Stratford upon Avon Directory by Sharon Stephens

The

STRATFORD

upon Avon

Directory

March - April 2012

Issue 86

CAR KEYS

• LOCKS & SAFES SALES • OPENING & REPAIRS SAFE ENGINEERS

• KEY CUTTING • INSTALLATION • SAFE SHOWROOM

LOCKSMITHS

All our locksmiths are CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked Unit 12, 34 Tything Road, Alcester B49 6ES

Phone: 01789 762450 Fax: 01789 400799

www.alcesterlocks.co.uk

Delivered FREE selected homes Delivered FREE toto selected homes www.stratford-directory.com Delivered FREE to homes in your areaand businesses October-November 2008

BUDGET SKIP HIRE

"The Green Skip Company"

"GET IT SORTED!"

• Clean crushed hardcore • Screened topsoil for sale • Builders skips • 2-3-4 yard mini & midi skips • Larger skips available on request

Licensed waste transfer station

01386 841 181

Head Office: Buckle St, Honeybourne, Evesham WR11 7QE

www.budgetskips.com

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

Arden Garages

for everything Ford

ORDER YOUR NEW 2012 FORD NOW Test drive

As a leading UK Ford Dealer we offer a full range of Ford services from new and used cars to parts and servicing of all kinds. For some friendly advice please call us on

LARGE SELECTION OF USED FORDS AVAILABLE

01789 267 446 or for any other queries please contact us.

Not sure which model you want

Book a test drive

Servicing

Find out about our

Latest Ford Offers

Specia l Deals

Parts

www.ardengarages.co.uk

Arden Garages | Masons Road | Stratford-upon-Avon | CV37 9NF Tel: 01789 267446

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

Welcome to this issue Spring Time is on it's way....

Inside

Signs of Spring are cropping up all around us. Crocuses and snowdrops are appearing and lambs are bouncing around in the fields. Spring is definitely in the air!!

10 14 18 22 26 27 29 30

We welome a number of new adveristers in this edition including Pride of Stratford Award winners Black Cat Motors. 2012 is set to be a very busy year for all of us. The directory has just celebrated it's 7th anniversary, we have the Queen's Jubilee and of course the Olympics. We look forward to celebrating with all our readers via great articles and offers during this very special year for Stratford upon Avon. Also please remember to get in touch if you are involved with a charity or non-profit making organisation who may benefit from featuring within the directory free of charge.

Relieving Pain Recipe A Proverbial Life Travel - Madeira Puzzles What's On Just For Kids Index of Advertisers

Sharon Stephens P.S. Don't forget that British Summer Time starts on Sunday 25th March so remember to put your clocks forward an hour.

Useful Numbers... POLICE (Stratford)

Utilities

Electricity Power Loss Severn Trent Gas Emergency BT Fault Line NHS Direct Stratford Hospital Warwick Hospital Rother House MC Bridge House MC Arden MC Trinity Court

Medical

Miscellaneous

SDC Offices Citizens Advice Plumber (PJ BATES & Son)

01789 414111 0800 3281111 0800 7834444 0800 111999 0800 800151 0845 4647 01789 205831 01926 495321 01789 269386 01789 292201 01789 414942 01789 292895 01789 267575 01789 293299 01789 294652

Editor Sharon Stephens Publishers Sona Publishing T: 01789 415375 E: info@stratford-directory.com W: www.stratford-directory.com facebook.com/sonapublishing twitter.com/sonapublishing Printed by Bloomfield Ltd. T: 01789 490528 Deadline for next issue 20th March 2012 All advertisements are published in good faith. We do not under any circumstances accept responsibility for the accuracy of such advertisements, nor is any kind of warranty or endorsement expressed or implied by such publication. We specifically disclaim all and any liability to advertisers, readers and users of any kind for loss or damage of any nature whatsoever and however arising, whether due to inaccuracy, error, omission or any other cause, and whether on the part of the Stratford-uponAvon Directory, our agents or any other person.

