Lincolnshire Pride April 2016

LincolnshirePride

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APR 2016

THE COUNTY’S BEAUTY BLOGGER

ECO-HOMES IN LINCOLNSHIRE

COVERING LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK ON TRENT

LincolnshirePride

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR HIGH QUALITY HOMES

Great ideas for Lincolnshire’s Homes & Gardens this spring...

100 Years of RAF HISTORY

County celebrations for the air force’s 2016 centenary...

£3.70

Eating Out in April

The Queen’s Head & Sebastopol Inn

From Page 38

Page 26.

SPRING LAMBS THE BELTON IN LINCOLN HORSE TRIALS Louise PreviewFairburn’s of this Longwool babies year’s equestrian gambol into life... competition...

The hasEventing some Dress‘Good up forShepherd’ the British new additions herPage flock. affiliated trials.toSee 46.

Page 102.

Burton Hunt Exclusive images from the THE EVENT

APRIL 2016

2016 End of Season Ball

This Month: The Queen’s Six - choral talent from Westminster to West Pinchbeck

SPRING FASHIONS Recommendations from Louth’s Orchid Boutique

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JULIAN WILKINSON MANAGING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the life of Shakespeare this month. April was the month of Shakespeare’s birth, and his death, 400 years ago. Lincoln’s LPAC will celebrate the Bard with a minifestival this month and the Stamford Shakespeare Company at Tolethorpe Hall has announced its trio of plays for the theatre’s 2016 season - Macbeth, Tempest and The Wind in the Willows with tickets on sale from this month.

Also enjoying an anniversary this month is HM The Queen, who will be celebrated by the Lincoln Choral Society with their concert, Gloria!

A Royal Celebration, featuring music

by Handel and Vivaldi, on 2nd April.

These are precursors to a whole summer of live entertainment, from Roxy Music’s Brian Ferry at Burghley House on 11th June, to the acts at Newark Festival, on 18th June, which will include a host of 80s names from Tony Hadley and ABC to Bananarama and Midge Ure. Don’t miss UB40 at Lincoln Castle on 9th July too, and the thoroughly modern Jess Glynne at Market Rasen on 13th August.

ROB DAVIS, EDITOR 01529 469977, editor@lincolnshirepride.co.uk

Suffice to say there’s plenty happening across Lincolnshire this summer, some very big names, playing in a very big county. We’ll be enjoying them all, and we hope you will too!

Rob Davis, Editor

LincolnshirePride APR 2016

THE COUNTY’S BEAUTY BLOGGER

ECO-HOMES IN LINCOLNSHIRE LINCOLSNHIRE

COVERING LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK ON TRENT

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR HIGH QUALITY HOMES

100 Years of RAF HISTORY

County celebrations for the air force’s 2016 centenary...

£ 33 . 7 0

Eating Out in April

The Queen’s Head & Sebastopol Inn

From Page 38

Page 26.

SPRING LAMBS THE BELTON IN LINCOLN HORSE TRIALS Louise PreviewFairburn’s of this Longwool babies year’s equestrian gambol in life... competition...

The hasEventing some Dress‘Good up forShepherd’ the British new additions herPage flock. affiliated trials.toSee 46.

Page 102.

Burton Hunt THE EVENT

Exclusive images from the 2016 End of Season Ball

This Month: The Queen’s Six - choral talent from Westminster to West Pinchbeck

SPRING FASHIONS Recommendations from Louth’s Orchid Boutique

COVER PHOTO

The end of Skegness pier, at sunrise, in June 2015.

The wind farm can be seen in the distance.

Taken by Jason Batterham.

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LincolnshirePride APR 2016

THE COUNTY’S BEAUTY BLOGGER

ECO-HOMES IN LINCOLNSHIRE LINCOLSNHIRE

COVERING LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK ON TRENT

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR HIGH QUALITY HOMES

100 Years of RAF HISTORY

County celebrations for the air force’s 2016 centenary...

£ 3.7 0

Eating Out in April

The Queen’s Head & Sebastopol Inn

From Page 38

Page 26.

SPRING LAMBS THE BELTON IN LINCOLN HORSE TRIALS Louise PreviewFairburn’s of this Longwool babies year’s equestrian gambol in life... competition...

The hasEventing some Dress‘Good up forShepherd’ the British new additions herPage flock. affiliated trials.toSee 46.

Page 102.

Burton Hunt THE EVENT

Exclusive images from the 2016 End of Season Ball

SPRING FASHIONS Recommendations from Louth’s Orchid Boutique

This Month: The Queen’s Six - choral talent from Westminster to West Pinchbeck

With best wishes from the Lincolnshire Pride team Managing Director and Publisher: Julian Wilkinson.

General Manager: Ian Bagley.

Executive Editor: Rob Davis. Features Editor: Tilly Wilkinson.

Graphic Designer and Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray.

Accounts Manager: Sue Bannister. Distribution: Joe Proctor.

National Sales Manager: Zoie Wilkinson.

Sales Manager: Roberta Hall.

Sales Executives: Sian Jarratt, Emily Brown, Carissa Clay, Hayley Scott, Jessica Cobbold, Sarah Allen, Yvette Curry, Aileen Perolio-Jones and Cassy Ayton.

www.facebook.com/lincolnshirepride Why not follow us on Facebook? You can keep up to date with any news we may have for our lovely magazine!

twitter.com/@LincsPrideMag Follow us on Twitter so you can read our tweets. We’ll let you know what’s going on and keep you well informed!

By supplying editorial or adverts to Lincolnshire Pride you accept in full the terms and conditions which can be found online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk. In the event of an advert or editorial being published incorrectly, where Pride Magazines Ltd admits fault, we will include an advert of equivalent size, or equivalent sized editorial, free of charge to be used in a future edition, at our discretion.

This gesture is accepted as full compensation for the error(s) with no refunds available. Selected images in our content may be sourced from www.shutterstock.com.

Enjoy Lincolnshire Pride, read it cover to cover.

Pick it up, put it down and when you have finished with it pass it on. When everyone has had a good read, pop it in the recycle bin!

Pride Magazines Elm Grange Studios East Heckington, Boston Lincolnshire PE20 3QF Tel: 01529 469977 Fax: 01529 469978

www.pridemagazines.co.uk enquiries@pridemagazines.co.uk

Contents Page 16: Enjoy our images from the wonderful Burton Hunt Ball.

06 22 26 38 60 102 119 140

April 2016

Enjoy April’s NEWS, and events on our What’s On pages, with great ideas for live music and theatre.

From Westminster to West Pinchbeck, THE QUEEN’S SIX celebrate Her Majesty’s 90th birthday right here in the county.

The RAF celebrates 100 YEARS OF FLYING in 2016, with a commemorative exhibition opening at RAF Cranwell this month.

This month’s FOOD & DRINK pages include restaurant recommendations of The Sebastopol Inn and Kirkby la Thorpe’s Queen’s Head...

Modern eco-homes, Buddhist havens and ideas for enjoying al fresco living: you’ll feel inspired by our HOMES & GARDENS pages this month.

Meet The Good Shepherd, Louise Fairburn, this month as our NATURE pages meet the smallholder’s flock of Lincoln Longwools.

Our FASHION & BEAUTY pages this month feature Louth’s Orchid Boutique and organic cosmetics made by Gerlinde Seeley.

We take a look through the doors at a couple of the county’s best prep schools this month with providers of INDEPENDENT EDUCATION.

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County News A picture of Lincolnshire from amateur snappers...

Ruston Bucyrus camera club will this month celebrates its 60th anniversary with an exhibition in the Museum of Lincolnshire’s Gatehouse Gallery

Taking Pride in South Holland Dave Rodwell’s new town role...

Spalding’s Dave Rodwell is aiming to clean up the town.

The new Pride Officer is an appointment made by the district council to try to tackle littering, dog fouling, flytipping and other unsightly misdemeanours.

Alongside a new Glutton street cleaning machine, the appointment of Dave is designed to encourage residents in the South Holland town to take pride in the place they live.

“We are determined to keep the streets free of litter and by actively speaking to people we hope the message is getting across,” says Dave.

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Lincoln camera club, Ruston Bucyrus, will this month celebrate its 60th anniversary with a special exhibition taking place in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life’s Gatehouse Gallery.

The exhibition takes place from 26th March to 27th May, with a changeover of images halfway through the event.

RB Camera Club began in July 1956 as a works club for the former engineering firm Ruston Bucyrus Limited based in Lincoln.

The site ceased to be a works club in 1984 following the demise of Ruston Bucyrus’s Sports Association.

The club later met in Lincoln City Centre until circumstances meant a move to Nettleham.

The hidden history of Lincoln Castle’s prison, played out...

Series of specially-written performances will reveal the hidden history of recently refurbished prison, with local actors taking centre stage

The club now meets on Fridays at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

“At present we have around 60 images that we’re looking to display,” says organiser Hazel Bingham.

“There will be a variety of work from landscapes both local and further afield, as well as portraits taken from events in the city, from steampunks to historic re-enactments, which have taken place at Lincoln Castle. Other themes have included the natural world and Lincolnshire’s most famous landmarks. n RB Camera Club’s Diamond Anniversary takes place from 26th March-27th May 2016 at The Museum of Lincolnshire Life.

See www.rbcameraclub.co.uk.

Lincoln Castle Prison will this month reveal its hidden history through a series of mini-plays entitled Time Will Tell.

The plays will last less than 15 minutes each, and are set in both the Victorian and Great War eras of the building’s history.

The stories, which take place in the male wing of the prison’s atrium, will reveal what happened to inmates during their incarceration.

Performances will take place on select days from April to October between 1am and 3.30pm and will star a local cast.

Jon Hogan, marketing and events manager, said: “All of our plays have been specially written

by Nottingham playwright Nick Wood and are performed in a ‘promenade’ style.”

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Send your press releases and county news to: Features Editor via tilly@pridemagazines.co.uk.

Lincolnshire law firm raises over £14,000 for charity...

Local law firm, Chattertons Solicitors is delighted to have raised £14,181.74 for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, the Firm’s Charity of the Year for 2015...

Yvonne’s boots are made for walking in September China wall charity bid Sleaford woman’s will embark on Great Wall climb to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice...

Sleaford’s Yvonne Ray is brushing up on her Mandarin this month in advance of a charity walk on the Great Wall of China.

The RAF Cranwell employee has already raised £500 in

sponsorship for her September bid, which will see the 54 year old visiting Beijing and Huangyaguan. Yvonne will also climb 200 steps of the ancient monument, in a bid to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice. n See doitforcharity.com/yvonneray.

Wyndham Park, Grantham, scoops national award...

Wyndham Park has again been recognised for its outstanding quality at a national awards evening celebrating protected outdoor recreational spaces

Lincolnshire law firm Chattertons was delighted to hand over £14,000 to the county’s St Barnabas Hospice after a year of fundraising.

Throughout the year the Charity Committee and the staff at Chattertons have been helping to organise a number of fundraising activities including quizzes, bakea-thons, a tombola, raffles, ten pin bowling, Christmas jumper day and much more. The firm’s main event of the year was an F1 evening held in September which raised £7,250 for the charity.

Katherine Bunting, Partner at the firm and Chair of the Charity Committee says: “St Barnabas provide a vital and free service that we at Chattertons are proud to support.

“This year’s charity has also touched the hearts of the staff at Chattertons as our dear colleague Sophie Attfield was diagnosed

with a tumour earlier in the year and has since passed away.

Sophie was admitted to St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln so we are pleased to have been supporting the hospice in 2015.”

Veronica Brien, of St Barnabas, says: “The team should be so proud of all that they have achieved and we are delighted to have been part of this exciting year of fundraising.”

“We are forever grateful not just for the financial contribution but also the awareness they have raised too.”

Grantham’s Wyndham Park was recently nominated and recognised for two awards and was formally presented with an honour in the category of Showcase Centenary Field at the Fields In Trust Annual Awards last month.

Wyndham Park Forum chairman John Knowles and secretary Elizabeth Bowskill attended the awards at Lord’s Cricket Ground and were joined by SKDC’s

Grounds Maintenance Co-ordinator Steve Frisby. Wyndham Park Forum chairman John Knowles said: “It was a fantastic evening and testament to the Park Forum, Glendale and SKDC’s continued work that the park has again been acknowledged with this accolade.

2016 will see a Heritage Lottery bid submitted to try to restore the First World War memorial park to its former glory.

Chattertons is looking forward to another year of fundraising for their Charity of the Year 2016.

Staff have chosen The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of their colleague Sophie.

n Full details are available on the firm’s website www.chattertons.com.

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PROVIDING

DIGNITY AND CARE

AT A DIFFICULT TIME

A privately owned funeral directors since 1909, Carr Funeral Service can take care of your loved one during a difficult time, providing both dignity and sympathy to help you following your loss.

With five private and dedicated chapels, plus the provision of pre-paid funeral plans, Carr Funeral Service are the caring professionals on whom you can depend.

Carr Funeral Service 2 Spilsby Road, Boston, PE21 9DA Call 01205 311300, 24hr Service.

“A TRADITION OF DIGNITY AND TOTAL CARE SINCE 1909...”

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To view and purchase photographs from The Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

The Burton Hunt Ball at The EPIC Centre, Lincolnshire Showground...

The Burton Hunt Ball was held at The EPIC Centre on the Lincolnshire Showground at Grange de Lings recently, and was attended by over 900 guests. A Champagne reception was held before a three course supper comprising salmon & herb rilettes, beef bourguignon and chocolate torte. Dancing followed, with music courtesy of The Baltic Donkeys and DJ Matayus with further entertainment courtesy of a casino.

The Burton Hunt is one of the country’s oldest packs of foxhounds, with the territory being hunted from 1672 by John Monson. Territorial changes occurred in 1871 when the pack was split into the Burton and Blankney. Today its joint MFHs are John Lockwood, William Cracroft-Eley and Tony Morris. n For more information see www.burtonhunt.co.uk.

Feature your event in our magazine.

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Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events Desk...

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Purchase photographs from this event online.

Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

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To view and purchase photographs from The Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

Feature your event in our magazine.

18

Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events Desk...

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Purchase photographs from this event online.

Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

19

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Main: (from left to right) Daniel Brittain (counter tenor), Timothy Carleston (counter tenor), Nicholas Madden (tenor), Dominic Bland (tenor), Andrew Thompson (baritone), and Simon Whiteley (bass).

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SIX - THE QUEEN’S SIX -

A Royal Performance

WITH THE QUEEN’S

THE QUEEN’S 90TH BIRTHDAY WILL SIGNAL PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING THE ANNUAL SOUTH HOLLAND CHURCHES FLOWER FESTIVALS. ‘WITHIN LIVING MEMORY’, THE THEME THIS YEAR AT ST MARY’S PINCHBECK, HAS INSPIRED MANY ROYAL IDEAS FOR FLORAL TRIBUTES TO CELEBRATE THE QUEEN’S 90TH BIRTHDAY AND INCLUDES A CONCERT WITH THE QUEEN’S SIX ON WEDNESDAY 27TH APRIL...

Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

This month, we’re blessed with a royal performance from the Queen’s Six at St Mary’s Church in Pinchbeck, celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Gabrieli Consort, Exaudi, the King’s Consort, the Tallis Scholars and the Sixteen.

Individually, members of the Queen’s Six have to regularly appear in all of the most prestigious vocal ensembles on the national and on the international circuit, including Tenebrae, Polyphony, the BBC Singers, the Cardinall’s Musick, Collegium Vocale Gent, the

“I started playing musical instruments and singing from a very early age,” says Dominic. “Both my parents were musical and they suggested that I try out for a choir school, so I suppose my interest in music started with them. I went for an audition at St George’s

They will perform at Spalding’s Flower Festival this month, which is set to be a Based at Windsor Castle, all the members patriotic celebration of the Queen’s of the 21st century Queen’s Six are also 90th anniversary.

Lay Clerks of St George’s Chapel, whose homes lie within the Castle walls. We spoke to Queen’s Six member The Chapel Choir, which consists of Dominic Bland, who used to live across boy trebles and twelve professional the road from the church, and whose adult male singers, performs some eight parents will be part of the celebration services a week, as well as at private and on Wednesday 27th April. state occasions, often before the Royal So, where did your interest in Family. music begin?

Image: Eniko Bland.

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- THE QUEEN’S SIX -

“I WAS ALREADY LEARNING THE PIANO AND RECORDER BEFORE I JOINED, BUT THIS SOON PROGRESSED TO OBOE, PIANO, SAXOPHONE AND OBVIOUSLY SINGING...”

Chapel in Windsor Castle. I gained a place at this prestigious school and started as a chorister at the age of eight.”

“I was already learning piano and recorder before I joined, but this soon progressed to oboe, piano, saxophone and obviously singing.”

“I think spending five years at such an early age studying choral music makes it very much a part of you and I think to choose a different career would have been very difficult.”

How do you become a member of the Queen’s Six?

“To be a member of The Queen’s Six you must be a Lay Clerk at St George’s Chapel Windsor. When a member of The Queen’s Six leaves the chapel choir, they automatically leave the group.”

“This is for a number of reasons, most of which are practical: for example rehearsals take place weekly on different days which is dependent on everyone’s commitments that week. If you do not live nearby it’s very hard to keep having regular rehearsals.”

Do you know much about the history of the Queen’s Six?

“The Queen’s Six were established in 2008, the 450th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I, from whom they take their name. Elizabeth I was a great patroness of the arts, and often engaged the services of musicians to write and perform for her at court.”

“The notable ‘six’ from this era were Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Thomas Tomkins, Thomas Morley, Orlando Gibbons, and Thomas Weelkes.”

Have you ever performed for the Queen before?

“All the Lay Clerks sing two regular services for the Queen a year. These are Garter Day and Easter Day. The Order of the Garter is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, and takes place each year in June.”

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What do you enjoy most about being a member?

“Being out of the choir stalls means we are able to perform a much wider variety of music. Our repertoire brings all genres of music to concerts from austere early chant, florid Renaissance polyphony, lewd madrigals, haunting folk songs to upbeat Jazz and Pop arrangements.”

What albums have you been able to release with the Queen’s Six?

“I have recorded a number of albums with different choirs and groups over the years and I knew that when I joined we had plans for recording some discs on the Resonus Classics label.”

“The first disk we recorded with Resonus, ‘Music of the Realm,’ features six composers associated with the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I, from whom the group gets its name. The second disk which comes out in April is secular madrigals by the same six composers.”

Have you performed in Spalding before?

“A few years ago my father who is the Organist and choirmaster of St Mary’s, asked me to do a joint recital with Susan Monks which he accompanied.”

“We had a fantastic turn out for the concert. So much effort goes into making the Church look spectacular during the flower festival so it is wonderful to be preforming there again. I always look forward to singing there and catching up with my fathers choir and the congregation.”

What plans do you have for the future with the group?

“The group plans to keep recording discs and touring as much as possible with our other commitments. We now have an annual tour to Germany and Austria and would like to expand our touring to other parts of the world.”

n For more information, call 07790 014830 or visit www.thequeenssix.co.uk.

Image: Gill Aspel.

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- RAF CRANWELL -

100 Years of

AVIATION

April 2016 marks 100 years since Cranwell was first used as an air base. Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre is celebrating this momentous occasion in its history with a unique collection of uniforms and artefacts from 100 years ago. It’s an airbase used to train air force personnel and we enlisted David Harrigan MBE from Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire to tell us more...

Lincolnshire is a county of great importance.

We are known as the county that feeds the country, the county that features a beautiful 11th century Cathedral, and not forgetting the county that’s home to Britain’s best loved seaside town, Skegness.

But there’s one title Lincolnshire is most importantly known for; Bomber County. There was a time when Lincolnshire had the most amount of RAF bases in the country and we still have nine fully functioning bases to this day.

Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

environment for ab initio training being far away from anything.

The airbase has trained thousands of pilots over the past 100 years so this year the base is celebrating this phenomenal achievement with WWI artefacts on display in the aviation centre.

timeline that illustrates the 100 years which will be one display over the three days.”

“RAF College Cranwell Heritage & Ethos Centre, working with NKDC Aviation Heritage Centre, are also co-celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first jet flight in this country taking off from Cranwell in May 1941 - and its inventor Frank Whittle.”

“The airbase has trained thousands of pilots over the past 100 years so this year the base is celebrating this phenomenal achievement...”

The county played a big part in the Great War. Lincolnshire was the closest county to enemy territory, the land was well drained and it was a long way away from major cities and towns so it was one of safest environments in the UK at the time.

RAF Cranwell also had a firm, well-drained soil base and a prevailing wind which made it ideal for training pilots. It was also a safe

“Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre will be celebrating this anniversary from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 April with a unique exhibition kindly supplied by Mike Credland who runs a small local museum at the Manor House Stables in Martin.” Says Faye Coulson of North Kesteven District Council. “The team are also working with the College Hall Library at RAF Cranwell to create a

“This will happen over the weekend of 14th-15th May. The two heritage centres will be open to the public to view artefacts and other fascinating stories from the period.”

