ISSUE 150 | DECEMBER 2025
What makes a good walk? Will elucidates Do you believe in ghosts? Begg Shoes open their first English branch in Market Harborough Serendipity; how the three owners of Stamford Time & Co came together Collector’s Corner; how do you dispose of a collection?
Support local food producers and tree growers
We offer Residential, Nursing, Dementia, and Respite Care with all-inclusive fees. Fantastic food, a lovely café and bar, a cinema, a library, a hair salon, and private dining room await you at Grand View care home. Start your care journey today! 01780 668118 customerservice.grandview@alysiacaring.co.uk Uffington Road, Stamford, PE92EX
Editor and Publisher Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com
Deputy editor Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com
Art editor Matt Tarrant
Contributors
Will Hetherington, Jeremy Smithson-Beswick,
Advertisement Sales Director Lisa Chauhan lisa@theactivemag.com
Advertisement Sales Emily Stillman
Production assistant Gary Curtis
Accounts accounts@theactivemag.com
Active magazine, Eventus Business Centre, Sunderland Road, Northfield Industrial Estate, Market Deeping, PE6 8FD
If you have information about a club then please get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com.
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Active magazine is published monthly 10 times per year.
ISSN 2059-8513
Published by Triangle Publishing Ltd www.theactivemag.com
Disclaimer
Copyright (c) Triangle Publishing Ltd (TPL) 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from TPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TPL or its affiliates. Disclaimer of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, TPL and its affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws. TPL and its affiliates are are not responsible for any error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any use of products or services or any action or omissions taken in reliance on information or any statement contained in advertising material. Inclusion of any advertisement is not intended to endorse any view expressed, nor products or services offered nor the organisations sponsoring the advertisement.
‘We really are very fortunate so need to support these fabulous, talented local farmers, growers and producers and keep them in business.’
I’m not quite sure how it’s happened but here we are at the end of the year again with Christmas upon us. It literally seems like five minutes ago that it was last Christmas. I’m obviously getting old as time is certainly rushing by, but I don’t seem to be the only one. Everyone I speak to is quite surprised how it’s suddenly around the corner. So now we have to be ready to embrace all the festivities; something to look forward to. I enjoyed my first mince pie at the weekend so I’m getting in the spirit…
Last month we featured our Christmas gift guide alongside our mantra ‘support local’ and this month it’s the same. But this time it’s Christmas tree growers, farm shops and bakeries and all who supply us locally with fruit, veg, wine, gin, turkeys and more. These businesses need our support too. Yes, it’s easy to go to the supermarket and get everything in one go. But isn’t it better to reduce food miles and support your local producer so keeping money in the local economy and probably get better quality too rather than mass produced. Yes, you may pay slightly more but you know that your sprouts were probably only picked a few hours ago, your joint of meat or turkey is home grown, grass fed and butchered or plucked in the shed behind the shop. Bread, mince pies and Christmas cakes and puddings cooked on the premises and cheese from local producers; Stilton is literally made on our doorstep. And now we can even buy local wine and gin too. We really are very fortunate so need to support these fabulous, talented local farmers, growers and producers and keep them in business.
To round off the year we’ve been talking to some of our advertisers who we have also featured who are delighted with the response they’ve had to their adverts and articles. Yes, social media is a big influence now but it’s still a fact –and more so with every month it would appear – that many people don’t engage with it and many, many more are rapidly disengaging so a supposedly ‘old fashioned’ advert and feature still reaches the spot.
So now all I need to do is wish you all a Happy Christmas and healthy New Year and glad tidings to all.
Mary - Editor
20 A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT
We celebrate our advertisers’
24 CHRISTMAS FOOD AND FESTIVITIES
We need to support our festive food producers and retailers and buy our Christmas trees from local businesses as well
30 SERENDIPITY
Meet the three owners of Stamford Time & Co who were brought together by chance
34 COLLECTOR’S CORNER
What do you do with a tea towel collection?
37 DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?
Meet Liv Edkins who can, perhaps, convince you either way
40 WILL’S WALKS
What makes a good walk? Will reveals all
51 IT’S GOOD TO TALK
Dr Naomi Murphy explains why it’s good to talk
55 THE ROUNDUP
Jeremy rounds up local sport
Meet the owners of Stamford Time & Co
Do you believe in ghosts?
