NN Pulse magazine April 24

NORTHAMPTON SAFER WITH LABOUR

Youth Futures Hubs keeping kids out of trouble.

in every community. Zero-tolerance on anti-social behaviour.

Getting knives off our streets.

Change is possible with the Labour Party

“Labour will bring safety back to Northampton.

I can’t wait for that change.”

Danielle Stone

Mike Reader

Anne Wishart,

TEditor

From the Kerry

Lewis-Stevenson

he Easter eggs might already be eaten, but there’s plenty to look forward to. You can’t refuse the Mayor of Northampton’s invitation to join him for this year’s St George’s Day celebrations. Head to the Guildhall on Saturday 20th April for an entertaining time with St George and his giant friendly dragon. You can look forward to juggling knights, children’s challenges and circus workshops. In the meantime, there are plenty of attractions to explore at Wicksteed Park. There’s lamb feeding and adventure barns at West Lodge Farm and you might still catch sight of the Easter Bunny. You can enjoy crafting at Chester House, pottery painting at Stanwick Lakes and the Easter Hunt at Evenley Wood Garden.

If you have room in your heart and your home for a new canine companion you won’t be able to resist Annie’s stories about her four-legged friends. There are some sad tales about dogs currently with Animals in Need. They’re looking to join new family homes and you could set some happy tails wagging.

Who doesn’t enjoy visiting one of our lovely local stately homes? Lamport Hall gardens are now open to explore on Wednesdays and Thursdays until October. You can visit the House too at the beginning of each month. Enjoy local produce at the Stableyard Café and join the celebrations marking 50 years of the Preservation Trust.

If you prefer horrible histories, Laura Malpas has all the surprising details of Bad King John and the Magna Carta. Did you know this important document was composed and written right here in Northamptonshire? The Northamptonshire Heritage Forum has plenty more to tell us about the county’s roguish past too.

Also, look out for news about the first Northampton Dragon Boat Festival at Billing Aquadrome in September. It’s all in a good cause!

Enjoy yourselves.

Kerry

Home Counties Loft Ladders, Quality You Can Trust!

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Home Counties Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50sqft of boarding and a lightall fully fitted in less than a day from just £444! But it’s not just the affordability of the package that makes Home Counties Loft Ladders stand out, as manager Jamie Oakley explains: ‘Our watchwords

are Quality, Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen, so our customers are assured of the best job.

Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford.

Our business relies on referrals and we get a huge amount of our calls from people who have been

referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, call Jamie free on 0808 301 9552 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

Families invited to St George’s Day celebrations

Families are invited to join this year’s St George’s Day celebrations, with free children’s activities and traditional dancing taking place at Northampton Guildhall on Saturday, 20th April between 11am and 2pm

The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Stephen Hibbert, will officially open the event by the Old Guildhall steps at 11am, before activities begin in the courtyard, with St George and his giant friendly dragon entertaining visitors throughout the day.

Juggling Jim’s Silly Knight School is set to open from 11am - 12.30pm, where children can try challenges to become a knight of the castle, followed by Circus Workshops from 12.30pm – 2pm, teaching juggling and balancing skills.

Adventure education company The Wild Tribe will run themed crafts and storytelling between 11am and 2pm, while face painting, glitter tattoos and balloon modelling with Agin will also be available for the duration of the event.

Councillor Daniel Soan, member of Northampton Town Council’s Community Service Committee, said: “We’ll be marking

St George’s Day on the Saturday so that families can enjoy the free activities and entertainment on offer.

“Come and find St George, who will be telling tales of his brave encounter with the dragon and learn more about England’s patron saint during the storyteller’s sessions.

“This is the first event in the Town Council’s packed 2024 calendar, so we are really looking forward to welcoming people along.”

Alongside children’s activities, the ‘Rose & Castle’ Morris Dancers will perform in the Guildhall courtyard at 11.30am and 1pm, entertaining crowds with centuries-old, traditional routines.

Finally, as part of the St George’s Day celebrations, visitors can follow the Notable Northamptonians trail, to discover more about remarkable residents who have contributed to Northampton’s cultural

heritage from the past to the present day.

Scan the QR code to download a free trail map or collect one on the day.

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Things to do this half-term and beyond

Are you searching for the perfect way to keep the little ones entertained during the Easter half-term? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with everything from Easter egg hunts, pottery classes, meeting the Easter bunny, face painting and lots more!

Wicksteed Park

Wicksteed Park will be holding their egg-citing Easter Extravaganza from 29th March – 14th April. Families will be able to enjoy a day of exciting attractions and rides. Wristbands start from £20 giving you unlimited access to attractions. Plus, don’t forget their Wicky’s Play Factory is also open which is a fantastic soft play for under 8’s. They are open 10am – 5pm every day. Visit wicksteedpark.org to find out more.

West Lodge Farm

Head to West Lodge Farm for a fun filled family day this Easter Holiday. You will get to enjoy a whole range of activities including an egg and spoon obstacle course, meeting the Easter Bunny, completing an Easter Egg hunt, face painting, plus lots more! You can also make use of the farm with lamb feeding, adventure barns, and tractor rides to name a few. Visit westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk to find out more.

Chester House

From Friday 29th March – Sunday 14th April you can enjoy Spring at the Estate at Chester House. The egg-ceptional activities includes a spring hunt, bottle feeding lambs, meeting the Easter Bunny, family crafting, and more. Spring Passports are £15 per child and adults go free, with tickets running until 4pm. Visit chesterhouseestate.org to book your ticket today.

Easter pottery painting at Stanwick Lakes

Head over to Stanwick Lakes between 30th March - 14th April for pottery painting. You’ll be able to decorate lots of pieces such as plates and mugs which is brilliant to keep the little ones occupied. The pottery is walk-in and doesn’t require bookings. Prices range from £7 - £20 and makes a cute little keepsake. Find out more at stanwicklakes.org.uk

Bella & Co

Bella & Co hold messy play and craft groups for toddlers – 7 years old. The groups include a mixture of themed messy play, themed crafts, dedicated painting area, water play, hand / foot themed crafts and lots more. They have a selection of dates running across April in Northamptonshire. Find out more and book by visiting bookwhen.com/bellaandco

Evenley Wood Garden

Evenley Wood Garden will be holding their annual Easter Hunt until 14th April. Simply collect your map and follow the arrows to find some Spring friends around the garden. Once completed you’ll get your own treat from the Easter Bunny. There will also be an exclusive golden bunny to find! Get your tickets by visiting evenleywoodgarden.co.uk

Evenley Wood Garden will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt until April 14

West Lodge Farm are offering fund days out for the family over the Easter holidays

“The tide is against us...”

Imagine being uprooted from your family and friends, and put in a cage while over the following days, weeks, months and sometimes even years, potential new families overlook you in favour of another. Being a discarded dog is tough – and it's left to Annie Marriott to try to pick up the pieces and raise their spirits; just one of her numerous daily jobs as manager at Little Irchester's Animals in Need rescue centre.

When Annie shuts her front door behind her and heads to work, it's a short commute - from door to door takes mere moments, because she lives where she works. And work for Annie never really stops.

Her first task of the day is to open the kennels and begin the process of getting the dogs out for a leg stretch and for them to do what they need to!

If they are bewildered by kennel life, it's thankfully because they've not been there long enough to understand the process.

“We give the dogs, and all the animals in our care, the very best we can, but of course being in kennels is never going to match having a loving family, a warm bed and unlimited cuddles.

“It can be harder to be greeted by the quiet, obedient dogs that know the daily drill and are so accepting of the situation they are in –simply because it means that they have been with us for too long,” Annie admitted.

Sadly though, those incidences are becoming ever more frequent – with rehoming down a whopping fifty per cent in 2023.

“...and yet we are receiving more animals than ever before, so it's clear to see the tide is

Maxi is one of the lucky ones - and has swapped life on 'death row' for a new chance at happiness

What a beautiful girl

against us,” Annie said, “We have a waiting list of people wanting to surrender their pets to us, and we just simply don't have enough space. “Every time we wave an animal off to a new happy home, we could fill the space they leave with several others. It's tough,” she said.

Is there an average length of stay?

“It's impossible to say. Not all are with us for a long time - some are gone within seven days, whereas others are literally here for years. I picked eight dogs up from a Welsh pound recently and one was straight out to a foster space the following day, with the family deciding to adopt very soon afterwards. Others from the same group were reserved, which is great, but two have received no interest, which is heartbreaking.

“Another two dogs that have both been with us for two years have just been re-homed, which is brilliant news, but two years in a rescue centre is two years too long.”

We have previously spoken with Annie and her team about the difficulties of finding homes for animals, and while for many people Covid is now just a bad memory, for animal rescue centres like Animals in Need its impact still looms large.

“After the pandemic, so many people who had decided it would be a great thing to get an animal during lockdown no longer wanted them as normality returned, or they realised that they couldn't leave a young dog at home alone while they were in the office all day – and we became a drop-off point. “Sadly though, these are sentient beings, not toys to be discarded when they are surplus to requirements.

“Of course, we then had to deal with the financial uncertainties faced by many, and the cost of living difficulties continue to see a swell in our numbers. When people are forced to hand over their animals because they simply can't afford to feed them, it is awful.”

There are other factors to be taken into account, too: “Every rescue centre will tell you that the negative publicity given to some of our larger breeds of dogs, or those wrongly considered to be unduly aggressive, means that our intakes are increasing, and then we have the relentless casualties of the breeding trade, victims of unscrupulous money makers who have no concern for the wellbeing of the animals, only the cash these litters of puppies make. We say it often, but if people chose to adopt and not shop for their new furry friend, we could stamp out this terrible practice and see a dramatic decline in unwanted animals.”

The numbers speak for themselves – at the time of writing Animals in Need had five dogs in foster care, and 67 in its kennels.

All these doggies want is their forever home

Oh, scrap that – an emergency case arrived just as we were signing off this piece; a threelegged female abandoned staffy found in Milton Keynes. The poor girl, now named Maxi, was at risk of being euthanized so AIN had the task of making extra space on site to save her life.

“It just goes to show the struggle we face every day,” Annie said, “Please think carefully before buying from a breeder, or before deciding to open your home up to an animal. Dogs in pounds get killed daily because no one wants them. Why purposely produce more? I call them greeders!

"Never act on a whim, because when things go wrong, facilities like ours are left to fix broken little souls.”

“Best friends Honey and Chester are aged six and nine years old, and need to be rehomed together,” Annie said, “They adore each other and can never be separated.

Sadly, their owner was forced to hand them over when she lost her home, but they were much-loved fur babies.

“They are an affectionate pair who long to be lap dogs and would make wonderful companions to an active family with teenage children. A pet free home is essential as they are reactive to other animals.

They are pictured with kennel manager Kate Archer who doesn't come as part of the package. We would be lost without her!”

> Contact kennels.ain@outlook.com to state interest.

“

Rhys is a beautiful, but very shy four-year-old cross breed boy who came to us from a pound. Look at that little face – he so badly wants to trust, and when those barriers are broken down, he will be magnificent. He is already a little sweetheart.

“He needs a secure, quiet, patient home preferably with another kind and confident dog already established to help Rhys learn that the world is not such a scary place.”

> Email kennels.ain@outlook.com

“This is Sunny, our radiant eight-year-old sweetheart who is the sunshine in everyone's life here at the rescue centre,” Annie told Pulse, “Her infectious smile, zest for life, and love for hugs, naps, cheese, cuddly toys, and tennis balls make her the pawfect companion.

“Her journey began in a pound, where she arrived underweight with terrible teeth and skin, and fatty lumps hanging from her leg. Small surprise that initially she was shy and withdrawn.

“With time and lots of tender loving care, Sunny has blossomed into the bright, bouncy, and healthy soul you see today.

“She's a testament to the transformative power of love!

“Now, Sunny seems housebroken and has shown no signs of being destructive in her kennel. With a potential ability to be left alone for up to four hours a day, she doesn't exhibit separation issues.

“While she can be selective with other dogs, she tolerates calm, non-reactive ones after a careful introduction. Essentially though, she'd prefer to be the only princess in her forever home, where she can be spoiled rotten – and rightfully so!”