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

7 12845 A5 Leaflet 14-07-2011.pdf

08/12/2011

09:05

The

HADLAND SCHOOL of Dance and Drama

● Free Quote ● Free Measuring & Fitting ● Fast, FRiendly and local service ● Select fabrics in your own home All Major Credit cards accepted We specialise in all types of blinds including Vertical, Venetian, Roller, Roman, Wood Weave, Pleated, Shutters, Wood Venetian, Awnings and Conservatories

f oefrs*

% d 20all or

Classes in Ballet : Tap Modern Theatre : Drama Singing : Musical Theatre Principal Lesley Hadland AISTD (Dip)

01789-296133

Telephone: 01789 458006 Mobile: 07793 776 333 Email: fraserjamesblinds@live.com

www.fraserjamesblinds.co.uk

www.hadlandschool.co.uk

*50% deposit required on all orders

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

& e r u t i n r u f y t i l a u q d o o G ! d e t n a w s m elect rical ite The Shakespeare Hospice Furniture Store is opening on 21st April 2012 selling... Suites, Lounge and Bedroom Furniture Tables and Chairs Household Electricals Soft Furnishings Why not...

S u pp o rt yo u r lo c a l h o s p ic e ! .. .a n d re cyc le d t h o s e u n wa n te ite ms !

lue

...it increases the va of your donation!

The Shakespeare Hospice Furniture Store Avenue Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 0HR (off Birmingham Road, turn at Guy Salmon Landrover)

t: 01789 205333 FREE local collection available

www.theshakespearehospice.org.uk Registered charity number 1064091

Need someone to listen? If you have been the victim of crime, we can help you find the strength to move on. Visit our fortnightly drop-in surgery for free, confidential, emotional and practical support. Sessions are 10am-1pm, on the second and last Wednesday of the month, at the offices of Orbit Housing Association at 10 Greenhill Street, CV37 6LG. In particular, if you have been a victim of a serious, unprovoked assault within the last two years we may be able to support you in a claim for Criminal Injuries Compensation or can discuss the viability of a claim. Alternatively, call us for an appointment here or at our Leamington Spa office: 01926 682 692. Kindly supported by Stratford Town Trust and Orbit Housing.

www.victimsupport.org.uk Registered charity number 298028 Registered address: Victim Support, Hallam House, 56-60 Hallam Street, London W1W 6JL

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE KITCHENS & FURNITURE BY YOUR LOCAL CABINET MAKER

At Steven James we specialise in designing and making Bespoke Handmade Kitchens & Furniture in our workshop near Stratford upon Avon. • Many styles from Contemporary to Traditional • Choose from many finishes including painted using Farrow & Ball Colours • Exceptional Craftsmanship • Totally Bespoke – All Hand Made

‘The quality is fantastic. The Kitchen is beautifully made, the best we have seen’ Mr & Mrs Howes – Alcester For More Information please visit our website

www.stevenjameskitchens.co.uk Tel: 01789 778296 / 0770 430 1860

• Affordable & Realistic Prices – Buy Direct & Make Huge Savings! • Free Design Service • Appliance supplier at trade prices • From Beds to Bookcases we make freestanding & Fitted furniture for every room in the house • Buy Locally & Support Local Manufacturing