The aerodrome officially opened on the 1st April 1916 and was constructed for the Admiralty’s Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

“Like all naval vessels it had a prefix to its name and was known as HMS Daedulus,” says Dave Harrigan from Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire. “The aerodrome was used by the Navy for training in all types of aviation from kite balloons to airships and

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airplanes. This role continued until 1st April 1918 when it merged with the Royal Flying Corps to become RAF Cranwell.”

“This training role continued until the end of the war and in 1919 the station’s future was confirmed with the proposal of siting the new College there.

Construction began in that year and was completed in 1920.”

The station’s current latin motto is Alitum Altrix meaning Nurturer of the Winged which perfectly sums up its role.

So RAF Cranwell trained pilots during the first World War, but why was this so important? We had an army, so what was the primary reason for needing an Air Force? Was it that the enemy had their own air force or maybe just better trained pilots?

“The threat from the Zeppelins in 1915 meant that we could not continually afford to bring experienced pilots back from the Western Front in France to defend our airspace,” says David.

“It was decided that Home Defence squadrons would be created to carry

“THE PRINCE OF WALES AND HIS SON THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE HAVE BOTH BEEN TRAINED AT RAF CRANWELL AS PILOTS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR MILITARY CAREERS...”

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out this defensive role and these were positioned at airfields around London, the south east, East Anglia and in Lincolnshire.”

“The main reason for this was that the Zeppelins used to use the Wash and The Humber estuary and the light ships which were anchored there as navigation points on their bombing missions to and from London and other targets. Lincolnshire was bombed by Zeppelins on several occasions, with loss of life, during the course of the War.”

“Really Cranwell has remained today in the primary role it was first set up for; to train commissioned officers both in the ground and the aircrew branches.”

“The Prince of Wales and his son the Duke of Cambridge have both been trained there as pilots in preparation for their military careers.”

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RAF Air Show Due to land back in the county...

Following the loss to the county of RAF Waddington’s International Air Show in 2015, due to operational reasons, Lincolnshire could have an air show once again, based at Scampton as early as 2017.

Waddington is now home to the Reaper drones, and is currently undergoing a runway refurbishment, making it less viable as an air show venue.

“Lord Trenchard, the founder of the RAF, chose Cranwell as the location for his College as he thought its remoteness from all temptations would not be a distraction for the young men.”

However, this plan didn’t seem to work.

T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, was stationed at RAF Cranwell just after the war, in 1926, where he wrote a revised version of his Seven Pillars of Wisdom. He mentioned the nearby village of Navenby and the city of Lincoln in a letter to a friend at the time, saying;

“I’m too shy to go looking for dirt.

That’s why I can’t go off stewing into the Lincoln or Navenby brothels with the fellows.”

“They think it is because I am superior - proud or peculiar or posh - and its because I wouldn’t know what to do,

how to carry myself, where to stop. Fear again: fear everywhere.”

However, Cranwell was recognised in a more positive light around this time too.

“In the 1920s and 30s Cranwell became famous for planning and launching long distance record attempts,” says David. “This location was chosen because of its excellent runway.”

“One of the more famous attempts occurred on 20th May 1927 when a fuel-laden Hawker Horsley took off on a flight which covered 3,419 miles in 34.5 hours without landing. This was a world record distance flight until Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic shortly after.” n For more info, call 01529 308102 or visit www.cranwellaviation.co.uk

Thankfully, the RAF Charitable Trust is organising a new air show at RAF Scampton, home of the Red Arrows.

The Charity also organises the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

Established in 2005, RAFCT is one of the newest members of the RAF family of charities. During the past 11 years, almost £3 million has been awarded to initiatives and projects that promote the Royal Air Force, support its people and encourage young people to be aviationminded.

The charity’s chairman, Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson, said: “The East of England is a heartland of the Royal Air Force and has an enormous number of aviation enthusiasts.”

“We’d be delighted to rise to the challenge of staging an aviation spectacle befitting an RAF station that was once the base of the legendary 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron and is now home to the world famous Red Arrows. Work will now begin on looking at the finer details.”

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What’s On...

Find out What’s On this month with events taking place in many different venues across the county. March is a month that’s packed with Easter events to share with family and friends...

COLLABRO

Friday 1st April Collabro’s 2016 Act Two tour tops off an astounding year for the band, which has seen them go global. The operatic boy band impressed the judges at Britain’s Got Talent and are now impressing audiences at Grimsby Auditorium, from £19.50.

03003 000035, www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

SWAN LAKE

Friday 1st April One of the best known love stories by the Vienna Festival Ballet. Lavish costumes, international stars, and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a night not to be missed at Blackfriars, £18.50.

01205 363108, www.blackfriarsartcentre.co.uk

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF AVIATION

Friday 1st April See a unique collection of uniforms and artifacts from the time, 100 years ago, that RAF Cranwell first opened. Dave Harrigan from the Aviation Centre speaks to us in this edition about the event...

01529 488490, www.cranwellaviation.co.uk

WHITNEY - QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

Saturday 2nd April Direct from London, this production features West End star Rebecca Freckleton delivering a powerhouse and breathtaking performance as Whitney at Grimsby Auditorium, £23.50.

03003 000035, www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

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GREAT EASTER BUNNY HUNT

Sunday 3rd April The Head Gardener at Grimsthorpe Castle is furious - 12 bunnies have moved into the garden. Collect your pack from the gift shop and get searching for the. There’s a prize draw for everyone who finds all 12.

01778 591205, www.grimsthorpe.co.uk

Deene Park

- SPRING -

COUNTRYSIDE LINCS

Sunday 10th April Visit the Lincolnshire Showground for Countryside Lincs, a fun packed family day out about food, farming and the countryside during the Easter holidays. There will be falconry displays, food stalls and egg hunts.

Meet producers, crafters, farmers and lots of animals all in the showground, inspiring young minds all about Lincolnshire’s heritage.

01522 522900, www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk

GREAT SPRING CHICKEN RUN

Sunday 10th April The Great Spring Chicken Run is a 5k run through Lincoln city centre and around the Brayford Waterfront to raise money for charity. The course follows pedestrian areas and everyone dresses up as chickens!

WALKING FOR HEALTH

Monday 4th April Walking for Health is a national scheme offering the opportunity to walk somewhere within the South Holland district every day of the week. Monday walks meet at the South Holland Centre.

01775 764777, www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

IAN WAITE AND CAMILLA DALLERUP

Saturday 9th April This is an exciting and unique performance by two of Strictly’s most popular dancers live on the Spalding stage at the South Holland Centre, buy tickets quickly because it’s a sell out performance, £25.

01775 762178, www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

Ian Waite and Camilla Dallerup...

01522 537497, www.visitlincoln.com

SPRING GARDEN DAY

Sunday 24th April Deene Park is proud to support the NGS Gardens Open for Charity initiative again in 2016 and will be opening their gardens to the public with all entrance fees going to the NGS charity.

01780 450278, www.deenepark.com

BURGHLEY FINE FOOD MARKET

Saturday 9th April Meet 30 local suppliers in a celebration of local produce with cheeses, breads, organic vegetables, sweet treats and rare breed meats. This is one of four fine food markets Burghley House will hold throughout the year.

01780 752451, www.burghley.co.uk

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Send your press releases and events to: Features Editor via tilly@pridemagazines.co.uk.

JOSEPH’S DREAMCOAT

Tuesday 12th April - 16th April Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, X Factor winner Joe McElderry, his 11 brothers and the coat of many colours, will star in this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs at Grimsby, from £16.

03003 000035, www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

WEDDING FAIR

Sunday 17th April Join the Guildhall Arts Centre for the annual Guildhall Wedding Fair, filled with excellent wedding suppliers and services, including photographers, cake makers and many more, free entry.

01476 406158, www.guildhallartscentre.com

LINCOLN BIG MINI DAY

Sunday 17th April Hundreds of iconic British cars - Minis - will line the Brayford Waterfront from the DoubleTree by Hilton to Wagamamas for a fantastic display of cars in Lincoln’s most vibrant area.

01724 762642, www.lincolnbig.co.uk

BELTON BULB PLANTING

Sunday 17th April Belton’s gardeners have lots of snowdrops to plant to add to the 10,000 already to be found around the gardens. Join Belton House and add to the carpet of colour for next year, free but normal admission charges apply.

01476 566116, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house

Swan Lake

Burghley’s beautiful gardens will open for NGS this month...

- HIDDEN ENGLAND -

LINCOLN CATHEDRAL

Saturday 2nd April Join Lincoln Choral Society in their royal celebration of Gloria! as they mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen with a concert at Lincoln Cathedral. Celebrate this most auspicious occasion with suitably uplifting music in one of England’s most iconic venues.

01522 871915, www.lincolncathedral.com

BURGHLEY HOUSE

DODDINGTON HALL

Sunday 17th April Experience a display of cherry blossoms in the gardens of Doddington Hall at its Cherry Blossom Festival. Practice part of the Japanese tradition of Hanami sit on the croquet lawn and gaze at the blossom clouds above you.

01522 694308, www.doddingtonhall.com

Saturday 9th April The Private South Gardens, with its 19th Century yew hedges, and recently restored fountains, offers wonderful views of both the Lion Bridge and South Front of Burghley. See it for yourself when they open for charity.

01780 752451, www.burghley.co.uk

Cherry Blossom Festival at Doddington...

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What’s On...

WOODLANDS

- OPEN GARDENS -

Sunday 3rd April Louth LN11 0UW

A lovely mature woodland garden with many unusual plants set against a backdrop of an ever changing tapestry of greenery.

FIRSBY MANOR Sunday 10th April Spilsby PE23 5QJ

Firsby Manor is a garden of three acres surrounding a Georgian farmhouse. A visit in April offers a great opportunity to see many different daffodil cultivars.

SEDGEBROOK MANOR Sunday 10th April

Grantham NG32 2EU

Yew and box topiary surround this charming Manor House (not open).

G4: Back For Good

Massed spring bulbs, croquet lawn, herbaceous border and summerhouse.

THE OLD RECTORY Sunday 17th April Spilsby PE23 4AT

Beautifully situated, with fine views, rambling cottage garden on different levels falling naturally into separate areas, with changing effects and atmosphere.

GREATFORD MILL Saturday 23rd April Greatford PE9 4QA

Lovely half acre village garden with special spring interest overlooking St Thomas’ church. Situated on the R Glen, original water wheel and open, unfenced mill pond. Informal planting of shrubs, Japanese Maples, lawn and formal parterre garden of fruit and vegetables.

GISELLE: LIVE SCREENING

Sunday 17th April The greatest of all romantic ballets, Peter Wright’s production of Marius Petipa’s classic is a tale of betrayal, the supernatural love and death. Performed at the Royal Opera House and screened in Spalding, £13.50.

01775 762178, www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

GREAT MINDS: DALLAS CAMPBELL

Monday 18th April TV presenter and actor Dallas Campbell speaks at the University of Lincoln as part of the Great Minds lecture series. He is best known for presenting the TV series Britain Beneath Your Feet.

01522 837400, www.lincoln.ac.uk

G4: BACK FOR GOOD

Wednesday 20th April It is 10 years since G4 appeared on The X Factor, where they came second and went on to sign a £1.5 million deal with Sony.

Their Back For Good tour is coming to Grimsby this month, £28.50.

08448 713016, www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk

MAD ABOUT THE MUSICALS

Firsby Manor’s Bluebells...

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Thursday 21st April Mad About the Musicals is in its 10th anniversary at Louth Playgoers Riverhead Theatre this month, starring Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney. It’s a show full of unforgettable musical numbers, £20.

01507 600350, www.louthplaygoers.com

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Send your press releases and events to: Features Editor via tilly@pridemagazines.co.uk.

THE QUEEN’S SIX

Wednesday 27th April An evening with the Queen’s Six is an a cappella concert at St Mary’s Church in Pinchbeck in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday. We interview Dom White, a member of the group, later in this edition.

Dallas Campbell...

MUGYENKO DRUMMERS

Friday 22nd April Experience the thundering, exhilarating rhythms of Taiko in a dynamic and captivating show, and gain a unique insight into the world of this powerful art form at Lincoln Drill Hall.

01522 873894, www.lincolndrillhall.com

BEYOND THE BARRICADE

Saturday 23rd April Beyond the Barricade has delighted audiences across Europe for more than a decade, with its exciting concert portrayal of the greatest songs from Les Misérables, all performed live at Baths Hall in Scunthorpe, £15.

08448 542776, www.bathshall.co.uk

THE SHAKESPEARE DELUSION

Saturday 23rd April By multi-award winning writer and performer, Robert Crighton. Professor Ashborn invites you to share in his latest discoveries and lead you through the terrible secrets behind the Bard.

01780 763203, www.stamfordartscentre.com

01775 762178 www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

BALLET CENTRAL 2016

Wednesday 27th April Ballet Central 2016 features a programme of ballet, neoclassical, contemporary and narrative dance. The company’s dancers will showcase their talent at Guildhall Arts Centre, £14.

01476 406158, www.guildhallartscentre.com

NIGEL TRUMAN AT SUPREME INNS

Saturday 30th April Nigel Truman from Beautiful Background Guitar will be performing at a live music night on 30th April at Hotel Supreme. He is an expert guitarist who plays beautiful music at weddings and venues across the county.

01205 822804, www.supremeinns.co.uk

TOTALLY TINA

Friday 6th May Totally Tina, the closest thing to a Tina Turner show there is, is coming to play the Skegness Embassy Theatre. Currently touring the UK in a production with live band, dancers and leading lady Justine Riddoch.

08445 591228, www.embassytheatre.co.uk

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Wednesday 27th April This concert pays homage to The Great American Songbook of the early 20th century.

They’ll travel back to the 20s through to the 50s as the Orchestra perform timeless classics at the Baths Hall in Scunthorpe, from £17.50.

08448 542776, www.bathshall.co.uk

The Queen’s Six...

- LITTLE RED GALLERY “Happy Easter from The Little Red Gallery! We have had our 3rd birthday this March and a month’s worth of celebrating and promotions to go alongside it. We’ve had new work from acclaimed artist Alexander Millar and have welcomed in a new collection by Gary Walton.”

“We’ve thought of the perfect way to continue the merriment: with a show all about celebrating Lincoln.”

“We’re inviting back local artist Carl Paul to dazzle our walls with new views of Lincolnshire scenes. Carl debuted at the Gallery last year with a successful show that featured a mixture of originals and limited edition prints.”

“Now a year later and he’s back again to share his new collection with us all. This is clearly an artist who is enjoying what he is doing and having fun with his artwork.” n Carl will be at The Little Red Gallery to chat and provide signings on Saturday 23rd April and the exhibition will be up until the 8th May. Call 01522 589134 or visit www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk.

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Home

GROWN The success of one of Lincolnshire’s best quality pub restaurants continues, with a new menu comprising home-smoked, home-pickled, sous-vided dishes big on flavour, bigger still on innovation. This month, we revisit Nick Reed at Minting’s Sebastopol Inn...

Deliciously different, but never gratuitously so. Nick Reed, head chef of The Sebastopol Inn in the village of Minting loves to innovate, but only when he has good reason. “It’s really easy to do ‘something different,’ but if you don’t ask ‘why?’ there’s really no point,” he says.

“When we do something new, it’s never just for the sake of doing something different.

When I use my water bath to cook brisket at 57° for two days, it’s only because it allows me to serve it pink and for it to be as tender as fillet steak.”

Main Image: Roast duck breast with sweet and sour beets, blackcurrant, kale and garlic top. Above: Risotto of grains and seeds with Cote Hill Reserve and fermented carrot.

He’s keen to source all of his ingredients as locally as possible and to use them when they are at their best. The latest area Nick is exploring is preservation so that harvest ‘gluts’ can be used at a later date to add contrasting flavours as we experienced in his fermented carrots and blackcurrants.

This type of creativity is typical of Nick and he has used similar time-honoured methods to produce garums which allow him to develop and introduce new flavours. These have been used to great effect within the steak tartare and risotto dishes featured this month, a starter and main course respectively.

Words & Photos: Rob Davis.

He also makes his own bread, ice creams and sorbets, smokes his own meat, creates his own sauces and even makes his own ricotta cheese and yoghurt. It all offers something unique at the pub restaurant.

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Left: The pub restaurant was taken over by the Reed family in May 2011.

Below: Starter of home-cured line caught mackerel with beetroot, horseradish, dulse and miso gel.

“A family-run restaurant, Head Chef Nick makes his own bread, ice creams and sorbets, smokes his own meat, flavours his own butters, creates his own garums and sauces, and makes his own ricotta cheese and yoghurt...”

Bottom: Nick Reed, head chef.

area with its flagstones and open fire or, for bigger parties, in the converted stables to the rear of the building.

A single à la carte menu, changing three or four times a week, provides a relatively modest but ever-changing number of dishes - five starters, seven main courses and five desserts. Dinner is served from Thursday to Saturday. A small but perfectly formed lunch menu is also available from Thursday to Sunday.

A specials blackboard provides ad hoc dishes as well as a steak option, but only when the meat can be sourced from Nick’s preferred local supplier just down the road, Minting Park Farm.

Herbs and a few speciality vegetables are already grown on site and the establishment of a kitchen garden in which further produce can be grown is a project for this summer.

Just a few miles from Horncastle, the Sebastopol is a family-owned business, with Nick heading up the kitchen and Mum and Dad, Dianne and David, engaging with customers at the front of house.

The inn dates back to about 1830, when it was just a beer house, one of ‘mud and stud’ construction. It was renamed after a heroic soldier who, returning to the beer house from a stint on the front lines of the Crimean War, fell into a dyke near the pub - presumably a little worse for wear - and drowned.

Fortunately The Sebastopol’s current patrons are a little smarter and better behaved!

They’ve been able to enjoy the warm atmosphere in the inn since 2011 when the family arrived. Dining takes place either in the cosy ‘mud and stud’ restaurant, the bar 40

There’s plenty of other provenance throughout Nick’s menus. Eggs from Primrose Farm in Wragby, rapeseed oil from Ownsworth’s, cheeses from Cote Hill and Goatwood dairies as well as organic vegetables sourced from a supplier near Walpole.

The focus on local producers also carries through to the supply of real ales from over 22 artisan breweries - e.g. Horncastle Ales, 8 Sail Brewery, Batemans and Oldershaws as well as ciders from Skidbrooke.

During our visit, we enjoyed a couple of starters due to make an appearance on the menu as Pride goes to press. A home-cured line caught mackerel dish echoed the burgundy colour scheme of the restaurant; a dramatic shock of colour on the plate courtesy of beetroot. With the addition of horseradish, dulse and miso gel this was the perfect balance of flavours.

We thought that was good until we tried another new addition to the menu. Steak tartare with pickled and fried onions, egg yolk, chive, seasoned with reduced onion garum and beef dripping. This was one of the finest,

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tarter: Our starter of steak tartare was served with pickled and fried onion, egg yolk, chives, and a seasoning of reduced onion garum and beef dripping.

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“We think that good value and good food should go hand in hand,” says Nick...

Above: The 60 seater restaurant features a large barn at the rear, as well as the original mud and stud building and bar area.

combination which included both French and Italian meringue, the latter infused with thyme from the garden. So much fresher and more interesting than the usual pie format.

most innovative dishes we’ve enjoyed for a long time, and a strong recommendation.

Main courses included the duck breast dish featured on our opening spread, with sweet and sour beets, blackcurrant, kale and garlic top. We also tried a dazzling vegetarian option, a delicious, flavoursome risotto with a twist; instead of being created with rice, Nick uses wheat, barley, linseed, millet, buckwheat, mustard and sunflower seeds to create a risotto of indigenous grains and seeds accompanied by pickled black trompette mushrooms and fermented carrot.

Dessert options were Nick’s take on traditional puddings. A lemon meringue

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A creamy vanilla rice pudding was served with apples soaked in sloe gin (again, made in house) with the fermented blackcurrants.

A refined interpretation of the pudding we remember from our childhood.

With a wine list comprising 25 bins from £14.95 to £49, it’s admirable that The Sebastopol Inn provides not only local produce, innovative chefcraft and a great atmosphere, but also good value, too.

“We think that good value and good food should go hand in hand,” says Nick. “We also think our diners should enjoy the best ingredients prepared and presented with real attention to detail.”

A cosy spring venue with open fires and outside seating, The Sebastopol allows diners to hedge their bets as regards the weather and partake of a dining experience that is always enjoyable and absolutely unique.

Left: Our deconstructed lemon and meringue dessert.

Right: Vanilla rice pudding with sloe gin and apple jelly and fermented blackcurrants.

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Sample Menu STARTERS

Pig’s Head Fritter Pig’s head fritter with apple and English mustard.

£6.50

Mackerel £6.50 Cured line caught mackerel with beetroot, horseradish, dulse and miso gel.

Brandade de Morue Emulsion of salt cod and olive oil with lemon skin purée & dried wild garlic.

£6.00

MAINS Belly Pork £14.50 Caramelised belly of Minting Park Farm lop pork, with braised haricot beans, butternut purée, pickled carrot & pangritata.