Begg Shoes have expanded south to Market Harborough
Local businesses have been celebrating
Shop local with Christmas food producers and tree growers
What makes a good walk; Will elucidates
What started as a light-hearted village idea has turned into a community project with a serious purpose. The men of King’s Cliffe (including one very well-known face) have bared – almost - all to create the Heritage Hunks 2026 Naked Charity Calendar, raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK and King’s Cliffe Heritage.
From farmers to engineers, personal trainers to builders, the calendar features local men of all ages and backgrounds stepping out of their comfort zones (and their clothes) to support causes close to their hearts. Shot tastefully and playfully by local photographer Bryn Thomas, each image captures the humour, warmth and spirit of village life while celebrating body positivity and camaraderie.
Behind the cheeky smiles and artful poses lies a powerful message: to get men talking about their health, to raise awareness of prostate cancer and to preserve the rich heritage of King’s Cliffe for future generations.
All profits from sales will be donated with 75% going to Prostate Cancer UK to fund vital research and awareness campaigns and 25% to King’s Cliffe Heritage to protect and promote the village’s history. Support a brilliant cause and enjoy a year of laughter, courage and a little bit of cheek along the way.
Copies of the calendar, along with exclusive prints, are available to order now at heritagehunkskc.com.
Each year Norton and Gaulby Young Farmers’ Club organises its annual Christmas tree collection, a community driven initiative. After the festive season ends they offer a convenient and eco-friendly way for local residents to dispose of their real Christmas trees by collecting them from your doorstep. The club are based at Grange Farm Christmas Barn at Thorpe Langton and are able to collect from Market Harborough/Oadby/Corby/Uppingham and everywhere in between!
This much-loved event not only helps tidy up after the festivities but also raises vital funds for local causes. Every penny raised is donated to three local charities chosen by the members for their meaningful impact on the community. The chosen charities this year are GEMS Charity, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance and Yellow Wellies.
Members, all volunteers, give up their time and energy to make the collection possible — driving trailers, lifting trees and spreading goodwill. It’s a brilliant example of what Young Farmers is all about: teamwork, service and supporting those around us.
The club is incredibly grateful to everyone who donates and takes part. Your generosity helps make a real difference locally.
nortonandgaulbyyfc@gmail.com
Join the winners; Uppingham in Bloom have had a fantastic year, winning East Midlands in Bloom in the small towns’ category and winning gold in the National finals for the Britain in Bloom competition. These tremendous achievements are testament to the dedication of the team of volunteers and the support received from the wider community and businesses.
Due to several retirements and relocation they are looking for new members to help keep Uppingham blooming all year round. Whether you have a green thumb or simply enjoy seeing Uppingham at its best, your time and enthusiasm can make a real difference.
From seasonal flower displays to tree planting and community projects, every helping hand counts. At times it is hard graft weeding but the rewards are great and friendships are made. If gardening isn’t your thing they would welcome help with their website and social media.
If you think you can help, please get in touch: uppinbloom@gmail.com
Welcome to The Dutch Barn, a sanctuary just outside Stamford, created with love and intention as a space for healing, reflection and reconnection.
I’m Catherine — a Reiki Master, transformational therapist, hypnotherapist, intuitive healer, guide and coach. My work is all about helping you remember who you truly are beneath the layers of conditioning, fear and expectation.
Through my 1:1 sessions, I blend Reiki, transformational therapy, hypnotherapy and intuitive energy work to clear blocks, shift subconscious patterns and restore balance to mind, body and spirit. Every session is deeply personal, guided by energy, intuition and your soul’s unique blueprint.
Alongside individual healing I also hold group circles, moon gatherings and manifestation workshops, offering community, connection and a safe space to grow and expand.
Whether you’re seeking emotional release, spiritual growth or simply a peaceful moment to breathe, The Dutch Barn offers a gentle return to self, a reminder that everything you seek is already within.
Follow @categgleston1 @the_dutchbarn
Rutland Hall hotel has appointed Lee Clarke as its new executive head chef, heralding an exciting new culinary chapter. Lee will be responsible for all dining throughout the hotel, including the menus and team at Blossoms Restaurant.
Originally from Stamford, Clarke first trained under Marco Pierre White at Mirabelle Restaurant, where he spent two years rising through the ranks of the group before being mentored by the late Albert Roux at Roux Fine Dining. After gaining over a decade of experience in London, Lee returned home in 2011 to open Clarkes in Peterborough. The restaurant quickly built a reputation for relaxed, classic cuisine and entered several of the UK’s top 100 lists as well as the Michelin Guide within two years of opening.