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

Health

Relieving Pain Health experts advise that natural alternatives to over-the-counter pain relief are often the best solution. Julie Penfold looks at natural pain relief options for common health complaints. It’s an instant reaction for so many of us when pain first strikes; we simply take something to relieve our symptoms. Popping a pill is frequently our default setting and our usual answer is to take paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve symptoms – the most popular over-the-counter painkillers. The main pain-killing ingredient in aspirin is salicylic acid, which is found naturally in the herbs willow bark, poplar and meadowsweet. While willow bark and poplar are only available via a herbalist, meadowsweet can be found in natural health stores. Meadowsweet can be drank as a tea and is very effective at tackling pain fast, says natural medicine practitioner, Susse Wedel. “For general pain-killing use, ginger, turmeric and cayenne pepper are very good options. You can ingest these by adding to a hot water drink or sprinkling on food as and when required,” adds Susse. Tackling Headaches For headaches brought on by stress or tension, the herb rosemary is Susse’s top tip for relieving nervous tension, and just inhaling the aroma can help to ease tension. Rosemary essential oil can also be rubbed directly onto the temple for instant relief. Lavender and chamomile are two of the best relaxation herbs around and are a super option for easing headache pain. As stress headaches are commonly caused by a constriction of blood vessels in the head, rosemary and lavender can help to ease this pressure. These herbs are all available as herbal teas and are equally effective when consumed as a drink. Herbs which have an affinity to the head tend to have a high content of calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are all naturally powerful against headache pain. For migraine sufferers, ginkgo can help to provide relief from painful symptoms. Drinking plenty of water and cutting out stimulants in the diet such as caffeinated drinks, sugar, tobacco and chocolate can also help, as these foods can trigger migraines, as well as prolonging them.

relief for muscle strain, as thyme eases both muscular and rheumatic pain. St John’s Wort oil and rosemary oil can also help to ease muscular aches and pains. Foods containing magnesium such as wholegrains, bananas, spinach, broccoli, tofu, nuts, seeds, beans and pulses can also assist in minimising painful flare-ups. Menstrual Pain Ginger helps to relax the uterine muscles and stops painful cramps, spasms and contractions. Drinking a ginger herbal tea, or creating your own tea by grating ginger and adding to hot water, can provide fast relief from severe period pain. As an additional tip, Susse recommends topping up with hot water regularly as this renews the active pain-killing properties and provides longer relief. Raspberry leaf tea is also effective for balancing hormones, relaxing muscles and relieving menstrual cramps. To ease bloating and pre-menstrual tension symptoms, Susse recommends yarrow tea. Other super relievers for period pain include: chamomile as it is high in calcium, minerals and contains muscle relaxant properties and valerian as this helps to reduce cramping and relaxes stomach muscles. In addition, taking a vitamin B6 supplement can also help to tackle muscle spasms associated with period pain. by Julie Penfold

Muscle Strain Adding several handfuls of fresh thyme to a bath can be an effective alternative to over-the-counter pain

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

When it comes to selling, we give it some! Stratford upon avon 53 Henley Street, & 1 Meer Street Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6PT 01789 415 444 stratford@peterclarke.co.uk ALSO LOCATED AT:

..............................................................................................................................................................

leamington spa - 01926 429 400 leamington@peterclarke.co.uk

Wellesbourne - 01789 841 114 wellesbourne@peterclarke.co.uk

www.peterclarke.co.uk

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

Stratford’s Largest Independent

Bathroom Showroom Two Floors of Designer Bathrooms at Affordable Prices ● Bathrooms, Shower Rooms & Cloakrooms ● Working displays of wetrooms and showers ● Advice, information & guidance from a team of experienced professionals

We offer a Total Design & Installation Service Including Tiling, Flooring & Electrical Work

Tel: 01789 264300 w w w. eve s h a m b a t h r o o m s . c o . u k

Unit 7 Swan Business Park, Avenue Farm Industrial Estate, Stratford upon Avon CV37 0HS (Just off Birmingham Road, turn left at Land Rover garage)

Stratford

landscapes

Small Garden Specialists www.stratfordlandscapes.com

Stunning plant collections

Decking made to last

Patios & terraces laid

Great service Reliable

See our extensive portfolio of previous projects online

Lush green lawns laid All work guaranteed

Beautiful Designs Nicely Created

Low Maintenance Gardens Our Speciality

For a free consultation call David Lewis:

01789 721851 (office – please leave a message) 07990 975158

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

Recipe Time

Chicken Goulash Here’s a delicious mid-week supper that can be rustled up in less than 40 minutes, We’ve used chicken fillets, but you can use cheaper boneless chicken thighs or try strips of lean sirloin steak or pork fillet instead.