Risotto of Grains & Seeds £14.00 A risotto of wheat, barley, linseed, millet, mustard, sunflower & buckwheat, with Cote Hill reserve, fermented carrot, chive & pickled black trompette mushrooms. £16.50 Grilled Halibut Grilled halibut with lemon skin purée, hash brown, crisp prosciutto, smoked halibut emulsion, fermented mushrooms & broccoli.

PUDDING Bardney Apple £6.50 Caramelised Bardney apple with hazelnut, goat cheese mousse apple & pine curd.

Pistachio Iced Parfait Pistachio iced parfait with caramelised white chocolate & wild plum sauce.

£6.50

Affogato - Coffee and Vanilla Gelato Or with Disaranno, £6.05.

£3.90

£7.50 Cheese Option Selection of Cote Hill and Goatwood Cheeses with rhubarb & ginger chutney, fennel & poppy seed crackers.

Sebastopol Inn Church Lane, Horncastle Lincolnshire LN9 5RS Tel: 01507 578577 Web: www.thesebastopol.com

Open from Thursday to Saturday for lunchtime and dinner service, noon-1.45pm and 6pm-8.45pm, as well as Sunday for à la carte dining.

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DELICIOUS NEW MENU IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SPRING/SUMMER

SUNDAY LUNCH MENU AVAILABLE ALL DAY Events coming up...

FRIDAY 15TH APRIL

Brown Brothers Wine Tasting Evening Come & enjoy a tasting of wines by the Brown Brothers Estate, followed by a delicious 3 course meal. Call for more details

FRIDAY 6TH MAY

Murder Mystery Evening Includes 3 Course meal ÂŁ30pp Book early to avoid disappointment

Riby Rd, Stallingborough

Nr Grimsby, N/E Lincs DN41 8BU

Tel: 01469 561302

events@stallingboroughgrange.co.uk www.stallingboroughgrange.co.uk

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Main Course: Pan-fried breast of Gressingham Duck, maple glazed, with a sweet potato galette, and apricot, brandy & orange sauce.

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QUEEN God SaveThe

As HM The Queen celebrates her 90th birthday this month, we’ll soon be celebrating another monarchical milestone.

John and Paul Clark of The Queen’s Head, Kirkby la Thorpe, are looking forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of their arrival at the quality pub restaurant...

Twenty years ago, John and Paul Clark arrived at the The Queen’s Head in Kirkby la Thorpe near Sleaford. Much has changed in the past decade, not least last year with the civil partnership of the two and a facelift for the pub restaurant.

This month the restaurant will continue along the same lines with new, slimmeddown spring menus, a new wine list, and a refurbished garden room.

“We’re not exactly sure how old the place is, but we’ve a picture showing a traditional coaching inn on what would become the A17,” says John. It’s a convenient location for the business, just a stone’s throw from Sleaford, but also convenient for those from Horncastle, Woodhall Spa, and of course, Boston and Lincoln the two towns from which The Queen’s Head is moreorless equidistant.

The pub has changed size and shape over the year, with the current restaurant formerly the stables for the restaurant’s coaching inn precursor.

Words & Photos: Rob Davis.

Even under John and Paul’s tenure, the place has been extended; in 2004 a new entrance and larger bar was created, whilst in 2007, a conservatory was added.

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Left: The restaurant was refurbished in 2015; The Queen’s Head’s conservatory will be completely transformed as Pride goes to press too.

Below: Chef Patron John Clark.

“The customer base here is one of discerning diners who care about the provenance of our ingredients and about having a dining experience that’s characterised by good, honest food and warm service...”

Bottom: Chicken with Colston Bassett Stilton stuffing.

the time you’re reading this, is about bringing the conservatory area in line with the rest of the restaurant.” Cooler months see the bar area’s log burners lit, whilst warmer months allow diners to sit in the patio area for pre-dinner drinks.

New menus have slightly slimmed down the number of dishes, with a single à la carte menu offering a choice of 10 starters, and 12 main courses, plus three steak options.

There’s also a blackboard of around half a dozen starters and main courses which allows John and his team of four chefs to be more responsive to especially good meat and fish recommendations from their local suppliers.

The Queen’s Head enjoys a reputation as one of the best restaurants in the area, and with its growing reputation came the need to expand. 2015’s refurbishment of the restaurant, then, was about smartening The Queen’s Head’s appearance to ensure that its appearance was commensurate with the quality of the food provided.

“It’s not fine dining,” says John. “The customer base here is one of discerning diners who care about the provenance of our ingredients and about having a dining experience characterised by good, honest food and warm service.”

“Our refurbishment last year was about ensuring the appearance of the main restaurant was consistent with our dining ethos.

We envisaged a more contemporary dining environment for the conservatory room, but following the refurbishment, diners are expressing a preference to eat in the main restaurant, so our refurbishment of the conservatory, which should be complete by 48

These include Jonathan Halls of Sutterton, who supply vegetables - often grown in the fields around the restaurant - Grasmere Farm, Peterborough Game and Boston’s shellfish merchant Gerald Farmer. John will also introduce new ingredients to his dishes such as fresh olives and foie gras thanks to a new supplier, who is also working with the chef to create a new wine list.

“Gabrielle is a really small wine supplier less concerned with volume and more concerned with quality. He’s able to source unique wines not found on other restaurants’ menus, and, coming from the Prosecco region of Italy, he’s found some especially good sparkling wines from the region. He’s introducing some really good wines to our new wine menu, and some luxury ingredients too.”

In addition to The Queens Head’s à la carte menus, John also hosts concessionary dining on Sunday evening (3pm-8.30pm) during ‘early bird’ service (Mon-Wed 6pm-7pm), Steak Supper night (Thursday 6pm-9pm) and for Friday’s Fish Supper service, with two courses and a glass of wine for £14.95/head.

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“The Queen’s Head really does offer a dining experience that’s fit for its namesake...”

Above/Left: The bar area has a cosy log burner, but there’s a shady patio area too hedge your bets for some favourable spring weather!

With bread baked freshly each day, desserts all made in house and first class chefcraft, The Queen’s Head always provides a first class experience, and even if you think you’re familiar with the restaurant, revisiting one of Lincolnshire’s finest pub restaurants is a must.

Gabrielle’s new 46-bin wine menu continues the theme of value for money with house wine from under £15, and even high-end Cellar Selection bottles weighing in at less than £40 for a Chateauneuf du Pape or a Meursault.

Raised in North Lincolnshire, in a farming community, and the son of a gamekeeper, John trained in the Burgundy region of France at the three-Michelin-star Château de Bellecroix near Chagny. He returned to the county to take advantage of the fresh local ingredients grown in the fields surrounding the restaurants, and to be close to his family.

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During our visit, we enjoyed fresh Lincolnshire asparagus wrapped in Parma ham with a duck egg, followed by Gressingham duck with an apricot, brandy and orange sauce, as well as John’s duo of chocolate - a white crème brûlée and rich torte.

Each course served as a reminder of just why The Queen’s Head has enjoyed an exceptional reputation for over two decades.

John is now the longest standing licensee in the Sleaford area, and that continuity of ownership - and his role as chef patron ensures that the restaurant can offer both quality, but consistency too. So, this spring, raise a glass to our monarch and take our recommendation to dine at The Queen’s Head - it’s truly a dining experience fit for its namesake.

Left: Duo of chocolate, comprising rich chocolate torte and créme brûlée.

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Sample Menu STARTERS

Oysters £8.95 Fresh English oysters ‘Florentine’ - shell on, grilled with spinach, cream & wine sauce, fresh parmesan & breadcrumb topping.

Lincolnshire Plate £7.95 Platter of Lincolnshire stuffed chine & haslet with mixed pickles & house chutney. £8.95 Terrine Wild pork & juniper berry terrine, dark red onion chutney & toasted granary bread.

MAINS Grasmere Pork Plate £16.95 Twice cooked cider braised pork belly, black pudding fritter & sausage. Served on Bramley apple mash with crackling & cider gravy.

Chicken £16.95 Breast of corn-fed chicken, Colston Bassett Stilton stuffing with smoked bacon & baby leeks. Cream sherry & Stilton sauce.

Salmon Fillet Thai garlic & coriander marinated salmon fillet, grill glazed and served on buttered noodles with sweet chilli.

£16.95

PUDDING Chocolate Duo A duo of rich chocolate torte & creamy white chocolate créme brûlée, served with homemade butter shortbread.

£6.95

£6.95 Almond Tart Warm almond tart with Dennett’s of Spilsby vanilla ice cream & Cornish clotted cream.

The Queen’s Head Cheeseboard £7.95 Slate of local cheese, Cote Hill Blue, Lincolnshire Poacher, Dam Buster & Cropwell Bishop Stilton with quince jelly, celery, grapes, crackers & Welbourn’s plum bread.

The Queen’s Head, Kirby La Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 9NU Tel: 01529 305743.

Web: www.thequeensheadinn.com

Open seven days, lunchtime service from 12-2.30pm, evening service from 6pm-9.30pm.

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The Queen’s Head KIRKBY LA THORPE, SLEAFORD

GREAT FOOD BEGINS WITH

GREAT INGREDIENTS Our new spring menus feature wonderful dishes created from the best Lincolnshire ingredients.

We source locally for quality, consistency and flavour...

ON THE A17 AT SLEAFORD, NG34 9NU Call 01529 305743 | www.thequeensheadinn.com

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- RECIPES -

Local Seared Pigeon with Parsnip & Bacon Crisp...

Serves Two.

For the Pigeon: 4 Pigeon Breasts 2 Cloves Garlic 2 Sprigs Rosemary 25ml Rapeseed Oil 2 Slices Parma Ham 1 Parsnip, peeled and quartered 1 Teaspoon Honey 25g Butter 50ml Red Wine Jus 2 medium Chanterelle Mushrooms Rosemary Salt Micro Celery to serve

For the Jus: 4 Pigeon carcasses 3 Chicken Carcasses - save these from your weekly roast dinner or ask your butcher.

1/ onion 2 1 Celery stick 1 clove Garlic 1 Carrot 2 Tomatos, chopped 2 large Mushrooms 1 Bay Leaf 1 sprig Thyme 1/ bottle Red Wine 2 1 tbsp Redcurrent Jelly

Ask your butcher to take the pigeon breasts off the bone and leave on the skin, as this will add a delicious flavour to the dish, protect the breast when cooking and adds extra texture.

In a sealable plastic bag, place 20ml oil, garlic and rosemary and the pigeon breasts.

Seal and leave in the fridge for overnight.

Place the Parma ham between two sheets of grease proof paper and place onto a baking tray with another on top to compress ham.

Place in a 150ºc oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the tray from the top and place back into the oven for a further five minutes to crisp up, before removing and leaving to cool.

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Recipes & Food: Steven Bennett.

Visit www.thecomfyduck.co.uk for more information.

Cook the parsnip quarters in boiling water for two minutes before plunging into a bowl of iced water. This will stop the cooking process and it will be easier to add to your pan and reheat later. Lightly clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth, cut in half and leave to one side. Chanterelle’s are currently in season, but if you can’t get hold of them, oyster or Shiitake will do the job.

Heat a heavy based frying pan with the remaining oil and place the pigeon breasts skin side down. Season with a pinch of rosemary salt and cook for two minutes on a medium heat. Turn the breasts and add the parsnip to the pan, pouring over the garlic and rosemary that was used to marinate the pigeon. Add the butter and baste the bird, to ensure it’s cooked through and absorbs the delicious flavours from the pan. Cook for a further two minutes before removing from the pan and leaving to rest for a few minutes.

In a small pan, gently heat 50ml of jus, before adding a teaspoon of honey to the frying pan with the parsnip still cooking and add the mushrooms, cooking for a few seconds before removing all of the ingredients from the pan, ready to plate.

To plate, place the parsnips on the dish, slice the pigeon and add the mushrooms, drizzling over some of the delicious, meaty jus. Top each of the dishes with a slice of parma ham and add a pinch of micro-celery to garnish.

Prepare your jus the day before when marinating your breasts, as this take a while to make, but it’s well worth it as the taste is incredibly rich and meaty. Roast the Chicken and pigeon bones in a 200ºc oven for 40 minutes. This will colour the bones and draw out any excess fat. Discard the fat and add the onion, celery, garlic, carrot, tomatoes, mushrooms, bay leaf, thyme and cover with water. Place over one or two

MARINATING THE PIGEON BREASTS IS WELL WORTH THE TIME AS THE TASTE WILL BE RICHER AND MEATIER... hobs, depending on the size of the pan and bring to the boil, before simmering for 10 hours. During this time, every hour or so, remove any fats or impurities that rise to the surface. If it reduces too much, keep on topping up with water, to make sure the bones are constantly covered.

Pass the liquid through a muslin cloth, discarding the bones and vegetables and saving any liquid into a heavy based sauce pan. To the liquid add red wine and redcurrent jelly.

Reduce by two thirds, by simmers for around two hours until it’s thickened and gravy like.

Test this by placing a little bit onto a plate.

To finish, pass through a fine sieve. This recipe will make enough for around 10-12 portions. To store any leftovers, freeze into ice cube moulds and remove from the freezer when you’re ready to use.

n To see what else Steven offers in his restaurant, the Comfy Duck at Oaklands Hall Hotel, visit www.thecomfyduck.co.uk.

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The Wine

This month we’ve some superb spring wines courtesy of our wine writer and merchant Harish Khanderia.

Our April recommendations include wines from Australia, Italy, Spain and New Zealand - a musthave staple of exceptional quality reds and whites...

1. Pèppoli Chianti Classico, Italy, £17.79.

The Antinori family have been producing wine in Tuscany for six centuries, and exporting it for four. Using grapes carefully selected from Antinori’s Pèppoli estate in Chianti Classico. Intense red fruit aromas are offset by delicate notes of vanilla and chocolate. Pleasantly lingering with a fresh, vibrant feel in the mouth.

2. Langmeil, Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, £18.95.

An elegant Barossa Cabernet style, with plenty of rich cassis and blueberry fruit. Langmeil is one of the Barossa’s great modern success stories; the first vines were planted on the estate in 1843. Amazingly, the 1843 vines are still alive and are producing the oldest Shiraz vines in the world!

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3. Bannockburn Bridge Pinot Noir, New Zealand, £22.45.

A beautiful lake in New Zealand now covers what was once a raging river in a deep gorge, the river posing a big challenge to the hordes of gold miners who flocked to this uninhabited area in 1862.

The first of five Bannockburn bridges built in 1874 opened the way for massive amounts of gold to cross the river here, though today’s bridge provides access to a different kind of treasure: the fruit from some of Central Otago’s best Pinot Noir districts. Bannockburn’s Pinot exemplifies the purity, balance and succulence that has made the region’s reputation. Aromas of forest fruit and violets lead to a vibrant yet neatly proportioned palate, the natural fruitiness offset by some herbal complexity and a mineral precision on the finish.

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Cellar...

4. Albariño 'Sobre Lias’, Spain, £15.85.

From the coolest part of Rias Baíxas, this wine bursts with juicy Albariño character: pear, citrus fruit, musky perfume and hints of mineral and spice. Clean, intense and very long on the palate. Casal Caeiro was established in 1986 and from the outset, the winery incorporated several advanced features that are now more widespread, such as stainless steel storage tanks and a three storey design that allows gravity flow to replace pumping.

There are eleven hectares of vineyards, between twenty-one and fifty one years old.

5. The Little Rascal, Arneis, New Zealand, £15.95.

A remarkably expressive example of this elusive grape variety, showing a mixture of lemons, grapefruit, marmalade, peach and feijoa on the nose. The Coopers Creek label first appeared in 1982, and have developed a reputation as one of the most eclectic New Zealand wineries.

6. Cervaro Della Sala, Antinori, Italy, £44.75.

Intense, complex aroma with notes of citrus, pear and acacia flowers balanced with a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied and well-structured palate with sweet notes of butter and hazelnut. The grapes originate from 15-20 year-old vineyards surrounding Castello della Sala, Umbria.

n Our featured wines are available from Lincolnshire’s leading independent wine retailers, prices are correct at time of going to press but may vary according to each retailer.

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- HOMES -

DOCTOR Just what t he

ORDERED

FOR RETIRED ORTHOPAEDIC CONSULTANT PAUL WALKER AND WIFE ANDREA, A QUEEN ANNE PROPERTY BETWEEN GAINSBOROUGH AND SCUNTHORPE WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED; ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LAUGHTON WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR FAMILY LIFE AND ENTERTAINING, AND BAGS OF CHARACTER THEY COULD BUILD UPON...

Words: Rob Davis.

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- HOMES -

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“We love Laughton Hall,” says Andrea Walker.

“Everyone must say they’ve enjoyed many family celebrations in their home but for us it’s especially true. We’ve hosted two weddings here, with the paddock for parking and marquees on the front lawn.”

“It’s big enough to accommodate lots of friends and family for big Christmas celebrations and summer parties alike.”

If anything, the property must seem a little too big at the moment, because Andrea is currently hobbling around the large house with a poorly knee following an altercation with a pothole. Fortunately she’s receiving plenty of care from husband Paul, a retired orthopaedic surgeon.

“I’m from Newcastle originally and we’ve lived in London, Berkshire and Leeds before.

We moved here when Paul took up a post at Scunthorpe General Hospital. And the schools have been excellent!”

“He had to live within 10 miles of the hospital, so the location of the property seemed ideal but we didn’t realise then what a lovely village Laughton is, and how much space and comfort it would afford our family.”

Above: The Queen Anne property features an Amdega conservatory to blur the distinction between indoors and the outside.

Above: The dining room features a period fireplace.

“Laughton Hall dates back to the very early 1700s and is situated in about an acre and a half.

Arranged over two floors, there are five bedrooms and four receptions...”

Laughton Hall dates back to the very early 1700s and is situated in about an acre and a half of land. Arranged over two floors, there are five bedrooms and four reception rooms, plus a newer addition to the rear of the property which created an additional bathroom and utility room a few years ago.

The former farmhouse was part of the Meynell Estate which was a farmhouse for a livestock operation. The estate was largely broken up after WWII when farmers on country estates began buying their own properties.

“We’ve lived here for 28 years,” says Andrea.

“The place was in relatively good order when we moved in but it did need a little TLC. We’ve reinstated as many of the period features as possible, like the beams in the kitchen.”

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- HOMES -

“We were looking for a period property that we could improve, one with character and lots of space outside. We love the mix of Georgian windows, the stained glass windows halfway up the stairs and the Queen Anne staircase with its wide shallow treads. The latter are much appreciated by young and old and, as I can now testify, anyone with a broken leg.”

“There are original fireplaces, shutters and lots of other lovely details and we've incorporated reclaimed brick and railway timbers in the conservatory, adding more contemporary plantation shutters in both sitting and dining rooms.”

The couple have installed a new bespoke kitchen, and integrated some appliances, but the most practical change is the addition of the new utility room for hiding white goods and family clutter.

The house flows well too, downstairs, with a long entrance hall and south-facing dining room and drawing room. The drawing room also allows the family to access the Amdega conservatory, and the whole layout, says Andrea, creates a marvellous space for entertaining.

“When the family come over we always meet up in the kitchen and join in the

Above: The drawing room leads into the kitchen and orangery. Main: A farmhouse kitchen was designed and installed by a local cabinet maker.

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“There are original fireplaces, shutters and lots of other period details but the property did need some restoration and a lot of love...” cooking before moving into the sitting room and garden room. We’ve created a terrace area adjacent which allows us to take full advantage of a warm summer afternoon.”

To the first floor, there are five bedrooms, one with an ensuite w.c., and a large family bathroom. “We’d install an additional ensuite if we were staying but we were advised not to,” says Andrea. “Many people want to put their own stamp on a new property so leaving the current arrangement untouched actually allows the next owners the opportunity to create their preferred layout upstairs.”

With the property on the market with Lincoln-based Mount & Minster, the property offers further practicality for its next custodians in the form of a range of outbuildings from an open store to a stable,

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- HOMES -

whilst the paddock will allow owners with horses to keep their four-legged friends comfortable.

“It’s very much a family home and when we were young, we tested the waters to see if our daughters would enjoy having horses by giving a winter home to some seaside donkeys from Cleethorpes. They were great fun but our equestrian lives didn’t really go beyond that.”

“Our son, meanwhile, was football and cricket mad, so there was always plenty of space for him to practise. We’ve grandchildren now and they love coming to the house for similar adventures.”

The property’s gardens have been a real labour of love for Andrea, and look colourful and well-designed at any time of year.

Above: The property’s one and a half acres comprise neat lawned areas, a paddock grazed by a local farmer’s sheep if necessary - and formal borders beyond a ha-ha.

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There are hundreds of daffodils in the paddock at the time of writing, and formal gardens to the side walled garden, with trees, shrubs and flowers and herbaceous borders.

There’s a large terrace adjacent to the conservatory with a walled barbecue area and the novelty of a Victorian two-seater netty - as they’re known in Andrea’s native North East.

“The garden is a space I’ve really enjoyed, I’m always surprised by the fact that it changes so much all through the year.

It’s time to pass the baton both for the garden and the house to new owners though.”

