, and potentially new customers. LocalReach is delivered by Royal Mail to all homes & businesses in your postcode area every month. It is packed with community notices, interesting articles and local businesses. A massive 98% of our advertisers rebook every month so we must be doing something right!

So, if you are looking for more business then contact us now. To advertise just go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the contact form or email hello@localreach.co.uk

Community Notices are free of charge

editor@localreach.co.uk or www.localreach.co.uk

Deadline is 1st March for the April issues

Business advertising from only £25+vat pm

hello@localreach.co.uk or www.localreach.co.uk

Deadline is 1st March for the April issues

DO YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF LOCALREACH EACH MONTH?

LocalReach is delivered each month by ROYAL MAIL to ALL of the Street & Glastonbury/BA6 & BA16 postcode areas, including all towns and villages within the postcode areas, to every resident and business, totalling 13,527 copies each month.

We take non deliveries very seriously and in the event of a non delivery being reported to us we follow the Royal Mail’s complaint procedure.

If you are not getting your monthly copy by the end of the first week of any month please send us an email to royalmail@localreach.co.uk with the full address of the non delivery and we will ask Royal Mail to investigate and report back.

St John the Baptist GlastonburyServices and Events March

Sundays in Lent 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th. 8.00am: Holy Communion (BCP). 10.00am: Holy Communion.

4.00pm: Stations of the Cross.

(Sunday 19th March - Mothering Sunday)

Concerts:

Thursday Concerts: 1.00pm. (Retiring Collection)

2nd March: Jazz Gig

9th March: Organ music by female composers – Matthew Redman 16th March Treble RecorderJohanna van Fessem

23rd March: Cello - Hele Lunt

30th March: Ester Kosar sings Wagner

Saturday 25th March: Come and Sing Stainer’s Crucifixion Rehearsal 2.00pm. Performance 5.00pm.

(Full details of Concerts and events see Church web site).

Lively ‘Singing for the Brain ‘ sessions launch in Glastonbury

Calling all older people, including those living with dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and memory

problems - come and join our lively and interactive Singing for the Brain sessions every second and Fourth Thursday of the month in Glastonbury at the United Reformed Church on the High Street from 10.30am-12 mid-day! Sing familiar songs, create glorious harmonies, play West African djembe drums and participate in creative music making activities. Contributions of £3-£5 per person (or whatever you can afford) are gratefully received and include tea, proper coffee and cake.

www.somersetartswell.co.uk

jo@somersetartswell.co.uk, 07711006691

Glastonbury Country Market

We are open Tuesday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm inside the Town Hall. We have locally made, grown and created, arts and crafts, home baking, seasonal vegetables and fruit, locally made preserves and honey, plants and flowers. Come and have a chat with those who make, bake and create all the goods we have. If you can’t quite find what you are looking for it may be possible to make it for you.

You can find us on Facebook and InstagramGlastonbury Country Market.

Brains of Avalon Quiz

The annual quiz where teams of four battle it out in Glastonbury Town Hall to win the coveted Brains of Avalon Trophy took place on the last Friday of January.

This year saw twelve intrepid teams come along for the evening to pit themselves against 75 questions put together by one of our members, Mike Edmunds. The evening was kept in order by Questionmaster Chris Ford and was a very enjoyable and sociable affair with a fantastic atmosphere. Those attending were incredibly generous towards the raffle with over £170 being raised. The club wishes to thank all those who kindly donated raffle prizes. The evening raised in the region of £370.00 for the club’s charity account and we are grateful for all the support for the evening.

The winning team was Forum with Tor First Class in second place and Riflemans in third all within six points of each other.