Serves 4 Ready in 35 mins

2 tbsp sunflower oil

150ml passata (see tip)

600g skinless chicken fillets, thinly sliced

150ml chicken stock

1 red onion, peeled and chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

200g button mushrooms, wiped

4 tbsp soured cream

1 tsp smoked paprika

Boiled potatoes, to serve

2 tsp plain flour

Fresh chopped parsley, to garnish

1. Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan. Add the chicken and onion and fry over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until both are lightly browned. Add the mushrooms and fry for a further 2 minutes. 2. Mix together the paprika and flour and stir into the pan. Cook for 1 minute then gradually stir in the passata and stock. Season with salt and pepper.

TIP

3. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through. Serve topped with soured cream and boiled potatoes. Sprinkle over the chopped parsley to garnish.

Passata is simply ripe tomatoes that have been pureed then sieved to remove any skin and pips. You’ll find it in jars near the canned tomatoes in the supermarket. You can use a small can of chopped tomatoes instead - just whizz in a food processor or with a hand blender until smooth.

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

CARAMBA THEATRE COMPANY Presents

CORIOLANUS By William Shakespeare

MARCH 27th 28th & 29th 2012 At The Shakespeare Institute, Church St, Stratford.

7.30pm

Tickets: £10.50 / £9.50

(£1 off if pre-ordered & paid for by phone)

Available on the door at www.caramba-theatre.co.uk or telephone 07952 820456

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

Stratford upon Avon has many unique and eye catching attractions, and Black Cat Motors is most definitely one of them. Walk in, drive in or be towed in… however you get there you’re greeted by friendly, knowledgeable and experienced staff who strive to keep you and your car going.

Warwickshire’s No. 1 for: Service & Repairs – ANY make, ANY model Courtesy cars available

● Vintage Cars to Modern Cars ● Computer Diagnostics ● Mechanical & Electrical Repairs ● MOTs ● Welding ● 24 Hour Recovery ● Complete Vehicle Restorations ● Cars, Vans & Commercials

Telephone (24 Hour) 01789 295475

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

BLACK CAT MOTORS Winners of the Touch FM Pride Of Stratford Customer Service Award 2012 Stratford upon Avon has many unique and eye catching attractions, and the award winning Black Cat Motors is most definitely one of them. Walk in, drive in or be towed in…however you get there you’re greeted by friendly, knowledgeable and experienced staff who strive to keep you and your car going. Their fleet of tow trucks work 24/7 across the county for the wellbeing of stranded motorists, backed up by their fantastic workshop facilities that are a colourful, imaginative and adorned in fascinating motoring memorabilia that bring the place alive. They can often fix your car there and then, whilst you relax in their reception area that features a mini as the reception desk as well as a display cabinet for their customer service awards made from half a car! Perhaps listen to the jukebox, have a coffee or chat with their friendly staff while you wait? Alternatively, make use of one of their courtesy cars if your car is going to take a little longer to look at? They offer small, medium and family sized courtesy cars for you to use, manual and automatic. And it’s more than interesting memorabilia, courtesy cars and late opening hours Black Cat Motors offer… their reputation is so well trusted they are regularly called upon by RAC patrols across the county to not just rescue members but to fix cars that patrols are unable to at the roadside. In two years working with The RAC, they have saved over 20,000 miles of towing by being able to fix cars that otherwise would have gone on tow trucks. Skills and service of that standard have to be good! And there’s more… In January one of their staff was awarded a commendation from The AA for outstanding service to their members too.