“Retford to Kings Cross is just 90mins, but it makes more sense with family down south that we move closer to them permanently.”

“We’re looking for a new family to take on the property, and to enjoy village life - the Christmas parties, summer get-togethers and the village feast in July. It’s a great property, and we hope its next owners will enjoy making family memories just as we have.”

Laughton Hall, Laughton

Location: Lincoln 30 minutes; Scunthorpe 15 minutes.

Style: A beautiful Grade II listed Queen Anne country residence set within its own private gardens and land.

Receptions: Four, currently arranged as drawing room, dining room, study/snug and conservatory.

Beds & Baths: Five, with family bathroom and second downstairs bathroom.

Other Features: Walled garden, paddock, outbuildings and stabling.

Guide Price: £625,000

Find Out More:

Estate Agency: Mount & Minster, Atton Place, 33 Eastgate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN2 1QA. Tel: 01522 716204.

Web: www.mountandminster.co.uk.

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PRE LOVED FINDS, LIGHTING, DISPLAY DOMES, SHELVES, HOOKS & MORE BESIDES...

ELIZABETH & STEVENS

VINTAGE, RETRO AND CONTEMPORARY FINDS FOR HOME, GARDEN AND GIFTS, VISIT ELIZABETH AND STEVENS AND BE INSPIRED

The Showrooms, Great North Road, Markham Moor, Retford DN22 0QU Telephone: 01636 822000

www.elizabethandstevens.com

Open daily Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Just oямА the A1. Free parking.

Please call us if you are making a special journey

RETRO, CANDLES, LEATHER CHAIRS, RECYCLED WOODEN TABLES & CHAIRS,

CAST IRON GATES, STREETLIGHTS, VINTAGE POST BOXES, ANTIQUE BITS AND BOBS, BRONZE SCULPTURE, BENCHES, GARDEN

SUPER CUSHIONS, BAR & GLASS WEAR, PICTURES,ART, OVERSIZED CLOCKS ,MIRRORS, URNS , PLANTERS, FOUNTAINS,

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The Eco-Home REVOLUTION

MEET THE LOCAL MAN WHO’S HOPING TO REVOLUTIONISE THE WAY LINCOLNSHIRE’S HOMEOWNERS DESIGN, BUILD, HEAT AND LIVE IN THEIR PROPERTIES. STEPHEN RICHMOND CAN CONSTRUCT AN ECO-HOME AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE OF CONVENTIONAL BUILDINGS, WITH EASY PLANNING PERMISSION, TWO WEEK BUILDS AND ENERGY BILLS OF JUST £30/YEAR! Main: Stephen has created 28 eco-homes in the UK, including this example in the North West.

He has researched building using SIPs (structural insulated panels) to overcome the problems endemic to UK-based eco-home construction, and now wants to use Lincolnshire as proof of concept.

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- FUTURE HOMES -

Nothing short of revolutionary. That’s our verdict on the new eco-homes proposed by Stephen Richmond. This month, the building engineer will reveal a new development of 15 properties which, he says, can be built substantially faster, and dramatically cheaper than any other building method.

As Pride goes to press, Stephen anticipates completing his development, sited around a 40 acre former gravel pit at Sutton-cumLound, near Retford, which is adjacent to a site of special scientific interest.

Stephen has identified the Retford site, and Lincolnshire as a county, as the ideal locations to prove that his homes can be built in just two weeks. They cost around half that of brick-based buildings, and run either off-grid (i.e.: without connection to mains water, electricity or other utilities), or connected to utilities for less than £30/year.

His development of properties will serve as

STEPHEN WILL THIS MONTH REVEAL HIS ‘ECO-VILLAGE’ A DEVELOPMENT OF 15 PROPERTIES, WHICH WILL SERVE AS A ‘PROOF OF CONCEPT’ FOR HIS BUILDINGS AS SOLID, COMFORTABLE HOMES WITH EXEMPLAR ECO-CREDENTIALS exemplar buildings that the public can stay in for a night or two to prove the concept.

“I’ve invested in lots of research to take technology that was sound in other climates but less suitable for the UK, and solved the technical problems to make them fit for our climate,” he says.

“The secret is the use of SIPs - structurally insulated panels. Rather than allowing a house to ‘breathe’ as with conventional building methods, we make our buildings ‘airtight’ to exploit the occupants’ body heat and heat generated through glass. We then ensure a flow of fresh clean warm air using

heat recovery ventilation which extracts the heat from the stale air and warms the fresh air via a heat exchanger in the unit.”

In addition, Stephen has ensured that each of his buildings are not just energy efficient to run, but that the materials used to construct his homes can be produced with just 15% of the embodied carbon than it takes to manufacture most building materials.

Top: The homes can be ‘off grid’ - self-sufficient in terms of heating, power and even water.

Above: Stephen demonstrates the SIPs used to create his eco-village near Retford, aimed at attracting Lincolnshire homeowners or developers keen to adopt the technology.

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The Secrets OF STEPHEN’S ECO HOMES...

To ensure their energy efficiency and cheap, rapid construction credentials, this is the building technology Stephen utilises...

1

These are the super insulated panels (SIPs) which make up the walls and roofs of each build.

Interlocking together, they’re sealed to make them airtight.

3

2

Where there would otherwise be gaps between the panels, super-tight Aerogel is installed as a gasket to ensure no thermal bridging in timber.

A Regavent ventilation unit with an Ecocent air source heat pump removes the stale air from the house, but retains and stores the heat.

Fresh air is drawn in from outdoors, then re-heated using the stored heat.

This means the properties always have hot water and heat with no energy bills.

4

Meanwhile, mains electricity is generated

by PV solar panels, a Pelton wheel (above) or a turbine to provide electricity either to supplement, or as a total replacement for, National Grid supplied power.

These are just some of the technologies which Stephen uses to ensure his homes remain off-grid or feed energy back into the grid to generate money for homeowners.

THE BENEFITS OF SIP-BASED ECO-HOUSING 1. Speed: A SIP-based eco-house site can take five people just three weeks to create, the house itself takes less than a week to build.

2. Low Cost: Stephen says build costs are just £950m2, compared to conventional brick-based buildings which cost circa., £2,500m2.

3. Running Costs: Eco-homes utilising the technology can be off-grid or can generate revenue to ‘sell back’ to the grid for homeowners.

4. Easy Planning Permission: Councils are always more amenable to granting planning permission for eco-homes.

5. Low Land Cost: European incentives for affordable homes (e.g.: Right to Buy) lower the cost of land via grants for eco-developers.

6. Stronger Construction: SIP homes are stronger than brick ones, since mortar weakens the overall strength of conventional builds.

7. Carbon Efficient Materials: The materials used to make Stephen’s homes generate 85% fewer carbon emissions during their manufacture.

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- FUTURE HOMES -

>> Stephen has also ensured that solar thermal and electricity-generating wind turbines and solar PV technology can be incorporated as standard.

There’s also a super-efficient insulator material called Aerogel used in the properties’ construction alongside the SIPs to ensure the homes are amongst the most thermally efficient in Europe.

“The SIPs enable us to build a complete bungalow in less than two weeks, and we can create single or two storey buildings, both for domestic or commercial use.”

“In addition to lightning quick build times, obtaining planning permission is usually easier. In Europe generous EU grants are available for the purchase of land for affordable or eco-homes, too. Sadly, in the UK these funds are currently being used by larger developers creating conventional homes, most notably in the right-to-buy scheme, but they can and should be used by companies like us to create affordable, eco-friendly homes which fully comply with the EU’s 2016 carbon neutral homes targets.”

“The properties are mounted on a frame which is in turn mounted on piles screwed into the ground. We don’t use concrete bases, so from arriving on site to handing over the keys of a finished property, we can take as little as three weeks, with the house shell itself being put together in two-three days. Typically a three bedroom family home with 100m2 of living space can be created for £90,000, and a lodge style home with two bedrooms and en suite, of around 72m2 can be made for as little as £68,000.”

“We can also build multi-storey luxury family homes and utilise timber cladding or a special acrylic render to create any style of property a homeowner wants.”

“We’ve been creating homes in France, Portugal and Spain for a number of decades before

“OBTAINING PLANNING PERMISSION IS USUALLY EASIER FOR ECO-BUILDS...” completing the research necessary to adapt SIP based building techniques to the UK.”

Stephen will invite those interested in his eco-friendly buildings to the Retford site this spring. Whilst the buildings are bungalow lodges, rather than full-sized two-storey family homes, they’ll provide a taste of life in a SIP-based home, and will all feature voice controlled lighting and ventilation, hot tubs, en-suite bathrooms and Pelton wheel and PV-panel electricity generation, to ensure self-sufficiency away from the national grid. A lakeside location around the nature reserve will make them even more special.

“I’m interested in building properties, but my real passion is to lower the UK’s carbon footprint at an affordable price and to demonstrate my homes’ financial and ecological benefits,” says Stephen.

“Lincolnshire is the ideal county to serve as a proving ground for the technology, so I’m looking to partner with landowners in the county to enter into a joint venture. It’s also important to me, though, that people can come to see, and to fully understand the technology... when they do, they’re invariably won over. I believe it’s the compromise-free future of housebuilding in the UK - and I want Lincolnshire to be at the forefront of it.”

n Stephen is currently creating his development of eco-lodges at Sutton-cum-Lound Retford, under the name of Canasip Homes.

The engineer is also seeking JV partners for new projects across Lincolnshire.

For more information call 01361 883 917 or 07961 026385 or see www.canasiphome.co.uk.

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Unsurpassed Quality, Affordable Craftsmanship Bespoke Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms - full project management and free quotations

Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers Ltd Devereux Way, Horncastle LN9 6AU

Tel: 01507 527113 W: www.peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk E: info@peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk

Peter_jacksonCM

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Main: The Old Rectory is a property that’s set in over two acres of land which also includes a self-contained private annexe and a converted coach house.

The couple have transformed the extensive and beautiful gardens surrounding their home.

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The Modern Old

RECTORY

THE OLD RECTORY IN TOYNTON ALL SAINTS HAS BEEN GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE. THE FACELIFT THAT CURRENT OWNERS KATIE AND KEVIN WATSON HAVE GIVEN THE PLACE, WILL ALLOW ITS NEXT USERS TO EXPERIENCE RURAL COUNTRY LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY; THEY’VE MADE THIS A HOME FOR MODERN DAY FAMILIES...

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- HOMES -

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The 21st Century is a time of technology.

What would we do without underfloor heating, controlled lighting systems or double glazed windows?

Period properties don’t usually come with such technology, but The Old Rectory, built in 1872, is the exception to the rule. It’s in a beautiful spot with picturesque country views, within it’s own private plot. It has an in and out drive and extensive parking in a quiet village just a mile from the town of Spilsby, and thanks to its current owners, it’s up-to-date with the modern way of life.

It was originally owned by the Bishop of Lincoln and sold off in the 70s to the first family who lived here. In later years, it had been turned into a health spa offering membership locally and then back into a family home just before it was sold to current owners, Kevin and Katie Watson, in 2007.

“We are from Surrey but we were living abroad when we first found the Old Rectory,” says Katie Watson. “We were looking to come back to the UK as the children were reaching secondary school age.”

Above: The main bedroom is very spacious with views over the front and sides of the grounds.

Main: The kitchen is very large and suitable for up to 12 people, featuring an island with a vegetable sink, a two door oven and bespoke handmade cabinetry.

“This house set itself apart from others we had seen as its layout was ideal for a modern family way of life...”

“This house set itself apart from the others we had seen as its layout was perfect for a modern family way of life. Most of the rooms are off the central hallway and although it has tall ceilings and large rooms, the rooms aren’t so large that you cannot heat or furnish them easily. In addition it felt so light and airy, compared to other large old houses we had seen. I felt it was for us as soon as I stepped in the hall.”

“We decided on this area in Lincolnshire as the grammar schools had incredible results and at the time, were within the top 10 in the country. I believe they are still graded as ‘Outstanding.’”

“My biggest concern about moving to the country was being in a house in the middle of nowhere without neighbours and having to drive miles to get food provisions and takeaways.”

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“This house was perfect as soon as I realised it was only a few minutes drive to Sainsbury’s and we have many neighbours but the home still gives us plenty of privacy. Spilsby has restaurants, pubs, banks, bakers, a Health Centre; everything you could wish for and in such easy reach.”

“When we first viewed The Old Rectory we fell in love with it. It came across as a very happy and inviting home with lots of space for entertaining and a beautiful garden with tremendous views.”

“We first thought it didn’t need much work as lots of work had been previously carried out on it. However when we moved in we realised there was still a lot to do but we wanted to retain the original features like the handsome fireplaces, deep skirting boards and coving.”

“We completely changed the flowerbeds and grassed area that immediately surrounded the house by paving, decking and gravel to make it easier to maintain. This still left a huge amount of grass and open space, just with less high maintenance.”

Above: The decked and sheltered area outside is perfect for garden parties.

Main: The drawing room is beautiful - the décor the couple have used is very unique and equally beautiful using bright colours from their far east adventures.

The space the new owners will have is also incredible.

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“When we first viewed The Old Rectory we fell in love. It came across as a happy home with space for entertaining...”

“We changed some of the layout to open up the kitchen. The kitchen was already the biggest kitchen we had ever seen and can accommodate up to 12 dining guests.”

“But now you can practically live in the kitchen area as it has an additional family room with log burner and access out onto the covered deck.”

The decking is a great place to entertain and makes the most of the views and it is wonderfully private. From the new upstairs balcony above, on a clear day, you can see views across The Wash to Norfolk.”

“We re-modelled some of the upstairs to make a second en-suite and a separate dressing room with access to the balcony. We replaced all the windows in the main house with double-glazing and installed an extra log burner so it’s much warmer now in winter

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- HOMES -

and very cosy. We redecorated every inch of the property and installed two new bathrooms.”

“As we came here from the Middle East we do have some colourful furniture and accessories but we have tried to keep the main décor as neutral as possible.”

“We converted the old Stable/Coach House into an art gallery to help local artists display their work as we love and admire art. However after a year, we had to close it down as it was proving to be an expensive hobby for us.

The building is waiting for a new business or use to bring it back to it’s potential. We are currently using it as a gym, storeroom, table tennis room and TV lounge. It could also be turned into guest accommodation with the necessary consents.”

The annexe consists of a bedroom, a lounge with tall ceiling, a kitchen and a shower room. It has it’s own entrance offering privacy.

Above: The long and wide driveway allows the owners to have enough privacy while still allowing them to have beautiful views over the countryside.

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It can also be accessed via the back hall of the main house through a lockable door. It provides guest accommodation and could easily be used as a extra family bedrooms or luxury bed and breakfast accommodation.

“The main garden is laid to lawn with flowerbeds, a small summerhouse and fruit trees. There are also specimen trees like monkey puzzle, cedar, walnut, and Douglas fir.”

The garden can be a fascinating place to see local wildlife. Katie and Kevin have frequent visits from muntjac deer and an assortment of birds including woodpecker, pheasants and various finches.

After eight years here, the family decided it’s time to move on as the children will be going into further education in the next two years.

They have thoroughly enjoyed living there and have made a vast amount of friends.

“Every time I drive up to our home I always think to myself, I can’t believe we live in such a special place. We’re so lucky. This house is great for a family who love to entertain.”

The Old Rectory, Toynton All Saints

Location: 15 minutes from Horncastle, 15 minutes from Louth.

Style: A countryside property set over wide grounds including a self-contained annexe and a converted coach house.

Receptions: Three receptions arranged as drawing room, TV/ cinema room and family room.

Beds: Five to seven beds with six toilets and bathrooms.

Other Features: Self-contained annexe, converted coach house, veranda and two acres of land.

Guide Price: £795,000

Find Out More:

Estate Agency: Savills.

Tel: 01522 508 908.

Web: www.savills.com.

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- CONSERVATORIES -

SUNSHINE e M Bring

This month we’re looking forward to some bright sunny days, but we’ve some time before the temperatures catch up. The solution for keeping away the spring chills must surely be a luxurious, spacious garden room to enjoy all year round, so why not speak to Paul Matthews, Managing Director of Auburn Hill to find out how to ensure your room can ‘bring you sunshine,’ all year round...

Lincolnshire has plenty of beautiful rural properties, ageing graceful and providing spacious family homes. Many such properties are period homes, often with listed status, and so adapting them for modern family living, or extending them, can often prove problematic.

Fortunately, there’s a way to extend your home that’s cost-effective, and commensurate with the county’s architectural vernacular - a method that won’t spoil the appearance of your property.

The term conservatory is sullied by thoughts of draughty, poorly created extensions of the 80s which were too warm in the summer and too chilly in the winter.

“PAUL HELPS LINCOLNSHIRE FOLK CREATE NEW RECEPTION ROOMS AND LIVING KITCHENS FOR MODERN FAMILIES, IN THE COUNTY’S SMARTEST HOMES...”

Words: Rob Davis.

Fortunately, the reality of living with a modern conservatory, and orangery (with a glazed rooflight) or garden room (with a tiled roof) is rather different.

One local family who is keen to spread the word about the convenience and accessibility of modern buildings is Paul Matthews.

As the Managing Director of Auburn Hill, Paul has helped countless Lincolnshire families to extend their homes, creating new reception rooms and living kitchens with plenty of space for families, in some of the county’s smartest homes.

“We’re specialists in the creation of bespoke orangeries, conservatories, verandahs, windows and doors in engineered timber, architectural aluminium and timber-effect PVCu.”

“All of our installations are designed to work with, rather than against, your existing property. They’re designed to be light, usable spaces, and can be completely bespoke to suit the style of your property, and in terms of their size and layout.”

“We also offer a complete ‘turnkey’ service for stress-free home improvements. We pay our clients a strictly no-obligation visit in their home to find out about their needs, and coordinate all of the tradespeople, creating the new room from foundation to decoration, taking the hassle away and simply handing over the keys to a beautiful new room.”

One couple who decided to create a room to take advantage of sunshine and a great view all year round is Mark and Amanda Gill.

In March 2013 they demolished an old property on their farmland to create in its place a beautiful new family home.

The couple enlisted Auburn Hill’s help to create no fewer than 31 bespoke windows and a Georgian style orangery in accordance with the conditions of their planning permission. >>

Opposite: Mark and Amanda’s bespoke hardwood orangery.

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Far Left: Architectural metalwork verandah with lead crown top roof.

Left: Bespoke hardwood kitchen extension.

“AUBURN HILL WAS A GREAT COMPANY TO WORK WITH AND WE ARE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE ROOM...”

SAY MARK & AMANDA GILL. >> “They were a great company to work with and we were really happy with the room,” says Mark. “The whole house build lasted two and a half years so it was pretty stressful, but Auburn Hill were a pleasure to deal with both at the time and afterwards. Being hardwood, the materials were natural, so there has been some settling, as you’d expect, but when Auburn Hill spoke to us to check everything was alright, they came straight out to see us, with no delays and no chasing.”

“It was reassuring to have that kind of service in the midst of such a complex build, and the result is an energy efficient home and a wonderful orangery that the whole family can enjoy all year round.”

“Our sole purpose is to ensure we create your perfect space, we will discuss your vision for your new orangery or conservatory, get a feel for how you wish to use it, how often, and who with,” says Paul. “The result is a luxurious space for reading a book surrounded by uninterrupted views of your garden, or sitting around a newly designed kitchen and dining area, entertaining loved ones. Whatever your vision, we’ll design a luxury space that’s as unique as you are.”

n Auburn Hill is based at Ketton Design House, High Street, Ketton PE9 3TE. Call 01780 400 500 or see www.ahorangeries.co.uk.

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Opposite: Bespoke hardwood orangery ideal for spring dining.

Below: Modern orangeries enable you to extend your home, adding spaces like Mark and Amanda’s family room.

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- CONSERVATORIES -

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High Quality Appliances

and the best customer service Visit our new website: www.bostonelectrics.co.uk Buy Online, ‘Click & Collect’ or visit us in store

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Washing Machines and Tumble Driers

Cookers plus ranges, built-in ovens & hobs

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45

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Fridges, Freezers and Chest Freezers Kettles, plus 40 Toasters, 30 Mixers & Blenders

Bagged & Bagless Vacuum Cleaners

Ceiling, Wall, and Table Lights

All items on display in our showroom ready for immediate delivery. Ample free parking.

Norfolk Street, Boston PE21 9HG Tel: 01205 350 737

www.bostonelectrics.co.uk Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 5.00pm Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm We Deliver • We Install • We Demonstrate • We Take Away Your Old Appliance We also Provide Servicing, Spares and Repairs for your Existing Appliances...

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Sofa Set: This Bali curved corner suite includes a curved corner unit, left and right hand combination and coffee table with two footstools for £2,299.

GARDEN All You Need for Your COLD OVERTON’S GATES GARDEN CENTRE WILL HELP TO CREATE A SPACE IN WHICH TO REST, SOCIALISE AND DINE, WITH QUALITY OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES DESIGNED TO LAST A LIFETIME...

Words: Rob Davis.

DIning Set: This Palma Deluxe set includes sofa, table in maintenance free polywood, plus two square stools plus all pads and cushions for £1,599.