In 2015, Lee launched his next restaurant, Prévost, which put the region firmly on the culinary map. Recognised by the Michelin Guide within months of opening, Prévost was also awarded three AA Rosettes, highlighted by the Good Food Guide as ‘one to watch,’ and included in the Square Meal Top 100 List 2024. rutlandhall.co.uk
At the heart of our community, The Devika Dementia CIC is making a meaningful difference to the lives of people living with dementia, as well as their carers. Inspired by personal experience, this not-for-profit organisation was founded to have compassion and understanding at its core. The service offers more than just care; it creates a space where people feel valued, engaged, safe and supported.
Operating in six locations across East Anglia - Peterborough, Tallington, Stamford, Wisbech, Huntingdon and Thrapston their Dementia Day Services run every week from 10am to 3pm and provide five hours of vital respite for carers, who can take a well-earned break or go to work knowing their loved ones are in safe hands. Each session includes lunch, sometimes entertainment and a variety of meaningful activities that support mental stimulation, physical engagement and above all, enjoyment.
They believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity, connection and purpose. Their approach is built around the people they serve, focusing on what they can do rather than what they can’t so encouraging autonomy, boosting self-esteem and promoting well-being.
Whether it’s through music, games, conversation or creative expression, every day at Devika Dementia CIC is thoughtfully planned to bring smiles, spark memories and build relationships.
One family member shared: ‘Dad had a lovely day - in his own words, he had a marvellous time! He really enjoyed the singing, he couldn’t stop talking about it and he seems to have made a good friend in J, which is absolutely lovely. He was so happy when I picked him up - we look forward to next time.’
To find out more about this Dementia Day Service in your local areacontact Caroline on 07760 357095.
The Outdoor Living Collective began with a simple idea, to make the journey of creating your dream garden easier, more enjoyable and more inspiring. Over the years they’ve met countless clients who loved the idea of transforming their outdoor space but didn’t know where to start, who to trust or how to bring everything together. That’s where the TOLC was born.
They wanted to create a space where design, materials and expertise are all together in one place. Somewhere people can come to explore possibilities, ask questions and actually see and feel the products that could shape their garden. From paving and pergolas to specimen trees and outdoor kitchens.
Their studio at The Engine Yard, Belvoir Castle has been designed to do just that. It’s a relaxed, creative space where ideas come to life. Whether you’re a homeowner dreaming of a space to unwind, a landscaper looking for premium products, or a developer wanting design-led solutions, they’re there to help you make confident, informed choices.
They’ve spent two decades refining their craft and building strong relationships with the best in the industry, so every recommendation, every product and every design comes from experience and a genuine love for what they do.
The Outdoor Living Collective isn’t just about gardens, it’s about connection, creativity and helping people get more joy from the space they already have.
theoutdoorlivingcollective.co.uk
The Badgers Den is a premium grooming destination for men, offering professional grooming services and barbering in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Inside you’ll find a contemporary lounge setting complete with a bar, pool and darts area, barista coffee and dedicated treatment rooms. Every detail has been carefully considered to create a calm and social environment where you can unwind, switch off and leave feeling your best.
Designed to go beyond traditional men’s spaces The Den combines attention to detail, comfort and care under one roof. Customers of The Den can enjoy everything from facials, hand and foot care services, precision haircuts and beard styling, as well as other specialist treatments, all delivered by experienced professionals in a space built for modern men.
The Badgers Den also offers flexible membership options for those who value regular self-care. Members benefit from extra credit value, priority booking, event access and exclusive perks that make maintaining your grooming routine both effortless and rewarding.
At its core, The Badgers Den stands for more than appearance. The team is passionate about supporting men’s wellbeing and breaking the stigma around self-care. Through partnerships with charities such as Testicular Cancer UK and Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Mind, The Den helps raise awareness and provides signposting to organisations supporting men’s mental and physical health.
Every visit is designed to be comfortable, inclusive and professional, a space where you can take care of yourself without judgment.
The Badgers Den is located at 58 St Mary’s Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7DU. To explore services, memberships, and bookings, download The Badgers Den app or visit the-badgers-den.co.uk
Hello, I’m Fiona Hopper, proud to be the fourth generation of our family business, serving Lincolnshire with fine jewellery since my grandfather first opened our doors in Boston in 1926. Nearly a century later our passion for exquisite craftsmanship and personal service remains at the heart of everything we do.