Is it time you and your car got the best service going? The multi- award winning Black Cat Motors look forward to meeting you… Black Cat Motor Company Ltd Units 7 & 8 Avenue Fields Ind. Estate, Avenue Farm Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0HT OUT OF HOURS SERVICE ALWAYS ACCOMMODATED Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

A Proverbial Life... Waste not, want not

’ve developed a rather odd passion for glass. Not just any old glass, but those items we normally toss into the recycling bin without a second glance... glass jars. Actually, it’s not just glass jars that have taken my fancy but also yogurt pots. So far I’m managing to resist the urge to collect the wonderfully perfect plastic pots - but my glass jar fetish is getting out of control. I used to casually put all such items into the recycling bin, where they would eventually be re-incarnated by the local facility. However, I now seem to have decided that I can cut out the middle man and perform an alternative recycling role myself. I have discovered a whole new world of beauty in the simple glass jar. I covet glass jars and will not assign them to a cruel crushing and grinding. Instead I soak off labels, clean with hot soapy water, rinse and leave to dry on the window sill. Once they have passed the ‘sniff test’ (quick sniff to ensure there is no lingering hint of previous contents), they join their fellow jars in one of several boxes stored in the garage. I’ve been collecting now for nearly six months and I’ve got lots of lovely clean jars. Lots and lots and lots. I’m not the original purchaser of all of these jars; many of them have been donated to me by family and friends. All it took was a simple request to ‘save all your jars for me’, and I’ve been inundated. My mother in particular took this request to heart. She is my most enthusiastic glass jar collector, and has dragooned many of her friends into saving their jars for me. At least once a month I get summoned to ‘Mummy Towers’ to pick up the latest batch of jars. There’s always at least 30 waiting for me, stacked in a cardboard box, washed and looking suspiciously like they’ve been polished to a high gleam.

I’m always delighted to receive them and she’s always delighted to give them to me. However, the oddest thing is that no-one ever questions why I want so many jars. An initial explanation that I was going to make jam has continued to ensure a never ending supply of lovely jars. The jam making season has long gone. Despite my best intentions I didn’t make any jam. Neither have I made any chutneys, relishes or pickles but I will...next year. If I don’t make jam I will find some other use for them. I may take up glass painting and turn them into psychedelic vases for sale on eBay; or pop nightlights into them and use them in the garden, or fill them with sweets for the tombola at the local W.I. Or I could turn them into pen holders, paint pots or mini incubators for seedlings...the possibilities are endless. Indeed my husband has suggested that they would be a particularly useful place to keep the marbles he thinks I’ve lost. I shall ignore him.

by A. O’Brien

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

19 Masons Road, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9NF

Tel: 01789 296018 e: info@richardpaulhire.co.uk

• Men's Black Tailcoat • Wedding Stripe Trousers • Waistcoat (choice of colour) • White Wedding Shirt • Cravat (choice of colour) • ALL SIZES inc. Boys

     

All in

Men's Wedding Suit Hire

ve package i s clu

0 5 £

www.richardpaulhire.co.uk

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

...YLLANIF

MAKE 2012 A YEAR ...KCAB YENOM RUOY RO TO REMEMBER!

S'TAHT METSYS GNITSALB TAF NUF A ROF EPAHS NI UOY TEG OT DEETNARAUG SYADILOH REMMUS EHT

FEEL FITTER, STRONGER, HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER THAN EVER JOIN ME FOR CIRCUIT TRAINING 2 X WEEK OR GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS FOR GROUP TRAINING OR HAVE ONE ON ONE TRAINING SESSIONS WHICHEVER YOU CHOOSE YOU'LL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND TRAINING SESSION GET IN TOUCH ALL FITNESS LEVELS WELCOME

RESULTS GUARANTEED, NO EXCUSES! PAUL ARMSTRONG

www.goodwithfitness.com Tel - 07868842434 Email - paulstrongarm@hotmail.com

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

Classes held in Knowle, Dorridge, Dickens Heath, Solihull, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bidford-on-Avon

02476 731 274 or 07941 342 707 or

NEW SEWING CLASSES Sew Me Something The Stratford-upon-Avon Sewing CafĂŠ Workshops include... A Simple Skirt The Ultimate Shift Dress Fabric Jewellery Intro into Sewing Curtains and Blinds Free Machine Embroidery

We can also provide...