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Summer’s on its way, and with it come the opportunity to spend afternoons in the garden, sitting in peace, reading Lincolnshire Pride or enjoying al fresco dining and perhaps a bottle of wine with friends.

Outdoor furniture used to mean a small, rickety table and chair set, but things have moved on apace, so perhaps it’s time to treat your garden to a luxurious sofa or dining set and enjoy the same level of comfort outdoors that you enjoy inside your home.

“We’ve seen some really good products emerging in recent years,” says Nigel Gates of Cold Overton’s Gates Garden Centre.

“In the winter months our seasonal department is home to the area’s biggest display of Christmas decorations, trees and lighting. But in the warmer months, we use the 10,000sq ft of space to display over 30 sofa and dining sets, in rattan, metal and timber, providing the area’s widest choice of anything from two-seater benches to corner sets for up to 12.”

“The quality and design of them has improved so much over recent years, and with scatter cushions, rattan, metal or wood designs available, and prices from £50 to £3,000 there’s something for any space and any taste.”

“We love the summer, as do our customers, so we’ve chosen some fantastic products which offer both style, and quality...”

“We’ve a range of candles and lanterns, plus solar and electric lighting, parasols up to and beyond the standard three metres, as well as freestanding cantilever parasols. We’ve decorative and practical accessories too, from garden clocks to patio heaters powered by electricity or gas and barbecues from names like Weber, powered by gas or charcoal.”

Nigel has seen the way we use our outside spaces changing dramatically over the past few years, and now, the aim of creating a comfortable reception room outdoors can be realised with cushioned sofas, outdoor dining sets in materials like melamine and a range of garden games from croquet and boules to giant Jenga and games for children.

From the odd planter, finishing touch or water feature, to everything you need to create a luxurious reception room outdoors, Gates can ensure you spend as much time as possible outdoors, enjoying fair weather year after year with quality products that will last many seasons.

Being one of the country’s largest and most well-stocked garden centres Gates of course stocks everything you need for your core gardening requirements too, spread out over 32 acres with a newly extended car park for 2016.

The centre’s 360 seater restaurant, created in late 2014, is popular for anything from afternoon tea to Sunday lunch. There’s also a balcony for al fresco dining, and a whole range of concessions across the centre with

clothing, a huge range of products for the home, plus kitchenware, gifts and toys, as well as Maidenhead Aquatics and an outdoor car wash, so you can enjoy the luxury of returning to a clean car after a day spent shopping.

Above: As well as furniture like sofa and dining sets, the centre includes a huge range of garden accessories and core gardening products.

“We love the summer, and so do our customers,” says Nigel. “That’s why we’ve selected some fantastic products which offer more style, more comfort and better quality than ever before, for anyone who wants to enjoy a long, hot summer!” n For more information visit Gates Garden Centre, Somerby Rd, Cold Overton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7QB. Call 01664 454309 or visit www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk.

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Creating the Great

OUTDOORS

CREATE A WONDERFUL OUTDOOR SPACE WITH THE ADDITION OF A FEW CREATURE COMFORTS, COURTESY OF GATES GARDEN CENTRE...

SOUND OF WATER

Gates Garden Centre has a wonderful selection of water features and fountains available in plastic, wood, resin or stone, with prices from less than £50 to £500 for larger stone models.

Relax and enjoy your garden with this half moon weave peach daybed in brown rattan. It’s the ideal escape, allowing you to shade from the wind and avoid harsh midday sun whilst still enjoying the fresh air.

n Fun for the Family: Professor Puzzle promises great fun for the whole family all summer long from Gates Nurseries and Garden Centre.

Take home an outdoor game boules, skittles ring toss, giant Jenga and so on, from a selection, £various, and spend your summer afternoons engaged in what we hope will be friendly competition!

Created in rattan, there’s no maintenance necessary, and removable cushions are easy to store in the winter months.

Gates Nurseries and Garden Centre has a great selection, £1,099.

n WEBER BARBECUE Weber are a market leader in barbecues, and their new Q1200 is small enough to be portable, with an integral gas supply and 189in2 cooking space. Optional trolley, choice of colours inc green, orange, purple, blue and black, £215.

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- GARDENS -

are you sitting

comfortably

Bramblecrest Garden Furniture is comfortable, well-made and affordable. Shown here is the firm’s Oakridge square casual dining set at £1,499.

Below: Solar powered lighting is easy to install and safe, Gates has a wide selection to suit any space and budget £call.

Below: Selection of real and artificial topiary to create interest in any area of your garden from £85.

CANDLE LANTERNS Enjoy the flickering of a pillar candle with these metal and glass lanterns, helping to ensure safety and protecting it from being extinguished by a breeze, small 53cm, larger 77cm, from a large selection of garden candles and accessories.

Create a shady area for breakfast, with Hartman’s Berkley set, comprising four seats, pads and parasol in rust-proof metal £599.

n Find Out More: All of our featured pieces are available from Gates Nurseries & Garden Centre, Somerby Rd, Cold Overton, Oakham, Leicestershire LE15 7QB, call 01664 454309 or see www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk 93

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Peace of

MIND

With the stresses of 21st century life, it’s hard to find a little bit of peace and quiet.

Allow time to yourself, spent with a visit to Buddha Maitreya’s garden, the Pure Land.

A walk around this beautiful Japanese garden near Newark will give you that peace of mind and potentially open your mind to the idea of meditation...

Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

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A garden that gifts peace of mind. It’s an ambition for many gardeners and it is commonly achieved; turning a back garden space into somewhere you can go to relax.

Buddha Maitreya had the same vision for his garden - but on a much larger scale.

Maitreya was born and bred in Handa, Japan. As he was going through his teens, he turned to Christianity on a search for truth.

However, the church didn’t give him the direct experience of Jesus he was looking for, so he turned to meditation.

After a few years of meditation in Japan, he attended a week’s intensive meditation course at a Zen monastery during which he experienced ‘Enlightenment.’ He knew from then on, he had to share this clarity and joy by means of simple meditation.

After Maitreya completed his degree in Buddhism, he left Japan to travel, staying in Thailand, India and Nepal. Through an invitation from a friend, he found himself in England. He stayed in various centres and universities providing classes and lectures before he found a property near Newark and Pure Land was created in 1973.

Buddha Maitreya started his Japanese garden from scratch, with a two acre field to work with and no gardening experience at all. After living in North Clifton near Newark for a few years teaching meditation, he decided that he wanted a garden that would provide peace and tranquility for his guests.

“I wanted to make the space useful and I wanted somewhere peaceful and exotic,” says Maitreya.

“What I have created over the past 40 years is a true Japanese garden. A Japanese garden is simply a miniature version of Japan’s natural landscape - it’s mountainous with rivers, streams, fields and forests flowing through it.”

Maitreya designed, sculptured, built and created every element of the garden himself which is very impressive for someone with no experience in gardening and two acres of land to have to transform.

He started first of all with the large pond, the centrepiece of his Japanese garden, which is home to carp, sturgeon and an abundance of pond plants. A bridge and

stepping stones cross the pond, allowing access to the other half of his garden.

After he created the pond, he started on the various paths that weave their way around the garden, laying the main foundations and structure for him to work with. These were largely made up of stepping stones, a common occurrence in Japanese gardens.

After he had the structure and the pond in place, Maitreya started building small houses with the help of some friends, all with different designs. Two of the buildings are covered seating areas to relax and enjoy the view. The third building is a tea house.

This is where Maitreya spends most of his time.

“It’s very peaceful in the Japanese tea house.

It provides me with the perfect view across the garden and somewhere comfortable to meditate. In the summer, I also host Japanese Tea Ceremonies for one to four people. This is a common culture in Japan and it’s about finding harmony in making, serving and enjoying tea. It’s very spiritual.”

The tea house is hidden at the bottom of Maitreya’s garden. You first enter Pure Land through a Japanese arch with the meditation centre to the left and the garden to the right.

Maitreya has cleverly sculpted conifers into bonsai style trees in ‘cloud formation,’ immediately putting the thought of Japan in your mind.

Following the bonsai style trees round, two stone buddhas welcome you into the main area. As you follow the path, you find the large pond. Maitreya explained that a Japanese garden takes on the country’s natural landscape, so some areas are raised to represent mountains.

This is what makes the Pure Land different to most gardens - it’s not just a flat area of land. The way Maitreya has designed the garden, structurally, sets it apart from others.

Even on our winter visit, because of the amount of structure and hard landscaping that Maitreya carried out to start with, the garden doesn’t need bright colours - it’s just as peaceful and as beautiful without.

That’s not to say it’s not at it’s best in summer. You’ll see bright yellow flowers, cherry blossom, wisteria and willow trees with long green hanging branches. Maitreya describes the garden as magical in summer.

“A Japanese garden is a miniature version of the country’s landscape - it’s mountainous with fields, forests, rivers and streams flowing through it...”

Opposite: A panoramic view of Maitreya’s lake with a view of the stepping stones, bridge and miniature temple.

Above: The wisteria looks bare at this time of year but you can imagine the colours of it in warmer months. When you look at the stepping stones across Maitreya’s lake, you can understand why it’s a tradition - they look so peaceful.

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- GARDENS -

As you walk over the stepping stones and bridge across the lake - home to carp and sturgeon - there are three different areas. To the left, there’s a roofed seating area and a zen garden covered in white gravel and purple flowers in summer. In front of you is the tea house where Maitreya spends most of his time. To the right is another sheltered seating area.

Maitreya has definitely created what he planned to when he first started gardening a peaceful space which makes you feel like you’re walking through a park in Japan or perhaps around a zen monastery.

Over the past ten years, after creating his beautiful Japanese garden, Maitreya has had a new project he’s been working on.

“With the help of some friends, I built a separate building big enough to protect my crystal garden,” says Maitreya. “This took quite a lot of time. After we built it, I started on the collection.”

Maitreya collected tens of thousands of expensive crystals and minerals to create his very own crystal garden. This is the first ever crystal garden that Maitreya has heard of and he believes that it still is the only crystal garden in the world.

It is absolutely beautiful with the mirrors surrounding the crystal collection creating an illusion, making you believe it’s a hall of crystals.

Just as he has done with the rest of the garden, Maitreya has styled it to the Japanese landscape - you can see the mountains, the waterfalls, the oceans and rivers, clearly marked out by small crystals, large crystals and sculpted crystals.

Standing on the mosaic stepping stones, you can see every angle of the garden and every single crystal. There’s common crystals, amethysts and rose quartz in the mountains, chipped stones in the ocean and a number of rarer stones to the left. There’s even a crystal in the shape of a dolphin in the sea.

“It’s set with cement and resin. It took a lot of time to create, but it didn’t take too much time to collect. There are many crystal and mineral wholesalers so I was able to buy the majority in bulk. I don’t move it around at all but I do have to steam clean it once a year just to remove the dust.”

The garden is open from March to October and there are lantern lit evenings in August

“Maitreya’s garden has won a number of awards and has even been visited by Alan Titchmarsh...” and September where Maitreya hangs lanterns all over the branches and buildings in the garden, £7/adult. Refreshments and rice salad is served in the café.

This sanctuary will host a number of events throughout the year. You can request a tea ceremony for up to four people by arrangement, £100/session.

Opposite: The beautiful crystal garden, the zen garden and a small wooden creation which resembles a Japanese temple at the top of a mountain.

Above: Buddha Maitreya himself, avid gardener and meditation teacher. Visit his website to book in some lessons.

“There are many sculptures in the garden but I consider it to be a sculpture of its own.

I have crafted every single detail myself.”

Maitreya’s garden has won a number of awards and has even been visited by Alan Titchmarsh. Visit Buddha Maitreya to see why or if you are interested in meditation.

n For more info, visit www.buddhamaitreya.co.uk, and like his Facebook page, ‘Buddha Maitreya.’

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For Gifts, for Gardeners and for a Grand Day Out - visit Gates, this Easter...

All you need to celebrate Easter.

Please note, we’re closed Easter Sunday.

Gates Nurseries

& Garden Centre Somerby Road, Cold Overton, LE15 7QB 01664 454309 | www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk

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n e d r a G e In Th SIX JOBS FOR APRIL FROM LAVISHING SOME LOVE ON YOUR LAWN TO PLANTING SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS, IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR GROWING GOING...

Prune Back Buddleia A buddleia will grow prolifically throughout the spring months, so trimming yours now will remove the woody growth and allow fresh new shoots.

Doing so will also keep it from overrunning one area of our garden.

Support Your Clematis Woody plants like clematis and honeysuckle will be putting out new growth right now. Tie in supports using garden canes and garden twine to ensure you can train them into a desirable direction.

Divide Your Hostas Hostas are one of the most resilient, easy-to-grow plants for light to medium shade areas. Dividing them this month will allow you to spread them throughout your garden.

Deadhead Those Daffs We’ve all enjoyed the cheery sight of daffodils and tulips, in the spring, but now it’s time to deadhead them. Leave the foliage in place though - be careful if you turn over the soil - and you’ll be treated to the same display next spring.

AFTER

BEFORE

Repairing Your Lawn...

If your lawn has seen better days; if it’s patchy, thin, or weighed down by weeds, this is the month to really improve it. Lawn Master is the best lawn consultancy firm, staffed by highly qualified turf experts with years in professional turf care. They’ll assess your lawn to determine which combination of aeration, scarification, over-seeding, fertilising and dressing is necessary to restore your lawn to its former glory.

Call Ian Stephens of Lawnmaster on 07714 458943 or see www.lawnmaster.co.uk

n Our recommended Garden Centres in Lincolnshire are Johnson’s Garden Centre on Wainfleet Road, Boston 01205 363408, and Downtown Garden Centre at Downtown, Gonerby Junction, Grantham 01476 590239.

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- FARMING MATTERS -

On The Farm An Early Pick of Daffodils

This month, farming expert Barry Poston discusses the early pick of flowers for daffodil producers, the delay wheat growers are experiencing from the damage of wheat bulb fly, and the effects of the downward trend in prices for livestock: especially pigs...

As I write this article in mid-February the winter weather has been kind to most arable and livestock farmers.

The usual February ‘fill dyke’ has not occurred and most root crops have been lifted with a minimum of soil damage.

“One or two daffodil producers have had an early pick of flowers, especially with the persistent cold weather...”

A few overwintered vegetable crops have proven to be a little more difficult at times to cut, as the crops are relatively new to commercial growing, however they have considerable high contents of minerals and protein and are attracting a lot of interest at the present time.

Most potato and sugar beet crops have lifted well with above average weights. Potato growers particularly are happier with these yields and with good quality, are attracting 100

higher prices, whilst their storage costs have been considerably lower too.

One must hope that producers do not increase their tonnage grown and keep their prices during 2016.

The one or two daffodil producers have had a good early pick of flowers, especially as it has been fortunate that the cold spring weather has been persistent.

Producers will be especially pleased to have their spread of crops into Easter and Mothering Sunday.

Fewer farmers are now growing the bulb root crop and just leaving the bulb to flower annually.

Wheat growers are being delayed with the damage of wheat bulb fly. There are also delays in blackgrass control sprays. Prices of cereals are at static levels but unfortunately most prices of livestock are showing a downward trend with pigs probably the worse.

Several large producers of pig meat are seriously considering closing down their units. There is no doubt that prices are much lower due to the main purchasers (i.e China) that have caused this situation.

Fortunately local beef and sheep prices have recently moved upwards.

Barry Poston is the area’s foremost farming expert with a long history working in both arable and livestock environments. He has seen a great many changes in the county’s main industry!

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- NATURE -

d o o G e Th SHEPHERD FOR LOUISE AND IAN FAIRBURN THE DESIRE TO ENJOY A BIT OF ‘THE GOOD LIFE’ INADVERTENTLY TURNED INTO A MISSION TO SAVE ONE OF LINCOLNSHIRE’S ENDANGERED BREEDS. THIS MONTH, WE MEET THE RISBY FLOCK, THE NATIVE LONGWOOL SHEEP WHO HAVE REALLY MANAGED TO PULL THE WOOL OVER THE MARKET RASEN COUPLE’S EYES...

“Does the novelty ever wear off?” we ask. We’re crouched in the nursery barn of Louise and Ian Fairburn’s 50 acre farm near Market Rasen. It’s about 1.30pm on 1st February, very windy but also quite sunny outside, and ewe Sally has just lambed the newest addition to the couples Lincoln Longwool flock.

Spring Lambs: We joined Louise and Ian for the arrival of the Risby Flock’s 2016 spring lambs...

The answer is no, the novelty doesn’t wear off. Although it is tempered slightly by the hard work that lambing season entails, and by the knowledge that our native Longwool breed is under threat of extinction.

The total UK population of ‘Lincolns’ is now just 902. The Lincoln Longwool Association - based at the Showground - reports that there are just 50 flocks, most numbering fewer than 20 ewes.

Louise and Ian have 41 breeding ewes, 12 of which are last year’s ‘best’ examples destined for county shows. They also have 12 potential show rams - and four stock rams - and that makes the couple’s flock one of the largest in the country.

What’s worrying, though, is that 90% of the UK’s Lincoln population is based right here in the county, which means an agricultural crisis and an ensuing cull on the scale of Foot & Mouth could very easily spell extinction for the breed. >> 102

Words: Rob Davis.

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Top: Ian and Louise at the Lincolnshire Show last year. County Shows are essential for ensuring the breed’s continuity.

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Above/Left: Louise helps mum to care for her new arrival, born during our visit to ewe Sally.

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The Lincoln has been placed on the Rare Breed Survival Trust’s Watch List, created by Joe Henson, father of BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson - and is currently at category four (‘at risk’) but could soon move up to category three (‘vulnerable’).

That’s why the couple attend not just the Lincolnshire Show, but agricultural shows in Norfolk, the Great Yorkshire event and The Three Counties Show, in an attempt to ensure the breed is promoted outside the county too.

Louise came to the county from Yorkshire in 2002, seeking to leave behind an office job and get a taste of the good life. She and husband Ian liked the idea of adopting some sheep, and did so in 2004 shortly after moving to their 1890 farm cottage on the North West Scarpe between Walesby and Tealby.

Little did they know, when they took on their five or six sheep back in 2004, that they’d soon become ambassadors for the breed - Louise is chairman of the Longwool Association, established in 1892 and would be key in ensuring the breed’s survival in the future.

LOUISE VENTURES OUTDOORS EACH MORNING TO CHECK HER FLOCK, COUNTING SHEEP TO ENSURE EACH ONE IS ACCOUNTED FOR. FORTUNATELY SHE MANAGES TO STAY AWAKE...

Little is known about when exactly the breed originated. The earliest evidence is in The Luttrell Psalter. In the 1600s Daniel Defoe’s writing refers to a long-woolled sheep in the fens and wolds.

In the mid-20th century, the emergence of more commercially viable continental breeds - ready to kill in three months - rendered native breeds less prevalent. The 1960s saw cheap imports of lamb from New Zealand which resulted in hogget (lamb of 12 months to 24 months) and mutton (sheep over two years old) fall out of fashion with British housewives. It’s a shame because older, slower produced lamb has a richer flavour.

Louise and Ian hope to end up with 50-60 lambs which can live up to 12 years and beyond. The couple will lamb their animals for seven or eight crops and will have the 100-150kg animals sheared once a year in early June. In 2004, a Lincoln’s unique long crimped fleece was fetching little over 16p/kilo - about £1.50 a fleece. Right now, The British Wool Marketing Board will pay around £1.16/kilo - enough at least to cover the cost of shearing, which is about £3/sheep. Still though, continental and large scale farming operations have had a detrimental effect on the UK’s sheep industry. Although, the decline in the demand for wool still remains the largest reason for the reversed fortunes of the breed.

In the 1970s, there were just three active flocks, and only the culture of county shows kept the breed alive. Given the fact that the Longwool was once one of the country’s biggest native breeds, a dual purpose animal ideal for wool and meat with its unique appearance, that’s a shame. We’ve all but lost shepherding skills in this country, both to new industries and to

a lack of education about anything but high volume commercial farming methods. Only a small handful of breeders like Louise & Ian are keeping Longwools from becoming extinct, but that’s a fact lost on the couple’s newest arrival.

Top: Louise and Ian have around 57 Lincoln Longwools, a dual purpose breed ideal for both meat and wool but sadly not a favoured breed for high-volume commercial producers.

As the wind blows outside, as the other ewes step clumsily around new mum Sally, and as the ewe licks and paws at her new arrival to clean him up and get him up onto his feet, it’s easy to feel optimistic about the future of the breed.

Little one takes his first few wobbly steps and hopefully, when he’s in the ring at the Lincolnshire Show, we’ll all feel a little more thankful for the opportunity to see this beautiful native breed endure, both in the county and, hopefully, beyond. n See www.lincolnlongwools.co.uk.

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ARCHITECTURAL

GARDEN ORNAMENTS

Enhance the look of your garden - with our stone troughs, urns, staddle stones and planters.

‘Finders’ service, delivery & collection available. Call 07773 997437.