At Hopper’s Jewellers we have built our reputation as diamond and gemmology specialists offering everything from expert repairs to stunning bespoke creations. This year marks an exciting new chapter for us as we expand into the shop next door to our Bourne store.
Our new private consultation studio will offer clients a calm and elegant space to explore engagement rings, wedding bands, eternity rings or to redesign cherished pieces into something new and unique. It will be by appointment only ensuring each visit is personal and unhurried.
We also specialise in signet rings, individually crafted and hand seal-engraved with family crests or initials, a timeless way to celebrate heritage and individuality.
As we approach our 100th anniversary we are proud to continue serving the community that has supported us for generations. We look forward to welcoming you into our new space where there will always be a warm smile, a glass of bubbly or freshly squeezed orange juice and expert advice ready to help you turn your dreams into reality.
hoppersjewellers.co.uk
Hereward Harmony, Peterborough’s only male barbershop choir is inviting new members to join a free six week ‘learn to sing’ course starting in the New Year. Their mission is simple: sing well, make friends and have fun, and they do.
The free six week course begins on January 22 at 7.30pm and will be held weekly at the community centre in Orton Wistow. No experience of singing or reading music is needed. They are a friendly bunch and to experience the joy of singing is what they are all about. You will be joining other beginners at the same time so will all be in the same boat.
To find out more contact Alan on 07850 007057 or Malcolm on 07787 401970 or visit herewardharmony.com
Join a cosy Christmas yoga flow at the ski chalet at The Bull and Swan on December 6 hosted by Sophie Young, from 10-11.30am. Wrap up warm and feel the glow of candlelight.
Places are limited so do book asap at sophieyoungyoga.co.uk
Stamford Showstoppers will be performing Rapunzel, a Christmas adventure at Stamford Corn Exchange on December 13-14. Suitable for all the family particularly pre schoolers and primary children.
Tickets on sale now from stamfordcornexchange.co.uk
Stamford pantomime players will be performing The Wizard of Oz from December 23 – January 1 2026 at the Corn Exchange. Tickets are on sale now and it promises to be great entertainment for all the family.
Ring the box office on 01780 766455 for tickets or visit stamfordcornexchange.co.uk
TH E PREMIUM GROOMING OASIS... CREATED FOR MEN TH E PREMIUM GROOMING OASIS... CREATED FOR MEN
Image: David Evans
Tickets are now on sale for next summer’s Classic Ibiza at Burghley House on July 25. They always sell out very quickly so this is your chance to get tickets before the usual last minute scramble. Classic Ibiza is now a firm favourite on many people’s social calendar where you can enjoy some of the biggest anthems in dance music. classicibiza.co.uk/burghley
The Rockabuy Record Fayre will be hosted by Rockabuy Records from Oakham at the Hub at Rutland Point on 6 December.
Musical & Amicable Society
Baroque Orchestra
Quartet of professional soloists
Jeremy Jepson - Conductor
7.00pm, Tues 16 December 2025
Oswald Elliott Hall, Stamford School
Paul’s Street, Stamford
Stamford Choral Society will be performing Handel’s Messiah at 7pm on December 16 at Stamford School’s Oswald Elliott Hall.
Tickets are available either on the door or from stamfordchoral.co.uk
Northants & Rutland Open Studios presents A Festive Christmas Fair at Lyddington Church on 6-7 December and a special evening opening on Friday 5 from 6-8pm. This festive event brings together local artists and makers offering the chance to find unique, handcrafted gifts for Christmas. Admission is free nros.co.uk
Little Wolf Entertainment are back at The Cube in Corby with the pantomime Beauty and the Beast, a Furry-Tail Adventure. It runs from December 12-31 and tickets are selling fast.
Either book via the box office on 01536 470470 or visit thecorecorby.com
Rutland Spiritual Centre meets on the second and fourth Thursday each month at the Quaker Meeting House in Oakham. Entry costs just £5, and includes Mediumship/Spiritual talk, and refreshments afterwards. Lucky Tickets are also included, with a chance to win a gift. All are welcome, and no need to book. Doors open shortly after 7pm for a prompt start at 7.30pm. Development Circles are held in six week blocks - ask at any meeting.
Want to know more? Contact Alison via WhatsApp on: 07557 226759.