1:1 tutoring on a whole range of sewing projects... Afterschool and Holiday Clubs... Individual sewing commissions... Please call 07847

164724 for more information or visit us online at

www.sewmesomething.co.uk

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

TRAVEL Madeira

pretty as a postcard

Madeira means ‘wood’, a name given to the island by the first Portuguese settlers in the 15th century, though they promptly burnt as much of the forest as they could to create arable land. Today the trees are back, 900,000 of them planted in the past decades, and as you approach this rugged but fertile island, dizzying slopes greet you with lush terraces where mango and banana groves compete with vineyards, passion fruit and papaya trees. Pretty as a postcard, Funchal, the capital, is a neat maze of tree-lined avenues with mosaic pavements, shaded squares and outdoor restaurants sweeping around a glistening bay. On these south-facing slopes, life is relaxed and there’s time to wander around the farmers’ market, the steep lanes draped in wisteria, the marina, or look out for the Beatles Boat turned into a restaurant, the statue of Zarco, the explorer who first set foot on the island, or that of Christopher Columbus who married a local girl. Some 2000 feet above the sea, the leafy suburb of Monte offers superb views, fragrant gardens and an iconic church where on August 15th, penitents go up the steps on their knees. Visitors prefer the cable-car but the fun way down is the toboggan, Madeiran-style, careering down the slope in a giant wicker basket, swung right and left by two handsome guys in white gear and straw hats. Just 36 miles by 14 miles in the Atlantic, closer to Africa than to Portugal, the motherland, this little gem of an island is surprisingly varied. All along the coast, rocks and cliffs tower dramatically above small pebble beaches pounded by the ocean. Experienced surfers head north to ride the waves but Funchal has gentle options, from coastal and dolphinwatching trips to a romantic twilight cruise on Santa Maria de Colombo, a stylish replica of Christopher Columbus’ boat. Others sail around the Desert Isles, home to wild goats, seals and thousands of sea birds while the ferry sets off for the more distant sister island of Porto Santo and its five

miles of golden sands. Back on the main island, small towns and villages are scattered along the shore, Camara de Lobos with its fishermen’s chapel and wooden boats, Calheta and its sugar plant making ‘firewater’, Porto Moniz with its bathing pools hollowed out of an old lava flow or Machico where Zarco is said to have landed. Not so far away, Torch Mountain recalls the great bonfires of the past, warning of approaching pirates, while the world’s second highest sea cliff, Cabo Girao, rises to a staggering 1900 feet and the windswept eastern peninsula stretches into the ocean, shared by the occasional lizard and a handful of seasoned walkers. Walking on Madeira is exhilarating and pleasant year round. Popular

footpaths follow the levadas, the ancient irrigation channels still used to bring water from the humid but sparsely inhabited north to the rich farmlands of the south, with a network of over 800 miles. There are leisurely trails through the ancient laurel forest of the National Park covering two thirds of the island, past gurgling streams and waterfalls, picnic spots and panoramic ‘balconies’ suspended between heaven and earth. But most challenging of all is the mountainous interior and the fabulous but headspinning hike from Pico de Areiro to Pico Ruivo, the highest peak towering above a dramatic moonscape at over 6000 feet.

by Solange Hando

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

THE

BARBER SHOP GENTS CUT

= £10.00

KIDS u16

= £7.50

OAP

= £5.00

2 BOYS u 14 = £12.00 Open MON to THU 9 - 6 FRI 8 - 6 SAT 8 - 4 Brookside Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9PH 01789 298769 Situated behind the shops Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

Get some free help to grow your own! Gardening charity, Garden Organic, and Warwickshire County Council are running a successful project to train people in the art of growing their own fruit and veg, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme. The Master Gardener programme - a volunteer network supporting local people and communities to grow fruit and vegetables in their gardens and on communal land – is underway with over 70 Master Gardeners already trained in Warwickshire, four of whom are based in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Some of the veg grown in a Stratford garden