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- NATURE -

Muntjac Celebrating the Elusive

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise. It’s not just teddy bears you’ll see, but probably the enigmatic Muntjac. What’s more, says our wildlife correspondent Richard Owens, they’re infiltrating our urban areas, as well...

Moving into April, and easter, it would be easy for me to take an obvious route this month and write about eggs or new life in the natural world, perhaps even make reference to the Easter Bunny.

and is totally independent of the mother by six months.

As I mentioned earlier, these deer are not native to the UK, but actually originate from China. They were introduced into Britain in the late 19th century, into two places in particular; London Zoo and Woburn Park in Bedfordshire. It is believed to be the escaped Muntjacs from Woburn that led to the British population explosion.

As iconic as our lovely native rabbit species is though, I’ve decided instead to write about another mammal becoming ever more common in our local countryside sometimes even more local than that.

I’ve started to hear stories of sightings in back gardens, schools, even the local supermarket car park. I’m not talking about our ever urbanising fox population or even that most nocturnal of wonders, the badger.

Neither am I talking about our native roe deer or brown rat. I am in fact this month going to write about another species, not native to the UK but certainly colonised enough to make it into most UK wildlife guides.

Have you ever walked through the woods and heard a strange ‘barking’ noise? If so then you’ve probably just entered the territory of what is sometimes referred to as the ‘barking deer,’ or more commonly known as the Muntjac. The barking is the Deer’s way of trying to attract a mate.

These small mammals (about the size of a large dog) have become increasingly

common in our county over recent years, probably because we are presenting the perfect habitat for them to live in and thrive.

Muntjacs are quite a shy, retiring deer so the vegetative farmland and dense woodlands that account for so much of our countryside are a great place for them to graze, rest and ultimately breed.

Unlike most other species of deer, the Muntjac doesn’t have a breeding season, so will produce young throughout the year, which probably explains why numbers and range have increased so dramatically.

A single kid is produced seven months after mating happens. Having given birth, the doe is in season again after a very short time and the kid is weaned after six to eight weeks,

Personally, I quite like them, although they can present a bit of a problem in young forestry plantations, as their diet of choice consists of fresh tree shoots, leaves, nuts, berries, acorns and even fungi.

They will also occasionally strip the bark from the bottom of trees. This damage forms another clue that they are in the area.

So look out for these clues, as well as the classic Muntjac haunched posture, and of course, the creatures’ fluffy white tails.

n Richard has spent his career promoting bio-diversity within the world of turf and is a former UK Golf Course Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year.

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To view and purchase photographs from The Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

The Western Front

Help for Heroes Charity Ball held near Lincoln...

Celebrating Heroes... That was the aim of The Western Front charity ball organised by Maria and Dave Lea at South Hykeham recently. The event is designed to raise the Lincolnshire profile of the charity, which aims to promote and protect the health of those who have been wounded or injured whilst serving in the Armed Forces and to care for their loved ones and dependents.

The event included a three course supper, charity auction of sporting memorabilia, and entertainment courtesy of the ‘heads and tails’ game, plus music from The Diplomatz, singer Mark Johnson and table magic from Steve Johnson. n For more information see www.helpforheroes.org.uk.

Feature your event in our magazine.

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Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events Desk...

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Purchase photographs from this event online.

Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

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To view and purchase photographs from The Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

Feature your event in our magazine.

110

Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events Desk...

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Purchase photographs from this event online.

Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

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FĂŠTE Accompli

Childhood sweethearts Lauren and Matt Potts decided on a relaxed village festival theme for their wedding, inviting friends and family to join them at their favourite hotel in Louth.

Their beautiful summer wedding was full of colour, laughter and barbecue food...

Words: Tilly Wilkinson. Photographer: Aidan Clarkson Photography, 07816 528678, www.aidanclarkson.com.

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A relaxed village festival DIY theme is something the wedding world is seeing a lot of at the moment, and there’s no better example of the theme than Matt and Lauren’s beautiful family-orientated joyful wedding in Louth.

Matt works offshore as an Electrical Technician and Lauren works at Humberside Airport.

The two became friends when they were young and soon became a couple.

“I was 16 when we first met,” says Lauren.

“We went to Venice for my 18th birthday and Matt got down on one knee and popped the question!”

They focused on buying their own home before they started planning.

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“We chose a small room with a lovely bay window designed for 30-35 guests normally - we managed to squeeze about 50!”

“My dress was big so it was eventful getting the flower girls to their seats, it was funny more than anything which took away the nervousness.”

“When we exchanged rings, I forgot about removing the engagement ring. I had to pass it to the Maid of Honour, but my hands were so warm and clammy it took some doing!”

“We also forgot to do the big kiss, so we just pecked as I was scared to smudge my lipstick. Paul the owner and chef makes amazing canapés, so I asked for them to be

“We just pecked as I didn’t want to smudge my lipstick. Then we had an almighty roar of cheers, clapping and whistling, it was very overwhelming...”

Photographer: Aidan Clarkson Photography, 07816 528678, www.aidanclarkson.com.

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- WEDDINGS -

Right: The couple created all of the decorations themselves.

Main: The room the couple married in was designed for 30-35 people but held 50! It was a fantastic atmosphere.

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- WEDDINGS -

Left: The couple opted for a relaxed festival theme with a barbeque for food and a reggae band.

Above: The surroundings of the The Priory Hotel are perfect for photo opportunities.

Photographer: Aidan Clarkson Photography, 07816 528678, www.aidanclarkson.com.

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served to the guests with a colourful Prosecco whilst we did a few laps in our wedding car which was a gift from my grandparents.”

“We wanted a festival feel so all the guests sat on logs and hay bales around the stage.

It was very much a ‘Do-It-Yourself ’ wedding; we, family and friends made pretty much everything.”

“Some of them really got stuck in, going out of their way to help us prepare and set up for the big day. We couldnt thank them enough for what they all did.”

“When I say everything, I mean everything, from putting up gazebos, running around florists for more flowers and buying more prosecco!”

“We danced into the night with a band called the Broombusters. They are a reggae

band who played outside on a stage and our first dance was Is This Love by Bob Marley, a relaxed happy song.”

“We stayed up late with the staff and ate all the left over chilli and popcorn. The day summed up who we are - just a chilled out relaxed couple who adore each other, love to laugh, eat great food and be surrounded by family and friends.”

“It’s important to have a day that suits you and to not stress about what others think,” says Lauren.

The couple went for a pre-wedding honeymoon to New York for a week before the wedding and a post-wedding honeymoon to Turkey for 10 days, somewhere they went for their first beach holiday together and fell in love with the place and with each other.

Lauren & Matt’s Wedding

Photographer: Aidan Clarkson Photography, 07816 528678, www.aidanclarkson.com.

Dress: The Bridal Boutique, Louth, 01507 654569.

Venue: The Priory Hotel, 01507 602930, www.theprioryhotel.com.

Band: The Broombusters, 07939 384510, www.thebroombusters.com.

Car: Select Cars, Grimsby, 01472 322293, www.grimsbyweddings.co.uk.

Hair: RE Inventions, Louth, 01507 609666, www.re-invention.co.uk.

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This Page: Jenny wears a Oui botanical print jumper £109, and Michelé Jeans in olive £119.

Lightweight summer weight mac available too, £199, see over.

Four Seasons

IN ONE DAY

This month’s spring fashion shoot, at Louth’s Brackenborough Arms in conjunction with the town’s Orchid Boutique, was accompanied by a chilly breeze... fortunately, model Jenny was nice and warm, thanks to seasonal fashions that provide both style and warmth for a changeable season... Words Words & & Images: Images: Rob Rob Davis.

Davis.

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We’re hoping for pleasant weather this month, but April can be notoriously changeable, sometimes with four seasons in one day... not to worry!

Louth’s Tanya Hardy has been able to put together a spring wardrobe for customer Jenny Crutchley, modelling for us here, to demonstrate a range of adaptable, versatile high quality separates.

The shop stocks Bianca, Oui, Monari, Frank Lyman and other brands such as Michelé, Just White and Pomodoro, with something to suit all tastes... and all weather! What’s more, the shop has gained an adjacent shoe and bag store, which opens this month, headed up by Tanya’s daughter Danielle.

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Opposite Page: Summer weight mac in camel from Oui £199.

Monari beaded jumper in grey £89, blue padded gilét £129 and Monari sports trousers £114.

This Page: Jenny wears a Bianca Marie Daisy jacket £149 and Davia blouse £74.

Below, Jenny wears a blue and white ethnic print blouse by Just White £99 and Michele Magic jeans £114.

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Right/Below: Jenny wears a coral jacket, £125, over circle print top with red and blue highlights £39.

Michele Magic jeans £114.

Find Out More: Featured items are all from Orchid Boutique, 22 Eastgate, Louth, LN11 9NE. Call 01507 608557 or see www.orchidboutique.co.uk.

Many thanks to Jenny and to Lindsay Pike at our venue, Louth’s Brackenborough Arms 01507 609169, www.oakridgehotels.co.uk.

Above: Designer glasses frames

by Bulgari, from O’Briens Opticians, Brigg 01652 653595, www.obriensopticians.co.uk.

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- GENTLEMEN’S TAILORING -

MADE TO MEASURE SAVILE ROW TAILORING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE ACCESSIBLE THANKS TO LINCOLN TAILOR ANDREW MUSSON’S MADE-TO-MEASURE SERVICE...

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Opposite: Andrew’s made-to-measure are laser cut off-site, providing a saving over the tailor’s fully bespoke suits.

Above: Andrew spent 25 years on Savile Row before bringing his quality tailoring to Lincolnshire - at a rather lower cost!

Savile Row in Lincolnshire: thanks to Andrew Musson, that’s what the county’s most smartly dressed gentlemen have been able to enjoy since 2008. That was the year that Andrew returned to the county, after 25 years working on London’s most prestigious street for gentlemen’s suits, to take over his father John’s Lincoln-based tailoring business.

“Quality takes time, and over 50 man-hours are spent perfecting into each bespoke suit...”

Today, Andrew heads up the business but still works alongside John, providing bespoke two or three piece suits from £1,295 and £1,695, using exceptionally fine cloths from names like Holland & Sherry, Dugdale Bros and Scabal.

There’s no doubting the quality of Andrew’s tailoring, with over 50 man-hours going into each suit. However, for those seeking a more economical tailored suit, to wear day-to-day in the office, for example, Andrew can also provide a made-to-measure option, which works out at about half the cost.

Customers still enjoy a choice of different cloths, and are still measured to achieve a unique, tailored fit designed to suit each customer’s individual body shape, but because Andrew’s made-to-measure work is laser-cut

off site, rather than by hand in the shop, it’s the cost, as well as the cloth, that’s cut to suit.

Prices are from about £850, which undercuts ‘off the peg’ suits with designer names like Boss or Armani sewn into them, and the result is made-to-measure tailoring, with the expertise of a Savile Row tailor, for a fraction of the price you’d pay in the city.

Customers can choose the number and location of pockets, the lining, piping, contrast stitching and other details, and of course, the fit will be perfect thanks to the 125

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Above: Andrew now runs the tailoring shop working with his father John, its previous owner.

The tailor offers made-to-measure and fully bespoke suits.

Opposite: Andrew’s made-to-measure suits begin at about £850, whilst his bespoke line costs from £1,295 and £1,695 for two or three piece suits.

expertise of Andrew’s measuring and his advice throughout the process.

“Our made-to-measure suits are ideal for those who want to keep their fully bespoke suits for more special occasions, but still want to have a beautifully tailored suit for day-to-day wear in the office,” says Andrew.

“One of the most popular colours is navy blue, which is versatile enough to be worn out to supper with friends and around the office. A black suit is more formal, but less popular these days.”

“Our made-to-measure suits are ideal for those who want a tailored suit to wear in the office...”

“There’s also been a real resurgence over recent years in tweed, and we’ve a range of sports jackets and suits that can remain traditional, or can have a contemporary twist with modern pinstripes of orange, pink or blue.”

accommodated; you’ll never find an off-thepeg suit which fits as well or feels as smart as a tailored one.”

“Simply put, made-to-measure tailoring provides a wonderful fit, regardless of their age or body shape, whilst bespoke suiting provides a wonderful, ‘Savile Row hewn’ experience, too.”

■ Andrew Musson is based at Number 39, High Street, Lincoln. The tailor, formerly of Savile Row, provides bespoke tailoring, made-to-measure suits and shirts, evening wear, wedding suits and accessories like ties and cufflinks. The shop is open from Monday to Saturday (excl Wednesdays), and Andrew hosts a ‘visiting tailor service’ which operates throughout Lincolnshire plus a London ‘visiting tailor’ service too. Call 01522 520142 or see www.andrewjmusson.com.

“As well as our bespoke and made-tomeasure options, we’ve formal hire for occasions like weddings, and a range of accessories from dress and casual shirts to cufflinks and ties.”

1. Grey and apricot Prince of Wales check made-to-measure jacket, £695 with dark grey wool waistcoat £245.

2. Dark grey pinstripe two-piece made-tomeasure suit with black waistcoat £1,095.

3. Blue mohair double-breasted two-piece made-to-measure suit £945.

4. Brown three-piece made-to-measure suit £1,095.

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“Fashion is fleeting, but tailoring is timeless, and our aim is to ensure that every gentleman who comes through the door can enjoy quality tailoring.”

“Body shapes vary enormously, and the way a suit looks is also dependent on an individual’s posture. Both made-to-measure and bespoke tailoring ensures any body shape can be

1.

2.

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SHIRTY

GETTING

3.

4.

Above: In addition to a range of tailoring, Andrew also provides made-to-measure shirts in 100% cotton.

Customers can choose from the collar size and shape, button and stitching colour, number and position of pleats and type of cuff. It takes around four to six weeks to produce each one, and each costs between ÂŁ150 and ÂŁ170.

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CHANGING

CHANEL Chanel’s newly released Les Beiges Healthy Glow provides the perfect amount of coverage for someone seeking a sheer, luminous finish without the feel or look of a regular foundation.

With the added SPF 25 skin is protected against the UV/UVB rays that causes ageing.

Available in 14 gorgeous shades £36.

A Good

FOUNDATION

2

5

LINCOLNSHIRE BEAUTY BLOGGER JOHN ROHNAN-WHARFF CHOOSES FIVE FINE FOUNDATIONS TO CREATE THE PERFECT BASE FOR YOUR MAKEUP...

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TOUCH ÈCLAT

4

ANTI-FATIGUE

YSL’s iconic foundation was originally launched in 2012, and has had an upgrade for 2016, with the addition of gold pigments, an exclusive anti-fatigue complex, offering full skin coverage without feeling heavy. 22 jaw dropping shades available £32.50.

CREATE YOUR OWN

Cover FX pigment drops allow you to create your own foundation from a favourite beauty cream in seconds. More drops means more pigment. Available in 25 shades £36.

CUSHION FOUNDATION

Lancôme’s cushion foundations makes applying foundation a doddle; just pat, pat, and go with your fingertips! Skin is left feeling hydrated and fresh looking. Available in eight universal shades £29.50.

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AIRBRUSH TECHNOLOGY

Rodial’s revolutionary foundation paste adapts to all skin types. Mix it with a drop of facial oil for a radiant skin finish, or apply alone for that perfect semi matte look. Its creamy high-coverage texture can double up as a concealer too. Available in four perfect shades £35. www.rodial.co.uk.

n John Rohnan-Wharff is a beauty and makeup blogger, who reviews & rates products at www.mr-wharff.com. All products available from good independent local stockists unless otherwise stated, prices are RRP.

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Bespoke & Made to Measure Suits by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew Musson

Andrew J Musson Bespoke Tailor of Lincoln

CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A BESPOKE OR MADE TO MEASURE SUIT. 39 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8AS

Tel: (01522) 520142 info@andrewjmusson.com www.andrewjmusson.com

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- LOCAL SKINCARE -

NATURAL SKIN CARE From Austria to Lincolnshire

The South Holland landscape is rather different to the mountainous Austrian region from which Gerlinde Seeley originates. Gerlinde has lived in Lincolnshire for three months now, and in return for introducing her to the vast landscape and big skies of South Holland, the skin care formulater is introducing her range of all-natural vegan skincare products to new friends in Lincolnshire... Words: Sandra Smith.

“It’s a little flatter.” says Gerlinde Seeley, comparing Lincolnshire’s South Holland fenland to her native Austria. Gerlinde has lived in the UK since 2004, but moved to the county just three months ago.

Instantly, Gerlinde has fallen for the county’s warmth, its friendly locals and our respect for fresh ingredients used in our cooking.

It’s a philosophy which allies to Gerlinde’s own hobby-turned-business, producing all natural skincare products.

Since 2012 Gerlinde has been producing her vegan, organic, cruelty-free range of freshly made products for face and body, hands and feet.

laborious research, she began experimentation, creating her own skin products.

and dealt with all manner of legislation, before she turned a hobby into a profession by establishing Gerlinde Naturals.

“I was in my mid twenties when I first produced balms,” Gerlinde recalls. “To start with I focused on sensitive skin which I have myself. That was my benchmark. If I wouldn’t use it, no one else can. As a hobby, I made products at the weekends or in my spare time which were tested by family and friends. I used a lot of extracts from plants and flowers such as rosemary, chamomile

“I wanted to do something with my knowledge and was very self motivated, so I set up the company in 2012.” With no marketing guidance and a limited budget, Gerlinde was equally amazed and delighted to witness the rapid growth of her business. “I added up the cost of my ingredients then trebled it to come up with a retail price.”

and lavender, all of which have benefits.

But some herbs you can’t use on your skin.

Parsley or chives, for instance, wouldn’t bring any benefit. They are not toxic but could cause a reaction.”

When Gerlinde moved to Moulton Chapel last year she inherited a garden with soft soil, ideal for plants such as marigolds and lavender she intends to use in her products.

“When Gerlinde moved to Moulton Chapel last year she inherited a garden ideal for plants such as marigolds and lavender she intends to use...”

A Love of nature infused Gerlinde’s family in Braunau, Austria, where, amid a haven of curiosity, her father keenly passed on his horticultural wisdom and both parents encouraged their youngest daughter to share their passion for reading and acquiring knowledge.

With two older sisters following careers in homoeopathy, Gerlinde’s innate enthusiasm for plants blossomed. Using information from her siblings along with practise and 130

The growing popularity of her increasing range extended throughout her circle of acquaintances. But it was a decade after moving to England, having attended courses

“I thought that was far too expensive and I wanted people to buy my products. But it can bite you in the back if things are too cheap because people lose trust. And some people go for the most expensive product because they assume it must be good. I have the right balance now.”

From a dedicated room above the garage which she likens to a laboratory - the softly spoken 52 year old explains the production process.

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- LOCAL SKINCARE -

“Plant matter should always be as dry as possible. With marigolds I chop the petals as fine as possible in order to extract as much oil as possible. In a beaker they are covered in oil – I usually use almond oil because it is light and absorbent, and skin doesn’t react to it. The beaker is placed in a sunny place and every couple of days I change the plant matter so it doesn’t go mouldy.”

“After about six weeks I run the maceration three times through paper filters to ensure no sediment remains in the oil which is used when creating face serum or creams.

Accuracy in measuring is important and I add Vitamin E emulsions and stabilisers.

I make everything from scratch; I never use pre-made bases.”

The range of products Gerlinde creates is extensive. Moisturisers and serums are aimed at women over the age of 45, though younger skin, I’m assured, benefits from cleansers.

But surely one of the most impressive aspects of all her lotions is that each is freshly made to order. This must be time consuming so why is it so important?

“When you buy skin care products on the High Street they may have up to a five year life – that’s scary!”

behind each order. Not surprisingly, the success of these skin care lotions and balms has resulted in awards. “Awards are an ultimate reward of all the hard work I have put in over the years. They give the business a great boost and confirm I’m on the right path.”

There’s no better advertising, of course, than a flawless complexion. Gerlinde’s unblemished skin radiates health, confirming the quality of her products which she has tested and used for decades. Yet she is engagingly modest about her success, saving her enthusiasm for a relocation which has brought her to the South Holland district.

“I want my customers to benefit from a fresh product. Making to order is a big selling point...”

“I want my customers to benefit from a fresh product. Making to order is my biggest selling point and one of which I am proud.

It means I can’t sell via the High Street but customers buy from my website. And I’m also exploring opportunities in Lincolnshire such as boutique hotels, spas or beauty salons keen to stock Gerlinde Naturals.”

An additional passion, which Gerlinde encompasses in her business, is recycled packaging. Orders nestle in shredded coloured paper within beautifully crafted boxes to which the owner adds a personalised gift tag, generating a sense of care 132

“It is stunning here, very laid back and the people are so nice and friendly. We are in a cul de sac with lovely neighbours.”

There may be some distance between Lincolnshire and her home country, but Gerlinde’s roots, and her thriving business, are now firmly embedded in Lincolnshire.

Above: Gerlinde’s ranges include cleansers, toners, moisturising creams, lip balms, they’re priced from £7-£15/moisturising cream, £10-£25/cleaning products, £7-£14/hand creams.

