NN Pulse January 2023

Editor

Kerry Lewis-Stevenson

It’s heart-warming to recognise the outstanding work taking place in our local communities. This year’s Northamptonshire Community Foundation Awards recognised a charity supporting children who have experienced trauma, a group tackling litter and cookery for survivors of domestic abuse. More than 300 guests attended a fabulous showcase event for volunteers and community groups across the county at the Royal & Derngate. What a difference they all make!

We can also be very proud of Northamptonshire Health Charity’s continuing support for our local NHS hospitals and community services. The latest initiative is the Daisy Suite Appeal for Northampton General Hospital. With your help a new dedicated space can be created to provide privacy to support the work of the Bereavement Midwives. It will deliver both practical and emotional support to families following the loss of a baby.

The Guide Dogs charity also provides a great service. Many people know about the four-legged guides they train to help people with limited or no sight. What you might not know is that they also train volunteer guides to provide sighted guiding for visually impaired people. They can give a terrific boost to someone’s confidence and wellbeing and help them enjoy their local community.

If you celebrated with your favourite Christmas pine this year it could be looking a little neglected now. If you bought a tree with roots you can plant it in your garden and some nurseries will even welcome them back. If not, you can strip off the branches and cut up the trunk to make a free wildlife haven for your garden. But the festive season isn’t completely over; there’s still time to see a panto and there are plenty of other events to look out for in our ‘What’s on’ section too.

Whatever you’re doing this month, enjoy yourselves.

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!

Congratulations to our Northamptonshire Community Foundation award winners

A charity supporting children who have experienced trauma, a group tackling litter and a cookery course for survivors of domestic abuse… three of the winners at this year’s Northamptonshire Community Foundation Awards.

Presented at the Royal & Derngate in front of more than 300 guests, the awards showcase the work of volunteers and community groups across the county.

Congratulating the winners and finalists, Community Foundation chief executive Rachel McGrath said: “Our five-year strategy is built around the recovery and revival of our communities, supporting them at this extraordinarily difficult time, recognising the huge scale of the challenge and the economic and social impact that will be felt for many years to come.”

Best Newcomer Award, sponsored by SugaRich

Winner: Northants Litter Wombles

A community action group of more than 200 volunteers whose vision is to create a litter-free county by 2030.

Trailblazer Award, sponsored by Novacroft

Winner: Sound Foundations Early Intervention & Psychotherapy Hub

A charity that works with parents and babies to provide a range of therapies and workshops.

Brilliant Group, sponsored by the University of Northampton Winner: Power of the Mind Networks

The group works with widowed Black African and Minority Ethnic women.

The Edge Award, sponsored by Bambino Mio

Winner: KidsAid Foundation KidsAid Foundation uses creative therapies and wellbeing to support children who have experienced trauma. During the pandemic, their service was inundated with a surge of unfunded referrals.

Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitors

Winner: Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire

Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire used Community Foundation funding to continue to provide community transport. It has taken on 13 new volunteer drivers and welcomed 118 new members.

Lady

Juliet

Townsend Award for Volunteering

Winner: Vince Doherty, The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation

Vince helps to prepare, collect and distribute food parcels and supplies and supports the social clubs.

High Sheriff Initiative Award

Winner: Growing Together Northampton

This group runs a summer programme of outdoor activity for children aged 4-10 who live in the most deprived areas of Northampton East.

Inspirational Woman Annual Award, in partnership with AVON Winner: Teresa McCarthy-Dixon, The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation

Teresa established a foodbank during the pandemic supporting individuals, schools, Adult Social Services and other agencies across Northamptonshire.

Winners and supporters on stage at the awards

Established for over 16 years, Cloudy2Clear windows have become the UK’s leading company for domestic glass replacement. Customers are no longer needing to replace their complete window frames, instead, now they can join over 320,000 happy customers and have their glass replaced and/or upgraded in an affordable and ethical manner. Remember, a failed glazing unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid any future costly problems.

When talking to Trevor & Wendy Skidmore the owners of Cloudy2Clear Northampton & Oxford it became clear that these values have been held for over 16 years. Since buying the local franchise in 2006 they have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community whilst introducing their 2 sons Lloyd & Ross & daughterin-law Lori into the family business along with Dan, Tom & Jo as demand for their service has grown.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the

unit has failed. Trevor commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”.

For a free quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit www.cloudy2clear.co.uk.

Kitchen design expert wins top award

Simon, pictured, won the category for the ‘Kitchen Design of the Year (under £40k)’ for his design for a local client who had recently renovated their period home and added a contemporary glassfaçade extension.

The kitchen had to occupy parts of both the original building and the new glass extension and Simon worked closely with his client to create a design that united the two areas as a single space, perfect for their large family and for entertaining.

The resulting design, which clearly caught the judges’ eyes, emulates the look and feel of a trendy industrial-style London bar, with contemporary kitchen units alongside the property’s original exposed brickwork.

The Designer Awards celebrate residential and commercial

kitchen, bathroom and architectural design products in the UK and worldwide. Now in its 20th year, the established event attracts world-renowned designers and architects as well as senior professionals within the design industry.

Speaking of his achievement after the awards ceremony in London, Simon said “I am thrilled to have won this award. It was a great project to work on and I’m very proud to have created a wonderful kitchen that my client is delighted with.”

Simon has 20 years of experience in the kitchen industry and opened Discover Kitchen Interior Design in 2019.

Based at Crossinglands Business Park in Aspley Guise he has already built a reputation in the local area for offering bespoke kitchen designs and outstanding

DISCOVER kitchen interior design

customer service. He offers a range of kitchen styles from contemporary German handleless to traditional British painted inframe and shaker styles.

Simon said: “I have a different way of working from many kitchen designers. I won’t simply recreate the layout you already have in your kitchen or take a formulaic approach to your new extension. Instead, I’ll look at your space with fresh eyes, come up with ideas

Simon Cull Award winning kitchen designer

you would never have thought of, and even suggest moving a window or door if it improves the way your kitchen design will work.”

Simon Cull, owner of Discover Kitchen Interior Design based in Aspley Guise has won a top award at the prestigous 2022 Designer Awards.

The winning kitchen had to occupy parts of both the original building and the new glass extension

With New Year plans in progress, we spoke to Solicitor Charlotte Pinkham at Wilson Browne Solicitors about getting your affairs in order with a Will.

Do I really need a Will?

This is the most common question I get asked, especially from married couples as it is often assumed that everything will simply pass to the surviving spouse. However, if you do not have a Will in place, under the rules in England and Wales, you are deemed as passing intestate meaning it is then left to the intestacy rules to determine who benefits from your estate. Another aspect to note is that un-married partners and co-habitees are not recognised under the intestacy rules and so your partner would not benefit from anything in your estate. If you want control over who inherits from your estate and peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be respected after your death, then you need to have a Will in place.

What should I include in my Will?

Your Will should deal with how you wish everything you own to be distributed on your death. This is from the small things such as jewellery, personal belongings and car to the bigger assets such as your property, savings, investments, policies and much more. Within your Will you can state who you wish your beneficiaries to be and the percentage or amount you wish for them to inherit. This can include anyone of your choice from your spouse, children, friends, charities to name a few.

Can I change my Will if I need too?

Yes of course, you can change your Will at any time as long as you have mental capacity and understanding of what you are changing. We understand that your personal circumstances change, and we advise that you review your Will every 4-5 years to ensure it still meets with your current wishes.

When does my Will come into effect?

Once you have approved the contents of your Will, you are then in a position to sign the document. For a Will to be legal you need to sign and date in the presence of two independent witnesses who are also required to sign and provide their details. Once all parties have signed, the Will is legal from that point

How does my Will get put into place?

This is the responsibility of your Executors that you have named in your Will and is why careful

consideration is needed when choosing your Executors. They are responsible for executing your Will and administering your whole estate.

Anyone of your choice can be your Executor and you can have up to four named in your Will. This could be your spouse, partner, children, friends, a firm of Solicitors to name a few.

I have a Will in place so does that mean my estate doesn’t have to go through Probate? Again, this is a common question I often get asked from clients. Probate is the process of proving that a Will is valid and confirming who has authority to administer the estate of the deceased. If the deceased’s estate is valued above a certain amount it may become necessary to obtain a Grant of Probate.

At what age should I think about writing a Will?

The simple answer to this is as long as you are over 18 years old, you are never too young to consider writing a Will. I completely understand that it is not top of many ‘things-to-do lists’ and can be a little daunting to think about death. However, life can be unpredictable and fragile at times, and accidents can and do happen.

I haven’t got much in my estate so why do I need a Will?

When most people think of the purpose of a Will they immediately think about who is going to inherit their property or their money in the bank. However, your Will also allows you peace

of mind that your funeral wishes will be carried out or your children will be placed with your chosen guardians for them or your share of the property is protected from future potential care cost fees of your surviving spouse.

Do I need a Solicitor to write a Will?

The simple answer is no. You do not need a Solicitor to write a Will and can write one yourself. Whilst these are legal, they can lead to future problems. For example, if the wording can be considered ambiguous it could be contested or if it is not signed correctly it will not be deemed valid. By using a Solicitor to write your Will such problems will be addressed and dealt with at the point of drafting the Will rather than when it’s too late to rectify.

How do I go about starting to write my Will? If you now feel it is time to write your Will then contact any member of our experienced Wills and Probate team at Wilson Browne who will be more than happy to help.

Call us on 0800 088 6004 for advice and to start the process today. We can offer telephone calls, Zoom appointments or face to face meetings in any of our six offices. We look forward to meeting you and getting that box on your ‘things-to-do list’ ticked off. www.wilsonbrowne.co.uk

Charlotte Pinkham Solicitor

Join the Ousedale Sixth Form Family

Ousedale Sixth Form has a long tradition of success, consistently achieving excellent results at GCE Advanced Level in all subjects and vocational routes. They have excellent study facilities and all classrooms are fitted with the latest technology. With over 400 pupils in their Sixth Form, Ousedale are proud to offer an ambitious, broad curriculum.

The standards expected and achieved at Ousedale Sixth Form are high, with the combination of personal development and academic achievement. They are proud of their pupils who go on to a wide range of destinations from university to apprenticeships, or employment. Typically, one third of their pupils go on to a Russell Group University and a number go on to study at Oxbridge in addition to Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. Whatever route pupils take, they will be there every step of the way not only from their exceptional Teachers and Pastoral Team but also from their dedicated Careers Team and Widening Opportunities Team.

Committed

Here’s what one of their pupils has to say: “I am currently studying Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Computer Science. I joined Ousedale in Year 12 as an external pupil from another school and what led me to take this decision was the wide variety of subjects on offer in addition to the blocking system which allowed me to take subject combinations which were not possible at other Sixth Forms. Staff are very supportive and passionate in their teaching, which I believe has been integral in my academic success. At Ousedale I also have access to great facilities such as the Study Centre which provides a dedicated area for Sixth Form pupils to be able to work. After I have completed my A-Levels, I intend to go to university and study for a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.” Samuel, Ousedale Sixth Form pupil.

Ousedale’s Sixth Form Open Evening takes place on Thursday 5th January 2023 6pm-8.30pm

To book tickets for the event and view their prospectus, visit their website: www.ousedale.org.uk

Students are: Well prepared to leave Sixth Form and pursue their goals… Sixth Form students feel that sta support them well. Students appreciate the varied sessions on personal development…

teachers use their excellent subject knowledge to ensure that all pupils, and particularly pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.