> If you're ready to open your heart and home to Sunny, reach out to admin@animals-in-need.org

Honey and Chester

Rhys

Sunny

Conveyancing Vs Solicitor What’s the difference?

This article explores the critical role of conveyancing solicitors in the property transfer process, highlighting the distinction between solicitors and conveyancers, and underscoring the importance of expertise, cost transparency, customer service, local knowledge and quality assurance. Discover how Wilson Browne Solicitors stands out in facilitating seamless property transactions.

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one individual to another, ensuring it is fair to both buyers and sellers.

A conveyancing solicitor is a fully qualified lawyer who specialises in helping clients buy and sell properties. They may also be trained in other areas of law. A conveyancer is not a solicitor; they are, however, trained in the conveyancing process and may hold a different qualification. So they can handle the buying and selling of properties.

While conveyancers can usually guide you through buying and selling property, there may be occasions when it is preferable to approach a conveyancing solicitor.

In cases where the property transfer is more complex than usual (such as a dispute over the ownership of one of the properties), it may be more beneficial to appoint a solicitor due to their broader legal experience.

Several other factors should be considered.

▸ Cost - Some conveyancers and solicitors attempt to attract clients by quoting relatively low initial prices for the conveyancing process, but the final figure may include hidden extras.

▸ Customer Service - Buying and selling property can be a stressful experience. So, you must appoint a legal expert to ease the strain by making the conveyancing process as quick and smooth as possible.

▸ Locality - While it is easy to keep in touch by phone and email, many people still find it reassuring to use a local legal expert with local knowledge who they can call to see should they have any concerns.

▸ Industry Links - Choosing someone with solid links to third parties, such as lenders and surveyors, can help the process run more smoothly.

▸ Reputation and Quality Assurance

- It is also important to check whether the conveyancer is a member of any quality assurance schemes that reflect a commitment to excellence.

How can Wilson Browne help me with my conveyancing?

At Wilson Browne, our expert team of conveyancing solicitors has a wealth of experience when it comes to guiding people through the process of moving home.

We have an excellent reputation for customer service and are highly rated in independent reviews as well as belonging to the Lexcel and QCS quality assurance schemes.

In addition, Wilson Browne has strong links with local lenders and a close working relationship with other industry professionals.

With offices in Corby, Higham Ferrers and Rushden, Kettering, Leicester, Northampton and Wellingborough we are bristling with local knowledge and can offer you a friendly face-to-face meeting at a convenient location.

Our first chat is free and we will always be totally transparent about future costs so that you can make an informed decision.

At Wilson Browne, our expert team of conveyancing solicitors has a wealth of experience when it comes to guiding people through the process of moving home.

If you need simplified advice or clear guidance with the conveyancing process, call us on 0800 088 6004.

Alternatively visit www.wilsonbrowne.co.uk or scan the code to complete our online contact form.

Help us today to improve lives tomorrow

At Northamptonshire Health Charity, we are here to make things better for patients, their families and the staff who treat them. We provide funding for the latest equipment, innovative research, state of the art facilities and all the little extras that make someone smile.

Why donate:

Your gift, big or small, will have a wonderful effect on individuals receiving care in our hospitals and local healthcare services. Your support helps us advance medical services and patient care, improve facilities, invest in cutting-edge medical equipment, and support hospital staff beyond that funded by the NHS. This results in improved treatment outcomes, faster recovery times, and an overall elevated healthcare standard for Northamptonshire residents.

Regular giving is helpful for several reasons:

Regular giving is a powerful way for you to say thank you for the care you or your loved one has received and show your commitment to supporting enhancing care across our NHS Trusts. Regular giving also helps us to do even more. It helps with our long-term fundraising planning to deliver even more impactful projects.

Even a modest monthly contribution will help us deliver sustained support to enhance patient care, facilities, and critical areas.

Your regular gift will help us create a lasting positive change to your hospitals.

Say thank you today:

Just £5 a month could help towards enhancing waiting rooms or wards, making them a bit more welcoming. Or £10 a month could help improve staffrooms for staff to decompress after a busy shift. And £25 could support much needed rooms for relatives to be near their loved ones receiving end-of-life care.

To show your thanks and leave a regular gift, visit northamptonshirehealthcharity.co.uk/ regular. Every donation directly impacts patient well-being. Or get in touch with us on 01604 626927 or greenheart@nhcf.co.uk

Lots to look forward to at Lamport Hall during 2024

The Hall and gardens will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, October to November for the 2024 season. The Stableyard Café will be open with an extended menu still promoting local and ethically sourced produce as well as a brand new snug area for a comfier experience. The gift shop has also expanded, selling affordable gifts, local artisan products and a wider selection of books. The Hall also welcome weekday group bookings by appointment.

In addition, join them in 2024 to celebrate 50 years of the Lamport Hall Preservation Trust.

Set up by Sir Gyles Isham in 1974, the Lamport Hall Preservation Trust was established to continue the lengthy restoration programme of the hall, gardens and estate which Sir Gyles started to ensure its survival for the enjoyment of visitors and as a centre of culture and education. 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of this momentous occasion in Lamport’s history.

stories and objects, many of which have never been told or seen before. Starting in the late nineteenth century, the exhibition follows the fortunes of the estate through Depression and war, the rise of Sir Gyles Isham and his passion for Lamport, the lengthy restoration programme which took some 50 years to complete and concludes with estate today and the bright future which has been secured thanks to Sir Gyles’ vision.

Admission is included with any house admission ticket. Please visit the website lamporthall.co.uk for more information.

In addition to the exhibition, throughout the year there are a number of special anniversary events taking place. These include;

• Country Club Cocktail Party

• Performance by the Oxford University

Dramatic Society

• Performance by the music department of Rugby School

This specially curated interactive exhibition tells the story of the Trust, bringing together

The exhibition is open from April to October and is housed on the ground floor of the house.

• Study day with eminent speakers from the UK and US

All the volunteers and staff are looking forward to welcoming you to the Hall for this special year!

Bad King John, Northamptonshire and Magna Carta

This month Laura Malpas explores King John's impact on the county of Northamptonshire during his tempestuous reign

Many of us are familiar with the story of bad King John being forced to sign the Magna Carta by angry barons at Runnymede. There’s even a monument there celebrating the event. Less well known is that this significant document was composed and written in our own county of Northamptonshire. Here’s the story of how King John’s behaviour compelled the English barons to codify the law.

It was a complete surprise to all that John, the youngest son of Henry II,

became king. He had four older brothers, including the dashing Richard the Lionheart, and was never expected to reign. He was never trained in kingship and instead of a royal Christian name, was given the nickname John Lackland as he was not expected to inherit significant territory.

His father prepared him for life as a scholar placing him under the direction of legal expert Ranulf de Glanville. Glanville penned a treatise on English law, noting that it was largely unwritten, and that it was uncertain if a monarch could

nonetheless be made to obey it. The idea that rules might be made to be broken was clearly a lesson noted by young John.

John’s reputation was sullied by the Victorians who loved to paint historical characters in terms of heroes or villains, but modern historians assure us that he was a thoroughly unpleasant man. Cruel even for the times, and especially so when the odds were in his favour. However, his cowardice in the face of a powerful enemy was well known and his poor military leadership earned him another nickname, John Softsword.

King John of England 1166 - 1216 artist unknown

The Great Seal of King John (obverse)

Contemporary complaints about John included blackmail, extortion, murder, and exploitation of women.

These complaints were often ignored by his indulgent family. His self-serving treachery led to him attempting to steal the crown from his brother Richard whilst he was away crusading. Richard foolishly forgave him, describing him as ‘a mere boy’ even though he was nearly thirty.

John’s greatest triumph was to outlive his brothers. Henry II anticipated that his heir was to be his second son, Henry the Young King, but Henry died prematurely. Richard outlived his next brother Geoffrey and inherited his father’s throne. In 1199 Richard died childless leaving John to take the throne, to the general dismay of the English people.

In 1200, King John gave Northampton a new charter. The town was a centre of political and economic significance at this time. Northampton had the right to hold great royal fairs, where horses, grains and textiles were traded, and records show the King regularly acquiring goods. King John visited the town many times staying at Northampton Castle, where he paid for its maintenance and likely authorised the building of the round tower. In 1207, concerned about its safety in an unstable London, John moved the Royal treasury to the town.

Many interesting snippets in the records show the King’s impact in the town. The royal accounts detail that King John required the constable of Northampton to employ Peter the Saracen and his wife to make crossbows. It is thought that this is the first mention of Muslims in England, and their high wages indicate they were respected tradespeople. Another report from 1205 describes how John raised an army to reclaim lands lost in France, mustering 30,000 men at Northampton, the largest ever raised. Another delightful detail found in John’s household accounts suggests that in 1209, two of the King’s annual twelve baths were taken in Northampton.

From 1205, John was in dispute with the powerful English Church. The king argued with the Pope over control of the wealth, policies, and appointments of senior churchmen in his land, leading to the Papal threat of excommunication.

The King’s intransigence led to the realisation of this threat in 1211 when the Pope sent his envoys to meet the King at Northampton. In the Great Hall of the Castle, the Pope’s legate excommunicated the King and gave permission to all his subjects to freely break their oaths of loyalty and instead join with the Pope’s armies. John was outraged, and immediately called up all prisoners held in the castle and began their punishments in front of the throng, blinding, severing

hands and feet, and hanging men. When a priest was judged guilty and ordered to be hanged the Papal legate threated to excommunicate anyone who even touched the priest.

The angry Pope asked the King of France to lead an army to invade England and take the Crown on his behalf. French King Phillippe enthusiastically began preparations. This threat alarmed John who was compelled to backtrack and reopen negotiations with the Pope, eventually submitting to him. But the insult from France was not forgiven, and John summoned his Barons and set out to invade France.

Relations with his Barons had deteriorated, especially with those in the North and East of England. Continuous demands for money, campaigning, and cruel punishments to those who disobeyed meant they refused the order to join the King in the invasion. John was forced to return home, humiliated and furious. He raced up to Northampton with an army of mercenaries to punish the rebellious barons, where he was intercepted by Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton. It took the threat of excommunication for the whole army before King John agreed to grant the barons a fair trial. Eventually excommunication was lifted from both the king and his forces.

But King John’s rule of law was far from fair, and more like coercive extortion. Tolls and fines were imposed relentlessly,

Copy of Magna Carta dated 1297 - National Archives

King John and his barons (left) fighting the French Prince Louis (right) in retreat at the Battle of Roche aux Moines 1214

rivers were blocked, possessions seized, and people imprisoned on a whim with no redress.

The King’s favourites took advantage and imposed taxes, and any who complained would lose their lands and possessions and face exile. It is easy to see how the legend of Robin Hood arose in connection with this harsh treatment. The only people who could resist this behaviour were the powerful rebelling barons who in January 1215 demanded change. John was forced into negotiations, but it would be on his terms.

John chose Northampton as the place for the confrontation. Whilst hunting at Silverstone, John prepared the scene by installing William Thilly as mayor of Northampton, creating one of the earliest mayoralties in England. He ordered that twelve men ‘discreet and better of the town’ should be appointed to support the mayor, and by extension himself. John formed a new papal alliance, and was given permission to form an army under the pretence of crusading.

The Barons were aware of John’s army, now with the Pope’s protection. Five Earls, forty Barons with their retainers, an estimated two thousand knights plus countless foot soldiers and supporters grouped in advance at the Stamford

tournament field near Collyweston before marching to the agreed meeting place in Northampton. Pitching at Northampton’s tournament ground, the Barons realised the King was absent, so they moved on to Brackley’s tournament ground further south in the county. The King stayed away but sent an envoy including Archbishop Stephen Langton to find out what the Barons were demanding. A long list of demands was created, mostly covering what had previously been accepted but unwritten – laws, customs, and practice. It was this list which evolved into Magna Carta, the Great Charter. This list, created in Brackley in 1215, became the basis for all the great charters which followed.

In early May, the envoy returned to King John, now in Wiltshire. He exploded with anger and raged at the list, swearing he would never agree to these demands which would make him ‘no more than a slave’. He sent his denial to the Barons waiting in Brackley. They renounced their oaths of loyalty to the King and declared themselves now to be ‘the Army of God’.