Eat well to protect your hearing

A recent study suggests that women who eat healthily may reduce the risk of them suffering hearing loss in later life. Researchers at a major hospital in the United States discovered that women whose diet was considered healthy had a substantially lower risk of needing hearing aids. The lead author of the study, Dr Sharon Curhan, said although it was a common perception that hearing loss was an inevitable part of getting older, the research suggested that changing diet and having a healthy lifestyle could prevent hearing loss or delay its progression. Diets intended to reduce high blood pressure, or the so-called Mediterranean diet were suggested by the study which involved 19 testing sites over 20 years. Their findings seem to confirm earlier research which suggests that a higher intake of specific nutrients and certain foods such as squash, carrots, oranges, legumes, leafy greens, seafood and fish, was associated with lower risk of hearing loss.

The latest study found that the odds of a decline in mid-frequency hearing sensitivities were almost 30% lower among those whose diets most closely resembled these healthful dietary

patterns, compared with women whose diets least resembled the healthful dietary patterns. In the higher frequencies, the odds were up to 25% lower.

South West Hearing Care Managing Director

Simon Swindells explained that the connection between diet and the decline in hearing sensitivity encompassed frequencies that were critical for speech understanding. This causes issues for understanding speech especially in noisy places.

“The researchers were surprised to find that so many women demonstrated hearing decline over such a relatively short period of time,” said Simon. “It seems most of the participants were in their 50s and early 60s - a younger age than when many people think about having their hearing checked and after only three years, 19% had hearing loss in the low frequencies, 38% had hearing loss in the mid-frequencies and almost half had hearing loss in the higher frequencies,” he said, pointing out the value of not just of eating healthily but also to have regular hearing checks so that any hearing loss could be detected and dealt with early.

Simon’s mantra continues for 2023, please have your hearing checked regularly.

A Different Kind of Mothers’ Day Could you be a foster mother?

loving environment for them. Fostering provides opportunity to make a difference in their lives and help them reach their full potential.

Children in the care system have often experienced significant trauma or upheaval in their lives, and foster families provide children with a sense of stability and security, creating an environment in which they can heal and grow and learn to form positive relationships with others.

Sunday 19th March is Mothers’ Day. Many of us will wake up to our offspring proudly offering us a wobbly tray of breakfast. But for the 400,000 children in the social care system there may be no-one in their lives to appreciate their efforts of burned toast and soggy cereal.

This is where foster parents are invaluable. Fostering is an opportunity for individuals and families to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children who are unable to live with their biological families, by providing a safe and

There is currently a shortage of foster carers, leading to long waits to place children. The basic requirements for fostering are that you are at least 21 years old (there is no upper age limit as long as you are fit and healthy), have a spare bedroom, and have permanent leave to remain in the UK. Foster carers receive an allowance for each child they foster and training is available.

If you feel that you have what it takes to be a foster mother there are resources and information available at www.fosteringpeople.co.uk

By Jamie Maxfield

Top 10 Kitchen Buying Secrets Exposed!

Weston based kitchen supplier, Better Kitchens, shares some great insights into the potential pitfalls when buying a kitchen…

1. Interest free finance isn’t free - You may find prices from outlets that offer “interest free” are much higher than a “cash” price elsewhere. Because interest free finance is not free to the retailer, they will often inflate their prices to cover their costs for including the finance.

2. Why are some sales staff so pushy? - Most Sales staff work on commission, so they’re incentivised to sell you the most profitable lines, not the best option for you. Items that you don’t need can also be included. The higher your price, the larger their commission fee!

3. Trade prices are not always the cheapest - Always look at the bottom line price. Retailers who advertise themselves as “Trade Suppliers” like to give the impression that “Trade Prices” mean cheap prices. This may have been the case in the past, but now large Trade sheds use this “common knowledge” to their advantage and have raised their prices hoping you won’t realise.

4. Kitchen fitting shouldn’t cost as much as your kitchen - Bundled prices for fitting through a retailer can be inflated to include a margin for the supplier. The price could also include VAT, whereas a private installer may not be VAT registered, saving you 20% on the fitting.

5. You don’t have to sign up on the day!High pressure sales tactics include things like making you put a deposit down on the day of visiting the showroom. If you do this, you’re locked in to that supplier, stopping you from shopping around to find a better price.