Samuel - Ousedale Sixth Form pupil

Gargoyles and Gorgeous views

If one were to imagine the quintessentially English village it might look very much like Easton on the Hill. Built largely of blonde local limestone, with roofs of Collyweston slate, the village is nestled into the summit of the Jurassic ridge which runs between the Nene Valley in the south, and the Welland in the north. It’s in Northamptonshire, but only just! And it’s the perfect spot for a winter wander, writes Laura Malpas

Although settlement was certainly present in earlier centuries, Easton on the Hill is first mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, where it was recorded as a thriving settlement of thirty-one households, with three owners listed. These included Eudo, a powerful French noble who acted as steward to both William the Conqueror and his son. Eudo held the land during his lifetime and it may well have been he who started construction of the Church.

After Eudo’s death, Easton reverted to the Crown. Eventually, in the late sixteenth century it ended up in the possession of William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Elizabeth I, as part of the Burghley Estate where it has remained.

Through the years the village has remained lively and picturesque. A stroll around the lanes reveals great views and some remarkable buildings well worth a closer look.

All Saints Church is set in an ancient churchyard, which dates back to Saxon times, pre-conquest. Around the historic gravestones it’s a haven for wildlife, and in springtime it is filled with beautiful flowers, snowdrops, daffodils, primroses, and violets. Summer sees even more native wildflowers.

The churchyard also includes a wonderful Labyrinth and Peace Garden with benches to sit and contemplate the mysteries of life. Nearby are wonderful views over the village and surrounding farmland.

The church itself in a treasure inside and out. Construction started nearly a thousand years ago, and it has been added to over the centuries with many distinctive architectural features. All Saints has one of the finest Perpendicular towers in the area with an amusing feature which has no doubt raised many smiles over the centuries. Perched on top of the South wall of the tower is a cheeky gargoyle. He is identifiably male, and mooning, with a strategically placed hole for diverting the rainwater from the tower roof. Legend tells us that the stoneworker responsible aimed the figure towards the stonemason of Peterborough Cathedral in protest at not being paid. Grotesque figures of this nature were not unusual in medieval churches, and it may well have been an apotropaic figure designed to deflect evil spirits, to cock a snook at the Devil.

Nearby the Church is the Priest’s House. This is free to enter, even though it is one of the smallest properties maintained by

the National Trust. Despite its size, it is a very fine building and worth a visit. It was built in the latter years of the 15th century by Thomas Stokes the Rector. He wanted to guarantee his immortal soul a swift move from Purgatory to Heaven so he endowed the building to house a chantry priest to say daily prayers on his behalf. Following the Reformation it was used as the village schoolroom, and then as a stable. It now contains a small museum of local bygones, and an exhibition on the local Collyweston slate industry. This is particularly interesting as many of the older buildings in Easton are roofed with this material. The Priest’s House is open daily, although you may need to collect the keys from a nearby house and let yourself in.

A few metres away lies Glebe House. It was built as the Rectory in the 1690s to offer rather more comfortable accommodation than the Priest’s House. It’s not open to visitors, but it is a very handsome dwelling to admire from the outside where you will see a plaque commemorating the son of a former occupant.

The Priest’s House

Cheeky gargoyle All Saints Church

This was Captain Lancelot Skynner of the ill-fated HMS Lutine, which sank off the coast of Holland along with its vastly valuable cargo of gold and silver bullion, and the Dutch Crown jewels after repair in London. All but one of the 240 lives of crew and passengers were lost. The ship’s bell was recovered, and hangs still in Lloyds of London, the insurers of the lost cargo, and it is rung once to signal bad news, and twice to announce good news and special occasions. It is believed that the bullion and the Crown Jewels are still waiting to be discovered hidden in the depths.

The village has a special connection to the 1st Battalion, 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, who were stationed in the village during WW2 before deployment to Arnhem where they played an important role in Operation Market Garden. Easton has a pocket park named Spring Close after an underwater spring which fills a beautiful pool of water near to a small monument which commemorates the Polish Paratroopers, along with a seat marking 40 years of peace from 1945 – 1985. Later in 2023 this memorial is due to be refurbished and rededicated with a special ceremony. It is a tranquil spot, with a picnic bench and the perfect place for families to explore the natural surroundings.

Every good day out is made even better with good things to eat and drink, and a picnic is always fun. Easton has several lively options, including the Blue Bell Inn which dates back some four hundred years, and the excellent Birch Tree Café. This is a special place, more than just a café as it is partly staffed with young adults with Down’s Syndrome. It provides a place where these young people can work, socialise, and develop life skills as a valued part of the community. When I visited there

You will enjoy a friendly welcome at the Birch Tree Café

were dance classes going on, and lots of people enjoying delicious cake and snacks, beautifully prepared and served. If you’re visiting by car, cycling or walking this is a great place to stop for a break as there is plenty of space indoors and out, and parking too, including bike racks. And wifi! Do consider supporting this vibrant community hub providing real opportunities to give skills and combat loneliness.

If you’re interested in walking, there’s an excellent four miler on the ‘Northamptonshire Walks’ website, Walk 74, the Easton on the Hill Circular, and of course the Jurassic Way passes through the area. The Alltrails website has a good circular bike ride too.

For more information about visiting, please visit:

eastononthehill.com nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/leicestershirenorthamptonshire/priests-house-eastonon-the-hill

www.birchtreecafe.co.uk

northamptonshirewalks.co.uk/about/ walk-74-got-your-passport-ready-eastonon-the-hill/

alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/ lincolnshire/stamford-and-easton-onthe-hill-circular

Church Street view

‘Our spirits are ageless’

It’s a pick-me-up about taking risks, finding love and making the most of second chances. In May, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will play at the Derngate Theatre here in Northampton. Hayley Mills won’t be among the cast when it comes to town, but she is among the stellar line-up doing justice to the stage adaptation which visits Milton Keynes Theatre this January. She spoke with Pulse Magazine’s Sammy Jones.

“I

t’s a lovely, lovely show,” Hayley says with conviction, “It’s very positive, the people are real. It’s life affirming, and that’s why I really wanted to do it.

“I felt we need to be reminded about human beings and our resilience... and how you never really, until the day you die, stop discovering things about life and about yourself, and I mean good and positive things.

“However old you are, as I say in the show, whether you are 18 or 80 you still can find love.”

Hayley is clearly smitten by Deborah Moggach’s work.

“I wanted to do it instantly when I read it,” she admits.

I imagine that doesn’t happen too often?

“No, it doesn’t actually. But I feel this is what the world needs now,” she says with a little laugh.

“Apart from the seven people in the show in their 70s, there are much younger Indian actors who are fabulous and gorgeous and a joy to watch dancing. It lifts us all up actually – the people on the stage and the people in the audience.

“It’s a real tonic.”

Hayley plays Evelyn in the show, the role made famous by Judi Dench on the big screen, but she will step away from the character at the end of February.

“I will have done four months and four months touring is enough,” Hayley thinks.

“You get a bit repetitive, you have to be very careful and diligent that you don’t just repeat yourself, you have to stay 100% focused all the time to keep it alive and fresh, and to keep it spontaneous so the audience feels that you’ve never said that line before, and you’ve just had that thought for the first time.

“It’s a good challenge, but also the thing about a long tour is you learn so much about the character you are playing – even after weeks and weeks you will suddenly understand a line

they say in a completely new way. You start joining up the dots in a really interesting way. I realised that just after the 10th week of doing it.”

Off stage, there is a real feeling of camaraderie among the cast that only comes with a long stint on the road.

“It brings the company very much together – we all depend on each other so much more, we all get to feel like a family and we’re all experiencing the same thing away from home; funny old digs, lumpy mattresses and all those things...

“When we get together at a new theatre, it’s a new challenge, new dressing rooms and new audiences, but after a while you have to stop and refresh. For me, the end of February will definitely be the right time to leave.”

Food can be a bit of a faff when you are on the road, too – not least if you try for a plant-based diet, as many of Hayley’s family members do.

“What I found is that touring is very hard for vegetarians. Very hard,” she emphasises, “I eat fish, so I am not strictly a vegetarian, because I haven’t got the energy. I always lose a lot of weight when I tour too, and that’s not particularly healthy.

“When you are travelling you can’t carry your olive oil, salt and pepper and condiments....

“Sometimes you are far away from shops and don’t have cooking facilities or time to go shopping.”

The conversation turns to the bigger picture, and the difficulties faced by touring actors.

“It’s not very easy in this country, touring,” Hayley says, “Theatres are struggling to keep their heads above the water and actors are not served well in terms of subsistence and accommodation.

It has diminishing returns. But we love the business we are in and we don’t want to make it impossible for producers to put on great productions.”

When we speak, Hayley has been colouring up the stage in Woking – close enough to head home post-performance, and her partner has been dishing up the nourishment.

“But a lot of the time you live on sandwiches from Tesco...”

Hayley comes from a family who have been responsible for entertaining generation after another; her father John Mills is one of this country’s most beloved actors; her mother Mary Hayley Bell worked as an actress, and was also revered as a writer, most notably for Whistle Down the Wild. Hayley’s sister Juliet is an actress, and it was Hayley’s aunt, Annette, who accompanied Muffin the Mule on television.

Despite that family pedigree, or perhaps because of it, Hayley admits to struggling with self-doubt around her acting abilities for a long time.

“It was different when I was a child, it was very instinctive and I loved doing it,” she told me of those early years, “It was only when I got older and started judging that I became self conscious.

“But that self awareness and judgement, although it’s painfully excruciating and difficult and can impede you, it can also be the spur - it can be the thing that drives you.

“It’s just one of those things – it’s like being thrown off a horse, you’ve got to get right back up again. Nobody’s life is one success after another...it’s like a temperature on a chart, it goes up and down, the peaks and valleys of life.

“We learn more when we go into the doldrums, than we do when everything seems great.”

Despite huge hits on the small and big screens, with hindsight she would have opted to go to drama school.

“When I went into the theatre, I had no technique, and you learn that. It’s taken me over the years to understand the balance and the timing, when the audience is bored, or restless or enjoying it. It is almost like a dance, you can’t just go on the stage and play the scene and not be aware of ‘them out there,’” she says, mentioning the audience, “Even though it should appear that you are completely involved in the scene you are playing. You have to have that sixth sense.

I think I always had that because of working in front of the camera.

“The camera was my audience, but it was also my friend. I wasn’t stressed, I wasn’t scared, I liked that. I knew it was watching and I knew the camera understood what I was doing.”

Still, if she needed advice, in her father she had the perfect ear to bend.

Hayley Mills, Paul Nicholas and Rula Lenska - leading the feel-good comedy of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“He never complicated things, he always said ‘Just be truthful,’ like Polonius’ wonderful speech in Hamlet; ‘To thine own self be true,’ and that is true as an actor; to have to be truthful.”

And you need to remember a few basics...

“Speak up, and don’t bump into the furniture, and remember there are lots of deaf people at the back of the stalls and get your voice out there.”

What about advice of a more personal nature?

“When I went to him with personal troubles, most of the time he would spend a long time thinking about what I was saying, and then he would just say, ‘Do the right thing.’ His advice was very simple, and sometimes I would get very frustrated,” she laughs, “...the right thing for who? What is the right thing? That’s what we struggle to find, isn’t it?

“At the end of the day, life is a big puzzle...”

During her formative years, Hayley worked extensively with Walt Disney on films including Pollyanna, The Parent Trap and That Darn Cat!

She remembers Walt as “a very decent man, a good man. He wasn’t exploitative, he didn’t make inappropriate advances or any of that.”

Aa a youngster with a successful career in movies (she made her first, Tiger Bay, at the age of 12), Hayley’s time was spent juggling film sets with boarding school. It was a unique position.

“Trying to integrate everyday life in a boarding school and enormous amounts of fame is a tricky thing – like two very different horses galloping in opposite directions,” she explains.