Harborough singers will be celebrating Christmas in words and music on December 20 at St Dionysius church in Market Harborough. Dan Antopolski will be joining them as a special guest with the performance starting at 7.30pm.
For tickets ring 01858 467463.
At Liberty Partnership, our Chartered Financial Planners ofer clear, expert advice on Retirement - Pension Review, Investment and Inheritance Tax Planning.
Liberty Estate Planning provides specialist support with Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Long Term Care and Trusts, helping you protect your wealth and your family’s future. We are delighted to be open in Bourne and Market Deeping. Please call in to say hello. Your frst consultation is FREE whether you’re planning for retirement, investing, or safeguarding your estate.
Saturday Aperitivo hour 4.30 - 5.30pm 6 - 9pm for food
Ifirst saw cocktail sausages served in a loafof bread at Burghley Horse Trials and thought it was a great idea. This baked Camembert within a loaf of sourdough along with maple syrup certainly surpasses that! It’s perfect for sharing at Christmas parties and that sourdough will be delicious having absorbed some of the Camembert. It’s going to be a firm favourite.
Ingredients
• Loaf of sourdough bread
• Camembert cheese
• 1 tbsp warm maple syrup
• Fresh thyme leaves
Method
• Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees
• Using the lid of the Camembert box cut a hole in the top of the loaf to fit the cheese in. Make sure you don’t cut to the bottom of the loaf. Keep the discarded bread.
• Score the rest of the loaf, using a sharp knife, making sure not to cut all the way through.
• Put on a baking sheet and place the Camembert in the hole. Pierce the top of the cheese all over with a knife.
• Mix the warm maple syrup and thyme leaves with 3 tbsp olive oil and drizzle all over the bread and cheese.
• Break the spare bread into crouton sized pieces and sprinkle around the loaf, then drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake the loaf for 20 minutes until the Camembert has melted and the loaf is golden.
• Serve with chutney, fresh figs and celery. Delicious!
There’s no doubt our advertisers are a successful lot so it’s nice to celebrate along with them
Many of our advertisers are very successful, winning awards and being at the top of their game. Unfortunately, we often don’t get to hear about this so we thought it would be nice, at the end of the year, to celebrate along with them. And there’s lots to celebrate.
Camille Ortega Mclean, owner and creator of the Pickled Village pickles and preserves, was up against the big boys in the Great British Food Awards 2025 and won the gold award in the Sweet Preserves category for her Blazing Bonnet chilli jam. The Michelin star chef who judged the category said it was ‘absolutely delicious.’
She has also recently launched a range of eight new products exclusive to the Pickled Shop in Bulwick and on the website as well. The Pickled Village range of products were launched in 2008 so now she feels it is time for a change. ‘We like to say our products are Made in Bulwick, Inspired by the World.’ Very apt.
These are particularly popular when served with tapas on the enclosed Garden Terrace behind the shop.
Were finalists in two categories at the national Independent School of the Year Awards - Rising Star of the Year and Independent Girls’ School of the Year - although they didn’t win this time. But what an accolade to even be nominated.
They’ve also had some fantastic successes locally. Their Year 9 team made history by achieving full marks - the first time in the competition’s 11-year history - at the Rotary Technology Challenge. Having won last year, they successfully defended their title with an outstanding performance.
The Hub at Rutland Point has recently won best new start up at the Business Mercury awards. ‘This was a surprise to us all and we really appreciate the support, and hope we can push on from here to welcome even more people, new and old, to the Hub at Rutland Point,’ says co-owner Dan Lever.
‘What a fabulous reaction we had this time last year with our silver and gold plated stirrup bracelet! It was really popular and we made lots of sales from people who had not visited our shop before. One chap from near Oundle came in straight away and I delivered it to him with wrapping paper, the lot! He was thrilled - a new and a very happy customer - thank you very much to Active Magazine!’
Fiona Hopper,
Hopper’s Jewellers
It’s always nice for us to have feedback from our advertisers, and a thank you too! Yes, many businesses use social media but not everyone is on it and, interestingly it’s becoming apparent that more and more people are stepping away from it, so you are missing a huge demographic by just being on socials. Businesses need to have alternatives and advertising in a local magazine like Active, particularly if you get entertaining editorial along with it, certainly does attract customers. We are constantly being told this by our advertisers which delights us, and them too.
This family-run outdoor laser tag adventure based at Grafham Water and Rutland Water is celebrating a double victory after scooping up two awards at this year’s Peterborough small business awards finals.