6. Trade supplier prices are not always what they seem - Your local trade supplier’s prices are determined by the tradesman who’s buying the kitchen. The price they share with you may not always be the price they get charged by the supplier!

7. Why can’t some appliances be price matched? - Larger retailers will often negotiate specific models of appliances with their suppliers. These are often the exact same model as the ones available elsewhere, just with minor or inconsequential differences. But because they’re an exclusive model, they can no longer be price matched!

8. Half price sales are a myth - If you see a 50% reduction on a kitchen, ask yourself whether you think anyone has ever paid “full” price. Don’t assume that a “50% reduction” can’t be beaten elsewhere, they often can! Don’t be taken in.

9. Some suppliers use tricks to make shopping around difficult - If you buy into the wrong supplier’s kitchens, you can run the risk of locking yourself into their ecosystem, often for the life of the kitchen. Common tricks include using non-industry standard sizes, forcing you to buy their matching components. This can mean re-facing doors or worktops later in your kitchen’s life forces you to return to that same supplier again.

10. Organising the purchase and installation of your own kitchen can save you a small fortune - Buying online has never been easier. By measuring up yourself, then selecting and buying your own kitchen units, you can save yourself much of the additional costs associated with a full kitchen purchase like commission for sales staff, time for measure-ups and design. Even if you source your own fitter rather than doing it yourself, thousands can be saved!

A company like Better Kitchens can help you bring together all aspects of buying your own kitchenmeasuring, designing, planning and buying. Feel free to ask us for help at every step. If you’re looking at a new kitchen, give Better Kitchens in Weston-s-Mare a look. We’re the largest independent online kitchen supplier in the South West. Go to betterkitchens.co.uk/get-a-quote today, or visit our 28 display showroom in Weston to find out how much you could save on your existing kitchen quote from any other supplier!

Declutter Your Home

have used it or worn it in the past year. If the answer is no, consider getting rid of it.

Sort items into piles - As you declutter, sort items into piles such as “keep,” “donate,” “sell,” or “throw away” This can make it easier to decide what to do with each item.

Use storage solutions - Invest in storage solutions, such as bins or shelves. This can help you to keep your home organized and clutterfree BUT declutter first. It’s easier to organise stuff when you have less of it!

Spring is a time when we often get the urge to clean and declutter our homes.

If you have the urge, here are a few useful strategies:

Start small - It can be overwhelming to try to declutter a whole room or house at once. Instead, start with a small area, such as a closet or a single shelf, and work your way up to larger areas.

Follow the “one year” rule - When deciding whether to keep something, ask yourself if you

Let it go - It can be difficult to get rid of things, especially if they have sentimental value. However, it’s important to remember that keeping things that you don’t use or need can add unnecessary stress to your life.

Finally - be patient and take breaks when needed. Decluttering can be a time-consuming process, but the end result of a more organized and clutter-free home is worth the effort.

By Sarah Davey

A Good Read

My Name is Lucy Barton

by Elizabeth Strout

It’s Mothers’ Day this month and in spite of all the saccharine cards in the shops we know that mother and daughter relationships are often not straightforward. Lucy Barton is both a mother and a daughter. She has a floundering marriage and is in hospital with complications following what should have been a routine operation. Her husband who dislikes hospitals and declines to visit, arranges instead for her estranged mother to sit with her.

Strout’s novel is about a mother and daughter relationship steeped in sadness. Lucy spent her childhood craving maternal love, while her mother seemed incapable of providing it.

This poignant and deeply moving novel explores the complexities of family, love, and forgiveness. Told from Lucy’s viewpoint, the story takes us on a journey through her childhood and into adult life, as she reflects on events in her past and her relationship with her mother.

The novel is written in a simple and straightforward style that somehow belies the emotional depth of the story. Strout’s writing is evocative and powerful; she’s a master of capturing the nuances of human emotion. The characters and their relationships are richly drawn, and relatable. Lucy’s relationship with her mother is at the core of the novel, and Strout explores its dynamics with sensitivity and insight.