They marched back to Northampton and laid siege to the Castle, the King’s stronghold. They failed as they had not brought siege equipment, and moved on to Bedford more successfully.

Many frustrated townsfolk of Northampton raised up and attacked the Castle, killing several of the garrison there. Retribution followed swiftly as the soldiers poured into the town, setting fire to houses and killing the perpetrators.

The Army of God then took Lincoln and London, rapidly gaining supporters as they campaigned. King John capitulated, now fearing for his throne, and reluctantly agreed to sign and seal the Great Charter at Runnymede on the 15th of June.

The Barons celebrated, but all was not won. King John immediately asked the Pope to nullify the agreement and he obliged, declaring Magna Carta ‘null and void of all validity forever’. However, history shows its impact and longevity, as three laws are still present in the both the UK and USA – almost verbatim.

This renunciation of his word to adopt Magna Carta led to another war with the Barons, in which the King burned out Oundle amongst other places. However, John only lasted a further year before dying of dysentery. A contemporary noted at the time ‘Hell itself is made fouler by the presence of John’. To this day he remains the only ‘King John’ in English history as no monarch has wanted their heir to bring ‘Bad King John’ to mind.

To learn more about the story of Northamptonshire and its relationship with the King and Magna Carta, I heartily recommend reading ‘Northampton’ by local historian Mike Ingram ISBN 9798579592910.

The Northamptonshire Heritage Forum has something for everyone interested in learning more about our county’s history. If you would like more information, or are interested in joining the Forum and supporting its work, please visit www.northamptonshireheritageforum.co.uk

Manuscript illustration - King John stag hunting

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Northampton’s first Dragon Boat Festival sets sail for Ailsa’s Aim

Billing Aquadrome will host the inaugural Northampton Dragon Boat Festival on September 28, supporting Ailsa’s Aim and bringing the community together for a cause.

Get ready to embrace the thrill of the water and the spirit of the dragon as NewWave Events proudly presents the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival. In its maiden year, this exciting event is set to make waves at Billing Aquadrome.

The Northampton Dragon Boat Festival promises to be a day filled with excitement, camaraderie and fierce competition, all in the name of supporting the incredible work of Ailsa’s Aim, the festival’s official charity partner.

Gather your crew of up to 11 participants and prepare to navigate the water in awe-inspiring 30-foot dragon boats. Each boat will have its own dedicated drummer, setting the rhythm

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for a heart-pounding race that will captivate thousands of spectators. In the spirit of the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon – a symbol of power, strength, and good fortune. Be part of this auspicious year as you join us for a day of fundraising, team building and unforgettable moments.

Alicja Mierzejewska, executive director at NewWave Events, said, “We are thrilled to launch the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival in 2024. This marks the beginning of an exciting new tradition and we are determined to surpass our previous successes. With the support of Ailsa’s Aim, we aim to create a memorable event that not only showcases a fun day but also contributes to a meaningful cause.”

The Northampton Dragon Boat Festival is more than just a race; it’s a day of entertainment and family-friendly activities that will keep everyone engaged. The festival grounds will feature a variety of stalls, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.

As part of its commitment to making a positive impact, the festival is proud to support Ailsa’s Aim, a charity with an unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive support to individuals and families facing challenging health circumstances.

Ailsa’s Aim extends its compassionate services across more than 20 hospitals, wards, centres and schools in the UK, offering a helping hand to patients battling cancer and families with babies in special care.

Niven Whatley, founder of Ailsa’s Aim, said, “Having the opportunity to be the charity partner for the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival is so special for us. We are tremendously proud to be part of this new annual event and are really excited that people and businesses from our local areas will be able to take part and help us raise much-needed funds for our cancer and neonatal care packs while having fun at a terrific local venue. We can’t wait to meet you all at the waterfront.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the inaugural festival and contribute to a worthy cause. Join the teams on September 28th, 2024, for a day of dragon boat racing, entertainment, and community spirit.

>> For more information and to register a team, contact NewWave Events on 01536 674 748 or scan the QR code. For more information about Ailsa’s Aim visit ailsasaim.co.uk

Each boat will have its own dedicated drummer, setting the rhythm for a heart-pounding race that will captivate thousands of spectators.

How are gifts treated in divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership?

NORTHAMPTON

29 Billing Road

Northampton NN1 5DQ 01604 622101

KETTERING

18 Brooklands Court

Kettering Venture Park

Kettering NN15 6FD 01536 523434

bmtclaw.co.uk

The Government’s 2022 English Housing Survey reported that 27 per cent of first-time buyers used gifts from family or friends to fund their house deposit. With the average deposit now required exceeding £43,000, it is hardly surprising that so many seek the help from their family to get their foot onto the property ladder. Well-intended parents will often gift large sums of money to their adult children without taking any legal advice or having any formal documentation drafted.

“As family lawyers, we regularly see sizeable gifts being made by family members to help newly married couples starting out,’ says Connor Williams, a litigation executive in the family team with Borneo Martell Turner Coulston. ‘Difficulties can arise if that marriage or civil partnership later breaks down. The spouse or civil partner whose family have been so generous may expect to see a larger share when it comes to dividing the matrimonial assets. Unfortunately, that will not always be the case.”

What does the law say about gifts?

A gift can be any item, such as jewellery, vehicles or money provided to another person. Gifts can be redistributed by a court if that is deemed necessary for the fair division of assets. For less valuable gifts, it is best to try and agree how these will be divided by proposing a list of the gifts you wish to retain. A formal valuation is likely to be required for more valuable gifts in order that the assets can be fairly accounted for in the division of assets.

Typically, it is monetary gifts that are most likely to cause conflict in attempting to agree the financial settlement after a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.

Issues with financial gifts

In most divorces, gifts are treated along with the rest of the matrimonial assets which are subject to being divided. That is because most divorces are dealt with on a ‘needs’ basis i.e. any financial settlement will cater for the financial needs of each partner or spouse.

Some divorces, typically those where assets exceed several million pounds, can be dealt with on a ‘sharing’ basis. That is because there is significant excess wealth above that which is required to meet the financial needs of the separating couple. In a sharing case, the court will consider significant gifts from one partner or a spouse’s family. This may result in that spouse or partner obtaining a larger share of assets to reflect their family’s contribution.

Is it a gift, or a loan?

It is not unusual to find, after a separation, that the family who generously provided money claim this was in fact a loan not a gift. This is because loans and gifts are treated differently by the law. If a loan is made, then the loan needs to be repaid or taken into account prior to the division of assets in a financial separation.

In determining if the money provided was a gift or a loan, the court will examine all the surrounding circumstances and the detail of the terms of the alleged loan. This is when documentation can be helpful.

How can we help?

If you are concerned over what might happen to your family gift or loan when you separate, or if you want to ensure protection over a gift or loan before it is made, then please contact one of our expert family lawyers who can advise you on the best option to suit your circumstances.

For

Connor Williams Senior Litigation Executive

a page to

pore over!

Go from fright to delight with these skin sensations, and then check the airflow for your hair flow in this month’s Pulse beauty choices...

The latest Dyson hair technology is now available in the UK, and Boots is the first retailer to stock the Dyson Airstrait straightener. The tool offers a new way to dry and straighten multiple hair types, with no hot plates or heat damage.

Powerful focused airflow dries and straightens simultaneously to achieve a natural straight style with a smooth shiny finish. Definitely not a product to gloss over!

Get it: boots.com

RRP: £449.99

Are you struggling with spots, blotchiness, scarring or facial flare-ups? You want to hide that nasty stuff, right?

But simply concealing the problems isn’t enough –and can make for more issues down the line. Erborian believes you should never choose between hiding imperfections and caring for your skin, and the Korean Skin Care expert has reinvented its BB Cream to conceal and deliver comfort.

Super on care and super on coverage. Don’t accept anything less than Super BB Au Ginseng –available in five shades.

Get it: spacenk.com

RRP: £41, £20.50 (travel size)

Now you can roll away skin issues, with a DermaRoller. The gadget is loved by skin happy stars including Kourtney Kardashian, Huda Kattan and Naomi Campbell, and you can join them. A DermaRoller creates fine micro-punctures in the skin which stimulate blood circulation while also getting rid of dead skin cells.

This is a brilliant tool to help diminish wrinkles, and return dull dermis to its glowy greatness while also helping with the absorption of your usual skincare products.

Don’t get the needle because of bad skin, use the DermaRoller and love your improved skin.

Get it: dermaroller-uk.com

RRP: £55

Tackle blemish-prone skin with Centella SOS Patch, also from the Erborian therapy range. This transparent, protective film can be applied underneath makeup and will help reduce the size of those irritations. Can be applied twice daily, is vegan, and free from added fragrance, silicones and parabens.

Get it: spacenk.com

RRP: £17.50

Feeling in need of some multi-level hydration? Let Clarins be of assistance! Their Hydra-Essentiel restoring cream-mask moisturizes and quenches while delivering supercharged hydration, restructuring the skin and reinforcing its natural defences.

Enjoy twice the care with their lightweight, moisturising serum which hydrates dull, irritated skin with ease, and uses organic strawberry tree fruit extract to get the job done. Helps to refine the skin’s texture and tighten pores. Use Clarins to stop feeling tight and start feeling light!

Get it: clarins.co.uk

RRP: £46 (serum), £34 (cream-mask)

One in five of us could be suffering from Salicylic overload, which, in its concentrated form, can lead to toxic issues.

Enter the FaceWise brand with a gentle and nourishing alternative to skincare. Its Moisturising Day Cream includes shea butter to intensely hydrate, and Rock Samphire to promote brightness and cell renewal.

The Essential Eye Cream – suitable for all skin types – can help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Yes please!

Get it: facewiseskincare.com

RRP: £21.95 (Moisturising Day Cream), £18.95 (Essential Eye Cream)

Bra fitting after breast surgery

After breast surgery, your bra needs might be a bit different. You might be using a breast form after a mastectomy, or your breasts might feel a bit uneven after partial surgery. If you opted for reconstruction, you might have some sensitive scar tissue that doesn’t like underwires. No worries though! What you need is a friendly, professional postsurgical bra fitting – and fortunately that’s what we love doing here at Eloise.

Start by calling 01908 340 094 to make an appointment at our fitting suite near Furzton Lake. We have free customer parking outside and as the fitting suite is by appointment only, you don’t have to worry about other customers coming in during your visit.

The fitting should take about an hour to an hour and a half depending on whether you are looking for bras, breast forms and swimwear or just bras. Your friendly bra fitter will start

by chatting to you about your previous bra experience and your surgery results. Then you will go into the fitting room and try on some styles to see what feels comfortable and gives you the best results. You won’t be rushed and you are welcome to bring a friend or family member along.

Our bra fittings are all about comfort, style, and a little bit of fun. Our team is here to help you find the perfect fit, whether you’re lounging at home or stepping out for a night on the town. With soft fabrics, adjustable straps, and seamless designs, our bras are made to make you feel amazing every day. So if you have had breast surgery then come in and let’s find your new favourite bra together!

Why not make your appointment today or visit www.eloise.co.uk to browse the latest collection of our mastectomy bras and swimwear.

By Cindy LGH @CindyLGH

We’ve one foot into Spring now, and fashion demands we act like it with a wardrobe that wears the season on its sleeves.

As discussed (see a couple of columns ago), flowers are the thing to be seen in now – whether they come tumbling down trouser legs, wrapped about your neck or wrist (yes, I’m still talking about corsages), or are seen embedded into clothing via print and pattern.

They may not be ground-breaking for Spring-Summer, but florals, along with ruffles and elegant textures like tulle and silk, have arrived to make sure 2024’s style evolution is feminised – a trend that will carry us through to next year. Just see the elegant gowns with hand painted flowers at Givenchy and the fussy fabric flower heads appliquéd at Acne, for girly inspiration.

But anything in lace will do, a la the lilac lacey two pieces at Carolina Herrera; the white maxi dresses for lounging, seen at Michael Kors; the sheer brocades at Valentino and Stella McCartney; and all kinds of floral cutout skirts that grew in popularity across the catwalks.