This growing local business built, quite literally from the ground up, by the Rumble family took home ‘Family-run Business of the Year’ and the ‘Innovation Award,’ recognising their creativity, resilience and passion for bringing next-level outdoor laser tag fun to families, schools and corporate teams across the region. They were also the overall runner-up in the public vote, a true endorsement of its popularity.
Founded in 2019 by Jacquie and Billy Rumble and their three sons Joe, Danny and Max, Rumble Live Action Gaming has transformed two woodland sites into immersive, tech-powered arenas where players of all ages swap screens for real-life gaming.
The Innovation award celebrates businesses that bring something
‘May we say how pleased we are from the response to the advert and interview in Active. We have been inundated with enquiries and all of the people we have spoken to say how lovely it is to know that our family business is in town. From all at Waumsley and Sons, it’s a big thank you to the Active team.’
Barry Waumsley, Waumsley and Sons of Stamford
genuinely fresh to their sector and Rumble’s use of unique state of the art gaming kit in the UK which includes video game features like respawns, medic packs and special upgrades as well as hundreds of 5* customer reviews impressed judges for its originality and scalability.
Meanwhile, the family run business award acknowledged the Rumbles’ commitment to inclusivity, customer experience and local community partnerships - from charity fundraisers to school sports collaborations and corporate team-building days.
‘We’re absolutely thrilled and honestly are still pinching ourselves,’ said Jacquie. ‘Being recognised for both family small business and innovation means the world to us because those two things are at the heart of everything we do. This recognition feels like a massive high-five to every customer, staff member and local partner who’s supported us on our mission to get people outdoors, active and laughing together.’
Rutland is now closed until March 2026 (due to the migratory ducks) but the Grafham Water venue stays open year-round.
‘The advert and editorial combination has played a major role in establishing the Octopus Psychology practice in the community. All the feedback I have had is that the editorials have been well received, and Hugh and I have loved putting them together.’
Dr Naomi Murphy, Octopus Psychology
Simon and Sarah Singlehurst from New Lodge Farm at Bulwick have been having a great time winning two awards recently.
They won the Countryside Alliance Award 2025 for Rural Enterprise which was awarded to them at the House of Lords.
And they have just won a gold award as the Weetabix Northamptonshire food and drink F&B Achiever of the Year which was sponsored by J Sweeney accountants. These awards – there were 18 categories – celebrate the brightest stars of the county’s culinary scene and recognise resilience, innovation, sustainability and the finest local people and produce in the food and beverage industry.
Christmas is all about good food, beautiful trees and decorations. And we can all do our bit by supporting local producers, of which there are many
Christmas is all about food and festivities and fun; extended family and friends gathered around the table feasting on delicious food which is enhanced by the lights from the Christmas tree. We could go to the supermarket and load our trollies to the brim but wouldn’t it be so much better to shop more sustainably? And that means reducing food miles, supporting local suppliers and making a small business owner very happy by shopping locally. And if we don’t go to the farm shop down the road, the local Stilton producer (as we are in the right area here), or the local bakeries they won’t survive without our support. And we would miss them so much if they weren’t here, it would be a disaster.
Visiting a local butcher and knowing that your meat was literally bred, reared and butchered on the farm or within a few miles is important. You know that the meat hasn’t been stuffed full of additives, the animals have often been slow grown, fed on grass and haven’t been stressed whilst transported miles to the slaughterhouse; they have been respected. This means you will enjoy more flavoursome meat and know that you are helping the environment at the same time. It really is just common sense.
Buy your sprouts from the local farm shop and they have probably literally only been picked a few hours ago, ditto mince pies baked in your local bakery. When it comes down to it, food produced, grown and baked locally is going to be fresher, tastier and probably have fewer additives.
We are very lucky in our area as being quite rural we know our vegetables are grown just down the road in the Fens. Stilton cheese is literally produced up the road and we have plenty of farm shops to choose from, all of whom turn out high quality products. Pigs in blankets made from pigs reared on the farm along with the joints of ham, turkeys the same.
You need to remember to place your order at your farm shop in good time (they will let you know the cut off date). Many of them will be offering homemade gravy and trimmings along with sacks of potatoes, vegetables and much more.
To go with your Christmas food you will need chutneys, jams, preserves, pickles and more. Also Christmas hampers; we would suggest Bulwick shop.