Master Gardeners encourage and advise people who would like to “grow their own” in whatever space they have, from a pot on a windowsill to a new allotment, and anything in between. Growing your own can save food miles and encourage a more sustainable lifestyle – as well as being great fun! Once you’ve tasted your own herbs, tomatoes, raspberries or whatever you love to eat – you’ll never look back! Drawing on their own experiences and a wealth of resources, Master Gardeners offer free advice on what to grow and where, as well as sowing, planting and growing techniques. You can sign up to receive 12 months of support from your local Master Gardener, and it’s free! Stratford-grown purple broad beans!

If you live in Stratford-upon-Avon, or anywhere in Warwickshire, and would like to call upon a Master Gardener for advice and support then contact volunteer co-ordinator Kate Newman on 024 7621 7721, email: knewman@gardenorganic.org.uk Visit our website www.mastergardeners.org.uk for more information, to find a Master Gardener and for growing advice.

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts

Puzzles

Solutions on Page 28

Easy Crossword Across

Down

1. Bewitched (7) 5. Trimmed (5) 8. Loosens (5) 9. Evil (7) 10. Vertical (13) 11. Without trouble (6) 12. Teeth (6) 15. Display (13) 18. Detonate (7) 19. Business transactions (5) 20. Stairs (5) 21. Destroys hearing (7)

1. Crawl (5) 2. Soaks up (7) 3. Sundry items (13) 4. Split (6) 5. Book of facts (13) 6. Guttural noise (5) 7. Arid regions (7) 11. Perpetual (7) 13. Shake briskly (7) 14. To be present at (6) 16. Type of syrup (5) 17. Facial features (5)

14 15

Sudoku

Fill in the grids so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetition!

To advertise please call 01789 415375 or email info@stratford-directory.com

What’s on... Parent &Toddler Praise & Play Weds 1.45pm-3.00pm St Andrew’s Parish Church, Church Lane, Shottery. Contact Parish Office 01789 293381 (term time only). Toddler Praise 1st Weds of every month 11.30am - 12noon for parents, carers and children under five. Stratford Methodist Church, Old Town. Contact Shirley 01789 550193. Wesley Baby & Toddler Group Weds & Fri 9.30am - 11.30am & Weds 1.00pm - 2.45pm term time only. Stratford Methodist Church Annexe, Old Town. Contact Shirley 01789 550193. Youth Activities Shottery St Andrew’s Church Choir welcome new junior and senior members and are currently seeking basses in particular. Rehearsals Thursday evenings. Please call the Directors of music for further details on 01789 296134. Singing Spirits - at Stratford Methodist Chruch. A new children's choir run by experienced children's choral leader, Rebecca Ledgard. Sessions include singing games, vocal development and musicianship with the emphasis on singing together. For reception and years 1-7, Thursdays 4pm-4.45pm during term time. £1.50 per session. For information please contact singingspirits@btinternet. com Groups Arden Cancer Network "Are you and your family living with cancer?" - then why not pop along to our support group for coffee and cake to find out how we can help. Every 3rd Friday in the month. 2pm at The Shakespeare Hospice. For more information contact Carole Lomas on 01789 266582. Avon Bowling Club - invites you to join them at its clubhouse and green on the Recreation Ground from April to September to enjoy the game, the friendly company and the scenary. For further info and free coaching contact Jane on 01789 551059 or Alan on 01789 266600. Friends Around 50 For women in their 40s - 60s to enjoy a wide range of social activities and make new like minded friends. Regular meeting first Monday of each month. Contact Sue for details 01789 293101.