More Little Miss Contrary than Miss Prissy? Look to Celine’s dramatic, black maxi sundresses, for a dark and romantic take on the trend. Else hint at the vibe with one of the lace-trim slips, crochet tops or broderie anglaise that have been unearthing around the high street. You don’t need pretty petals in pink to pull this one off.

Main image all items Zara

F&F @ Tesco £19.50

Oliver Bonas £19.50

< Lipsy £39

< River Island £90

Zara £22.99

Skirt: Zara £22.99

Zara £35.99 H&M £27.99

Jacket: TU @ Sainsbury’s £32

Zara £29.99

F&F @ Tesco £TBC

Menswear designer finds right fit at Vulcan Works

A menswear designer, who was one of the first to move into Northampton’s Vulcan Works, has praised the workspace for establishing ‘a hub of creatives’ that has helped him to grow his business.

Matt Goddard founded MJ Goddard Design Consultancy in 2021 after working in fashion for 18 years. Setting up his own business has enabled Matt to work as a freelance fashion designer and consultant for brands including Primark, TU, Tesco and George. He predominantly designs casual menswear and acts as a conduit between manufacturers, factories and retailers all over the world.

Working on his own, Matt has found taking an office at Vulcan Works in February last year has proved invaluable to his business.

He said: “I heard about Vulcan Works through a friend and registered my interest before it officially opened. I really like the concept of being based at a hub for creatives and there being a cross pollination of people working in similar creative industries.

“Now I have a 145 square foot office with

two desks and a floor to ceiling window which provides me with lots of natural light, which is perfect for what I do.”

Matt also met fellow Vulcan Works tenant Catherine Wise, a fashion print designer.

Catherine specialises in contemporary prints that are hand drawn and painted and then manipulated through CAD software to create production ready designs.

“Meeting Cat has been brilliant,” said Matt. “We often catch up to collaborate and give feedback on each other’s designs. We’ve also passed on contacts to each other.”

Looking to the future, Matt has set his sights on creating his own brand of clothing.

“Working on my own from a home studio previously, it has made such a difference to my business to have a professional space to work in. I can now separate my home and work life and be much more focussed,” adds Matt.

“I want to continue to build and grow my business at Vulcan Works through more collaborations, reinforcing current partnerships and creating new ones. I also have plans to expand and launch my own clothing brand.”

Matt Goddard founded MJ Goddard Design Consultancy in 2021 after working in fashion for 18 years

Honey and almond cake

8-10 portions

Difficulty: Easy; Preparation Time: 10 min, plus 45 minutes baking

INGREDIENTS

250g unsalted butter, softened and cubed

230g golden caster sugar

4 medium eggs

150g self-raising flour

150g ground almonds

½ tsp baking powder

A pinch of sea salt

25g sliced almonds

4 tbsp of your preferred runny honey

Our recipes come from NN Pulse food writer, Sofia Gallo, an acclaimed local chef, food writer and teacher at Milton Keynes Cookery School. She has recently won the ICG Cooking Competition and was a contestant on BBC’s Masterchef.

METHOD

Step 1

Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/Gas mark 5 and line your preferred tin. On this occasion I used a rectangular baking tray, or roasting tin.

Step 2

Add the butter to the bowl of a stand up mixer and beat to a cream. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. If the mixture looks curdled, it could be due to the temperature of the butter being too cold. If this happens, hold the bowl on warm water until the butter melts slightly.

Step 3

Add your eggs one at the time, adding a spoonful of flour between each of them. Combine the remaining flour with the reaming dry ingredients and fold into the mixture until evenly combined.

Step 4

Spoon into the prepared tin and scatter the sliced almonds, before placing into the oven and bake for about 45 min or until the butter is just slightly underdone. After removing from the oven, still hot, make several holes using a skewer and drizzle with honey. Leave in the tin for an additional 30 minutes, before placing on a cooling rack.

DIGGING DEEP

How does your garden grow?

It’s the most ‘bluetiful’ time of the year

The springtime vision of woodland floors transformed by a sea of bluebells is truly stunning. The chink of early year sun dancing through the treetops and onto their delicate petals reminds us that better (and warmer!) days are ahead.

A leisurely stroll through the woods at any time of the year is good for the soul, but particularly when the bluebells are awake to welcome us – and they usually provide a display from late March to early May.

But how much do you really know about these charming little flowers?

You probably don’t realise just how fortunate we are in the UK – almost half the world’s bluebells are found here, and these dainty delights take their time to establish themselves; from seed to flower takes a colony between five and seven years.

If you take a trip out to see them in the next few weeks, enjoy them, but resist the urge to trample through them for a quick photo opportunity; when a bluebell’s leaves are crushed, they die back from the lack of food as they can no longer photosynthesise. Recovery can take years.

Telling the two species apart is relatively simple; “Native bluebells are usually a deep blue-violet shade, while Spanish ones tend to be paler. Confusingly, both varieties can also come in white and pink.”

Hybridization happens easily which can make telling them apart more of an issue!

Natives also have a sweet scent, while the Spanish variety have little or no fragrance, and the leaves of the Spanish type are much larger. Because of the length of time it takes them to reach flowering size, buying bulbs, as opposed to seeds, is best.

All parts of the plant are poisonous to us, our pooches, and horses and cattle, and with the bulbs appearing similar to spring onions or garlic, you really don’t want to confuse your supermarket and garden centre purchases!

The woodland plants thrive in partial shade with moist, welldrained soil. Adding leaf mould or garden compost will provide them with lots of nutrients, and be aware that planting in clumps beneath deciduous trees or shrubs will create the best environment for them.

It’s spring at last, longer days and more hopes of sunshine. We are sowing lettuce and celery seeds in homemade seed trays and modules, and then placing them on a warm window ledge.

Sweet corn, French and runner beans are to be sown individually in takeaway coffee cups (with holes in their bases) to be planted out after frost has passed in May or June, and we have germinated peas in ‘pots’ made from folded strips of newspaper (we hope!).

The soil on the plots, under black sheets of plastic, is at 8°C, perfect for germination of hardier vegetables such as beetroot, carrots and sprouting broccoli.

Sow short rows of each of your chosen vegetables at 10 day intervals, to avoid a glut and give a continuity of supply.

We will earth up any of the first-early potatoes growing in pots with compost and leaf mould, a balanced feed such as Growmore, and water them.

Frost is still possible at any time, so be prepared to cover young plants and seedlings with fleece, if it is forecast.

In the flower garden, dead-head daffodils, early tulips and hyacinths, leaving the flower stalks and leaves to die down naturally.

Cut back flowered shoots of Forsythia and Chaenomeles to two or three buds from their base. Feed and mulch the border to regenerate growth.

A spring tidy-up is always a good thing!

Ralph Westmoreland, Denton & District Gardening Club member

> Denton & District Gardening Club is a small, friendly club which meets on a Monday evening every month. New members and visitors are always welcome.

For more information please contact Margaret at m.pateman@yahoo.co.uk or 01604 890875

There are other problems too; The National Trust explains that our native Hyacinthoides non-scripta bluebells are under threat from the non-native Spanish bluebell which has been a resident in Britain since its introduction in the late 17th century.

“In the last 30 years the Spanish bluebell has escaped from gardens and has begun to mix with the native species,” it said, “If you plant bluebells in your garden, make sure you’re planting the English bluebell, not the Spanish species.”

And don’t even think of taking a few plants from your local woods. Bluebells are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, and it is against the law to pick, uproot or destroy them.

Leave them to flourish and cheer visitors to our open spaces with their prettiness.

In Northamptonshire, bluebells can be enjoyed at the ancient woodland of the 70-acre Everdon Stubbs, between the villages of Everdon and Farthingstone, and at Badby Woods, which sees visitors flock to witness the natural spectacle every spring.

> For more information: nationaltrust.org.uk

Don’t buy pots - old coffee cups and rolled up newspaper are perfect for sowing seeds

Pic: The Parks Trust

Pic: DavidBailey

WHY WAIT?

Live safe and well in a unique studio, 1-bed or 2-bed apartment at the Hawthorns, a warm and friendly all-inclusive rental retirement community for the over 70s.

“Since moving here, I have made new friends and found a new and very rewarding life. The amenities are great with something to do every day and the staff are very caring.

I am so pleased that I decided to come to the Hawthorns, but I wish I had done it earlier.”

- the Hawthorns resident 01604

The most commonly asked bathroom questions

With bathroom design specialist

With over 35 years experience designing bathrooms, the team at Ripples understands that the process can sometimes be daunting. Its designers are experts on all aspects of bathrooms and here, Designer Erin White from the award nominated Ripples showroom in Towcester answers some of the most commonly asked bathroom-related questions.

QWith Pinterest, Instagram, and other great tools, can’t I just design my bathroom myself? Do I really need a bathroom designer?

Although there are a lot of great tools out there to give you style inspiration these days, there are so many other things to be considered when designing a bathroom. Considerations around plumbing, electrics and room layout are best handled by a professional. If you are anything like me, you will have a lot of images on your Pinterest boards or magazine collection, encompassing a number of different styles. A Ripples designer can work with you to narrow down your choices, incorporating your inspiration into one cohesive scheme. Designers can also take the stress out of sourcing all of the product for your space, using their specialist knowledge to find the

products which will work best for you. This will give you more time to focus on the more fun parts of your project!

Q What lighting do I need in a bathroom?

The first level of lighting needed for all bathrooms will be either downlights or a central light. This is controlled by one switch and gives you the overall lighting needed for general use and cleaning. The next level of lighting is task lighting. This could include lighting within your mirror or wall lights either side of the mirror. Wherever possible, go for side rather than top lighting to give a good overall lighting with minimal shadows – perfect for getting ready on dark winter mornings. The next level of lighting to consider is mood lighting. Low level lighting is key in a bathroom especially one with a bath or in an en-suite. This can be incorporated in soft spot lighting or strip lighting on top of recesses, by a bath or underneath a vanity unit. Having this on a separate switch means early mornings, late nights and even any middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom are not disturbed by bright lights coming on. In a family bathroom, you may also want to consider a PIR (passive infrared) sensor. As children get older, they can then go into the bathroom at night on their own and lights will automatically come on.

Q

What are some quick tips for creating a more eco-friendly bathroom?

Heating: opt for dual fuel heating as this can dramatically reduce energy usage in your home. You can control dual fuel radiators with a timer and use heated towel rails to heat the bathroom, without having to heat the rest of the home.

Lighting: LED spotlights and feature lighting use approximately 85% less energy than traditional bulbs.

Extractor fans: choosing an extractor fan with a built-in timer and/or humidity sensor will use less energy as it switches off when not in use.

Surfaces: glass surfaces are one of the greenest options available as they can keep being recycled again and again.

Cold-start taps: cold-start taps are normal mixer taps which start running cold water first. These are great if you have a combi boiler as they don’t kick in unless you manually change the mixer across to hot.

> Visit Ripples Towcester at 2 Roman Corner, Northampton Road, Towcester, NN12 6LD head to ripplesbathrooms.com or call 01327 368223 for more information.

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Amber glass bobble vase, £28.99 thenookhome.co.uk

Amber Glow

These radiant hues effortlessly inject a little bit of summer sun into your space throughout the year, so it’s no wonder that they’re one of our top picks for 2024. As a more ambiguous, complex shade, this colour can range from earthier oranges to glowing golden yellows depending on the light, making it a versatile choice that infuses your home with warmth and optimism.

Soy wax scented candle sandalwood & jasmine, £9.99 wayfair.co.uk

Juliette in burnt orange, £445

Square squat amber dry flower vase, £146.99 dowsingandreynolds.com

Mini underground ocre gloss tiles, £24 tilewarehouse.co.uk

Bee cushion, £43 jjtextile.co.uk

4

Velvet saffron yellow throw, £79 countrymouse.co.uk

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Wildlife-friendly gardens

In the United Kingdom, gardeners have a wealth of native plants at their disposal to create beautiful, wildlife-friendly spaces. These plants not only add aesthetic appeal to your outdoor area but also play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems. When paired thoughtfully with artificial grass, they form a harmonious blend that benefits both wildlife and human enjoyment.