• Bowthorpe Park farm shop is open seven days a week. As well as their usual beef, pork and lamb, all reared on the farm, they are selling free range cockerels and herb fed free range turkeys as well as turkey crowns. Make sure you place your order asap. Milk, eggs, seasonal fruit and veg; pork pies, sausage rolls and cheese are also available. bowthorpeparkfarm.co.uk
• Farmer Lou on Exton Avenue. ‘From farm, to you, by Lou,’ says it all really. Her meat is all reared and butchered on the farm so virtually no food miles at all. They have a lovely farm shop and also stock speciality meats, homemade pies, breakfast packs, poultry, cheeses, homemade preserves and are renowned for their sausages; what’s not to like? farmerlou.co.uk
• Bulwick Shop. As well as all their delicious pickles, chutneys and jam they also offer beautiful personalised hampers bursting with British-made goodies. Make someone smile with their moreish marmalades, jolly jams, playful pickles and cheering chutneys, all made in the heart of the English countryside and sent with love all over the world. Also, cheeses, biscuits, teas, chocolates, wine, gin. Vegan and gluten free available. Order your hampers and chutneys and pickles online or pop in and pick yourself. thepickledshop.com
• New Lodge farm at Bulwick is a farm shop which sells home produced meat and all the Christmas trimmings as well as having a lovely selection of gifts to browse. It also has a lovely café (the best bacon sandwiches ever) so you can go and order your meat, buy your presents and then enjoy a Christmas lunch. And at the same time buy your Christmas tree, as they sell them too. newlodgefarm.co.uk
'Visiting a local butcher and knowing that your meat was literally bred, reared and butchered on the farm or within a few miles is important.'
Returning you gently back to Self.
Reiki • Hypnotherapy • Transformational Therapy Intuitive
• Healing • Coaching
07597 406 365
ourspiritualhome22@gmail.com
@categgleston1 ourspiritualhome
Become a Shared Lives Carer and make a diference in your community
Shared Lives is a care and support service where trained carers open their homes and hearts to adults who need a helping hand to live independently. Whether it’s for a short stay, regular daytme support, respite or a long-term arrangement, the emphasis is on creatng real relatonships and a sense of belonging in a family environment. Shared Lives ofers a more personal, fexible alternatve to traditonal care, helping people live fuller, more connected lives in their community. It’s care that feels like home.
For more informaton email sharedlives@rutland.gov.uk or call 01572 722577
After a few years in the doldrums real Christmas trees are becoming more popular again. You can understand why people turned away from them as ‘traditional’ trees dropped their needles within a day or so of being brought inside. And I can assure you, hoovering up those sharp needles every day is not much fun. The old tradition of only putting the tree up the weekend before Christmas Day, or even on Christmas Eve has also now disappeared. Many, indeed more and more of us, are putting our trees up earlier and earlier. You can even spot the odd one twinkling away before the end of November.
So this means, if you want a real tree it’s got to be fit for purpose. And that means it stays fresh and doesn’t drop its needles everywhere. Growers have become savvy to this and now grow
varieties such as Nordmann Firs, although you can of course still buy the traditional Norway Spruce.
Choosing a Christmas tree can become a great family occasion and tradition. To go to the garden centre, or local farm, and pick one can take quite some time as every family member will have an opinion! Whilst at the garden centre you can quite often enjoy a meal at the same time or a cup of tea and a mince pie to really get into the festive spirit; make a day of it. It’s also time to stock up on some more decorations or lights; do you want warm white, ice white, multi coloured, indoor or outdoor? There’s a huge choice.
Top tip for keeping your tree happy once inside: cut the bottom off the trunk and then place in a bucket of water overnight. Once inside the house water daily and make sure the bottom couple of inches of the trunk stay submerged at all times. Do not place near a radiator or woodburner.
'Choosing a Christmas tree can become a great family occasion and tradition.'