Themes of family, love, and forgiveness are woven throughout and Strout’s writing reflects on the passage of time, the power of memory and the strength of the human spirit. There is much in this novel that is not stated explicitly. The reader is left to do some work and the result is a wise, thought-provoking book.

By Tash Donovan

World glaucoma day is on 12th March

As with other “days” the aim is to raise awareness to this disease and help eliminate blindness by regular eye examination and early diagnosis.

But what is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease which can cause damage to the optic nerve. Peripheral vision is affected first so often goes unnoticed. If undetected it can progress to affect the central vision which is too late. Early detection is the key.

When visiting your opticians, the Optometrist will measure the eye pressure, check your peripheral vision, and examine the fundus (back of the eye). The best way of examining the fundus is by using an OCT machine which creates high definition 3D imaging of the back of the eye. This can be invaluable for early detection of various eye diseases, including glaucoma.

When visiting Eyetech Opticians, ask for an ‘enhanced examination’ which will include an OCT test.

Call 01458 442178 or email street@eyetech-opticians.co.uk

Eyetech - professional care and advice, time to talk, time to listen.

WE OFFER:

TIME FOR YOU TO TALK WHILST WE LISTEN. RELAXED FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE EXPLAINED SIMPLY.

SUPERB RANGE OF QUALITY AND INDIVIDUAL FRAMES.

THE MOST ADVANCED OPTICAL LENSES FROM ALL MANUFACTURERS.

Kirsty Thomas ConsultantOptometrist

Word Search

1 Nightclub entertainment (7)

4 Strange and frightening (5)

7 System for detecting aircraft (5)

9 Vertical, erect (7)

10 Passivity, paralysis (7)

11 Emperor, king, monarch (5)

12 Tyrannical dictator (6)

14 Priest or religious leader (6)

18 Plentiful (5)

20 Gaunt, exhausted (7)

22 Scottish pouch worn with a kilt (7)

23 Ceremonial headdress (5)

24 Item in a diary, or notebook (5)

25 Spiny Australian egg-laying mammal! (7)

Down

1 Supported, sustained (7)

2 Decorative breast pin (5)

3 Tropical bird with large colourful beak (6)

4 Mistake (5)

5 Constant, uniform (7)

6 Go inside (5)

8 Relative size of two values (5)

13 Assist financially (7)

15 Strict reason (5)

16 Intricate musical solo (7)

17 Become different (6)

18 Passage in supermarket (5)

19 Before the expected time (5)

21 Keep away from (5)

Mindbenders

Solutions: Turn to page 15

Modern therapy transforms swim champion’s chances

“A great range of holistic treatments to support his athletic ambition”

Josh, aged 15, of Somerton is a champion swimmer whose ability and dedication have earned him the support of the Swim England national talent programme, wins at the English Swimming Championships and Olympic ambitions.

Having loved to swim from the age of eight, Josh started getting serious at just ten years old with 5.30am training sessions in the pool several days a week. These days, he swims for 14 hours a week across six days. Like many athletes –especially when still growing – he has found that this routine brings challenges for the body.

“When Josh first came to me”, explains Matthew Jackson, “he had pains in his arm and shoulder through so much repetitive movement and was missing training sessions. I have experience in helping professional and serious athletes and started treating him with laser therapy, which is fast, non-invasive and can be used frequently.

“With regular treatments, Josh’s pain responded well to the Laser’s ability to promote regeneration and repair, as well as reducing inflammation and lessening stress. Laser therapy is a great option for athletesand is really effective for tendon and muscle pain in any individual, regardless of age and activity level.”

Laser treatment has allowed Josh to continue to swim without pain whilst training and

growing and so keep up his fitness and competitiveness. Matthew has also helped him with orthotics to prevent knee pain caused by flat feet and with sessions in the Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber to support his lungs after swimming frequently in chlorinated water. “I really appreciate the friendly, convenient set up at the clinic and the range of holistic treatments,” says Josh’s mother. “Matthew has gone out of his way to ensure that Josh can safely continue in his athletic ambition.”