Her experience with Walt Disney is poles apart from the industry today, which seems to be a far less salubrious place, judging by the stream of stories newspapers delight in sharing.

“Kids today? Oh god, talk about a minefield. It really is. I think social media is a horrible invention, frankly. I don’t think it is helpful at all. I think relationships were much better when we called each other on the phone and wrote letters.

“Emails are ok, but I hate social media – it is fake and it is phoney. No holds barred.

“Because they are in the safety of their home, people can say these things online. It’s a bit like when people get into their cars –because they are in the safety of their metal vehicle, they can shout and scream and be rude to other drivers because they can get away with it.

“We are insulated in our cars, and we are insulated on social media and it is full of hypocrisy.

“As you say, it’s vitriolic and it makes people feel even more isolated and like everyone else is having a wonderful life and everyone else is so popular...”

In case you’ve not understood the tone, she really doesn’t like social media.

“It’s b*llshit, it’s dreadful,” she announces, a profanity that sounds even more cutting coming from Hayley’s mouth.

“But as far as navigating through the business, young people have to be very strong minded and very well grounded and to have come from a very strong and secure family background, I think – to get through it, and to have their values intact and stand by what they believe and know to be right.

“It’s terribly difficult, and I admire those that manage it.

“It is so easy to get swept off to the unreal world of fame, money, success and the whole thing.”

Rula Lenska and Paul Nicholas, two other actors with equally long and successful

careers lead the cast with Hayley in The Great Exotic Marigold Hotel

But make no mistake, this is a theatre group who are uniformly young at heart.

“That’s something else I say in the play; we may actually be old as far as the years go in number, but inside we are exactly the same, and that’s the thing about the people who have travelled to India for all their different reasons to live at the Marigold Hotel. It gives them an opportunity to rediscover their intrinsic self.

“Our spirits are ageless,” Hayley insists, “We may feel ill and sad and disappointed about life, but the spirit burning inside is ageless, and eternal, of course.

“I think the play connects to that quality in every single member of the audience, who feel that about themselves and who feel joyful and hopeful.

“It’s tremendously positive and uplifting, and people love that...”

> The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel plays at Milton Keynes Theatre Tuesday, January 24 - Saturday, January 28, 2023. To book tickets visit atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

...We may feel ill and sad and disappointed about life, but the spirit burning inside is ageless, and eternal, of course.”

Richenda Carey as Dorothy and Nishad More as Sonny Kapoor with Hayley

Rula Lenska as Madge, Marlene Sidaway as Muriel and Hayley Mills as Evelyn

Help enhance facilities for bereaved parents at Northampton General Hospital

Northamptonshire Health Charity is proud to be supporting Northampton General Hospital by launching their Daisy Suite Appeal. The independent charity, which funds equipment and projects for local NHS hospitals and community services above and beyond what the NHS provides funding for, is fundraising to enhance the facilities that support families who experience the devastating loss of a baby.

With your donations and fundraising you can help to create a dedicated space that offers privacy, within the maternity area but away from the day unit and the wards. This new space will support the work of the Bereavement Midwives in follow up appointments with families, by providing an improved area to give the practical and emotional support needed in the weeks and months following the loss of a baby.

Northampton General Hospital Bereavement Midwives, Rachel and Rachael said, “Each year we care for over 100 families who suffer the heartbreak of losing their baby. We provide a safe space that feels protected for delivery and care whilst in hospital. Having a dedicated space to continue this protection for follow up care for families, will further enhance the support we provide and make such a difference to these families, at what is a very distressing time.”

The Bereavement Midwives are working closely with the leadership team at Northampton General on their vision. With the help of Northamptonshire Health Charity and your fundraising support, they will be able to create a compassionate, much-needed space for bereaved parents and their families.

Alison McCulloch, Head of Fundraising said, “At present, bereaved parents often return to the maternity day unit and wards for follow up appointments and aftercare, a place where they were first supported following the distressing, heart-breaking news about their baby. You can perhaps imagine how upsetting this can be, adding to the overwhelming sense of sadness and loss families are feeling. With your donations and fundraising to our Daisy Suite Appeal you can help us make these changes.

We thank everyone who has already supported the bereavement midwives with donations to the bereavement suite, previously called Forget Me Not Appeal. All donations made to the Forget Me Not Appeal will benefit the Daisy Suite Appeal. We ask that you please get involved and make a donation to help really make a difference.”

The bereavement midwifery team have chosen the daisy flower as the name for the suite as the daisy symbolizes innocence and purity. According to an old Celtic legend, whenever an infant died, God sprinkled daisies over the earth as a symbol of remembrance of parents’ babies. On a spiritual level, daisy and aster flowers represent spiritual faith and the eternal life of the soul.

One of the charity’s major fundraisers for the Daisy Suite Appeal is a local family who set up Team Daisy in memory of their daughter Daisy Chalmers and to offer support to other families in times of need. Daisy’s family have been fundraising and raising awareness about Baby Loss for four years since the loss of Daisy. They are currently involved in a number of challenges and events to support this appeal, including putting a team in the Isle of White Ultramarathon challenge in 2023. Could you take on a challenge or hold an event to raise money for the appeal?

> Find out how you can get involved with the Daisy Suite Appeal and make a difference for bereaved parents and their families via the charity’s website: northamptonshirehealthcharity.co.uk/ appeals/daisy-suite-appeal-ngh/

Current quiet room next to waiting room in maternity day unit

Where Daisy Suite will be located

Space to enjoy in your home

Transform your home with a bespoke garden room created by specialist firm TOJO Building Services.

The friendly team at the Northamptonshirebased business use their experience to meet the needs of clients looking for additional living space. For some it could be a home office or gym while others are looking for a games room, space for a hobby or simply an additional space for a family to enjoy.

The firm offers a free, no obligation consultation to enable a designer to visit a client’s home to talk through requirements including the practicalities of how to turn dreams into reality.

The team will talk through options for the space before work gets underway and suggest

designs to an agreed budget. A garden room, unlike many other building works, can often be built without the need to seek planning permission.

Extras like a decking area or patio can be included as part of the package. Excellent insulation and the installation of a heater means the space can be used all year round.

Managing director Pete Anderson, who heads up the business, first found a passion for building when he was a lad working for his family’s building business. His wish to be at the heart of managing projects remains the driving force behind the success of TOJO Building Services.

An extensive team of specialist trades people enable the firm to deliver on their commitments.

Pete, who takes pride in being a builder ‘through and through’ and still like to get his hands dirty, said: “We can work with clients from the concept stage and help with ideas or, if a project is already in the planning stages, work from architect plans.

“We don’t believe that we are just builders who work to a

plan and add an extension to someone’s house. We get to understand our client’s desires for their home and created the perfect additional living space for the whole family. It isn’t just a house, it’s a home.”

Contact TOJO Services to start your journey to having more space to enjoy in your home email info@tojoservices.com or vitis the website: www.tojogardenescapes.co.uk

A garden room, unlike other building work, can often be built without the need to seek planning permission

Dr. Diana Rose Head of Family Law

The advantages of mediation to solve a family dispute

‘All conflicts are capable of peaceful resolution,’ said Nelson Mandela, although it may be hard to envisage this when you are in the middle of a family dispute arising from a relationship breakdown.

NORTHAMPTON

29 Billing Road Northampton NN1 5DQ 01604 622101

KETTERING

18 Brooklands Court Kettering Venture Park Kettering NN15 6FD 01536 523434

bmtclaw.co.uk

“Seeking to win at all costs is not usually the best outcome, as most families will need to preserve some channels of communication,” says Diana Rose, a Solicitor at Borneo Martell Turner Coulston. “Mediation provides an important alternative to dragging a dispute through the courts and it can be particularly effective at reducing conflict and animosity within a family by independently brokering a compromise.”

What is mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary process that you and your former partner attend in order to discuss your problems and see if a solution can be reached. Mediation can be commenced at any time, however, if you wish to bring your case to court then normally you will be required to attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) before making your application.

The mediator will facilitate discussion between you and your former partner. As a neutral party, they will allow each of you to air your views and can help see the other person’s perspective.

What types of disputes can mediation help?

Mediation can be helpful in resolving a number of different types of family disputes, which would otherwise need to go to court, such as:

• disputes about where your children will live;

• how much time your children will spend with each of you;

• disagreement over a child’s upbringing, such as choice of school or extra-curricular activities;

• medical treatment for your children;

• separation of finances;

• what time grandparents and extended family can spend with your children; or

effectively forcing a solution onto you and your family. This always comes with a risk, as you lose control over what the outcome will be. It may make more sense for you and your partner to mediate and compromise on issues you are comfortable with.

• More cost-effective. Mediation can result in significant cost savings. To begin with, both you and your former partner will pay the one mediator. This is in contrast to you both having to pay for your individual independent legal advice via your own solicitors.

• More creative solutions. Quite often mediating couples will have more time and knowledge of their own circumstances to think up solutions that a judge simply would not have the time for.

• Speedier results. While mediation is a process, and how long it takes varies, it tends to be quicker than issuing court proceedings. It can also yield immediate results.

• Keeping communication channels open. Mediation is an open process, where both you and your former partner will be encouraged to discuss the issues you are experiencing, and face them head on.

• Less conflict and animosity. This tends to result in amicable resolutions with less conflict going forward. There is an openness between mediating couples that you tend not to find during a court process.

Does mediation work for everyone?

Mediation is not for everyone. If you have suffered abuse at the hands of your partner then you are unlikely to want to participate in a mediation process with them.

Both people need to want to reach a solution and must be prepared to talk openly and make compromises. If your former partner is not willing, then mediation is unlikely to succeed.

How we can help

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.

• arrangements for the family home.

What are the advantages?

Mediation offers several advantages over going to court:

• Avoids a court forcing a solution on your family. If you proceed via court, a judge will order what is to happen,

Image Licenced by Ingram Images

Borneo Martell Turner Coulston have divorce law specialists in both Northampton and Kettering offices.

Acharity that recruits volunteers to help visually impaired people boost their confidence and wellbeing by getting out of their home and joining in with community activities is seeking more kind-hearted residents to join its ranks.

Most people have heard of the Guide Dogs organisation and the four-legged guides it trains to help those with limited or no sight. Guide Dogs also runs the national My Sighted Guide service, where a volunteer is partnered up with someone who has a visual impairment.

“It’s a fabulous service to be part of and we receive great feedback from our volunteers,” the charity says.

Interest in the service from visually impaired customers has doubled since the pandemic. Guide Dogs, which is part of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, is looking for volunteers to devote two or three hours at a time to meet the increase in demand.

The charity offers a range of sighted guiding training that teaches how to guide someone with confidence, skill and empathy.

Available on the charity’s website www.guidedogs.org.uk, a short Top 10 Tips for Sighted Guiding video outlines the basics of sighted guiding.

We need YOU: Sight charity seeks volunteers to meet growing need for its service

aid, sighted guiding

Guide Dogs also offer two more detailed training programmes.

Introduction to Sighted Guiding Training is for those wanting to learn more about basic guiding techniques. Friends and Family Sighted Guide Training is for those who want to help a loved one with a vision impairment and to meet people with similar experiences.

It is not essential to be a car user. Full training will be given in Sight Loss awareness and Sighted Guiding.

>> Find out more online at www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteering where there is also an online application. Or call the Guide Dogs GuideLine on 0800 781 1444.

Elizabeth Diamond Rose

Elizabeth Diamond Rose

is a transformational coach and healer helping everyday people live a happier, healthier, more fulfilled life.

is a transformational coach and healer helping everyday people live a happier, healthier, more fulfilled life.

Highly trained and experienced, Elizabeth has worked for a number of years, with many clients across the globe, empowering them to overcome the emotional, physical and mental dilemmas they face.