FREE PAGE for local charities 27 and non-profit making organisations

Getaway Club meets at Tyler House Youth & Community Centre on Friday nights from 6.30pm-8.30pm during term time. The Getaway Club is a leisure provision for adults with physical and/or learning disabilities. Costs £1 per night. For more details contact Anna or Zarig on 01789 205396. Hathaway Quilters - patchwork group meet 1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month 7.30pm Methodist Church, Old Town. All new comers very welcome. Praise Party Informal family worship with a party tea. 3rd Sunday of every month 4pm - 5pm at Stratford Methodist Church Annexe, Old Town. Contact Shirley 01789 550193. Shottery U3A - meets on the 1st Tuesday in each month at 2pm in St Andrew's Parish Centre, Church Lane, Shottery. Membership forms and programme now available. For more details contact Allan Day on 01789 292315 or Jackie Checketts on 01789 293200. Shottery WI - meeting every 2nd Monday of month at 2pm in St Andrew's Parish Centre, Shottery. Come along as a visitor. For more details please phone Sheila on 01789 299624 or Janet on 01789 299872. Stratford-upon Avon Bridge Club - sessions Mon-Fri, afternoons and evenings; also supervised play for players wishing to improve their bidding and play skills. Courses available for those who wish to start Bridge anew. For further information and a club brochure contact John Peace on 01295 738590 or visit www.stratforduponavonbridgeclub. org.uk Stratford Model Railway Club - Meet the 2nd and last Sunday of each month, at Bishopton Community Centre, Drayton Avenue, Stratford. Starts 19.00hrs, we have one club layout (00 gauge) which is in the process of being built. New members welcome. Call Alan on 07983 117638 or email stratfordmrc@hotmail. com Stratford upon Avon and District Radio Society- meet at 7.30pm every 2nd and 4th Monday of every month except Aug at the Home Guard Club, Tiddington. Visitors and prospective members are welcome at our meetings which cover a wide range of subjects in amateur radio and communication. Further details can

be found at www.stratfordradiosociety. freeserve.co.uk The Brazil Nuts, Stratford’s No 1 Samba Band - Experience the thrill of Brazilian drumming ! New members needed. No experience or musical ability required. Add rhythm to your day and call Stratford Music Centre on 01789 263620 or 07798 503775. Email info@ stratfordmusiccentre.org.uk. The Shakespeare Morris Men - meet in the United Reform Church Hall on Mondays at 8pm. Come and learn the ancient male fertility dances of England and keep yourself fit at the same time! All ages welcome, no experience necessary, just enthusiasm! Contact Mick Dunn on 01789 550855 or mickdunn@ntlworld. com for details or just turn up on Monday evenings. Events Sunday 11th March - Miramar and Friends Shimmy for The Shakespeare Hospice. The Belly Dance Spectacular will be held at The Civic Hall, Rother Street. 2.30pm. Tickets are £10/£8/£5 and are available from the Civic Hall Box Office on 01789 207100 or Val Rainbow on 01608 663480. Saturday 17th March - The Friends of Shakespeare Hospice are holding a coffee morning/bric-a-brac sale at Stratford Town Hall 10am - 12.30pm. Homemade cakes, plants, bric-a-brac, tombola and raffle. Saturday 17th March - Action for Children are holding an Irish Themed Night at The Methodist Church Hall, Old Town. 7pm-9.30pm includes supper & entertainment. Tickets are £6.50 adults, £3.00 children. For tickets & more info call 292102 or 414991. Saturday 17th March - Young Enterprise 17th National Trade Fair. 10am to 3pm, Henley Street, Stratford. Come along to see over 200 young enterprise achievers selling products which they have created. Visit the website for more details www. yestratfordtradefair.co.cc Saturday 14th April - Lady Jane Grey - A Tudor Mystery. Come and have a Tudor themed dinner and listen to Professor Eric Ives, the after dinner speaker. Stratford Methodist Church, Old Town at 7pm. Tickets £10 from 268191 or 840136. Proceeds to Church Redevelopment Fund.

Do you have an event or group that you wish to promote?

Please mention The Stratford Directory when responding to adverts Let us know: email: events@stratford-directory.com telephone: 01789 415375

Solutions

STRATFORD

The

Puzzle

upon Avon