Creating wildlife-friendly borders with rocks, logs, or wildflowers offers more than just aesthetic appeal to your outdoor space. These features provide essential hiding spots and habitats for various creatures, supporting the health of the ecosystem. Rocks and logs, carefully arranged, create nooks and crannies where insects can find refuge, and birds can build nests. Wildflowers, on the other hand, offer diverse plant life that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to the overall biodiversity of your garden.

and summer, wildflowers burst into bloom, offering a colourful and dynamic display that evolves throughout the year. This natural beauty enhances the visual appeal of your garden, providing a serene and inviting atmosphere for both humans and wildlife alike.

The materials needed for nest construction, such as twigs, leaves, and mud, are readily available in gardens, making it convenient for birds like Robins, Blue tits to build their homes. Additionally, gardens with birdbaths and ponds provide a vital water source for birds, essential for both drinking and bathing. These elements combined create an inviting and supportive environment for birds to thrive and raise their young in gardens across the UK.

Beyond their functional benefits, these elements add a natural and rustic beauty to your landscape. Rocks of different shapes and sizes, along with the textures of logs, create layers that change with the seasons. In the spring

By combining artificial grass with wildlifefriendly elements, you’re not only creating a beautiful and practical outdoor space but also promoting biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems. The partnership between artificial grass and natural features demonstrates how

we can blend modern convenience with ecological responsibility, creating a sustainable and attractive environment for both humans and wildlife to enjoy.

> For more information:

Email: info@prestige-lawns.co.uk

Tel: 01908 542422

Visit: prestige-lawns.co.uk

Check out those checks!

Decorating using checks is an interesting way to add pattern and colour to your space. Whilst once a staple of traditional or country interiors, the vibrant, edgy look they create coupled with their versatility, enables them to complement both classic and contemporary schemes.

Whatever your look, there’s a colour and scale of check to suit. Whether you have a period property in the countryside or a modern flat in the centre of town, checks will add personality and structure to your home. The geometric nature of the design makes it useful as a tool to balance fussy interiors, juxtaposing an orderly check with a whimsical floral for example, or adding a check as a way of enlivening a neutral scheme that lacks vibrancy and interest.

As with any pattern, it’s critical to ensure that the look of the room stays balanced. Checks can be layered with patterns of a similar scale, so no design stands out over another. This will help your room remain relaxing and welcoming and prevent your eye from being drawn to one dominating feature.

From cushions and curtains to carpets and tiles, there isn’t a room in your house that cannot incorporate a check. For a good selection of checked fabrics have a look at Jane Churchill, Colefax and Fowler, Linwood and Isle Mill. For wallpapers try Sandberg, Ralph Lauren and Designers Guild. The latter has a wonderful range of bright colours and interesting takes on the more traditional checked patterns. If you like the idea of a checked or plaid carpet then look no further than Hugh MacKay, Brintons and Anta. Together they have a lovely range of tartan and plaid designs to suit most tastes and colour schemes. For the Althorp Coaching Inn in Great Brington we chose the Fermanagh Plaid design from Brintons’ Abbeyglen collection. The orderly nature of its regular stripes form a grid layout, balancing the more fluid Lewis and Wood beech tree wallpaper covering the walls, and the carpet’s warm palette of colours, helped to create a timeless, welcoming and inviting look to the restaurant in this popular 16th Century village inn.

If you don’t think a full-on plaid carpet is for you, then consider a checked rug instead. In a classic English interior this can be as subtle as a gingham pattern in neutral or pastel colours but if you’re happy to consider more of a statement then experiment with bolder, brighter shades. A rug can easily be moved around the house to keep your rooms looking fresh or to give a space a new identity. For example, a bit of contrasting pattern in a clinically clean bathroom or kitchen can provide the perfect finishing touch.

Checks are certainly an enduring pattern and so much more than a passing trend in your

Instagram algorithm, but it is these social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest that expose historic patterns to a new audience and present them in vibrant colours and fun combinations. For Millennials and Generation Z, associated with being trend-savvy and open to new ideas, checks have become a universal motif offering a touch of softness and fun in an otherwise ‘dull and rigid world’. The dropping of many work uniforms during the pandemic further allowed people to dress with more personality and less restriction.

Checkerboard nails have become quite the rage. It’s a well-known fact that once trends

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www.roseandgrey.co.uk

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www.sofology.co.uk

appear on the catwalk and permeate fashion on the high street and in the beauty industry, then they tend to follow through into interior design. According to IMM Cologne, searches for checked patterns soared on Pinterest in 2022. Checkerboard nail searches increased by 165 percent, checkerboard patterns by 160 percent, and requests for plaid suits for men increased by 95 percent. Search terms such as "checkerboard carpet" and "checkerboard tile flooring" more than quadrupled. This suggests that the future of our interiors may well be dominated by checked patterns for some time to come!

Bring joy into your life with delightful animal art

Animal art has always held a special place in our hearts, and - at this time of year - we especially enjoy their warmth and joy as the winter chill eases and days lengthen into spring. Whether we’re celebrating our own four-legged friends, enjoying the countryside creatures we might have missed over the darker months, or remembering the exotic wildlife of past travels, there’s a lot to enjoy in animal art.

Choosing the right animal art for your space

From the regal presence of a lion in a study to the playful antics of flocking birds in the sitting room, these artworks hold the power to transform your room. Consider the energy and emotion you want in your space so you can find the right piece to enhance your surroundings.

Would you choose a realistic elephant on safari? An abstract horse in movement? Or an illustrative fox with captivating eyes?

Anna Wright: Capturing nature's whimsy

We’ve recently been enjoying the work of the wonderful artist and illustrator Anna Wright. Her delightful creations are brought to life with the use of Indian ink, fabric and feathers. Anna's rural upbringing serves as wonderful inspiration, reflected in playful depictions of animals that bring a smile to the face. Her stunning giclee prints use clever techniques which create exceptionally lifelike details, to engage and astonish everyone who sees them.

Nicky Litchfield: A Celebration of Animal Affection

One of the most popular animal artists in the UK is Nicky Litchfield who's sense of fun and deep affection for animals shines through in her captivating artworks. Depicting dogs, horses, foxes, and other characterful creatures, Nicky's art exudes warmth and tenderness with her subjects peering into view to catch our eye. Her pieces, often created using oil and pastels, have gained widespread adoration, bringing an aura of liveliness and joy to any environment.

Nicky Litchfield

Nicky Litchfield

www.colefax.com

Get a Pi-ece

of the action!

New versions of classic shows, a special anniversary for Northampton’s G&S Society and one gag after another with funny folks showing out all over.

Sammy Jones leads you through April’s theatre business...

Universally acclaimed in theatreland, Life of Pi comes to the Derngate stage (April 2-6) with amazing visuals and world-class puppetry for your eyes to devour.

After an epic storm in the Pacific Ocean, Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. The story of a true journey of endurance and hope.

There is more drama on the high seas with Moby Dick (April 5-13) at The Royal ready to make a splash.

In search of fortune and adventure, a humble schoolmaster boards a whaling ship due to sail East off Cape Cod, only to find a Captain hell-bent on revenge – on the whale that lost him his leg, and there begins the quest for Moby Dick.

Simple8 promises to conjure the spirit of the original Herman Melville classic with wooden planks, tattered sheets and rousing sea shanties, as they ingeniously bring the hunt for the most famous whale to life. Besides, if they used water, they’d spend all week mopping up!

Funny man Justin Moorhouse invites you to Stretch & think (April 7, Filmhouse Screen 2) in

a show that might contain ‘yoga, getting older, Madonna, shoplifters, labradoodles, middleaged cyclists, the menopause, running, hating football fans but loving football... and Captain Tom’ and that’s not the half of it.

Tommy Tiernan (April 10, Derngate) invites you to take a pew while he delivers Tommedian, a madcap parade of characters, memories and ridiculous flights of fancy.’

Northampton promoters The Comedy Crate and Milton Keynes’ Comedy Cow have teamed up to prevent a mega show, with mega talents – and they don’t come much better than Omid Djalili, right?

Joining the stand-up ace who also graces the big screen in hits like The Mummy, Gladiator and Notting Hill will be Marcus Brigstocke and Josie Long Boothby Graffoe is your MC for this night of face-aching fun.

Last year Lloyd Griffith hit up arenas as tour support for Jack Whitehall and now he’s taking on The Royal (April 23) with Baroque and Roll When not raising the laughs with stories of his impending midlife crisis he might sing for you too.

Shrek the Musical (April 23-27) promises ogre-sized fun, dragons, a Princess in peril and that talking Donkey.

Now, how about a performance of King Arthur (April 25-27, Royal)?

Still got space for more funny business? Then you’ve come to the right place with Julian Clary visiting the Derngate (April 17) with his show, Fistful of Clary, which definitely isn’t a double-entendre.

“Yes, it has a Western theme,” he confirmed, “It was only a matter of time before I eased myself into some chaps.”

Now will you look at this mucky pup (top right) – and we do hope that sausage is plant based! Ed Gamble is coming to town with Hot Diggity Dog (April 18), and the promise that he has ‘minced a load of meat (thoughts), piped it into a casing (show) and it’s coming to a bun (venue) near you.’ On this occasion, that’ll be the Derngate

Camelot is in trouble. King Arthur knows that if he doesn’t turn things around, this civilisation will be forgotten, and be known as nothing more than a rather dull time in British history. A comedy for all ages that takes you back through the ages.

That’s Politainment! declares Rosie Holt (April 28, Royal), and then Punt And Dennis (April 30, The Royal) arrive. It’s the first time they’ve been on tour in a decade, and they are getting back to what they do best; ‘Sitting in traffic jams wondering if a different route would have been better, and then in the evening, presenting their new live show.’

Across town at The Old Savoy, panto returns for Easter with Robin Hood his Merry Men battling to outwit the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham (April 10), and Mark Jones, recently on the Savoy stage as Buttons in Cinderella, is back with his new family show, On Your Marks (April 14).

Silly songs, funny voices and spontaneous flights of fancy will all feature.

Last up, Northampton Gilbert & Sullivan Group celebrates its 70th year by giving you a new production of The Mikado – which was the group’s first ever production all those decades ago.

Tasty treats: Life of Pi (left) and Ed Gamble (above)

Tommy Tiernan

What a funny pair! Punt and Dennis - April 30

and he’s coming to Northampton He is the God of Hell Fire

‘Iconic shock rock and theatrical rock legend’ is how Arthur Brown is described on his social media channel. It’s accurate and to the point. When the God of Hellfire increased temperatures with his 1968 Hammond-driven delivery Fire, his innovation and exaggerated delivery was without comparison.

Quite simply, he was a unique offering in a sea of rock n roll and pop.

Fire took the top spot in the singles chart in the UK and fared fabulously well on the other side of the pond, and his flamboyant theatrical performances, paired with his wideranging operatic voice ensured staying power.

A true pioneer of the shock rock movement, his influence on the hard rock scene has been immense too, and he had associations with Hendrix, The Who, Frank Zappa, Hawkwind and Alice Cooper.

Collaborations? There have been more than a few, including The Stranglers, The Alan Parsons Project and The Prodigy.

This writer grew up on a healthy diet of Kiss and the aforementioned Mr Cooper, but Arthur was there first, and his creativity proved to be a major influence on artists including Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop and the New York Dolls.

‘Without Arthur Brown, there would be no Alice Cooper,’ said Alice, while Iron Maiden

frontman Bruce Dickinson declared Arthur has’ the voice of death.’

‘Now there’s a man who was ahead of his time,’ reckons Elton John.

More than half a century since he delivered that chart-topper, Brown’s ideas continue to flow – his most recent album, Long, Long Road was delivered in 2022 and the live shows are more than ‘just’ a gig, they are an experience.

This month (April 12) Arthur will take the stage at The Black Prince; a chance to see a true trailblazer in an intimate setting – but only if you move fast; this is a sell-out waiting to happen.

While you wait for the live date, check in online with his multi-media show A Human Perspective

Also at The Black Prince this month, Mancunian music makers Heavy Salad (April 5) will ‘lettuce’ into their secret, described as a ‘melting pot of highly melodic, psychedelic music infused with the band’s eclectic love of surf rock, electro-pop, fuzzed up punk funk and cosmic gospel-tinged folk.