Highly trained and experienced, Elizabeth has worked for a number of years, with many clients across the globe, empowering them to overcome the emotional, physical and mental dilemmas they face.

Physical, Mental & Emotional Coaching

If you are ready to embrace change, invest in transformational coaching, invest in yourself and start to build yourself a brighter, diamond life.

Call 07760 994251 info@diamond-coaching.co.uk

Much like learning how to perform first

is a useful life skill that helps those in need of its benefit and those providing it, says the charity Guide Dogs.

The charity offers a range of sighted guiding training that teaches how to guide someone with confidence, skill and empathy

If you love them, get them neutered!

The current cost of living crisis is resulting in people giving up their pets. In turn, rescue centres are struggling to copeand yet some of the heartache could be avoided. Animals in Need's Nicole Webb told Pulse's Sammy Jones about the ‘problem’ with guinea pigs...

The biggest frustration when writing about Animals in Need, the Northamptonshire-set rescue centre, is that so many of the problems faced by the dedicated staff and volunteers there could be avoided if people would only take responsibility. There is a reason why you are asked to neuter your pets; it prevents rising populations in unwanted animals and can protect against some serious health complications.

But still, so many people choose not to do so, and that simply compounds the issue.

If you've not got your animal neutered? Then frankly, you are part of the problem.

“One of the main problems with guinea pigs ending up in rescues is that people are not neutering their animals,” agrees Nicole,

“It is so important because it stops unwanted litters. If people would play their part, it would massively reduce the number of animals ending up in centres like ours.”

Twenty-two year old Nicole has worked at the centre for around a year now, and during that time the Little Irchester hub has re-homed more than 170 of the creatures.

Sadly, AIN deals with a never ending cycle of unwanted furries who look sweet, but who are then given up when the kids decide that actually, feeding Bluebell or Ginger after school isn't nearly as much fun as sitting on their phones talking to their pals. It's heartbreaking for the animals who often live out their lives with little stimulation, largely forgotten about at the bottom of the garden. They rely on us, and we need to do our best by them.

“We currently have 19 guinea pigs under our care and another four in foster homes,” Nicole said.

Those seeking forever homes at the charity include a trio of handsome young boys called Gary, Robbie and Mark, and a duo who go by the names of Ronnie and Reggie.

“Some people assume they are easy pets for children but that is not always the case - they are a big commitment and can live for up to six or seven years - they require lots of care and time.

“Just because they are small animals, it doesn't mean they require less attention.”

If you believe that a guinea pig is the right addition to your family, you need to be sure that you can cater for their needs – before you open your home to one.

And space is a very real part of that consideration: “They require lots of that as they are very active little animals and like to move around like the rest of us. They need fresh food, water and vegetables daily. A main part of their diet is hay which helps with their digestive system and wears their teeth down as they constantly grow,” Nicole said.

All guinea pigs also need access to a nice grassed area where they can enjoy the warmer days – so none of that horrid plastic stuff, please!

“Toys and chews are very important for them as they will also help with wearing their teeth down and can also act as a boredom breaker, but don't give them plastic toys which

Did you know? Five piggy facts...

Guinea pigs like to party hard! They can be active for up to 20 hours a day!

Good hay is vital for their diet, as are leafy greens – broccoli and kale aren't just good for us, they are great for your pets too. Carrots are perfect treats, but don't feed them too many – the high sugar content won't do them any good.

These little animals are highly sociable, and they like to chatter too! They make several sounds and will even coo to comfort one another.

Babies are called pups and they are fully mature in three months – but they will keeping growing until they reach a year old.

Contrary to what their name indicates, they don't come from Guinea and they aren't related to pigs!

can be swallowed and cause problems. It is very important to give your guinea pig some hideouts to give them a place to sleep and to escape to for some peace and quiet.”

Because just like us, sometimes they just want to be left alone!

House maintenance is another 'must do'.

“They need to be spot cleaned daily and fully cleaned at least once a week, or as frequently as required,” and 'can't be bothered' is no excuse for failing any animal.

At a time when our purse strings are being squeezed harder than ever, you need to factor in the guinea pig's needs and whether you will be comfortable enough to meet them.

“Think about possible vet bills should they become unwell, as well as the general upkeep, which includes the things I made mention of - bedding, hay, food and vegetables,” Nicole advised, “They must also have the correct size accommodation as they require lots of space to roam around and stretch their legs. “You also need to make sure you take the time to interact with them daily which helps to create a bond.”

We keep talking about guinea pigs in the singular form, but actually these sociable little beings relish company and should always be kept in pairs, or groups.

“They can be kept in same sex pairs such as two males or two females, a male and a female together or if you have a group of three or more, you should go for one male with other females.

“But again they must be neutered to prevent unwanted litters.”

Nicole is clearly a fan of the the furry piggies, or cavies as they are sometimes known, and she struggles to find any downside to owning the rodents as pets – so long as you heed that important advice she has shared: “One of the best things about guinea pigs are their different characters and I love the squeaky sound they make especially when they are excited!

“I find it really difficult to find a bad thing to say about them as they make lovely pets but their homes can get a little bit messy - but that daily spot clean sorts that out for them.”

Despite being relatively new to the charity, Nicole is now heavily invested in the care of AIN's rescued cats, rabbits, rodents and the guinea pigs.

She is making a big difference to those animals who wind up in her care, as AIN's manager Annie said: “She is such a kind, hardworking and totally dedicated young lady. She is the perfect addition to our wonderful team.”

And we're sure that Gary, Robbie and Mark would squeak their agreement!

Want to adopt?

If you would like to adopt a guinea pig, or any animal from the charity, your first port of call is to check the website: animals-in-need.org

If you find an animal you would like to meet, drop an email to admin@animals-in-need.org to arrange an appointment.

If all goes well, you can then reserve the animal, followed by a home check.

Adopting a guinea pig costs £20 for a female and £40 for a male.

The extra cost for a Mr.Pig takes into account neutering which all male pigs undergo before re-homing.

Nicole giving some attention to Maggie (left)

Walking back to happiness

The new year is almost here – and the best resolution you can make is to put your health first, and that includes your foot health. When you are ready to take that first step, Healthy Feet MK are waiting to help...

Let’s be honest, the majority of us don’t afford our feet the respect they deserve. They work hard for us, and in return they get a cursory trim and are plonked inside a heavy boot, or crammed into those ill-fitting heels. We moan when they ache, but in the main don’t really do anything to keep them comfy.

To be fair, I have spent lots of time and money on my feet – over the past four years I have tried a variety of fairly pricey over-the-counter anti-fungal treatments with little or no success, as I tried to take control of an infection which has been present for much longer.

Those nail brushes that promise results ‘in as little as seven days’ haven’t worked even after months of treatment. Painting a liquid onto a massively thickened nail will do nothing – it needs to penetrate the nail plate, and it can’t.

It took me years, and a lot of wasted money, to understand that.

My doctor offered oral medication, while warning of the potential for nasty side effects, and limited success. I had to admit defeat; my nasty nails were here to stay.

But a chance glance at a Facebook post back in the summer changed all that.

Those ‘before’ and ‘after’ images you see that look too good to be true (and often are) grabbed my attention.

But this Facebook post was from a local business, so I decided to pick up the phone and inquire about this revolutionary new laser treatment they were promoting. It might make for a good ‘feeture’!

A couple of weeks later, I’d kicked off my flipflops at Healthy Feet MK and my nastiness was on show before business owners, mother and daughter Liz and Kirsty, who have 16 years of shared experience in foot health.

While I cringed at the state of my feet, they spoke about why, no matter how bad the state of yours, you should take steps towards better foot health.

“Your feet are considered to be the foundation of your body, so it’s important to take care of them,” Kirsty said, “Poor foot health can lead to all sorts of problems – and not just for the elderly.

“If you have a build up of hard skin or a painful corn or verruca you might walk in a different way to avoid the pain, which can cause issues with your joints or your back. And complications

Before treatment...

The well-appointed treatment space at Healthy Feet MK in their new premises at The Woodshed, at Pury Hill Business Park

in people with diabetes are common – and can be due to poor blood flow and nerve damage. “Regular visits allow us to monitor their feet and keep them safe.”

But as anyone struggling with nasty foot issues will agree, getting those tootsies out for a professional assessment isn’t easy. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

“We don’t judge,” Liz said, “Fungal and thickened nails, hard skin and verrucae are the most common foot and nail complaints that people come to us with. We pride ourselves on making our clients feel comfortable, and we can promise that whatever you are struggling with, we will have seen it before – and probably much worse!

“We want our clients to leave feeling better about themselves. Our vision with the clinic was to create a space that is ‘in-between’ a doctor’s surgery and a beauty salon.”

This new Lunula Laser treatment that I have signed up for is used specifically for tackling fungal infections, known as onychomycosis, and it seems to make turning nasty nails into nice ones a breeze.

“We were becoming increasingly frustrated with the amount of clients we had with fungal nails who had paid a lot of money for over the counter treatments that weren’t working,” Liz said, “Some had been to the GP and been offered oral medication, but they weren’t happy to take it because of the toxicity on their livers.

“After lots of research, and based on results proven in clinical studies, we decided to invest in the Lunula Laser – we liked the fact that it’s a cold laser with very little risk of side effects and it’s completely pain free.”

The treatment is simple – you slide your foot into the machine and let the laser do its thing while you sit and have a natter. One beam is anti microbial which kills the fungus, and a second redirects blood flow to assist the immune system to beat the bugs. It takes 12 minutes to treat each foot, per session and is completely painless.

As few as four treatments can be enough to banish the infection. The machines aren’t widely available and it’s not cheap; the cost is £150 per treatment. But if, like me, your feet are affecting your confidence, spending £600 to banish the nastiness and regain confidence is absolutely worth every last penny.

The laser tackles the fungus and stimulates new clear nail growth, with no adverse reactions to the nail bed, toe or foot. It can also help to repair and recondition damaged nails, and it works with fingernails too.

Sessions should take place monthly, and it can make a real difference – and it really has for me.

Kirsty took images before each treatment, and the before and after comparisons are quite startling. My disfigured nails, ravaged by infection for so long, are already returning to normal, and as the nails continue to grow out, the results should become even more apparent. But those images (pictured left) tell you everything you need to know right now.

Being honest, I definitely didn’t expect to see such a marked result. I still don’t like my feet, but I do keep swiping those before and after pictures on my phone, because I love seeing normal nails again. I know that this coming summer, for the first time in years, when I pull on my flip-flops I won’t feel ashamed – and that feeling is priceless.

Liz (left) says, ‘We pride ourselves on making our clients feel comfortable’

‘Your feet are considered to be the foundation of your body’ says Kirsty (right)

Anyone struggling with onychomycosis is prone to reinfection, and a once a year ‘top up’ under the machine might be necessary.

At Healthy Feet MK, I’m not exceptional – just another Lunula success.

“We have had amazing results so far, and have lots of happy clients who thought they were all out of treatment options,” Kirsty said.

The business has just moved to new premises offering better access for all, and can now be found in The Woodshed, at Pury Hill Business Park – a 10 mile distance from both Milton Keynes and Northampton. Clients also have access to an on-site cafe, and can enjoy trail walks in the beautiful countryside, which is another bonus of booking an appointment –you can enjoy a little ‘me time’, too.

Kirsty and Liz advise clients to visit them every six to eight weeks for treatments or simply to maintain foot health.

“We visit a lot of elderly people who wish they’d looked after their feet more when they were younger, but it’s never too late to start,” Liz encourages, “Regular appointments help us to get on top of any issues before they become too problematic. That said, we’d rather people visit us as much or as little as they are able to, rather than not at all.”