For more information on Gerlinde’s ranges, see www.gerlindenaturals.com

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Restore your smile with

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Dental implants are a great solution to missing teeth as they look, feel and work just like the real thing. If you lost your self-esteem when you lost your teeth — and you want both back — then visit Colin Sutton at the Dental Health Centre in Grantham.

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Dental implants are a great way to fill unsightly gaps and are a good alternative to unstable bridges. If you’ve lost several teeth and the idea of wearing a denture or plate fills you with dread, then implants are an ideal solution.

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Missing teeth create more pressure on the remaining ones, which can compound dental problems and create costly issues in the future.

Without the structure that our teeth provide, our faces begin to cave in and age.

“Implants have changed my life. The treatment has made such a fantastic difference to my appearance and my health.”

D.C Lincoln

When teeth are lost the bone that held them in your jaw will shrink.

Placement of dental implants can preserve this bone, maintaining the shape and structure of the lips and cheeks and improving your appearance.

Dental implants prove to be the most cost effective solution to replacing missing teeth as they have many long term benefits. The Dental Health Centre offers payment options including 0% finance.

If you want to restore your smile to its former glory, the Dental Health Centre is offering a free 30-minute complimentary consultation with our experienced implant dentist, Colin Sutton. Call us now to book on 01476 594480.

The Dental Health Centre, 3 Avenue Road, Grantham, Lincs, NG31 6TA. www.dentalhealthcentre.co.uk

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- DENTAL CARE -

For Dentistry with a Difference

“We’re Smiles Better!”

The perfect practice for nervous patients, Sleaford Smile Centre promises the latest dental technology, but in a friendly setting.

“We’re smiles better!” says Dr Kajal Bathia and the team...

If the thought of visiting the dentist fills you with trepidation, you can rest easy and smile with confidence, thanks to Dr Kajal Bathia and her team in Sleaford.

Having qualified from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London in 2002, Kajal took on the dental practice in Sleaford in March 2012. As the practice anticipates its fourth anniversary, the team are celebrating their proudest achievement in creating a super-friendly practice that also specialises in the treatment of nervous patients, whilst still offering the latest dental technology and procedures.

“Never before has the care of your teeth been considered a holistic matter. We want to change that,” says Kajal. “Prevention, as we know, is better than cure. So, when you visit me we look at the impact of your oral health beyond your mouth and teeth.”

“We offer all of our patients advice for ongoing hygiene, and have the most up-todate equipment, from new dental chairs to digital x-rays in each of our two surgeries.”

“We also offer the latest treatment, such as professional whitening at competitive prices,

“WE SEE IT AS OUR DUTY TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS OF DENTISTRY, BECAUSE LOOKING AFTER YOUR SMILE IS REALLY WORTH IT...”

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Six Month Smiles - invisible braces and Cerec - same day crown fabrication.

The latter takes a 3D picture of your mouth and automatically creates the perfect crowns to fit, milling them in a dedicated machine in 20 minutes, for a ‘same day’ service.

This means no impressions and no temporaries are required.”

“The idea is that we offer the best patient experience, but combine that with the latest technology. It really concerns us that many patients are nervous to come along for regular checkups.”

“We see it as our responsibility to change people’s perceptions of dentistry, because looking after your smile really is worth it.

We receive lots of testimonials, all full of praise for our patient care and the way we put patients at ease. But the best compliment we received was from a recent patient.”

“She was very demoralised and had totally lost confidence. She wanted to improve her smile but had been too nervous to come to the dentist. She had a Smile Makeover with us and once her treatment had finished she noticed how people kept smiling at her when she was walking down the street. It was only later she realised this was because she was smiling herself having finally had the confidence to do so in public.”

“We can’t think of any better patient outcome, and we want to inspire the same confidence, the same ability to walk into our practice without dreading the experience, in absolutely all of our patients... that’s our philosophy of care.”

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The Latest & Greatest

TREATMENTS

Sleaford Smile Centre provides ongoing dental care and hygienist procedures via its Adult and Child Smile Plans with their convenient monthly payments.

In addition the practice has a range of treatments using the latest techniques to ensure you can enjoy the perfect smile:

n Whitening: Teeth whitening treatments via the Enlighten system, with guaranteed results and tailor-made packages.

n Deep Cleaning: Gentle, non-abrasive deep cleaning to remove plaque and tartar using Prophy Jet - painless and designed not to harm tooth enamel whilst removing those tough extrinsic stains.

n Six Month Smiles: ‘Invisible’ braces designed to straighten your teeth within six months on average.

n Cerec Crowns: Created by computer to fit your mouth from a 3D scan. With sub-millimetre accuracy, Cerec crowns are milled in-house using an automatic machine in less than 20 minutes, and installed during the same visit. n Emax Crowns: Realistic porcelain crowns blended to perfectly match adjacent teeth.

n Implants: Visiting Implantologist for advanced restorative results.

n Bioeden: Storing stem cells from a child’s baby teeth could one day save their life.

n Botulinum Toxin Fillers: Sleaford Smile Centre can also provide a range of anti-wrinkle treatments.

Sleaford Smile Centre is based at Clover House Boston Road, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 7HD. Call 01529 304 136, email enquiries@sleaford smiles.com or see www.sleafordsmiles.com.

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- DOMICILIARY CARE -

OWN HOME Care & Peace of Mind in Your

Caring for an elderly or inform relative, or having help in your own home can provide tremendous peace of mind. Domiciliary care - care in your own home - can prove more flexible, affordable and less stressful than moving into a care home. Kirsty Barnett of Clarriots Care explains more...

Domiciliary Care, that is care provided in your own home, is a way of ensuring that you, or a relative, enjoys high quality, adaptable care without the cost or trauma of moving to a care home.

those from minimal to complex care needs and all Clarriots Care staff have health and social care qualifications prior to service delivery, with further training provided to ensure we can cater to more specific needs.”

“We look after clients with a plethora of disabilities; from dementia, to Parkinson’s, MS, mental health issues as well as substance dependencies – and we look after those who need end of life care. If a client has any specific needs, we ensure that their carers are fully trained to help treat these disabilities.

Our minimum care visits are provided in hour-long blocks and we provide round-theclock, 24-hour services.

It’s flexible, and can provide temporary or permanent care, from help with personal care or domestic chores like shopping, to respite care for full time carers.

“Clarriots Care is a leading provider. The company was founded in 2008 and is one of the UK’s leading domiciliary care providers,” says the firm’s Kirsty Barnett. “Our main aim is ensure that clients get excellent care, highquality customer service and value for money.”

In 2013, Clarriots Care launched its franchise operation with new offices planned for each major town and city in the UK. There are currently 22 Clarriots Care offices across the UK, with well over 200 employees.

“Domiciliary care is flexible enough to meet the needs of each individual. Our clients can remain in their own homes - their own surroundings, and their own environment.

This can save any health deterioration alleviating them from stress, panic and distress, saving them from anxiety, isolation, or institutionalisation at their later stage in life.”

“Our care is also more cost-effective than a residential home and ensures the individual has the choice about when they want the carers to come. The client ultimately decides when they want to get up, they can choose their own meals and there is more choice and personal preference.”

“Our clients can also be involved in the recruitment process for their own staff – rather than random staff,” says Kirsty.

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“DOMICILIARY CARE IS MORE FLEXIBLE THAN CARE HOME PROVISION, AND CAN BE EITHER PERMANENT, TEMPORARY OR AD HOC...”

“We offer Domestic Care, Social Care and Personal Care, as well as 15 other services to truly personalise the care we offer. These include Alzheimer’s & dementia care, respite care, palliative care, night care or live-in care, we offer nothing short of an excellent service, always striving to the very best for our clients. Social Care and companionship is of high importance – especially when clients are at the age when they might need someone the most.”

“Currently, our services are available for those from 18 years of age upwards. We care for

In addition we provide ad hoc respite care for family carers and holiday Care Services for individuals visiting Lincolnshire who still require the care and support that they usually receive at home,” says Kirsty.

“Initially, we provide a no-obligation, in-home assessment with a trained, qualified member of the dedicated care team who will assess your care needs.”

“After this, we will work with you to create a personalised, individually-tailored care plan that sets out how your required care and support needs will be met.”

“Only when you are completely ready, your care package will be delivered by a vetted, trained and qualified carer, providing peace of mind not only for the client, but for their relatives, too.” n For more information on Clarriot’s Care’s range of domiciliary care services - domestic, help, personal care, respite, dementia and palliative care - call 01507 328390 or visit the firm’s website at www.clarriotshomecare.co.uk.

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A HIGHER QUALITY

EDUCATION CELEBRATING ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR IS BURTON HATHOW SCHOOL, AN INDEPENDENT PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 3-11, PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION FROM A LEAFY CAMPUS ON THE EDGE OF LINCOLN...

Words & Images: Claire Lyons.

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- INDEPENDENT EDUCATION -

Thinking about University already? The educational decisions that parents make during their child’s formative years will have a pronounced and lasting impact on how successful, confident and resilient they are as adults.

This is an unavoidable fact and one that is becoming more apparent in an increasingly competitive world. Parents have never been more aware of the need for their children to be ‘a master of as many trades as possible.’

Children begin their journeys as enthusiastic learners, with a thirst for knowledge and a keenness for investigating and experimenting.

Therefore, when a child is exposed to a wealth of opportunities, it is inevitable that some of these opportunities will be taken.

Out of those taken, it is highly probable that some will become lifelong interests and passions. Then, in years to come, when completing a UCAS form for entrance into university or applying for a job, a young person may be asked to state their interests, hobbies or contributions to extra-curricular activities. An involvement in the sporting, musical or dramatic life of a school, an interest in debating or politics or the completion of a Duke of Edinburgh Award will all be looked upon favourably. At this point one person’s application will stand out above and beyond the others.

It is not by coincidence that children who have attended a preparatory school are more actively involved, it is not that they are more able or interested in life by default, it is simply that they have been exposed to broader opportunities in their preparation for life at their preparatory school.

A True Preparatory School

Academic excellence and the development of positive learning habits are at the forefront of Burton Hathow’s continued aim.

Most children who attend the school are expected to perform beyond national expectations at the end of both key stages.

Small class sizes and specialist teaching enables rapid progress and individual learning. A relative proportion of children are expected to be working significantly beyond the national expectations and the school’s curriculum and teaching objectives are continually adapted and revised to

ensure that the needs of the children are catered for. Each cohort of children will be as prepared as they possibly can be for the next school of their choice - academically, socially, morally and emotionally, through the promotion of independence, tolerance and resilience.

From an Early Age

From an early age the school encourages independence. Children learn the importance of being organised and having the correct equipment with them at all times - whether it be for sport, art or science.

From year three upwards pupils move between classrooms for their lessons, as they would in a secondary environment, and have a termly planner to hold their timetable, homework and reading diary.

Although being a responsible learner runs far deeper than just being organised and remembering what to pack in your kit bag!

CHILDREN BEGIN THEIR JOURNEYS WITH A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND A KEENNESS FOR INVESTIGATING AND FOR EXPERIMENTING...

Being a responsible learner necessarily means understanding what good learning habits are, how to develop them and how to maintain them.

It means knowing what impacts your learning in a positive, and negative, manner. It means knowing what your targets are and how to put steps in place to make sure that these targets are achieved. It means recognising your aspirations and placing them in reach.

Burton Hathow operates a mentoring system that supports children in understanding how to be the best learner they possibly can be - not just for today, but for life.

A child is assigned to a mentor, a member of staff with whom they share particular interests with, or have a particular affiliation with, and this mentor then supports the child through their learning goals, helps them realise their academic and personal targets and becomes the child’s pastoral point of contact.

Beyond the Academics

The curriculum at Burton Hathow stretches far beyond the academic and it is expected that children will exceed in many other areas

BURTON HATHOW PREP SCHOOL 3-11: Burton Hathow is an independent school comprising an EYFS nursery, and lower & upper preparatory schools.

January 2013: The school was established just three years ago, and has 114 pupils on roll.

Six Acres: Burton Hathow Prep School is set within six acres, with a new sports and concert hall due to open ready for the autumn 2016 pupil intake.

14: Average class sizes at Burton Hathow are just 14 pupils - around half that of state sector class sizes.

High Pass Rate: Pass rate for the 11+ examination at Burton Hathow is usually 100%.

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- INDEPENDENT EDUCATION -

WHAT IS A FOREST SCHOOL? “At Burton Hathow we believe in the outdoors being paramount to developing healthy and inquisitive minds,” says the school’s Claire Lyons.

“We have four and a half acres of woodland in which children can learn and play.”

“There is an on-site sports pitch, which is adapted according to the sporting season, a beautiful lake in which the children can fish and enjoy discovering natural habitats and quiet areas for children who wish to skip, read, draw or simply just be.”

“We also have an on-site catering team, specialist teaching spaces and plenty of interactive equipment to integrate within the curriculum.” n

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of learning. Music, sport, art, drama and forestry all hold equal weight and significance within the school and children often find that they develop a passion and skill in more than one of these areas. Children have input from specialists nursery age and their knowledge, and ability flourishes as a result.

There has been considerable research into the benefits of music and its relation to a child’s general capacity to learn. Children who learn an instrument, listen to and appreciate music, read music and sing, have been identified as being superior learners to their peers.

The Role of Music

In recent studies, a group of children were taught additional music in place of a weekly maths and English lesson, whilst a parallel group were taught only maths and English with no music. The group who were learning music (and had reduced their weekly maths and English) scored significantly higher in maths and English tests, despite having been taught less than the parallel group.

“PUPILS AT BURTON HATHOW ARE INTRODUCED TO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AT AN EARLY AGE”

Pupils at Burton Hathow are introduced to the instrumental world from as young as four years old.

From year three upwards, all pupils join the training orchestra which is led by a brass specialist. The main orchestra, from Year 4 upwards, is directed by a local musician and composer who is involved in many musical projects across the county.

These inspirational musicians prepare children to be confident and competent players and, already accomplished, a significant number will go on to play for orchestras and bands in their secondary schools, play for the county or play at a national level.

A Multitude of Opportunities

Children who have been exposed to music from an early age are significantly more likely to maintain an interest and involvement in music throughout their teenage and adult lives, opening a multitude of opportunities and offering diversity in social situations.

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Valuing Sporting Opportunities

Sport has been proved to have a positive impact on attitude to learning and the drive to succeed. Preparing children for a fit and healthy future begins when they are as young as three at Burton Hathow and sports professionals, who lead the department, are adamant that, by introducing and instilling a love of sport from an early age, children will become healthy and positive adults.

Sport coaching for the younger pupils is initially designed to develop gross motor skills, balancing and hand eye coordination.

These skills then build as they become proficient in a multitude of sporting and athletic disciplines, including team sports, as well as swimming, running.

Communication Skills

As adults, most of us appreciate the importance of communication and as a generation, we are incredibly astute to the different ways in which we do this.

The world is changing and, along with that, we need to change too. Tomorrow’s generation needs to be even more adaptable, as technology leads at the forefront of most of what we do. Directors and advisors at Burton Hathow are committed to continuous review of technology within the school, the quality of the equipment available to children and the way in which it is used.

Technology in Society

Negative and positive usage is consistently reviewed and reinforced and children need to be prepared for the positive and negative ways in which technology will impact their lives on their journey into adulthood.

At Burton Hathow, we are first and foremost preparing individuals for the next step in their own personal journey through life.

This will be different for each and every one of our pupils and each family will have their own ideas and aspirations for their child and each child will have ideas and aspirations of their own. There are so many different paths to choose - educationally, morally, socially, spiritually - and in every sense we aim to make sure that each individual child selects the path that is right for them.

n Burton Hathow is based at Odder Farm, Saxilby Road, Lincoln LN1 2BB. Call 01522 274616 or see www.burtonhathow.co.uk.

Understanding an Independent School...

Burton Hathow Preparatory School is a fee paying school that prepares children for entry into the secondary school of their choice - be it independent, selective or comprehensive.

It is independent in its finance and governance and is not dependent on national or local government.

The school is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of members of the Senior Leadership Team & local business professionals, all who have prior experience within the independent sector.

It is a school with a family ethos and the Board, Advisory Board and Leadership Team place their focus on providing a consistently high standard of education alongside continuous relevant enrichment.

Above: In addition to a core of academic qualifications, Burton Hathow’s 114 pupils are encouraged to take an active interest in sports, music and forest school activities.

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LincolnshirePride LincolnshirePride

MAR 2016

MOTHER’S DAY IN LINCOLNSHIRE

LINCOLNSHIRE WEDDINGS

APR 2016

SHIRE COVERING LINCOLN TRENT AND NEWARK ON

££ 33 . 7 00 ES QUALITY HOM E FOR HIGH LE MAGAZIN THE LIFESTY FOOD FOR

THOUGHT It’s the County’s Mouthwatering New Recipe Book

Far mers’ Ball 2016 IVE EXCLUS THE EVENT

Enjoy our exclusive photos.

the county’s New book celebratesFrom page 62 best food producers.

EDITH SMITH Looking Back on the Life of our First Female Police Officer Page 26

Page 16.

THE BELTON HORSE TRIALS Preview of this year’s equestrian competition...

Eating Out in March

Supreme Inn near Boston

Eventing Dress up for the British 46. affiliated trials. See page

From Page 52

endan Cole Br Strictly Come Dancing EXCLUSIVE

SEASONAL FASHION TRENDS AT CINDY’S Sutton Bridge Retailer Previews Spring Outfits

hire Tangos into Linchisolns tour BBC One celebrity brings county... the to three venues across This Month: Discover

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Page 126

WHALE WATCHING Skegness in the news as lost whales wash ashore. We talk to the conservation experts

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Eating Out in April From Page 38

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SPRIN THE BELTO G LAMB NS IN HORS LINCO E TRIAL LN S Louise PreviewFairbur of thisn’s Longw year’s equestr ool babies ian gambo competition... l in life...

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A s a fu f ull time carer, I needed my y children to be in an env ironment that would a llow them to experience a whole world of opportunities w ithin one place. I need to know that they are safe, happy and achiev ing their goa ls.

William is a hard workeer. We wanted to g ive him the best ZY]]SLVO YZZY\^_XS^ c ^Y KMKNOWSMK VVc P _V V RS] ZY^OX^SK V In Moscow, where I come fr from, academic success is Ob^\OWOVc SWZY\^KX^ >RO XKWO sZ\OZ ]MRYYVt ]_QQO]^ K rehearsa l fo for something else, at BH these years are not a rehearsa l but an important part of the play itself !

Chloe is so inquisitive. We knew ffrrom her being young, that she was both an explorer and a determined learner. It was so im mportant to my husband and I that she continued to be engaged throughout her entire schooling. This is just the beg inning.

Isabel and her brother A rchie both have natura l sporting abilit y. My w ife and I wanted to place our children in an env ironment e where this skill would be developed and stretched, but not at the expense of their academic education or success.

Jay y has a passion fo for draw ing and art. Specia list teaching in art has meant that Jay’s ta lent has not gone unrecog nised or w ithout nurture. We are thrilled and NOVSQR^ON ^RK^^ RO RK] LOOX SNOX^S ON K] sQ SP ^ON KXN ta lented’ in this area.

My son Aa kash, my daughtter Shivani and myself a ll have a love of music. Both children are currently working towards Grade 6 on their instruments.

Mr Nowell (D (Director of Music), as their mentor, has continued to inspire them w it i h diverse music ma king and m mu usic appreciation.

Believ ve Achiev ve Succeed Burton Hathow aims to fa facilitate the aspiraations of their pupils.

Laying the fo foundations today makes the dreams of tomorrow come true.

Scholarship places available for children showing potential in par ticular areas of the curriculum.

OPEN DAY: Friday 22nd April 2016 145

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- INDEPENDENT EDUCATION -

St Hugh’s School A Blend of History & Technology at

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, and offering day or boarding for its 186 pupils. Woodhall Spa’s St Hugh’s School provides a caring family atmosphere for learning, in a traditional setting, but with the latest technology and a forward thinking approach...

Woodhall Spa’s St Hugh’s School this year celebrates 90 years of education.

The independent school offers its 186 pupils a forward thinking teaching environment in which to learn, but also, a traditional setting in a leafy 32 acre campus in the village of Woodhall Spa.

“We’ve the perfect combination of modern facilities and a respect for traditional values,” says Chris Ward.

Recruited to the role three years ago, the headmaster will this month wave off his year five pupils, who leave for a trip to Normandy see the battlefields of the great war and put their French language skills to good use. It’s typical of the school’s keenness to encourage pupils to learn throughout experience and gain confidence.

Forest School Facilities

“Giving our pupils a breadth of opportunity provides a secure foundation for life, so integral to our curriculum is our Forest school facility, extensive sports facilities, our food technology facilities, science labs and creative arts areas.”

The school has a nursery for children from the age of two to four, and a prep school providing quality education and regular bus links with Lincoln, Market Rasen, Louth, Skegness and Boston, ensuring that children from all over the county can take advantage of St Hugh’s facilities.

Day, Boarding, Ad Hoc Flexi-Boarding

The school also provides wrap-around care, with breakfast and after school clubs and boarding facilities, including the option of ad-hoc flexi-boarding, advantageous to parents with busy lives.