In January, the septet released the single, Weirdest of the Weird Sh*t, ‘a song born out of the weirdness of lockdown and learning to deal with the new dystopian reality. A heady mixture of disease, death, faith, medicine, conspiracy and hope.’ Raw garage rock, P-Funk inspired melodies and woozy exotica,’ is the explanation.

The ‘fampton’s own Sunny Gym (April 26) will play their alternative indie jazz rock for you, with support from Flypaper, a project by Londonbased singer-songwriter Rory Sear.

Presumably, he has real sticking power...

Support comes from Idle Palms and Death of Summer

SBD promotions will also be journeying a little way from home this month, when they take Wasted Youth to the stage of Bedford Esquires (April 5).

The London-based post-punk peddlers, originally active for three years from 1979 blended post-punk with dark acoustic strains. After almost four decades apart, vocalist and guitarist Ken Scott and guitarist Rocco Barker decided the time was right to press the ‘reactivate’ button and revived Wasted Youth. Support comes from Northampton’s own electro post-punkers

– and Pulse music pages frequenters –Venus Flytrap

> Tap to sbdpromotions. com for more details and to book those tickets.

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Heavy Salad - April 5

Wasted Youth - Bedford Esquires, April 5 Sunny Gym - April

Swifties...

Ready For It?

Back in 1978 The Clash delivered the elpee Give ‘Em Enough Rope. It was their second album, but their first to be released Stateside.

It made the Number 2 spot in the UK charts, and was retrospectively listed in the Top 100 Greatest Albums of All Time by the NME.

In 2024, tribute mob London Calling are heading to The Roadmender to play that opus in its entirety, in sequence.

They will then deliver expected bonuses including Should I Stay or Should I Go, I Fought The Law, Rock the Casbah, and the very track they are named after.

Scottish nonet Porkpie (April 6) are a ska juggernaut, cutting loose classic tracks by genre leaders Specials, Madness, Bad Manners and The Beat.

But they don’t just imitate, they also create, and their set will also bring original morsels from last year’s opus, Skandemic to the stage, and your ears.

Join the band for a shared evening of high octane, energy sapping sweetness.

Psydoll travel in from Japan (April 11) to play for you, with support from ‘fampton familiars Venus Flytrap. If you are going, be punctual, people.

Swiftogeddon (April 12) is a full night dedicated to ‘worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift,’ with deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and those chart smashes. There have been a few.

Taylor made for fans of the pop princess, and of course tickets are shifting erm, Swiftly...

On April 19 you can take a walk through the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival with Creedence Clearwater Review.

Paul Draper (April 24) will lead Mansun fans on a trip down memory lane as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his band’s second album by playing Six in its entirety.

> Book tickets at theroadmender.com

Remembering Paul M Cox

Some sad news to impart about one of Northampton’s familiar faces, the musician, Paul M Cox, who passed away in February.

Paul was the lead vocalist with several blues-based and hard rock bands. His first, The Earthmovers came together at the end of 1986, and the Heartbreakers and Osiris followed during his decades of activity.

In recent times, he had been releasing solo material with the help of some of his former bandmates.

At the end of 2022 he issued the 10-track elpee, Sunset Over Stillwater, which delivered elements of folk, jazz, blues and Americana.

Fellow musician and music champion Alex Novak had been a friend of Paul’s for 40 years.

“He was a positive soul who enjoyed life and music and was always looking forward,” he said, “Paul is gone too soon. RIP.”

Pulse Music sends our condolences to his friends and family.

The return of the Rascal

Dizzee Rascal is coming to Northampton this summer. The grime ace – who bagged a Mercury Prize in 2003 for his debut album, Boy in da Corner –will be taking the stage at Delapre Abbey on August 9.

Dizzee – whose number one hits include Dance wiv Me, Bonkers and Holiday – released a new album last month, and in short, Don’t Take It Personal is being described as ‘yet another victory lap on what is one of the defining rap music legacies.’

Support artists are to be announced, but tickets are on sale now.

> Book yours by clicking to legacylive.co

Porkpie visit Roadmender on April 6 Pic: Paul Geddes Photography Paul Draper - April 24

Spin the black circle

The 17th annual celebration of the UK’s independent record shops will go live on Saturday, April 20 with 100s of artists issuing special Record Store Day releases.

There really is something for everyone with records spanning rock, pop, jazz, hip hop, reggae, classical and folk, writes Sammy Jones

Among those participating this time, music junkies can grab exclusives from Blur, At The Gates, Billy Bragg, Bowie, Fatboy Slim, George Harrison, Jessie Ware, Ladytron, Little Richard, Motley Crue, PiL, Pulp, Ringo Starr, Sia, Steven Wilson and The 1975.

You want more? The Rolling Stones, The Verve, The Yardbirds, Thin Lizzy, Tom Grennan and Zappa will all figure too. Like we said, eclectic and something for all.

Of particular interest to some ‘fampton folk will be the Peter Murphy live release, Volume One – Covers

It is the first release on the Northampton born post punk and goth originator’s own label, Silver Shade. As the title says, it’s a release of live covers, with his versions of tracks by artists including Iggy Pop, Elvis Presley, Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and Magazine. The album will be on numbered coloured vinyl.

Artists, labels and stores on every continent have signed up for the event which champions the unique culture of indie shops and the music fans’ love of vinyl.

Well, when we say every continent, that’s not strictly true – Antarctica isn’t partaking.

If you’ve ever shivered outside in the early hours in anticipation of stores opening, you’ll know how cold Northampton can be when the temperature drops.

Antarctica? Forget it!

In all, some 270 stores from around the UK have signed up, with many using the event to hold special live sets, giveaways and general merriment – and in Northampton, Spun Out is always at the fore.

“At Spunout we first heard of Record Store Day at the beginning of 2010 when we were contacted by a lot of the big record companies pushing this new promotional day,” remembers Chris Kent, Spun Out owner, “Little did I know how much of a success it would build to be but I liked the look of the limited editions that were being released, so we signed up.

> He might not be doing Record Store Day in the traditional sense, but Alex Novak is sprinkling RSD with his own celebratory style – by holding a half price sale at his Spiral Archive Records shop, between 11am and 4pm.

Over at The Lamplighter a Record Fair will run from midday to 4pm. The vinyl will spin all day and all of the night. Well, nearly – DJs will start tickling your ears in the daytime, and won’t switch off until 1am.

“We were stunned at how much of a response we got for it with only the bare minimum of promotion but in comparison to how it grew over the next few years our stock was tiny, probably only 30 records and most of them being 7” singles!

“From that point on we were invested in it, and the limited edition collectible records unique to physical record shops were a big draw - you got to support your local shop while getting some tasty unique releases, but the celebration of

the continued existence of independent stores had a festival atmosphere that I believe helped encourage music lovers in general to consider getting into vinyl collecting.

“I believe that the rise in sales of vinyl and record players has a great deal to do with the attention that RSD as a movement has brought to it and as the day has gone from strength to strength so has our customer base,” Chris said. It really wasn’t so long ago that the industry was telling us that vinyl was dead. A thing of the past. Why bother with a piece of vinyl when you could simply download your latest piece of music?

Except that us voracious vinyl collectors refused to accept that vinyl was over. Fast forward a few years and the high street stores that had stopped selling it, now proudly sport growing vinyl sections and the art of collecting has been discovered by today’s generation. Sales are continuing to rise.

“There is something unique about a record shop that hardly any other high street destination can boast; a constant stream of fascinating new products stuffed full of art and music with massive collectible potential,

Chris outside Spun Out

Peter Murphy’s live release: Volume One - Covers

companionable fellow visitors and staff plus the excitement of the hunt, what’s not to love?”

Chris says, explaining the allure as he sees it, “You take home your latest discovery, crank up the system, let the needle drop and the music wash right through you as you get lost in the artwork.

“Then, when your mate asks, ‘Where did you get that?’ you get to say, ‘You had to be there – it sold out in 20 minutes!” he smiles, “Every year there are RSD releases that do that; Last year it was Taylor Swift’s Folklore – The Long Pond Studio Session. A few years ago the quickest seller was a Foo Fighters alter ego Dee Gees LP stuffed full of their versions of Bee Gees hits.

“It was so limited that we got less than 10 copies which sold out to the first 10 customers and is now a highly collectible piece of vinyl.”

Spun Out will open its doors at 8am, ready for the tills to start ringing as this year’s extensive list of vinyl, CDs and cassettes gets snapped up. As usual, they’ll bring live music to the event, with sets from Northampton’s Potwash, and Milton Keynes noisemakers Torus. DJs will be spinning great vinyl throughout the day and the store will once again run its raffle and send purchasers out with goodie bags.

> Make contact sales@spunout.website or call 01604 230064

Aidy West owns Vinyl Underground Records. He told Pulse Music why RSD is a big deal for his business...

When - and why - did you get involved in RSD?

“RSD was set up to support independent record shops at a time when business was very hard and it was great to get involved as it came from a good place; from the real record shops not just the music business.

“We first started testing out RSD the second year it was happening.

“We selected a few of the more dance related releases to try out and the response was quite good, but we also received many requests for all the rock and pop releases. The demand was good and it was bringing people back into the shops.”

It has grown massively - what do you think that success has been down to?

“Vinyl never went away, even when sales numbers were very low - it has such a strong base and support, it will never stop. So from these strong roots RSD got the message out and rallied everyone to support shops and also encouraged collecting and getting back into vinyl - it snowballed from there.”

How important is RSD for Vinyl Underground as a business?

“Very important, because it is exclusively for independent record shops - it means all the hard work is worth it. It would be much easier

to sit in a warehouse unit and just do internet mail order. But we love and support the culture of record shops and everything that goes with it, so it’s a big turnover boost on the day and also highlights your shop. We have many regular customers that came to see us during RSD for the first time.”

Why do you think people are falling in love with vinyl again?

“Because it’s real and you can touch and feel it. For the younger generation it’s like a new experience. For the older generation it connects them to their youth and the feeling of listening to music for the first time. It’s a type of experience that is lost in today’s modern digital times.

“The world stops when the record spins.”

> Vinyl Underground will open its doors at 8am on April 20.

WHATS ON

#WhatsOnPulse

Beyond Photography

Until Sunday, April 21

Exhibition of work by Northampton Open Studios Award winner Andy Carter, including images captured using a harmonograph, which he designed and built specifically for photography.

Sound, space, light: northamptonmuseums.com

Luther Live

Monday, April 1, 7.30pm

Experience the many hits from the man with the ‘Velvet Voice’ who sold more than 40 million albums and won eight Grammy awards – this is the tribute to Luther Vandross.

So Amazing: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

The Woman In Black

Tuesday, April 2 – Saturday, April 6

Susan Hill’s ghost story has now been seen by more than seven million people worldwide, and enjoyed a 33 year run in the West End. have you been yet?

Chilling: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

John Walsh Blues Dogs

Tuesday, April 2

Expect standards from Muddy, T-Bone, John Lee Hooker and others, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues: bletchleybluesclub.uk

OPEN: Wed to Mon 10am-4pm, CLOSED: Tues Facebook: @vintiqueltd Instagram: vintique.limited

T: 01327 341 980 E: info@vintique.co W: vintique.co

Antiques Centre Building 1, The Royal Ordnance Depot, Weedon Bec, NN7 4PS

Raising temperatures - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown visits The Black Prince on April 12

David Wilson - the award-winning criminologist will be in conversation at MK Lit Fest on April 6

The Subhumans

Wednesday, April 3

Original punk players with plenty to say. Hugely influential commentary to make you think – and move.

The Day The Country Died: thecraufurdarms.com

The Picturedrome Comedy Club

Thursday, April 4, 7pm

Have a giggle with Ignacio Lopez, Mad Ron, Samantha Day and your MC Rich Wilson.

‘This bloke came up to me’: thepicturedrome.com

National Spring Clean: Litter Pick

Thursday, April 4, 10am

Join The Parks Trust at Caldecotte Lake for a litter pick lasting for approximately an hour. Arrive in time to hear the safety briefing and collect equipment.

Rubbish times: theparkstrust.com

Alex Falase-Koya: Step Up!