While I’m grateful that Healthy Feet MK were on hand to help me, I still don’t get the attraction of working with feet all day.

“We get asked about this a lot,” Kirsty smiles, “For us, it’s not necessarily about the feet themselves, but more about the positive difference we can make to a client’s confidence and comfort.”

Healthy Feet MK also offers a wide range of routine treatments, from dealing with hard skin and diabetic foot care, to corn enucleation, and the following pedicures, reconstructions and treatments...

Medical Pedicures

A relaxing treatment which incorporates a routine foot care treatment with a foot soak, exfoliation, cuticle softener and foot massage.

Nail reconstruction

A popular treatment using a hybrid flexible gem to construct a temporary nail which helps to cover any that the client may feel conscious about –perhaps due to fungus or damage. It’s a great option for a special occasion, such as a holiday.

Plasma verruca treatment

It is virtually pain free and no paddings or dressings are required. The plasma pen works on a verruca by disrupting the virus that hides in the skin. It will evaporate the skin cells around it, which prompts an immune response from the body to fight the virus and clear the verruca.

They’ve succeeded on both counts. For more information about the Lunula Laser treatment and to see how Liz and Kirsty can help you, visit healthyfeetmk.co.uk

From dreary to dewy –essentials that your skin

will love!

As we welcome in a new year, it’s a good time to stop, take check and put yourselves first! Here are some skin essentials to get you off to a flying start...

Farmacy’s Green Clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm is such a hit that Sephora sells a jar every two minutes! It’s an adaptable little tub; perfect for all skin types, its gentle formula delivers high-performing results – stubborn makeup and pollution residue doesn’t stand a chance.

Green Clean has sunflower and ginger root oils to cleanse and nourish the skin, moringa extract to refresh and banish impurities and papaya extract to exfoliate.

Green Clean – guaranteed to clean up!

RRP: £32 Get it: spacenk.com

Are you suffering with irritating dry skin? Farmacy’s Honey Savior is an all-in-one skin repair salve, capable of tackling nuisances on the face, body, hands and lips, thanks to an intense combination of honey, propolis and royal jelly.

Use it to target problem areas, or as a daily part of your skin care routine - and it’s kind on the finances too; a little goes a long way!

RRP: £32 Get it: spacenk.com

If you spend all of your time in an air-conditioned office, work from home with the heating on (less likely now, we know) or have to deal with the great outdoors and all that blows your way, your skin might benefit from a little light misting every once in a while – and Heritage Store’s Rosewater & Glycerin hydrating facial mist is a quick and easy treat. Perfect for dry and combination skin, it helps to hydrate and refresh, while locking in necessary moisture – reach for a spritz and go from drear to dewy!

RRP: £11.49

Get it: Superdrug branches at centre:mk and Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre

When we think of dry skin, we seldom think of that on our head, but our scalp needs TLC, and Aveda’s brand new vegan Scalp Solutions Collection soothes irritations, and fights the look of premature scalp aging using plant power. An overnight scalp renewal serum will get to work while you clock up your Zzzz’s, but the range also includes an Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, balancing shampoo and replenishing conditioner and protective mist, and don’t forget the scalp brush.

RRP: Prices vary per product Get it: Exclusively at Selfridges from January 6, and nationwide from February 7. Also at aveda.co.uk

The winter chill is just as damaging for our skin as the summer sun, and when you add in that none-too-healthy festive diet we’ve all just enjoyed, our skin is possibly showing the effects!

Lush’s Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask is full of summer goodness; chamomile, seaweed and rose are among the ingredients helping to soothe, cleanse and relax tired skin. As it’s packed with fresh ingredients, it will need to jostle for space in your fridge and be used within 28 days. Instead of reaching for the naughties in the chiller, reach for this tub for a cool way to softer skin.

RRP: £10 Get it: Lush in centre:mk, at the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton, or online at lush.com/uk

of sales

With every New Year comes the temptation to apply ‘fresh, new start’ energy to all that we preside over; to reinvent ourselves a little, from diet to looks and habit. But, with our wardrobes we can linger a little longer in last year’s jewels, as the trends that ruled 2022 are set to stay for 2023.

Great news for those who enjoy shopping the January sales: Autumn/Winter’s sparkles will work for this year’s Spring/ Summer, too. According to the catwalks at Chloe and Chanel, sequins, feathers, fringing, and all things fun and frivolity will be ‘in’ again – so keep those party pieces you marked the end of the year with to hand. Anything in last season’s ‘it’ colour, silver, should be on stand-by too, a la the looks that lined Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Missoni and more’s runway.

Dressing to impress will also include tops and gowns that drape around, swaddle, or secure the body with ruching – just like those we saw last Summer. So go see Saint Laurent, Schiaparelli and Balenciaga’s SS23 for inspiration, and keep an eye out for asymmetrical silhouettes – as seen Alexander McQueen and Prada’s latest collections.

Also due to reign supreme this Summer, is all things grunge. Go for moody prints and plaids you’ve got left over from Christmas, and should you find a flannel shirt somewhere in the sales? Snap that up – it’ll be the crowning piece in your closet come Springtime, when we’re all trying to channel Queen of grunge, Kate Moss who wore a leather version at Bottega Veneta’s showcase.

River Island Jacket was £95 Trousers was £50

Leeks and borlotti soup

Leeks can be a very underestimated vegetable, but being sweet and tasting a little less than an onion, it can be used as a side dish on its own, braised for example, or added to other ingredients like in this recipe. I used tinned borlotti but you can use fresh cannellini beans and cook a day in advance.

METHOD

1. In a frying pan add your guanciale and let it crisp up. There is no need to use oil because there will be plenty coming out of the meat. If however you can’t find guanciale and use pancetta, add 2 tbsp of olive oil to the pan. Once the guanciale is nice and crisp, set aside in a plate leaving the oil in the pan. Fry your bread cubes and let drain on some kitchen towel.

2. To the same pan add your leek and let sauté. Once it is nicely coated in the oil, add your beans and a little at a time, add the water from the tin and cook both until softened. If you have used cannellini beans, add water as necessary. You could serve the soup like so or I took half out and puréed and then added again to the pan. I didn’t add any salt, but depending on your taste you could hence is optional in the recipe.

3. Serve with the crispy guanciale, croutons and a drizzle of olive oil.

Experience, service and quality

Local craftsman Lee Duggan is the driving force behind Stork Renovate a new home renovation business that is set to leave it’s expert mark on properties in the area.

If walls could talk then who knows what secrets may be revealed. Some secrets will stay hidden but through skilled craftsman Lee Duggan there are many homes which can now share their story.

The launch of Stork Renovate starts a new chapter for Lee’s business, after six years working under the trade name LD Home Improvements Ltd. With a renewed focus on domestic and commercial renovations the business has a new look, new name and a new drive to work with clients looking to transform their homes.

“In the early days I was working on my own but since then I have grown the business and want to focus more on renovation projects,” said Lee, who is proud of his track record in home improvements from ensuite revamps to kitchen makeovers.

Now, with an experienced, skilled team, Lee is looking forward to taking on larger projects including more complete home renovations. The team cover all trades from groundworks, brickwork and plastering to the final brush strokes. The only work undertaken by subcontractors is electricity and gas with Lee project managing the complete process.

Lee will also be looking to work with architects for Stork Renovate to manage their high-end projects for them from end to end.

This starts with potential clients discussing ideas with Lee who can not only source appropriate materials but understands what can and cannot be done in homes which can date back to the 1930s, Victorian era and even earlier decades.

“Some clients may live in an older home and want to give it a contemporary look while making the most of the original features while others will want to enhance a home’s heritage features like intricate plaster coving to reinstating a coal fire,” said Lee.

“We talk through options, look at colour schemes and design through to sourcing materials that will complete the look.”

Realistic quotes which include a contingency pot for any unexpected work gives clients the peace of mind to go ahead with projects that can transform their day to day lives.

Lee said: “While we still take on home improvements there is something really satisfying at seeing a home which has fallen in to disrepair or been stripped of original features to be brought back to life.”

Stork Renovate – experience, service, quality – we deliver!

Insurance claims can be a challenge but there is a solution. Lee’s wife Kylie is an experienced loss assessor for Aspray (Northampton) Services. When there is a crisis from fire to flood damage, she can help policy holders make successful buildings insurance claims.

supports clients throughout the entire process from managing the whole claim process to working with Lee’s specialist team to reinstate the property.

To find out more see the website at: www.aspray.com/northampton

Making the world a better home

Aforward-thinking approach to increasing sustainability is at the heart of an ongoing mission at T&K Home Improvements to be a leading competitor in their industry. This approach to business means while products and services are still affordable, it is not at the expense of the environment.

The business, which celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2023, works hard to find innovative solutions and build partnerships with other companies who share similar ethics to ensure sustainability for their products and customers for many years to come.

A lot of hard work and determination means the business can now boast CHAS, SMAS & Constructionline Gold Accreditations. In addition, the highly coveted Environmental Management System Standards, ISO 14001 has been awarded year after year. These

standards reflect the importance the business puts on health and safety and sustainability working practices.

The ISO 14001 is also held by leading glass manufacturer Saint Gobain, one of T&K’s trusted partners. The framework follows a cycle – plan, do, check, act which allows businesses to drive continual improvement and achieve environmental goals. Saint Gobain’s commitments includes a decision to manufacture and supply glass to only UKbased businesses helping to reduce transport emissions and air miles.

Another partner is Veka, a specialist in recycling materials. Old windows and doors are too valuable to be taken to the landfill site. Instead, materials like aluminium and glass are recycled and an environmentally-process turns the uPVC into pellets which can be used to create high quality doors and windows.

T&K Home Improvments are leading the way with their approach to offer customers environmentally sourced and produced products.

T&K Home Improvements offer a range of environmentally sourced and produced products for your home

Not only do they look good but improvements in thermal efficiency improve heat retention and lower fuel costs.

The same approach to sustainability, which is not a recent decision, is reflected in T&K’s operations. Solar panels, installed more than 20 years ago, continue to power the factories and have saved over 16,000,000 million plus air miles and counting.

Adrian Timbers, Sales and Marketing Manager, said: “It’s important to take a step back and look at how our long-term plans and processes are having an impact. It’s easy to get immersed in the dayto-day running of the business without looking at it from another perspective, we are always looking to put the customer and the planet at the heart of what we do and like to take a step back to ensure we are continuing to do so.”

In the last year there has been a £1 million investment to fund four new fuel-efficient Volvo FM Rigid trucks with five more on order. These trucks meet the latest Euro 6 emission standards with aerodynamics capable of improving by fuel efficiency by 50 per cent compared to previous models.

Other projects include the Wellingboroughbased production facilities undergoing a complete facelift. This includes the replacement of old toilet systems and hand dryers which again reduce consumption by up to 50 per cent.

Adrian said: “T&K is committed to taking a proactive approach. We want to maximise what we can do to help make the home improvement sector more sustainable and will continuously look for new ways to try to improve this for years to come. This is our commitment to customers and in return we hope they have the confidence to see the value of taking the decision to improve their home with a company that cares.”

T&K Home Improvements is a family run business that has provided quality windows, doors and conservatories since 1979 in Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas. To find out more about high performance energy efficient glazing options and how much you can save visit our website: www.tkhi.co.uk

T&K guarantees the work unconditionally for ten years with the fitting undertaken by the familyrun company’s team of experienced fitters.

Take a look behind the scenes - sign up for a free tour of the Wellingborough factory to see first hand just how much work goes in to creating your doors, windows and conservatories. To find out more scan the QR code >>

We want to maximise what we can do to help make the home improvement sector more sustainable”

– Adrian Timbers, Sales and Marketing Manager at T&K Home Improvements

DIGGING DEEP Recycle responsibly

For a few weeks it is at the centre of our celebrations – decked out in baubles and bling, it’s somewhere to pile gifts underneath, and an object of desire for those homes who have resident puddy-tats!