“We understand that parents, especially, are busy and have often very intensive careers, so a school which provides flexibility, a family ethos and a sense of inclusion ensures we can encourage every pupil to achieve their potential.”

This is especially true given that the school underpins its pastoral value with academic excellence. St Hugh’s has an enviable pass rate for the 11+ exam, and the vast majority of its pupils attend the area’s best independent senior schools such as Lincoln

ST HUGH’S SCHOOL AT 90 1925: The school was established in 1925 by the Forbes family.

1962: The school became a Charitable Trust in 1962, with all profits ploughed back into St Hugh’s.

2-13: The school has a nursery for children aged from two years, as well as pre-prep and preparatory schools.

186: The school has 186 pupils, with day education, boarding and flexi-boarding options.

12-14: The average class size at St Hugh’s, meaning plenty of attention is given to each pupil.

32: St Hugh’s is set in 32 acres of leafy grounds in Woodhall Spa, a village with which it retains strong links.

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Above: The school has its own 16m swimming pool.

Main: Pupils enjoy learning in a modern, stimulating environment designed to inspire academic excellence.

Right: Pupils can take advantage of facilities like an IT suite with Thinkpad tablets.

Inset: Headmaster Chris Ward and family.

independent senior schools such as Lincoln Minster, Oakham, Uppingham, Stamford, Repton and Oundle, as well as leading grammar schools. 21 Scholarships were awarded to St Hugh’s pupils last year.

A Tradition of Sport

St Hugh’s encourages participation in sports, too, with two full-sized pitches, and the imminent completion of a new all-weather pitch.

others engage with one of two orchestras, many ensembles, and two choirs.

There’s a keen drama contingent in the school, with performances of plays such as Bugsy Malone, Grease and Wind in the Willows taking place each year. Pupils also learn a range of modern languages - from French and German to Spanish and Latin.

“We will provide a first class education with a true sense of community at heart!”

There’s a swimming pool, too, and pupils are encouraged to compete in sporting events with other independent schools, then enjoy a match tea afterwards.

Music, too, is integral to the curriculum and over three quarters of the school’s pupils learn to play an instrument, whilst

A Breadth of Opportunity

“We offer a breadth of opportunities for pupils, with class sizes of between 12 and 14, and the best pastoral facilities in the area,” says Chris.

“Matched by our thoroughly outstanding academic record and a really forward thinking ethos.”

A WEALTH OF FACILITIES Sport: In addition to its heated indoor swimming pool the school has two sports pitches, and will complete its all-weather pitch for the autumn 2016 intake.

Music & Drama: The school’s music department features an auditorium, and practice rooms fortis peripatetic teaching staff, as well as music technology room with specialist IT equipment.

IT: The school’s well-equipped computer rooms and laptops enable ICT to be introduced to all areas of the curriculum. Pupils learn skills like coding and are conversant with tablet computers, too.

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- INDEPENDENT EDUCATION -

Come to St Hugh’s...

St Hugh’s School values its engagement with the community.

These are just some of the events the school is hosting this spring...

90 Years of St Hugh’s School...

St Hugh’s School owes its origin to the Forbes family who founded it in 1925, and it was due to their energy and vision that the school has been able to expand in the last eighty years.

“St Hugh’s became a Charitable Trust in 1962 and has continued to prosper over the years administered by a forward thinking Governing Body.”

“We are very proud that we are a truly independent prep school, preparing children for a wide range of senior schools for transfer at both eleven and thirteen.”

“Over the years many hundreds of children have attended St Hugh’s from within Lincolnshire and beyond. Some current pupils represent the third generation of their family attending the ‘family’ of St Hugh’s...”

Saturday 21st May, from 10am

May Open Morning

Enjoy a tour of St Hugh’s to see how a historic setting and strong commitment to academic achievement are combined with the best pastoral care.

29th May, from 9am

90km for 90 Years Cycle Ride

Charity cycle ride to raise funds for the school’s brand new all-weather sports pitch.

Saturday 11th June, from 7pm

Summer Ball

Come and join us for a fantastic evening of great food, music and company.

Thursday 30th June

Summer Concert

Our pupils will be performing for your pleasure. Champers and hampers encouraged. n Find Out More: For a personal tour of St Hugh’s School and its facilities, contact Headmaster Chris Ward at St Hugh’s School, Cromwell Avenue, Woodhall Spa LN10 6TQ. Alternatively call 01526 352169 or see www.st-hughs.lincs.sch.uk.

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Mastering MEDAL PLAY TH R S A R A TH O GOL CO RS S ACROSS TH CO NTY, AN WH TH R YO R A GINN R, A MOR A ANC PLAY R OR A PRO SSIONAL, TH R S SOM THING OR YO . W R CR IT SOM O TH PGA PRO SSIONALS IN TH CO NTY TO PRO I TH IR GOL TIPS AN !P RT A IC ...

Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

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Whether you4re a beginner, a keen player or a professional, Lincolnshire and the surrounding area has something to offer all golf players.

Alison ohns from Woodhall Spa Golf Club is a PGA Professional and coach. She represented England juniors, ladies and Great Britain, played on the ladies European tour, and she has been a PGA professional for years.

“I have been at Woodhall Spa, the national golf centre, for years as a PGA teaching professional.

I represented team GB in the world transplant games held in Argentina, where I won a gold medal in the individual golf event and a bron9e medal in the team event. I was also the Midland PGA Professional of the Year in .”

It’s no secret that Alison knows almost everything there is to know about golf. She offers her advice whether you’ve just started playing, you’re a big fan of golf and play regularly or you’re looking at becoming a professional.

“The best way to start the sport is to visit your local club. Book a lesson with the golf professional and find out if the professional does group beginner lessons. These lessons are great because you can meet other people at the same standard as you and develop your skills with them.”

“You can also visit a website called Get into Golf, where they will have details of local clubs to you, offering beginner group lessons. You do not need any golf clubs to start your lessons as the professional will provide these, so you can see if you like the game first, before you purchase equipment.”

“Playing golf is great fun. It’s good exercise and it’s a chance to get out in the fresh air. On playing holes you walk between three and four miles so you can burn up to calories. “It’s also a social game, where you can enjoy time with your friends and make new friends.”

>>

Main: Ladies playing at urghley Par (s 13th Hole in tamford.

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PING in Lincolnshire

>> “Being a professional coach for so long, I’ve seen long term friendships made through golf. It can be as friendly or as competitive as you want it to be.”

PING is one of the biggest golf brands in the world.

“Another brilliant feature to a game of golf is that different levels of players can compete against each other due to the handicap system. You can go on to represent your county and even country if you are good enough.”

The American company was founded in 1959 by Karsten Solheim in his garage, a man who was constantly frustrated with the difficulty of putting when playing golf.

If you’ve been playing golf for a very long time and you’re thinking about becoming a professional, there’s one way of doing so. Aspiring PGA pros have to enrol as registered assistants and take a Foundation Degree in Professional Golf run in association with the University of Birmingham.

There is also a Diploma in Higher Golf in Professional Golf recently launched in Scotland following a new partnership between The Professional Golfers’ Association and the University of Highlands and Islands. The key subjects the PGA Training Programme covers include golf coaching, equipment technology, sports science, business management, career and personal development and the rules of golf. Graduation from the course after three years can lead to a variety of employment opportunities anywhere in the world. n

The name PING came from the sound that Solheim heard as the metal struck the ball. Little did he know that the putters would revolutionise the market with newly found heel-toe weighting.

Below: Lincolnshire’s most famous golfer is Scunthorpe-born Tony Jacklin, who can claim seven Ryder Cups with three wins, plus two majors!

The firm has also traded s uccessfully in Gainsborough since 1973.

Recent investment in a new extension to their existing premises in Gainsborough has provided them with the growth capacity for both medium and long term expansion plans. They currently employ around 230 local people, which can increase in peak periods due to the seasonal demands of the industry.

It’s right here in Lincolnshire that the firm assembles and distributes golf clubs and equipment and are recognised as the leaders in custom fitting in fact, it’s one of only three facilities – the others being Tokyo and Phoenix that PING assemble their golf clubs for worldwide distribution.

The firm uses components manufactured across the world, and create irons, drivers and putters with a bespoke, custom fit.

Pro shops around the world are able to order clubs with specific specifications, and a fitting centre adjacent to PING at Gainsborough Golf Course ensures a bespoke club can be tested

to ensure they’ve got the exact formula - there are millions of combinations, absolutely correct.

It’s a labour intensive process with each club going through 21 pairs of hands. PING has recently introduced the new G series, a flagship range oriented to providing both speed and distance.

“Our latest products incorporate game-changing innovation that will provide measurable performance gains without sacrificing any important attributes,” say PING. The European Custom Fitting Centre, located at Gainsborough Golf Club, offers three undercover VIP fitting bays where you can test and be custom fitted by a team of highly skilled and experienced PING Fitting Technicians who ensure customers get the ultimate performance from their PING golf equipment. n For more information, visit www.ping.com or call 01427 619200. PING Europe Ltd is based on Corringham Road, Gainsborough DN21 1XZ.

Above: PING’s new G series can be tailor-made to suit an individual in Gainsborough there are 6m different combinations!

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Glamorous Golfing:

Fashion for the Fairway...

1. Thermal Daily Sports Zip-Neck Thermal Top with Contoured Fit, £44.99 2. Socks Daily Sports Soft Cotton-Mix Socks with Heel Protectors, £9.99 3. Polo Petula PING Ladies Polo Shirt in Pomegranate and White, £45 4. Slipover Green Lamb Pointelle Slipover, £29.95 5. Skort Angel PING Ladies Golf Skort, £60 6. Belt Green Lamb Webbing Belt, £14.95. t

n Products available at all good pro shops.

Keeping An Eye on The Ball...

Top: Creating your custom clubs is a cinch at the firm’s fitting centre at Gainsborough Golf Club.

Above/Left: Clubs are fabricated at Ping’s Gainsborough facility.

Our Recommended Professional Balls Nike One Platinum: Tiger Woods’s favoured ball maximises the potential of larger-headed drivers.

Titleist Pro V1: Provides more spin without sacrificing the distance and durability.

Callaway Tour IX: Phil Mickelson’s preferred ball, for those seeking a firmer feel.

TaylorMade TP Red: It ticks all the boxes; a responsive feel, excellent spin and decent distance off the tee. n Information, from PGA pro, John Pengelly, at Rutland Water Golf Course.

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>>

Improve Your Game: Neil Harvey...

Neil Harvey is a PGA Advanced Coach at Woodhall Spa Golf Course. He became a professional in 1991, has an excellent track record of group coaching and his work encouraging juniors into the game is highly regarded.

His coaching philosophy is focused around the belief that a full assessment of your game is essential before any program starts. Here are his top tips on improving your game.

Trial and Improvement: A good short game exercise is benchmarking approach play, to help set goals for improvement. Pitch 20 balls from different positions, one-by-one, from the greenside up to 50 yards.

Measure the average finishing distances from the targets. Calculate your percentage of single putts from that distance. Then do it again!

Focus: Your eyes have a big effect on how you sequence your putting stroke. Try practicing short putts with a tee peg in the ground next to your ball. Keep looking at the tee and you will get used to not following the ball with your eye. This is a great tip for holing short putts.

Backspin: On your chips and pitches, the club needs to approach the ball on a slight downward path. The key to generating backspin is to then keep the club travelling forward without the shaft angle changing. You are trying to keep the loft constant to allow the ball to roll back up the grooves on the clubface.

Balance: Balance is a key element to a good golf swing, particularly when you are turning. Practice standing on one leg with your eyes open and hands across your chest. Count to 15, then do the same on the other leg. Now repeat the exercise with your eyes closed. You will quickly ascertain which side you are better.

Tactics: Good tactics on the course can always save you shots. When you are standing on the tee, have a look at the widest part of the fairway (generally short of trouble).

Pick the right club to go that distance, rather than just hitting as far as you can. The second shot will be greenside much more often – avoiding the dreaded double bogey!

Driver: Using a driver usually can fill many golfers with terror. The main thing to remember is that the golf swing is a throwing action. Tee up near the inside of your forward foot, look at the back of the ball, keep your grip soft and throw the club-head through the ball. It’s like skimming a stone at the beach.”

n For more information contact Neil Harvey and Alison Johns, both PGA Advanced Coaches, on 01526 351837 or 07887 594313 or visit www.woodhallspagolf.com.

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Four Great Local

COURSES Kenwick Park

This is a championship standard, 18 hole, par 72, 6782 yard course that is truly spectacular.

Nine lakes and a Grade II listed clubhouse enhance the traditional feel, with quality facilities that include a practice area and professional tuition.

Relax in the hotel or the lodges for a proper golf break with friends or perhaps work colleagues. n Call 01507 608806 or visit www.kenwick-park.co.uk.

Rutland Water

With panoramic views of Rutland Water, you have a choice of the challenging 18 hole Championship Normanton course or nine par three holes on the Hambleton course.

You can hire clubs and buggies, warm up on the driving range and practice on the putting greens.

Rutland Water Golf Course is also the perfect venue for your society or corporate golf day.

n Call 01572 737525 or visit www.rutlandwatergolfcourse.co.uk.

Toft House

Toft Country House Hotel and golf course is less than eight miles from Stamford.

The layout on this very challenging par 71 course will keep golfers of all levels entertained. The course is for all seasons.

Temporary winter greens are non-existent. At the finish there is always a warm and friendly 19th hole at the hotel! n Call 01778 590614 or visit www.tofthotelgolf.co.uk.

Stapleford Park

Of all the golf courses in the world, few are free from intrusion. The Championship Golf Course at Stapleford Park is a rare exception.

The Golf Course hosted the ISPS Handa Senior Masters in 2011.

The course wraps around the heart of the estate in two extended loops, never being more than two holes wide, making golf here reminiscent of the great links courses. n Call 01572 787000 or visit www.staplefordpark.com.

Main: Burghley Park’s pond to the 17th Hole.

From Far Left: PGA Professional Neil Harvey providing a golf class to one of his students at Woodhall Spa Golf Course. Normanby Hall Golf Course, and Woodhall Spa’s course - the home of national golf is also the home of Hotchkin and Bracken. The former is the 25th best course in the world.

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- MOTORS -

SPACE PACE WITH

HAVING A STABLE OF LUXURIOUS 4X4 VEHICLES IN THE FAMILY HASN’T STOPPED JAGUAR LAND ROVER FROM CREATING A NEW MODEL FOR THE SUV MARKET. THIS TIME THOUGH, THE FIRM’S NEW VEHICLE WILL WEAR A JAGUAR BADGE, RATHER THAN A LAND ROVER ONE. INTRODUCING JAGUAR’S ROAD-BIASED 4X4, THE F-PACE...

Words: Rob Davis.

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Both Jaguar and Land Rover are on a roll.

Britannia has never been cooler, with Land Rover’s recent Discovery Sport offering serious appeal to family buyers, and Jaguar’s facelifted XF and all-new XE models winning heaps of praise in the motoring press.

Both owned by parent company Tata, each brand had its oeuvre in the form of executive sports saloons or luxurious 4x4s, but the arrival of Jaguar’s new SUV has set the big cat among the pigeons. Surely there’s a conflict of interest if one brand treads on the other’s toes?

Not according to the company. Whilst Land Rover could never produced a road-biased 4x4 which sacrificed off-road ability for driving dynamics, Jaguar can. The F-Pace is designed to compete against companies producing off-roaders which are pretty hopeless off-road - Lexus’s RX; BMW’s X3; Audi’s Q5; Porsche’s Macan - but offer polished handling and refinement, plus a premium brand.

At first sight it’s easy to see that the F-Pace is a Jaguar. The distinctive grille and headlights are commensurate with the brand’s design language.

It’s slightly longer than its BMW and Porsche competitors, and offers class-leading space inside. Where it really comes into its own, though, is offering exceptionally generous standard equipment against German rivals.

The F-Pace will be sold in three trims; the counter-intuitively named Prestige is the entry level F-Pace, but affords drivers with

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all of the creature comforts we expect in modern motoring, like heated, electrically adjustable leather seats, a powered tailgate, wi-fi, front and rear parking sensors and sat nav.

Stepping up to R-Sport provides mostly stylistic additions; larger wheels and sports seats. A range-topping Portfolio version adds keyless entry and go, reversing camera, heated front windscreen, xenon headlights and upgraded leather trim and sound system.

Portfolio’s options are desirable, but even the basic Prestige spec is satisfying, and spending the cash you’ll save on options allows you to specify an advanced parking pack with 360° view camera and automatic parking.

Speaking of which F-Pace to choose, the car will launch with a choice of a 2.0 manual version with two wheel drive, a 2.0 all wheel

Above: The F-Pace is Jaguar’s new five-seater 4x4 SUV.

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drive version with automatic or manual gearbox, and two 3.0 engines, both automatic, one with a supercharger.

Sitting in the middle of the range is the 2.0 four cylinder engine with 180PS of power, all wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.

In Prestige trim, the car is £37,860, which wants for nothing but the optional adaptive cruise control system (£1,400) and advanced camera/parking package (£1,850), and perhaps a heated windscreen (£250) yielding what we think is the most well-configured F-Pace on the road.

Speaking of being on the road, we’ve yet to drive the car as it doesn’t reach UK dealerships until April. However, the car’s driving dynamics are already being praised heavily by those who have enjoyed a test drive at its launch event in Sweden.

Jaguar claims this is due to its all new aluminium chassis, a sophisticated new suspension setup and an electronic power steering system donated from its executive saloon siblings.

True, you wouldn’t want to take the F-Pace on a surface more challenging than a pot-holed farm track, but a little extra ride height and a Terrain Response system borrowed from Land Rover ensures the car makes a little more sense in our part of the world. What’s more, on the road, our preferred engine will return 60mpg on A-roads, and will breach 60mph from a standing start in just over eight seconds, reaching nearly 130mph.

The F-Pace, then, is as luxurious and as practical as it is economical and powerful.

We think its breadth of talent will really appeal to Lincolnshire drivers.

Jaguar F-Pace 2.0 Prestige

Price: £37,860.

Engine: 2.0V4 diesel, 180ps, auto.

Economy: 53.3mpg (comb), 45.6mpg (urban), 60.1mpg (extra urban). 139g/km CO2.

Top Speed: 129mph.

Equipment: Electric, heated leather seats, sat nav, climate, cruise, Bluetooth.

Find Out More:

Address: Marshall Jaguar, Outer Circle Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN2 4HW Call: 01522 411228.

Web: www.marshall.lincoln.jaguar.co.uk.

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MOBILITY

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The Directory To advertise here call our friendly team on 01529 469977

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Crosswords CRYPTIC CROSSWORD Test your lateral thinking skills with this month’s Cryptic Crossword. Each puzzle has a set of perplexing clues to unravel, and as every lover of logic knows, the frustration is all part of the fun!

ACROSS

1. See water or steam? (6) 4 Visual movement in stone (7) 9,12. A remote site H? (3,6,2,7) 10. Infirmary without company turns wet (5) 11. State of Colorado had independence reversed (5) 12. See 9 13. School of psychology may be last — get over it! (7) 15. Though disrupted time- table, but not satisfied (6) 17. A remote site halved outside trip (6) 19. Compiler starts to seem lonely at notable days, such as Christmas and Easter (7) 22,29. A remote site D? (3,4,2,6) 24. Home help is back in the country (5) 26. What’s used to summon grapeshot (5) 27. Arrangement to lend across shampoo mum’s gone and taken o (9) 28. Running water for hire — that’s about right (7) 29 See 22

DOWN

ACROSS

5. Fall down dead (4,3,4) 7. Online journal (4) 8. Bluish-violet 3 (8) 9. Give all (anag) (7) 11. Poison of organic origin (5) 13. Stick one’s nose in (5) 14. Hair wash (7) 16. Unsparing (8) 17. Reduce to bankruptcy (4) 18. Shocking fish (8,3)

DOWN

1. For men only (4) 2. Having escaped (2,5) 3. Precious stone (5) 4. Fungus (8) 5. Very rich person (11) 6. Reference (11) 10. Read through briefly (4,4) 12. Car’s structural framework(7) 15. Main blood vessel (5) 17. Bobbin (4)

CRYPTIC ANSWERS

QUICK ANSWERS

QUICK CROSSWORD

1. See 21 2. Character of volunteers (5) 3. Sausage and fried potato on hot plate? Eat heartily (9) 4. 19 across coca beans kid had shelled (7) 5. Via audible cast (5) 6. Conran’s first interior design standard (9) 7. Males provide eggs first, but they’re not professional (6) 8. It follows winding road with speed and skill (6) 14. One finding and keeping such odd characters to meet Nemesis, perhaps (9) 16. City where Oliver wanted this curry first (9) 18. Paper smear exposing personality (7) 19. Where they’ve all got it, says paranoid notoriety (6) 20. Quick if cat involved in fiscal deductions (7) 21,1 Got hot pants in order to be ruthless (4,2,7) 23. Get on round about and get on (5) 25 Dog in trouble with dog (5)

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