Saturday, April 6, 12.30pm-1.30pm

Join Alex for a super-powered, super-fun introduction to Marv and his amazing adventures, and learn how Alex created the kindest superhero in town, as part of MK Children’s Lit Fest.

Super powered: mklitfest.org

Paul Rainey – Why Don’t You Love Me?

Saturday, April 6, 12.30pm-1.30pm

Join MK resident Paul at Milton Keynes Library to find out what makes a graphic novel – and novelist – tick. A new chapter: mklitfest.org

David Wilson – Living With Murderers

Saturday, April 6, 3.30pm-4.30pm

Join the award-winning criminologist at Milton Keynes Library to explore how so many victims are most in danger in the places where they feel safest. Killer instinct: mklitfest.org

Spring Wedding Fair

Sunday, April 7, 11am-3pm

From photographers to florists and catererscome and meet those who could make your wedding truly wonderful. The event is being hosted at Rushden Goods Shed. I Do: standinginthewings.co.uk

Denton & District Gardening Club

Monday, April 8

Paula Dyason will be talking about Hemerocallis in ‘The Day of the Daylily’ at Denton Village Hall, Vicarage Lane, Denton, Northampton NN7 1DT at 7.30pm. There will be home made refreshments and a raffle. The friendly club welcomes visitors at a cost of £3. Coming up roses: 01604 890875 or email m.pateman@yahoo.co.uk

Walk & Talk: Hocus Crocus –British Botanical Folklore

Monday, April 8, 10am

Step into the world of myth, story and legend to learn about the historical beliefs and uses of British plants and trees with this Parks Trust event around Great Linford Manor Park. New shoots: theparkstrust.com

Mark Cole & Liam Ward

Tuesday, April 9

Cole’s quirk, funny and sometimes poignant songwriting is paired with Ward’s emotionally charged harmonica for an engrossing set. Harp duel, anyone? Bletchleybluesclub.uk

Robin Hood

Wednesday, April 10, 8pm

Be transported to Sherwood Forest where Robin Hood and his Merry Men are battling to outwit the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham. Will Robin win the hand of the fair Maid Marion, or will the Sheriff triumph? Panto time: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Teach Rex Live: The Velociraptor Show

Thursday, April 11

Teach Rex’s 1-hour show teaches children about the anatomy and life of one of the most mesmerizing creatures to have ever roamed our planet.

Roar-some: stables.org

Swiftogeddon

Friday, April 12, 9pm

Worship at the altar of Taylor Swift with a night of deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits.

Taylormade for fans: theroadmender.com

The Carpenters Story

Friday, April 12, 7.30pm

A delve into the classic songbook that made The Carpenters a legend in the world of popular music, selling more than 100 million albums and singles.

Close to you: royalandderngate.co.uk

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Friday, April 12

The God of Hellfire, known for his wide ranging operatic voice, visits Northampton. Temperatures rising: sbdpromotions.com

The Marvin Gaye Songbook

Saturday, April 13

X Factor star Nate Simpson - recently seen starring as Bob Marley in Get Up, Stand Up in the West End - takes the lead in this celebration of the Prince of Motown.

What’s Going On?: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Stamp Fair

Saturday, April 13, 10am-4pm

A first class event for all stamp collectors to get stuck into! Stamp dealers, auctioneers and members will be selling, and will be happy to help if you have a collection you are looking to sell.

Head to the Methodist Hall, Queensway, Bletchley, MK2 2HB.

Info: miltonkeynesphilatelicsociety.co.uk or call 01908 521220

The George Harrison Project

Sunday, April 14

Enjoy the UK’s leading live music tribute to George Harrison, performing his best-loved hits from The Beatles, his solo career and The Traveling Wilburys.

Here Comes The Sun: stables.org

Motown magic with a tribute to Marvin Gaye at the Old Savoy on 13 April

Mark Jones in On Your Marks!

Sunday, April 14, 3.30pm

Fresh from his appearance as Buttons in Cinderella, Mark returns to The Old Savoy with a new comedy show for the whole family – with silly songs, funny voices and spontaneous flights of fancy!

Get Set...Go: theoldsavoy.co.uk

The Remi Harris Hot Club Trio

Sunday, April 14, 11.30am

Combining musical virtuosity with passion and flair, you can get set for a mesmerising Sunday Sessions show inspired by Django Reinhardt, Peter Green and Hendrix.

Gypsy Jazz and Blues: stables.org

Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter

Tuesday, April 16 – Saturday, April 20

Meet a host of new suspects, a new house, and a lot of bodies in a new tale of murder, mystery and secret passageways. Whodunnit: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Erin Harpe

Tuesday, April 16

A second generation finger pickin’ guitarist from New England who has been compared to Memphis Minnie and Canned Heat’s Al Wilson. Jim Countryman will join her. Finger pickin’ good: bletchleybluesclub.uk

Julian Clary

Wednesday, April 17, 7.30pm

You’ve heard of The Man with No Name? Now comes The Man With No Shame! Join the much-loved funnyman at his Northampton return.

Fistful of Clary: royalandderngate.co.uk

Paul Foot

Friday, April 19, 8pm

The multi-award-winning and trail-blazing comedian is back on tour with his most personal, surprising and ground-breaking show ever.

Dissolve: stables.org

The Marley Experience

Friday, April 19, 8pm

An evening of Marley magic in the company of the tribute band fronted by Lionart, a fella who is an authentic soundalike.

Redemption Song: thepicturedrome.com

Solstice

Saturday, April 20, 8pm

MK based prog-rockers with a big reputation take to the local stage with a charity show in support of Willen Hospice.

Light Up: mk11kilnfarm.com

Woburn Sands Band

Sunday, April 21, 4pm

A concert for springtime spanning big band and classical sounds through to jazz and pop. Sounds fine: stables.org

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

Sunday, April 21, 7.30pm

Enjoy the ultimate tribute to one of the most loved groups of all time – and this lot are personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member, Mick Fleetwood! Don’t Stop: royalandderngate.co.uk

Milton Keynes Record Fair

Sunday, April 21, midday-4pm

Whether you just want to browse, or have a list of much sought after elpees, the Craufurd Arms Record Fair will deliver.

Like a Record, Baby: thecraufurdarms.com

5 Ways Cafe at St. Andrew’s Church

Tuesday, April 23, 11am-1pm

Pop along to the historic Great Linford Church for a cuppa, a chat or a gentle guided walk at this dementia friendly community cafe.

All welcome: theparkstrust.com

Disney’s Aladdin

Wednesday, April 24 - Sunday, May 19

The Disney spectacular flies in on a magic carpet for a four week stay at Milton Keynes Theatre as the magic of Agrabah comes to life.

Three Wishes: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Feast of Fiddles

Wednesday, April 24, 8pm

The folk rockers approach their 30th anniversary with another spring tour and a stop off at Wavendon venue The Stables. Still fiddling after all these years: stables.org

Michael Starring Ben - moonwalking to The Old Savoy on April 27

Jacob Hawley

Thursday, April 25, 7.30pm

Politics for idiots, feminism for lads, love stories for louts and self-care for those who don’t care is the promise with Jacob’s new stand up show, Space Comedy Crate: thecharlesbradlaugh.com

The Clone Roses

Saturday, April 27

The Clones will be joined by Oas-is and The Smiths Ltd for a big night of indie hits. Fools Gold: theroadmender.com

Deborah Bonham Band

Saturday, April 27

One of the finest blues, rock and soul singers to come out of the UK, and her sibling was none other than John Bonham from Led Zeppelin – talent runs in the family. Hungry Night: stables.org

Michael starring Ben

Saturday, April 27, 7.30pm

A live band, dazzling costumes and Michael Jackson’s iconic dance routines are put to the stage by leading tribute star, Ben Bowman. Also features hits by The Jackson 5 as well as Jackson’s greatest hits. Beat it: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Rosie Holt

Sunday, April 28

Following a hugely successful Edinburgh Fringe season, Rosie takes this brand-new show on the road, to tightrope the thin line between politics and entertainment. That’s Politainment!: royalandderngate.co.uk

Open Day.

Sunday 28th April.

Come along anytime 10:30am to 4:00pm.

• Bowls & coaching provided;

• Bring flat soled footwear please.

• Refreshments available;

• Ample parking;

• Outdoor green & indoor short mat. FREE coaching sessions Wednesday evenings during May at 7:00pm. New Members Welcome.

The Undercover Hippy

Sunday, April 28, 7.30pm

Often politically charged lyrics are fused with dangerously catchy hooks and a feel good groove. This hippy has the lot. Last Chance to Dance: mk11kilnfarm.com

The Fargo Railroad Co Tuesday, April 30, 8.45pm

Harking back to the roots of country rock and blues, with touches of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and the 70s sound of Cash, Young and Dylan, these fellas appeal to the contemporary Blackberry Smoke fan bases. Times and Grace: stables.org

TALK OF THE TOWN APRIL/MAY

Laforey Parade

Sunday, March 24, 10.15am-12pm

Northampton Town Centre

A 150 strong parade of Northamptonshire District Sea Cadets and the 6F RAF Cadet Band will march through the town at 11am to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the HMS Laforey warship in March 1944, which was adopted by Northampton in 1941. The parade begins from the Guildhall and follows a route along St Giles’ Street, down Hazelwood Road and up Derngate, back to St Giles’ Square to salute local dignitaries. Before the parade, a service of remembrance will take place in the Guildhall Courtyard at approximately 10.30am, with formal proceedings beginning at 10.15am.

Bands in the Park

April – Sept, 2-5pm

The Bandstand, Abington Park

Join us for a packed schedule of local bands and musicians performing every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 7th April to 29th September. Bring your own chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy an afternoon of live music within the picturesque and relaxing surroundings of Abington Park. Visit our website to see the full list of bands!

St George’s Day

Saturday, April 20 11am-2pm

The Guildhall Courtyard

Celebrate St George’s Day at the Guildhall, with free children’s activities and fun for all the family. Drop by between 11am and 2pm for themed crafts and story-telling, circus skills and activities, balloon modelling and face painting and traditional Morris Dancing performances. Kids can meet St George and his giant, friendly dragon and follow the Notable Northamptonian’s trail around the town centre. Visit our website for activity timings and to download a trail map.

For more details on NTC’s events and projects visit: northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/events

Or get in touch with the team: events@northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk

All events and projects listed are delivered, supported or sponsored by Northampton Town Council

HARPOLE BOWLS CLUB

Larkhall Lane, Harpole. NN7 4DP

Rosie Holt - Politically charged at The Royal on April 28

Film Reviews

by Jordan Adcock

DUNE PART TWO

FILM OF THE MONTH - Star Rating: 3.5/5

Dune: Part Two doesn’t exactly redeem the unfulfilling first film so much as blow past it. In director Denis Villeneuve’s continuing adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel, the characters are immediately much more purposed and grounded, now that the dragged-out setup is done with and the story comes into focus, realised with stunning scale and gravitas so often missing from popular cinema recently.

Paul Atreides, having escaped the attack which killed his father and felled their noble house, works with the Fremen against the greedy Harkonnens and Emperor Shaddam. But he also grapples with the messianic prophecy forced upon him by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood and, increasingly, his own mother Jessica. Timothée Chalamet definitely plays Paul better here than in the first film, where he and his character often had too little to work with. Here his quiet, brooding charisma (plus some spine-tingling speeches which he roars more than orates) sells Paul’s transformation from willing freedom fighter to would-

be universal god emperor, even if the film rushes its conclusion while hinting towards a third film.