Lots of effort goes into choosing ‘the one’ when it comes to our Christmas tree, and we spend ages decorating it, and giving it pride of place during the festive season.

And then? January hits and it’s out with the old and in with the new, and that includes the tree.

If you want to enjoy a real tree, you should act responsibly when Christmas is over, too.

You definitely don’t want to throw it out with the household waste and expect refuse collectors to deal with it. The last thing you want to do is send it off to landfill.

If you opt for a tree with its roots attached, it is possible to replant it. In fact, some tree nurseries will even take them back for another year, and then the same tree can spend Christmas with you in another 12 months. How cool is that?

But if you can’t replant your leafy pal, there are still plenty of ways to be environmentally sound.

Real trees are biodegradable and will rot away in a year or two without any assistance, save for initially cutting it into small pieces. Then pile the pieces up in the garden in a shaded area and let it do its thing. It will be out of your way and, rather than add to the environmental burden, as it slowly decomposes the tree will be used for food and shelter by many insects and wildlife. If you have a little space in your garden to do this,

the soil will be improved by its arrival too, so it really is a win-win.

Other ways to be smart and sustainable?

If your tree isn’t so big, why not pop it in a heavy, stable pot that won’t be at the mercy of any winds, and replace your festive trinkets with bird feed balls and treats?

Food is scarce for birds during the harsh months of winter; they will welcome the food source and your garden will become a hot spot for our feathered friends – watching them from the warmth of your home is a fantastic way to decompress and appreciate nature.

You’ll have your own live version of Winter Watch! The only thing missing will be Chris Packham, sadly. You’ll even get to identify individual birds and will see their different personalities. And we write from experience.

It’s a great way to encourage children to take an interest in nature too, and they will enjoy making simple fat balls and seeded treats – a quick google will give you lots of ideas.

Apples and pears that are bruised or past their best can also be hung and will be welcomed by little beaks.

How does your garden grow?

A dark, cold and damp month. To find the little snouts of snowdrops pushing through the soil heralds a new year of pleasures in the garden. Growing over the door is a climbing hydrangea, which needs pruning to make it an effective feature. I will try to root as many cuttings as possible.

As the days begin to lengthen, I will clean the greenhouse windows again; more light will encourage new growth.

The schoolchildren’s sowing of broad beans and peas has proved successful and interesting. The onions and garlic bulbs are flourishing in the plots.

The Spartan apple tree fruited well; boxes of the apples left on the grass verge were soon emptied by pupils on their way to school. I am going to prune the long summer’s shoots back to one third, to encourage fruit buds to develop.

Top Tip ...

Fresh rhubarb from the garden... do you take yours stewed with custard, or cooked into a yummy crumble?

Rhubarb crops over a long period, and can flourish in all types of garden soil.

Now is the time to plant dormant crowns, but fight the temptation to harvest during the first year – pick from year two, and always leave more than you take, to encourage active growth.

The leaves are suitable for composting, but are absolutely not edible – they are toxic.

Oh, and while we all consider the tasty stalks to be a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable!

The Red Sentinel crab apple tree has produced so much fruit that the boughs are hanging down over the hedge and the lawn.

I am looking forward to seeing the migratory birds eating their fill during this month.

The Christmas tree will be collected by the council; if you can shred it yourself, azaleas and rhododendrons will thank you for the mulch. I wish you a happy and busy New Year.

> 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

Pic: Flickr

Start a log pile in a corner of your garden with your old Christmas trees and create a haven for insects and wildlife

Ralph Westmoreland, Denton & District Gardening Club member

IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE.

The moment a fence falls or breaks, you have to deal with third party damage, security and

issues, neighbours, quotes, the expense and inconvenience –all at once. Alternatively, a simple call to ColourFence can head off all your problems for the next 25 years!

Virtually maintenance-free, before the Spring growing season starts, now is the best time to see our great value, colours & designs. Freephone today.

is just what we were looking for and wish we had discovered it years ago. No more annual

or waking up to fallen

Cosy Curves

As we welcome in yet another new year, we pack away our decorations and recently made memories from the festive period. The first months of the year can often feel longer than the others, dragging on with bleak weather and the continuation of short days without the relief of festive cheer; it can feel an age until we notice the lighter evenings, first buds of spring, lambs in the field and the temperatures beginning to rise towards summertime again. The almost primordial temptation to hunker down and hibernate through these months can be overwhelming, juxtaposed with the desire to see this new year as a boundless opportunity for change, growth and reinvention, of ourselves as well as our surroundings.

Just as the curves of our bodies after an indulgent festive period should be celebrated, so should curves within the home! No longer should our interiors feel austere, straight and sparse, reinforcing the feeling of chill in the air, and the bleak feeling of the dark winter. The emergence of curves and comfort trends within

the home has been happening slowly over the past couple of years, with some even suggesting it is a natural reaction to our enforced time at home during the various lockdowns in the earliest years of our decade. Having to spend so much time in our own homes didn’t just mean that some of us saw the existing flaws to redesign, but also that our theoretical checklist of “must haves” at home changed too. People now want to differentiate home office spaces from comfortable evening places. We want to be able to move through our whole house with ease and autonomy and for it to be able to perform as both office and home – on the one hand looking chic and sophisticated, but on the other - cosy, welcoming and relaxing, somewhere where we are comfortable spending a lot of time. The latest trend of curves taps into all these desires.

Product designers have a helping hand in this, bringing us pieces of furniture and accents for the home with more curved silhouettes and increasingly fluid and natural looking lines. Think round or free form coffee tables, naturally shaped and raw edges to dining tables, hallway consoles with semi-circular ends, demi-lune tables and cabinetry, sofas and chairs with rounded backs or arms and deep, well-filled, squishy cushions. Of course, we’re not suggesting you need to rush out and replace every item in your home with a curved equivalent solely to be able to achieve a cosy winter equilibrium! But updating a worn-out piece of furniture to one with a softer outline, or adding a circular shaped accent here and there, can be all you need to achieve the desired effect. Try a round or wavy mirror in place of

one that is rectangular, introduce curvaceous lamps and planters, or even change something as simple as your square edged table lamp shade to a version that is drum shaped.

To take things a step further, you can add curves as a structural or architectural element, creating archways instead of door openings or building an arched or organic shaped bookcase into a fireplace recess. If such drastic and permanent changes aren’t possible, then why not try experimenting with paint. Paint blocking using curves can be a great way to direct flow through a space, or to delineate between one area and another. We are not all blessed with endless rooms in a large house - for some, one room might have

Pic: Spacejoy, Unsplash www.romo.com

Pic: Spacejoy, Unsplash

to double as a sitting room, office, dining room and kitchen. Using paint blocking techniques, well placed curvaceous furniture and clever pools of light that can be changed for any given use, can create a fluid space, that tricks the mind into feeling like there are many different rooms and areas within one. Something that one can’t help but be mindful of at the moment is the increasing cost of living. Homes should be our sanctuary, our safe space; warm and inviting. Whilst interior design may not be high on your priority list currently, when it comes to spending, keeping warm surely will be. Luckily, designers have got our backs here too. As with curves, soft and tactile textures are being seen as a big trend that’s here to stay. Think knitted blankets, upholstered footstools and furry cushionsitems that can look great in the home and also help to keep you warm during these last couple of months of winter. Muted tones ensure the mind stays calm and comforted too, use palettes of soft terracottas and pinks, or combine sage greens with greige and off-whites. These colours are relaxing for our senses and work well with natural textures such as pale wood, stone, jute and cork (currently in vogue), all of which help to create a cosy space. Lift the muted natural colours with accents of black, a darker jewel tone, or pops of gold accessories, any of which will help to prevent a space feeling washed out.

However you choose to step into this new year, you can rest assured that in 2023 style does not have to forgo comfort, and comfort can be an important component of style!

The inspiration of colour: Art to bring you positive energy in 2023

The use of colour in our environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. With the experts of fashion, paint and design having made their colour trend forecasts for next year, we’re pleased to see a focus on creating a positive feeling.

So what do these colour trends look like, and how are our artists bringing these colours into their pieces?

Honey Yellows

Dulux has announced Wild Wonder as their colour of 2023, creating a warm glow and connecting us with nature to help us ‘feel better in our homesʼ.

This natural warmth seems like the perfect place to start our exploration of trending colours with its rich positivity and sumptuousness. While the examples of such warm yellows on the walls of the Rose Gallery provide very different perspectives, each promotes a feeling of boldness and vibrancy which shines.

Versatile Lavender

Another colour with origins determinedly in the real world, lavender can’t be ignored. 2023 brings us a new take on this purple shade - providing calm and serenity, freshness or - harking back to it’s royal history - richness and decadence.

Pinky Red or Reddy Pink

We’re looking at you - Pantone’s Viva Magenta, “vibrating with vim and vigor… rooted in nature… an animated red that revels in pure joy”. Uplifting, vibrant shades which make a statement with boldness and warmth radiating equally, bringing a surprising range of opportunities for contrast and coordination. Artist Craig Alan has great examples of this bold colour in his work.

Rich Blues and Jewel Shades

Warm Neutrals

Creating warmth in your home can also be achieved with textures and patterns with many experts reminding us of the importance of neutrals within our interior palette. The paint company Behr announced their colour of the year as Blank Canvas. Such neutrals and beiges bring calm into our space, something many designers have recognised as essential.

On the walls of our gallery, you’ll see beige is certainly not boring in the stunning cityscapes of Alena Carvalho or the vibrant animal stories of Bev Davies.

Identified by experts across platforms and reflecting what we’ve already seen, rich deep hues are lifting our spirits and emotions.

While blues are versatile, providing depth and strength to colour palettes across the spectrum, the more vibrant and luxurious the shade the better.

Creating energy with colour

Whatever energy you need in your space, calming neutrals, warm yellows, vibrant reds and rich jewel shades can bring you peace, inspiration, hope and joy. We know that colour has the power to lift and nurture, as art does, so enjoy discovering new colour energy in your home!

Natalie Trembecki Gallery Correspondent www.therosegallery.co.uk

Dan Crisp

Barry Hilton – Sweeping Skies

Bev Davies – Fox

Alena Carvalho – City

Craig Alan

Double delight at The Black Prince

The last time The Subways came to play in the ‘fampton was more than a decade ago. Since then, we’ve learned all sorts of horrible new words like Brexit and Covid.

We’ve been through lockdowns, and are on our fifth PM since they played for us.

Given the current state of things, right now we really need music to give us a lift, and The Subways have 20 years of produce from which to do just that, including new material; this tour is in support of their fifth album, Uncertain Joys, which will be available the week before the show.

The band, guitarist and vocalist Billy Lunn, bassist Charlotte Cooper and drummer Camille Phillips (who replaced Josh Morgan in 2020) went all art deco on the video for recent single Black Wax, and they wore it well, as our picture shows.

This guy and gals have played the Pyramid Stage at Glasto and the main stage at Reading & Leeds Festivals, to name but two, and they know how to work a large crowd, so things will truly go off in the confines of the Abington Square venue.

Support for their SBD date at The Black Prince on Saturday, January 21 will come from Shallow Honey, and Catbear.

If there are tickets left as you read this, there won’t be many. If you want in, get on it, folks.

There may be less SBD Promotions shows this month, but there is one more, and it’s another stonker –on January 28, The Wonderstuff frontman Miles Hunt will visit, playing songs from his three decadelong career, including his current solo album, Things Can Change.

On this most recent disc, Miles did the same as he has always done; he wrote about things that were happening around him, and what had happened to him in the past.