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 MARCH TO VICTORY!

Call 01458 860392 before 31st March.

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

Garden View

This month – Delightful dahlias

I’m a fairly recent convert to the delights of the Dahlia. When I first began gardening seriously, I considered them a bit vulgar and blousy…not to mention needy. Then I saw a fantastic display in my friend’s garden and in a Damascene moment I suddenly saw the light, and I’ve been growing them ever since. With just a little knowhow, they are actually easy to grow and care for.

When choosing Dahlias consider the size and type of flower head you want, as well as the height of the plant. Dwarf varieties are great for patio pots, but there are also varieties tall enough be used as a centrepiece in a border. They are planted as tubers right about now. Look for strong, healthy tubers and check the labels carefully to make sure they are suitable for your climate and soil type. They should be planted after the last frost, in a well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. By well-drained I mean soil which allows water to percolate through it reasonably quickly and not pool. If your soil is too heavy, or alternatively too free draining

Puzzle Solutions

(so nutrients wash away), the best remedy is to dig in lots of organic matter such as compost, well-rotted farm manure, or shredded leaves This will condition the soil so it maintains the right amounts of water and air for better plant growth and increased biological activity

Dig a hole about 10-15cm deep and position the tuber, with the eye (the little dip) facing upward, then cover with soil. Water well and mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Dahlias are quite thirsty plants so require regular watering, especially during dry spells, and they should be fed every two weeks with a highpotash fertilizer. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth and more flowers. Stake tall varieties to prevent them from falling over in windy weather. This sounds needy but they will repay this attention handsomely with their glorious blooms. Deadhead by removing the faded blooms regularly to encourage even more flowers. Cut the stem back to just above the next pair of leaves.

Unfortunately, Dahlias are not frost-hardy, so it’s important to lift the tubers in the fall before the first frost and store them in a cool, dry place. Leave the stems and foliage to die back, then carefully lift the tubers, brushing off any soil, and let them dry out for a few days. Store them in a frost-free place, such as a shed or garage, until the spring when you can plant them out again.

My absolute favourite is Dahlia ‘Chimborazo’ which is a pretty collarette dahlia, bearing deep crimson-red outer petals around an inner collar of pale yellow. It is about a metre tall so will need to be staked and is suited to growing in a mixed, herbaceous border. It also makes an excellent cut flower.

If you are after a dwarf plant try ‘Figaro’ which is a dwarf “landscape” dahlia with semi-double flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. It works well as bedding and in containers, and blooms from planting time until the first frosts.

Happy gardening,

By Rachael Leverton

OvenGleamers Recipe of The Month - Meringue Kisses

With Mother’s Day coming up, we’ve got a delicious recipe for you this month that are perfect to treat the ones you love.

Ingredients (serves four)

3 large egg whites

About 200g caster sugar

Pink food colouring

50g white chocolate, chopped

For the filling:

300ml double cream

1tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

About 4tbsp cherry jam

To serve: 8 fresh ripe cherries

Method

1: Preheat the oven to 110C. Drawing freehand or using a 6.5cm heart-shaped cutter as a template, draw eight hearts on to two sheets of baking parchment. Turn them over and lay on to two baking sheets. Don’t grease the paper as meringue will be used to secure the corners. Weigh a spotlessly clean bowl, then weigh the egg whites in it. Calculate their weight, double it and weigh that quantity of caster sugar into a separate bowl.

2: Whisk the egg whites until they stand in soft peaks and the fluffy mixture doesn’t slip around in the bowl. You should be able to turn it upside down over your head without the mixture falling out.

Whisk in the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, making sure each spoonful dissolves before adding the next. Dip a cocktail stick into the food colouring and add it to the meringue until you reach the depth of colour you want. Dot a little of the meringue under the corners of each piece of parchment to secure it to the baking sheet.

3: Spoon the rest of the meringue into a piping bag with a 1cm round nozzle and pipe inside the heart templates. Bake for about 1.5 hours, until they come away easily from the paper. Leave to cool in the oven.