Adapting a book which isn’t very character-driven (plenty happens to the main characters beyond their control) is tricky for making satisfying cinematic epics, and some issues remain: the battle sequences (a legacy of Herbert’s novel) are hardly close-run epics like in the Lord of the Rings films, plus the Harkonnens and emperor don’t overall threaten as they perhaps should (excepting Austin Butler’s sadistic menace as Feyd-Rautha, their deadliest warrior). Still, Villeneuve hasn’t shied from changing or leaving things out to streamline and sharpen the story, most notably relating to Chani (a mostly very good performance from Zendaya), whose alternate love for and scepticism of Paul are the film’s darkening heart. That, and Javier Bardem’s unexpected, almost Life of Brian–esque levity as the fervent believer Stilgar. ✪

Star Rating: 3/5

Now streaming on Netflix, this animated film based on ND Stevenson’s graphic novel crosses medieval ways with futuristic tech as would-be knight Ballister Boldheart seeks to clear his name, with some (initially unwelcome) help from fellow outcast Nimona, a tearaway shapeshifter. As animated films go, Nimona’s message of understanding those different and/or misunderstood is more common than it pretends, though in fairness those other films probably didn’t have a main character as gleefully rebellious as Nimona. Her interactions with the much stricter Ballister create a funny and frenetic dynamic, with finely detailed character animation and layered voiceover performances from Riz Ahmed and Chloë Grace Moretz bringing them to life. Their distinctiveness makes the intriguing science-fantasy world around them look less compelling by comparison. ✪

MIGRATION NIMONA

Star Rating: 3/5

The massively popular Demon Slayer anime continues unabated. For the second year running, fans got to watch a cinematic combo of last season’s explosive final episode and the next season’s tantalising first. New storylines are teased as the dauntless hero Tanjiro is reunited with his friends Zenitsu and Inosuke, while the elite Hashira begin preparing for the promised battle with demon king Muzan Kibutsuji and his followers. The anime’s mix of spectacularly animated, deeply earnest good vs. evil battles and sombre character backstories remains potent here. Even as the execution of a key dramatic reveal arguably short-changes Nezuko’s character (Tanjiro’s sister, who’s been turned into a demon and is among the story’s most distinctive elements), the whole series still comes recommended – if only all the episodes were in cinemas! ✪

MADAME WEB DEMON SLAYER: TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING

Star Rating: 2/5

Migration, the latest animated film from Despicable Me studio Illumination, merely distracts rather than properly entertains. Illumination’s films are generally better known for the Minions and for big box office returns rather than for their storytelling, but Migration somehow feels even more simplistic. Following a family of mallards flying south for the first time, rushing from one annoying detour to the next, the film’s strategy is seemingly to almost never shut up. Whether it’s the ceaseless dialogue or overbearing, overly hectic chases and fights, something constantly has to happen, preferably loudly, to keep the audience’s attention. The attempted characters (overprotective dad, adventurous son, lazy uncle, etc.) and overarching story are predictable, thin and frankly feel obligatory to string together the antics. ✪

Star Rating: 1/5

Sony Pictures has made another Spider-Man villain spin-off, apparently resolving to outdo 2022’s Morbius for sheer awfulness. Where Morbius is at least fun to watch for its blatant silliness, sitting through Madame Web nearly deserves its own certificate. Dakota Johnson’s talents are wasted playing a bizarrely unsociable paramedic who discovers precognitive powers, leading her to semi-kidnap three teenagers from a man trying to kill them because he’s dreamed about them killing him, while they’re dressed in spider outfits – look, even some of the film’s stars have referenced how poor the film is. With a script that merely simulates human emotions and personalities in its every awkward scene, even the early 2000s’ bad comic book films look down on Madame Web’s wholly unappealing mess. ✪

You can follow Jordan on Twitter (@JordanReview) and read his blog at www.reviewsreflections.wordpress.com

View from the Far Kerb

County Wexford

Idon’t how it happened. The title just came to me. County Wexford. It seemed so, right. A piece on the place would be silly, given the geographical readership of Pulse, so I had to think what to do.

First, I had to exorcise the demon that the title had become. The whereabouts of County Wexford had to be determined. It is part of Ireland. South eastern. At the bottom, around five o’clock. Assuming you are holding the map up the right way…

Having got that out of the way, it had me thinking of where we reside in relation to everywhere else in the world. It occurred to me that there are other places far away from Pulseland. One of them is the United States of America. Another is Canada. Looking at a map to confirm that I hadn’t made the names up after a heavy night out, I realised that we live at a latitude only slightly south of the majority of the border between those two countries! New York city is 370 miles almost due south of Montreal and ‘only’ 333 miles from the US/Canadian border; at a point where it dips south after being interfered with by the Great Lakes on its passage from east to west. Said border, at that particular spot, is barely 100 miles up from the northern coast of Spain.

Remind me of the last time we had snow as bad as the winter storms we hear of in New York; a city about 80 miles south of Rome when talking in terms of latitude and distance from the North Pole.

Having blown my mind looking westwards, I turned my attention to the east.

The northern-most tip of Mongolia is about seven miles south of Northampton. The capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar (award yourself lots of points if you knew the

name), is a touch more northerly than the very top of Switzerland. Closer to home, but still far away, lies Warsaw, Poland; a cold city in a cold country during winter. It sits somewhere between Northampton and Milton Keynes.

Considering how close those places are to the North Pole compared to Pulseland, it never ceases to amaze me how we are never buried under deep snowdrifts for months on end. Gardeners complain when temperatures hit freezing and scream about disaster when minus 10 degrees Celsius is experienced. However, think of those poor Mongolian gardeners who have to contend with temperatures approaching -30 degrees Celsius.

... it never ceases to amaze me how we are never buried under deep snowdrifts for months on end.

Why are we seemingly blessed with rather more temperate weather than those who are located more southernly than ourselves? It all gets rather technical and terms like Gulf Stream are mentioned. In short, our prevailing weather comes from the direction of the Caribbean. As an island nation, those of us in Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire, benefit from relatively close proximity to the warming waters originating from the area of the Gulf of Mexico.

And on its way to us, it bathes County Wexford in Ireland…

Phil O’Hara

Your stars

Flavour of the Times - Suddenly, you’re exchanging a bicycle for a Ferrari! This month surges forward like a rocket with six planets in Aries, radiating intense energy. Therefore, I believe we’re on the brink of an unprecedented surge of passionate revolt, affecting both the social and political spheres. On a personal level, it feels as though suppressed emotions are bursting forth more fiercely than ever. Proceeding with caution might prove quite challenging, yet mastering this turbulent phase could lead to a period of calm. This tranquility is anticipated to arrive by the full moon at April’s close, particularly when the sun enters Taurus on the 24th. That is, assuming the Ferrari remains unscathed in the process!

ARIES

March 21 – April 20

This month certainly make up for the sluggishness of March, that’s for sure! Your own fire may burst into life at the spring new moon on 8th but there could well be personal pain behind it, so you should pay attention. It is all a bit furious out there but the fire can be controlled and directed, which is what I would strongly advise for you.

TAURUS

April 21 – May 21

Taureans are people of tradition, but this month, traditional approaches are not favoured for you. While you don’t usually mind working within certain limitations, you may feel unduly restricted. You might wish to protest against elements of inhumanity and unfairness. A sense of freedom in what you do becomes crucial.

GEMINI

May 22 – June 21

Frustrations abound this month, boundaries are shifting and anger may be erupting. Banging your head against a brick wall is never a good idea, especially when you can’t see where the enemy is. This eases after the full moon on the 24th of the month when you can start to come down to earth again.

CANCER

June 22 – July 23

This fiery Aries energy goes very much against your instincts, but this is not the time to fight against it. You will probably see that the rage and anger comes from deep hurt and perhaps you can help people to heal and understand. Talking therapies will no doubt help in this situation. The full moon on the 24th is grounding, if intense, but much will be revealed.

Your Own astrological Forecast for 2024

LEO

July 24 – August 23

If ever leadership was required, it is now. The sense of rebellion lacks direction, and perhaps you are able to contribute to helping people find purpose out of the anger. Do not be afraid to offer radical solutions at this time. Others may not see things as clearly as you do, but in time, your wisdom will become appreciated.

VIRGO

August 24 – September 23

As furious confusion reigns this month, you, perhaps more than others, are able to take practical steps to use constructively the angry energies that are being unleashed. However, your capacity to create order out of this potent fire energy is likely to be limited and your ability to rise above the conflict restricted. Look for small victories and work with those.

LIBRA

September 24 – October 23

If your sense of injustice is spilling over now, this is the month to gather support to fight for better times. These are radical days and we may look back on them as being the start of a time of spectacular change. Your skills at working with people will be in demand as old traditional boundaries collapse to make space for the future.

SCORPIO

October 24 – November 22

The full moon on the 24th is in your sign after what could be a month of uprisings and emotional outbursts. You may feel these very deeply, but at least you are capable of surviving the onslaught and digging deep into your personal survival resources. There are opportunities here to make changes that last in your personal life.

You are bound to be affected personally by some, if not all, of the massive changes taking place this year. Not everyone will be equally affected on a personal level, but you will certainly feel it if you are an Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio, or Taurus.

An astrological reading of your birth chart can help you understand how these changes might affect you. To really understand what they mean for you during 2024, I would recommend that you consider booking a comprehensive personal astrological consultation with me. This is completely specific to

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 – December 22

The Aries fire may feel so hot this month that you may be tempted to escape from the kitchen! It’s a time when the pent-up desire for freedom from injustice can easily decline into anarchy. If you have something important to say, reflect carefully. Try to preach humane truths as words can wound and people are very sensitive these days.

CAPRICORN

December 23 – January 20

Your sense of order and careful progress may feel completely undermined this month by the furious energy that Aries brings. There is a huge need for people around you to vent their frustrations and this will get in the way of progressing the things you hold dear. This will ease after the full moon at the end of the month.

AQUARIUS

January 21 – February 19

Revolutionary thoughts often lead to warlike actions. Paradoxically, you may find this more difficult than you expected. The reactions of many people may seem to you to be irrational and over emotional, so it is up to you to provide a more detached perspective. Whether anyone is listening at the moment, though, is debatable.

PISCES

February 20 – March 20

The floodgates may be opening this month and emotions are very much to the fore for you. It may feel as if a dam is bursting inside you. A break with the past becomes inescapable, and somehow you must learn how to let go and move on. Give yourself some time to reflect, away from some of the pressures you have been under.

you and your life. It will illuminate many things that you may not have considered up to now, and it will enable you to really take advantage of the positive energies and avoid the negative ones throughout the year.

My prices for chart readings remain the same as they have been for the past five years: starting at £67 for an hour on Zoom or Skype. Please visit www.astroguidance.co.uk for more details and to book a session. You can also text or WhatsApp me on 07866 727743 or email me at howpark@aol.com for more information.

THE POWER of Three

The Power of 3 runs through the core of OCM as we have three professional disciplines brought together allowing us to deliver such a powerful client focused proposition.

As an Independent Chartered Financial Planning Firm, a Discretionary Asset Manager and Tax planning specialist, we utilise the power of 3, to ensure we deliver a seamless and first class, cost and time efficient service to clients. This is because at OCM we truly believe Our Clients Matter.

CHARTERED Financial Planners

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TAXATION & Accounting

DISCRETIONARY Asset Managers

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate the activities of tax planning, estate planning or IHT planning. OCM Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do). FCA Registration No: 418826. OCM Asset Management is a trading name of OCM Wealth Management.

HOW LABOUR WILL RESTORE LAW & ORDER IN NORTHAMPTON:

A Community Policing Guarantee

A named police officer in every community.

Zero-tolerance zones to stop anti-social behaviour. Guaranteed community patrols. 13,000 more police recruited.

Tackling the high street scourge of retail crime

Ending the “£200 rule” which means shoplifters evade the courts.

Tough new laws to protect retail workers from abuse and violence.

Read Labour’s long term plan for crime

It’s time for change in Northampton. We need to take back our streets.

Electing Labour’s Mike Reader at the next general election, and Danielle Stone as the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner in May, is the only way to restore law and order to Northampton.

Stopping young people getting caught up in crime

Young Futures Hubs in Northampton, bringing together employment, mental health and youth work professionals. Targeted programmes to identify those at risk of being drawn into crime and taking early action to stop it.

Taking a prevention first approach

Community coalitions formed, bringing people together to tackle the causes of crime.

Reforming the police to adopt prevention-first principles. Rebuilding trust in the police.

Getting knives off our streets for good

Banning the sale of Zombie knives. Tougher punishment for those who carry knives.

Criminal sanctions on tech executives who allow knife sales to kids on their websites.

Reducing violence against women and girls

A new perpetrator programme to relentlessly pursue the most dangerous abusers and offenders. Domestic abuse specialists to work within A&E and the council. Awareness Education in schools.