Anecdotes and stories will puncture the space between songs on the night. Once again, tickets are shifting in quick time.

> If you want a seat (or a spot to stand in), tappety-tap to sbdpromotions.com or check at skiddle.com Do it now.

Mender moments for the Monkeys and Hybrid Minds

The Roadmender has announced a few more dates for February – Letz Zep are back (Feb 10) with another chance to revel in the music of Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham, Bingo Loco will include rave rounds, dance offs and lip sync battles (Feb 11), Riders on the Storm, The Doors Alive arrive on February 17, and The Floyd Effect present the Dark Side of Reason Tour (Feb 18).

Eighties chart-botherers The Blow Monkeys will hit the stage on February 24 and Hybrid Minds appear on February 25.

All of these shows are in addition to the previously announced Kula Shaker (Feb 1), Reverend & The Makers (Feb 3) and Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls (Feb 6) dates.

No doubt about it, February at the ‘mender is gonna be a busy one.

Slowthai’s on his way to Wembley, na, na, na, na....

Blur’s summer dates at Wembley Stadium will see a familiar face stepping onto the famous stage –Northampton’s Slowthai is among the special guests bagging a slot on July 8. In November, Slowthai took to social media to share the news that his third album is in the can, and around the same time he issued the hard-hitting single, I Know Nothing.

The Subways (right) and Miles Hunt are bill-toppers at The Black Prince during January

2022 in review

Phil Moore

How was 2022 for you?

Busy, fun, frequently inspiring.

Your favourite gig

Scalping, Black Doldrums, Millie Manders, The Bellrays and The Bluetones were all ace, but it was probably Rosalie Cunningham at the top. Sabbath meets The Beatles with a bit of cabaret thrown in. Righteous stuff.

Favourite local release

A tough one... a dead heat between Maddox Jones’ debut album, Believe it, and the debut 7” singles from Bloody/Bath, the double A-side, Idle Hands/Sunder.

Biggest surprise

The appetite for live music in central Northamptonshire has been solid all year. It feels like a rebirth in a way. So much feels possible for 2023.

The best thing that happened this year

That we’re all still here. We haven’t lost a single venue locally in the region, I don’t think. The incoming energy crisis might change that though.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Seeing old friends and new bands in good spirits.

How was 2022 for you?

There was a lot more going on after years of stagnation. There seems to be some momentum again.

Your favourite gig

Gigs I enjoyed included Rosalie Cunningham, Pulp Fiction night, 5678’s, Rolling Thunder, Lizzie and the Banshees

Favourite local release

It has been a bumper year for local vinyl and CD releases; Venus Fly Trap’s Time Lapse CD, Religious Overdose, Strung Out on Heavens High LP, Reducer’s untitled 12”, Phantom Isle’s 12”, the Bloody/Bath 7” and Paul Cox’s CD.

Biggest surprise

Being able to find another premises for Spiral Archive Records

The best thing that happened this year Basically just getting out and playing again.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Lots of gigs and events are being sorted for 2023, including Wasted Youth, Ghost Dance, a Northampton Punk new wave book launch, a punk exhibition and Record Store Day

Eddz Songwriter & musician

How was 2022 for you?

Awesome! I travelled to some amazing places to perform. Met so many amazing people and made new supporters along the way. Absolutely living the dream.

Your favourite gig

How was 2022 for you?

2022 has been a lot of ‘getting ready for 2023’ with releasing music, building teams up in the states etc, but overall it’s been a brilliant year.

Your favourite gig

Islington Assembly Hall. It feels good to be back playing big venues again.

Favourite local release

Maddox Jones’ debut album. That man knows how to write a pop hit.

Biggest surprise

The reaction to (the single) Last Thing On Your Mind. That song kinda came out of nowhere and is now flying very unexpectedly!

The best thing that happened this year

Signing with Photo Finish in America. It’s only been half a year, but I’m enjoying everything we’ve done so far.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

I’m most looking forward to touring, touring and more touring.

How was 2022 for you?

2022 has gone really well for me, as I’ve managed to play plenty of gigs across Northampton and the surrounding counties. I have also released two singles, three if you include the Ignorance remix.

Your favourite gig

Supporting Hard-Fi at their warm-up show at The Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes. As a fan of the band, it was a fantastic opportunity.

Favourite local release

Chargr’s debut E.P. Just Rush

Biggest surprise

Discovering my single, Ignorance, was played on BBC 6 Music.

The best thing that happened this year

Finishing off my debut E.P. and getting it ready for release at the end of the year.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

I’m looking forward to performing more gigs and exploring new musical elements for Eddz.

I love them all, because I just love performing, but if I have to pick one I’m going to say Shambala Festival. It was the biggest stage I’ve ever performed on and it was the biggest crowd too! Plus, it’s my local festival and I’ve wanted to go for years, so the fact I was asked to perform was mind blowing. I’m blessed for real. Blew the roof off – hopefully I’m back next year!

Biggest surprise

How far I’ve come, musically. I’ve gone from dropping freestyles at my window to national radio play. Merch around the world, and I’m shelling down stages up and down the country!

I’ve also just been nominated for a music award in the rap grime category associated with Northamptonshire music awards.

I was absolutely gobsmacked to find out I had been nominated – now I’m a final nominee and the only woman representing that category. Love it!

The best thing that happened this year

My first brand campaign with Bed Head. I had so much fun on the day shooting the ad, and to then find out I was on posters and huge billboards across the UK was incredible.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Dropping new music Hitting more stages –I’ve actually got loads coming, so stay tuned!

From the top: Eddz, Phil Moore, Alex Novak, Billy Lockett and Ffsytho?!

Alex Novak Spiral Archive Records owner and musician

Billy Lockett

Singer-songwriter

Promoter

Ffsytho?!

Grime and rap artist

Feeling Peaky?

Pop to The Old Savoy!

It’s a giant of a panto, and you’ve still got time to climb the biggest beanstalk in the land to enjoy the fe-fi-fo-fun at Northampton Derngate – performances of Jack and the Beanstalk continue until January 2. But there is plenty more for the taking as the new year begins. Sammy Jones has the lowdown...

The Cher Show (Jan 10-14) turns back time to tell the incredible story of the inimitable lady’s meteoric rise to fame. And meteoric is the word. This cracking delivery – from the same writer who gave us Jersey Boys – utilises the talents of three West End stars to walk you through the life and times of Cher.

As for the soundtrack? This one manages to cram in morsels of 35 of her greatest releases; from Strong Enough to Gypsies Tramps and Thieves, The Shoop Shoop Song, I Got You Babe, and Believe.

Directed by Arlene Phillips and choreographed by Oti Mabuse, The Cher Show is a show-stopper, just like the lady herself.

DJ Tony Blackburn will be hosting Sounds of the 60’s Live (Jan 18) at the Derngate.

Week in, week out more than a million of us tune into his Radio 2 show to hear Tony waxing lyrical about the biggest stars from the fondly remembered decade and now you get to see the master at his craft on the stage.

If you let him, Europe’s most successful Elvis tribute, Lee Memphis King will leave you All Shook Up (Jan 19), or maybe you’d rather a ‘carnival of theatrical experiences, where the stage and the orchestra meet without boundaries’? Singer, pianist and songwriter

Joe Stilgoe and The BBC Concert Orchestra can help you with that (Jan 20).

Little folks will be well catered for with the Cbeebies – Ocean Adventure (Jan 21), a magical multi-media event with added surprises. The BBC Concert Orchestra will be handling musical duties at this event too. Water-way to spend Saturday afternoon with the fam.

Over at The Royal the same night, something quite different – the return of The Burlesque Show. Tassels, teases and titillating laughter will excite and guarantee to refresh parts you never knew you had!

Having delivered high concept shows with overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, Stewart Lee (Jan 23) is back on the road with a streamlined delivery – just one man and a microphone. Well, there is a spare mic in case of mishaps. What to call this new show though? He’s opted for Basic Lee A day later, and over at The Royal, Lloyd Griffith, the man who was Jack Whitehall’s Arena tour support, will bring ticket-holders One Tonne of Fun – with stand-up, dubious impressions and singing.

Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock will cut loose 25 rock anthems during a tongue-

in-cheek fang-tastic show (Jan 25) at The Derngate, and funny fella David O’Doherty (Jan 26) will be at The Royal with Whoa is Me He’ll trot to the stage with all of the misplaced confidence of a waiter with no pad, and a glued together plastic keyboard. Don’t knock it – there are people in power with less ability.

The Greatest Hits of Motown (Jan 27, Derngate), The Alan Barnes Octet (Jan 27, The Royal) and The 80’s Show (Jan 28, Derngate) will take care of musical business, before one of the most sought after joke writers in the country steps out in his own right – Gary Delaney is back on the stage with another chance to enjoy Gary in Punderland (Jan 28, The Royal).

Last up for the first month of the new year at the Derngate, Fastlove (Jan 29), a tribute to the much missed talent of George Michael. Peaky Blinders fans will want to don their flat caps and head to The Eden Club at The Old Savoy (Jan 20) for an evening of food, drinks and table entertainment. A bottle of prosecco will go home with the best-dressed, so go in your Peaky perfect clobber.

If it’s a tribute show where Rock And Roll Dreams Come True that you seek, The Meatloaf Songbook (Jan 27) is the one, or if wrestling is more your bag, book up for the Live & Loaded Tour (Jan 29).

Gareth Gates will be in Corby (Jan 25) with a high-pitched celebration of music from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Gareth will be joined by cast members from Jersey Boys and other hit West End shows for the date. Oh, What A Night you’ll be in for if you book for this.

> Tickets:

The Old Savoy: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Royal & Derngate: royalandderngate.co.uk

The Core: thecorecorby.com

From the top: David O’Doherty, Gareth Gates sings the best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, a Peaky Blinder night and Lloyd Griffith

#WhatsOnPulse

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Until Sunday, January 8

Christmas isn’t over until the panto curtain comes down, so if you want a little more festive fun, a trip to MK Theatre will keep the magic alive a while longer.

Hi-ho, hi-ho: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Trainers: a global obsession

Until February 26

The temporary exhibition examining the design, technology, cultural influences and environmental impact of the trainer continues at Abington Park Museum. Walk this way: northamptonmuseums.com

Northampton Town and County Art Society

Until January 29

Alongside the work of members, the 105th annual exhibition features a selection of pieces by non-members, giving visitors the opportunity to view a wide variety of styles and subjects. Entry is free – the display is in Art Gallery 1.

Creative class: northamptonmuseums.com

The Cher Show – A musical Tuesday, January 10 – Saturday, January 14 Charting the meteoric rise to fame of the music icon turned Hollywood royalty, who flew in the face of convention at every turn. Three West End stars will play Cher through the ages. As seen on Strictly! Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves: royalandderngate.co.uk

Alzheimer’s Society Singing for the Brain® Monday, January 16, 2-3.45pm Sessions use singing to bring people with dementia together in a friendly and stimulating way. Contact before attending by calling 01908 232612 or by emailing chelsea.gadd@alzheimers.org.uk

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty Tuesday, January 17 - Saturday, January 21

A decade has passed since it premiered at Sadlers Wells, and now Bourne’s brilliance returns to Milton Keynes. Anyone for a little gothic romance?