4: Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Melt the white chocolate in the bowl, then spoon it over the base of each meringue and leave to set. Whip the cream and icing sugar in a bowl until thick and glossy. Swirl in the cherry jam. Take two meringue hearts and sandwich them together with the sweet jam cream. Serve dusted with a little extra icing sugar and a couple of ripe cherries.

Meringue is renowned for being difficult to make, and we would love to see a great selection of success and fail photos! If you can, please post a photo on our Facebook page www.facebook. com/OvenGleamersSheptonMallet

Key April 2023 tax changes

At the time of writing there are a number of key changes to the National Living Wage and tax allowances that take effect from April 2023. We say at the time of writing given last year’s challenges with the Mini Budget and Autumn Statement, and the Budget to be announced on 15 March 2023.

National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage

The rates from 1 April 2023 are:

23 years old and over (NLW) - £10.42

21 to 22 years old rate (NMW) - £10.18

18 to 20 years old rate (NMW) - £7.49

Under 18 (NMW) - £5.28

Apprentice rate* - £5.28

*Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they are either aged under 19, or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Income Tax

• The Income Tax additional rate threshold will be lowered from £150,000 to £125,140, the income level at which an individual will not have any Personal Allowance, because £1 of the Personal Allowance is withdrawn for every £2 of income above £100,000 from 6 April 2023.

• The income tax bands for the 2023/2024 tax year are being kept the same as the previous tax year

before and again are currently meant to be in place until 2026.

• After the £12,570 personal allowance threshold you will pay income tax at the following rates:

• Basic rate of 20% on earnings between £12,571 and £50,270.

• Higher Rate of 40% on earnings between £50,271 and £125,139.

• Additional Rate of 45% on earnings from £125,140.

Capital Gains Tax

• The tax-free allowance was £12,300 for 2022-23, but from April this will be dramatically cut to £6,000. From April 2024, it will be reduced again to just £3,000.

Corporation Tax

• The rate at which corporation tax is charged is scheduled to increase from 1 April 2023. The rate will increase to 25% for companies whose taxable profits exceed £250,000. For companies with profits of less than £50,000, the current 19% rate will still apply.

• Companies with taxable profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will pay tax at the 25% rate reduced by a marginal relief such that overall, they will pay on a sliding scale between 19% and 25%.

Want to know more, give us a call.

Mad About Dogs?

Then don’t miss Crufts on March 9th-12th

As Archie can’t stay still for a nanosecond I don’t think we’ll be troubling Crufts for a while.

Agility was actually introduced as a filler item in 1978 and proved so popular it became a permanent fixture. Agility requires as much discipline as obedience though the skills are different. The dogs have to negotiate a complex series of obstacles without error, in the fastest time possible. If you’ve never watched it you’re missing a real treat.

Most dog owners can never hope to aspire to Crufts glory, but we can all make sure our dogs are trained properly; it’s responsible and it’s fun. And local training clubs are great places to make two-legged, as well as four-legged, friends.

If ever you doubt that the British are a nation of dog lovers, then Crufts will set you straight. 20 000 top pedigree dogs will attend this year, along with around 150 000 spectators.

Named after its founder, Charles Cruft, the first dog show of that name was held in 1891 in Islington, London. It’s now officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest dog show in the world!

My ‘must-see’ events are agility and obedience. I admit to watching these with an envious eye as my own pup, Archie, was at the back of the queue when brains were handed out and I can only dream of a dog who sits, stays and jumps through hoops, rather than races around like a loon, chasing his own tail until he crashes into the fridge!

Crufts accepts only the cream of the canine obedience corps, and it takes dedication to produce a champion.

There are regional selection days around the country and different levels of ability can enter. Top obedience champions need to perform well in many different skills including:

Three different paces of heel work, including a sit, stand and down command.

Retrieval of an object

Send-away

Distance control in six positions

Scent discrimination

A three-minute sit-stay