Tiptoes and Tchaikovsky: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason Wednesday, January 18, 8pm

She may be only 19 years old, but Jeneba is a star in the making for her prowess on the keys – and currently holds the Victoria Robey Scholarship to The Royal College of Music, studying piano with Vanessa Latarche. Classical music fans will enjoy works by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Beethoven and Debussy at this Milton Keynes performance. Songs in the key of: stables.org

Sounds of the ‘60s with Tony Blackburn Wednesday, January 18, 7.30pm

Enjoy an evening of 60s classics played by the Sounds of the ‘60s All Star Band & Singers at Northampton’s Derngate, with DJ ace Tony Blackburn hosting proceedings. Contact: royalandderngate.co.uk

The Counterfeit Seventies

Friday, January 20, 7.30pm

A rollercoaster ride through the era that brought you glam rock and new waves, with the music of Slade, Sweet, T’Rex, The Bay City Rollers and many more.

Bye Bye Baby: thecorecorby.com

Peaky Blinders –

By Order of The Old Savoy Friday, January 20, 7pm

Enjoy a lavish evening of food, drink and table entertainment, with staff and actors in full Peaky Blinders attire at this immersive experience. Tables can be booked in groups of 10 people or shared tables of up to 10 people.

Causing a commotion: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Vegan Market

Saturday, January 21, 10.30am-4pm

A large variety of vegan street food vendors, artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers and zero waste champions come together for the twice yearly event in Bletchley’s Queensway. Meat free and marvellous: veganmarkets.co.uk

80s Mania

Saturday, January 21, 8pm

Come on, the 80s rocked – every track was a winner, even if the fashion wasn’t! This multi-tribute concert will deliver music by 28 chart topping pop players, with tributes to Duran Duran, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Bananarama and Dead or Alive. Like a record, baby: stables.org

The legend that is Tony Blackburn is in town with his Sounds of the ‘60s in January

The Cher Show comes to the Derngate

Dirty Honey Sunday, January 22

Having spent much of 2022 in Europe, L.A’s rockers are back over here for more, and call in to Wolverton’s Craufurd Arms as part of an extensive road crawl.

Riff it up: thecraufurdarms.com

Stewart Lee Monday, January 23, 7.30pm

After a decade spent delivering high concept shows, Stewart is shaking off the excess and returning to the stage in a streamlined, solo stand-up mode.

Basic Lee: royalandderngate.co.uk

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Tuesday, January 24 – Saturday, January 28

Journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as the smash-hit film enjoys a stage outing with a superb cast including Hayley Mills, Rula Lenska and Paul Nicholas. Life affirming: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Gareth Gates in The Best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Wednesday, January 25

Join Gareth and cast members from the smash hit musical Jersey Boys on a nostalgic musical journey which pays tribute to the four lads who started singing under a streetlamp, but went on to become one of the biggest selling groups of all time.

Oh, What A Night!: thecorecorby.com

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club Friday, January 27, 7.45pm

Jonny Awsum, Jamie D’Souza and Iszi Lawrence will bring the smiles at The Underground, with compere Dan Evans. You ‘avin a laugh? royalandderngate.co.uk

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club Friday, January 27, 8pm

The monthly club also enjoys an outing at The Lab in Corby with Alistair Barrie, Jo Neary and Don Biswas with your compere Brendan Dempsey. This bloke walked up to me: thecorecorby.com

The Meatloaf Songbook Friday, January 27

Celebrating the music of one of rock n roll’s true legends with Craig Halford leading you through hits including Bat Out of Hell, Paradise by the Dashboard Light and Dead Ringer for Love in Northampton. I’d Do Anything: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Future Sounds of Drum & Bass Saturday, January 28

Bringing the best of local talents together. Those set to appear include Tom Pearce, Brady, Lady Elusive, Nitr8 and many more. It’ll be another sell-out success at Unit 9 in Old Wolverton. Looking ahead: skiddle.com

Martyn Joseph Saturday, January 28, 8pm

Singer-songwriter Martyn has issued 32 albums in a career spanning three decades, and he’s racked up thousands of live shows – and a few of those have been at the Wavendon venue. A next level raconteur. One man and a guitar: stables.org

Megaslam Wrestling: Live & Loaded Tour Sunday, January 29

Get ready for edge of your seat, death-defying moves as the stars of Team Megaslam and Team Nasty take to the ring at The Old Savoy for matches suitable for the whole family. Slammin’: theoldsavoy.co.uk

The Carpenters Story

Monday, January 30

Take your seat for a journey through the glittering career of pop’s most famous brother and sister duo, with marvellous musical moments including Close To You, We’ve Only Just Begun and Rainy Days & Mondays. Yesterday Once More: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Pip Blom

Monday, January 30

Celebrate Independent Venue Week with Dutch indie quartet Pip Blom at The Craufurd Arms – tickets are limited, so hurry. Welcome Break: thecraufurdarms.com

Undeath Tuesday, January 31

‘Skull crushing death metal’ at Wolverton’s music hub. If you like it heavy, you’ll love these US players.

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty visits MK Theatre in January

View from the Far Kerb

Apparently, there is a lot going on in the world outside the distribution area of Pulse. Some of it is bad enough to have various parties question the continuing health of our planet. They blame humanity for everything that is going wrong.

Douglas Adams wrote in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy about humanity coming down from the trees being a mistake with some claiming, ‘that no one should ever have left the oceans’.

He may have had a point.

Perhaps we should not be looking for better ways to harness the power of the waves, wind or sun. No, science needs to be looking for a way to establish devolution in the human race and so promote the growth of gills along with a tendency to slither back into the sea. Rising sea levels would no longer be considered a threat but a treat for early adopters of a fully aquatic lifestyle.

Fish life hasn’t a reputation for possessing high intelligence. For those about to quote the ‘fact’ about dolphins being brighter than domestic dogs, please note that they are not fish, nor do they have gills. Sharks are fish and haven’t developed weapons of mass destruction during their 450 million years of existence. It seems Douglas Adams had a very good point.

We should look to another great mind for an indication of how best to proceed. Shakespeare wrote: ‘If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly,’ Macbeth.

Basically, we should crack on and resolve the issue sooner rather than later and not establish talking shops, focus groups and committees to endlessly discuss the matter. The sooner we all return to the sea, the better. If done speedily, we could all be swimming

around without having turned the whole world into dry, dusty desert or radioactive wasteland. Instead, we would leave the fauna to frolic through the flora without fear of being blasted by the effects of our allegedly advanced way of life.

Of course, there would need to be a period of adjustment. For instance, the huge supermarkets would find that their customer base would drastically decline as eating became an issue of devouring whatever came close rather than struggling to push a shopping trolley using only fins instead of hands at the end of arms. Indeed, as fish we would experience a great deal of difficulty in fishing out cards from wallets or purses in order to pay for goods at a checkout.

Did anyone see what I did there? Great levity while discussing the very real difficulties one might experience once we have all returned to the seas.

Basically, we should crack on and resolve the issue sooner rather than later and not establish talking shops, focus groups and committees to endlessly discuss the matter.”

Books and reading will become very difficult. We already have plastic banknotes, proof against moisture. Book pages can be next. All electrical devices would have to be made waterproof. However, with our return to a simpler life, no one will have the ability to construct anything; waterproof or otherwise, and so we can concentrate of not being eaten by those sharks.

PHIL O’HARA

Flavour of the Times - Happy New Year, everyone. It’s been tough in 2022, unremittingly so for many, but I hope this column has been some help in navigating your way through it.

The big change that begins this year is Pluto moving into Aquarius. If you remember, when Pluto moved into Capricorn from Sagittarius, it was the financial crunch/crash and the end to the ‘free money’ era. A more solid, down to earth flavour was felt by us all, very Capricorn and ‘austerity’ described it very well.

CAPRICORN

December 23 – January 20

A long blast of Capricorn earth energy will have been felt at the solstice and this dark winter seriousness continues into the new year until Venus changes signs to Aquarius on the 4th when things start to lighten up. Hidden emotions may bubble up just after the full moon but tempered perhaps by some appreciation of where there is love and affection in your life.

AQUARIUS

January 21 – February 19

You will definitely get a boost this month as Venus walks into your sign on 4th bringing a little unpredictability, maybe even a little cash from an unexpected quarter. Conversations are still a bit serious though. You will need to wait for the new moon in Aquarius on 22nd for the real sense of liberation in how you feel.

PISCES

February 20 – March 20

Neptune has been stuck in your sign for so long, you may have despaired of ever shaking off some of the feeling of drifting and directionless activity. Now, though, it is moving forward again and should give you a little help in seeing where you are going by dropping some of the baggage you have been burdened by. Lighten the load!

ARIES

March 21 – April 20

Not your best time of year, of course, but we are heading for more Aquarian times, which you much prefer. It will start to give you ideas for the Spring, which is still on the far horizon but a few rays of optimism may find their way back into your life on some levels now. Thinking time, not doing time, I would suggest!

We get our first hint of this between March and July when Pluto goes back into Capricorn for some unfinished business before going into Aquarius properly this time next year, where it will stay for the next 25 years. My worry this time is that despite Aquarius’s reputation for fairness and liberation, it also rules technology. We may see AI and digital technologies pushing forward to take over our lives even more than they already have. I would say that we should be much more careful about this than we seem to be.

TAURUS

April 21 – May 21

It’s quite an inventive time at the beginning of the month up to the full moon on 7th but as Aquarius starts to make its presence felt, you may feel there has been too much conversation and you’d like a little more action, please, as Elvis had it! Make the most of the opportunities for meaningly communication with others.

GEMINI

May 22 – June 21

As always, the winter solstice is sobering for you and you won’t be your usual flamboyant self during the dark of the winter. But there are other aspects to your personality and things like quiet meditation and perhaps some yoga are going to do you a lot of good at this time. Any actions you try to take now may not achieve the results you are looking for.

CANCER

June 22 – July 23

The full moon in Cancer on 7th of the month illuminates a moment of conflict and contradiction between your home life and your public life or career. Despite the discomfort (or maybe because of it!), this makes it a good time to ponder what matters most to you in life. There is definitely a positive balance to be struck now as you look to the year ahead.

LEO

July 24 – August 23

You should examine the need for more give and take in your relationships on 8th, just after the full moon. You may wish to ponder on whether you are too demanding of others. Where does this actually come from; what insecurities lurk under that mask of confidence that you wear? If you have never considered this, now is a very good time to start!

Everyone is affected differently by these astronomical movements. To really understand what this means for you on a personal level during 2022, I would recommend that you consider booking a comprehensive personal astrological consultation that is completely specific to you and your life. This will illuminate many things that you may not have considered and it will enable you to really take advantage of the positive energies and avoid the negative ones throughout the year.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

VIRGO

August 24 – September 23

The moon may well activate all sorts of emotions around 11th of this month. This won’t last long but it’s worth paying attention to what bubbles up – all sorts of buried hurts may pop up and knock you a little off course. It may prompt you to think about some of your old established mental habits and ways of thinking and whether these are holding you back in some way.

LIBRA

September 24 – October 23

You could find yourself reminiscing about the past as the full moon approaches on 7th. Are the challenges that this throws up relevant to your current situation, though? Maybe not, so the process of letting these go could start now in anticipation of a new ‘you’ emerging this year. Your home/life balance may also be a part of this process.

SCORPIO

October 24 – November 22

This full moon on 7th January is full of tension for you as there are a number of aspects of your life that seem to be up for grabs right now. Unfortunately, you won’t feel as if you are getting anywhere with it until after the middle of the month when things start to relax and you may get some unusual insights that seem to ‘break the code’ for you.

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 – December 22

Mars goes forward again on 13th and this gives you a bit of an energy boost, particularly when the moon opposes it on the 18th. After that you are heading for the new moon in Aquarius which activates your natural optimism again around 22nd January. New ideas and a new world may seem like possibilities again.

Chart readings with me start at £67 and last for an hour on Zoom or Skype. Please go to 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.

If you are interested in discussing and learning more about astrology, why not pop into my Facebook group The Astrocafe | Facebook.

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HOWARD PARKER