Sketches l Customer to Create Mood Board
Plans Drawn l 3 Dimensional Models
Planning Permission l Building Control
Pressure Testing l SAP Ratings
Structural Engineers Report
Quantity Survey & Schedule of Works
Architects Certifcates l Landscaping Design
Foundations l Stonework & Bricklaying Services
Carpentry l Roofng l Bespoke Windows & Doors
Electrics l Plumbing
Cabinet Work l Bespoke Kitchens
Bespoke Garden Areas & Outdoor Dining
• Nunton Lodge Farm in Maxey is a working farm and local supplier of Christmas trees for the last 16 years. They expanded into growing more trees seven years ago which are now almost ready to start cutting. They have planted nearly 7,000 trees of all different sizes and types and pruned them so they don’t grow too quickly and are in the correct shape. It’s a real family affair, their 12 year old daughter mows the grass between the trees and does the weeding for her pocket money. They also sell turkeys. nuntonchristmastrees.co.uk
• Welland Vale garden nursery in Uppingham will be selling fresh cut and potted Christmas trees in different sizes and varieties. As well as trees (artificial too) everyone needs a poinsettia and door wreath, which they have. They also sell lovely winter plants such as cyclamen, pansies and heathers as well as Christmas food and gifts. Whilst you’re there make a day of it and enjoy Christmas lunch too, but you will need to book for this.
wellandvale.co.uk
• The Barn Garden Centre in Oundle sell trees ranging in size from 4-9 feet, Nordmann firs and Norway spruces. They also sell potted trees and all that you need to make your own wreath. You will find lots of decorations and lights here as well as poinsettias, gifts, homeware and lots more. Whilst you’re there visit their café to enjoy some festive specials. thebarngardencentre.co.uk
Mary meets the three owners of Stamford Time & Co and finds out how chance brought them together
Ialways love chatting to business owners and one of the things that fascinates me most is how they got started, there’s always a story to tell. And so often this story starts out as pure chance which is definitely the case with Stamford Time & Co.
Gemma Wells had been working in the horology industry locally, when the company was forced to close due to unforeseen circumstances. ‘The business closure meant the loss of six jobs and I wanted to be able to not only keep the horologists in work but to also preserve an art that is becoming endangered. Horology is a passion, not just a job to everyone here and we wanted a modern approach to encourage new potential horologists and keep the industry ticking.’
During this period, David Acton, a local businessman and backer of a couple of businesses in Stamford, had been talking to Gemma about her idea so they started planning.
‘I could see it was a good idea and, like Gemma, I wanted to make sure these skilled people kept their jobs. We started with Gemma creating a business plan whilst I worked on the financial analysis spreadsheets,’ says David.
This was all being put into place when Nick Holt walked into the soon-to-close horology shop with his father’s Omega that needed repairing. He’d just come back from Hong Kong and has a management background in luxury goods and watches. Upon learning of the business closure and their plans, Nick quickly asked, ‘do you need an investor?’
After some discussions and exchanges of ideas and visions, the three soon quickly realised they were of the same mind, passion and vision and Stamford Time & Co was born. Everything and everyone had dropped into place; serendipity or fate you could say.
Soon after they then found their perfect location and with two weeks to refurbish and set up, they opened mid-July, with two horologists immediately joining them.
The vibe is a very contemporary environment with comfy sofas and chairs where clients can drop in, have a coffee and a chat and talk watches, or whatever they want.
But the core of the business is very traditional: ‘a bespoke offering of service, repair and restoration for clocks and watches of all types.’
Within only a few short months Stamford Time & Co is building a strong, successful business with an ever-growing team of horologists.
It is interesting how many people still wear watches, the vast majority of us it would appear, whatever our age. And many of these time pieces have been handed down from generation to generation and have a huge sentimental value, the same with the clocks that come through their door as well.
More and more young people are investing in watches as well which is great to see. They are turning their backs on technology and want to move away from the omnipresent demand of a smartwatch or phone constantly at you. I also hadn’t factored in that
spending £600 on a smartwatch that will be obsolete in a few years is not a good investment. And with it constantly buzzing on your wrist with emails and messages it's not good for your mental health either, and more and more people are waking up to this.
‘We are finding the watches and clocks, and along with them, their stories, fascinating. No two are the same,’ said Gemma. ‘We could have a diamond pavé fairly modern watch one day and then a French watch from the trenches in WW1 the next. We have had a flight watch from a Spitfire and everything in between.’ Each item is inspected to ensure the necessary repairs can be done and then a bespoke plan is made with the customer.
We all know mechanical watches need cleaning and servicing every few years, particularly if they haven’t been worn or wound often as the oil within them can dry up. I didn’t realise that a quartz modern watch also needs servicing. Stamford Time & Co can service all types of watches.
'After some discussions and exchanges of ideas and visions, the three soon quickly realised they were of the same minds, passion and vision and Stamford Time & Co was born.'
If you have an Omega, Rolex or similar and you send it back to the manufacturer for repair or its needed service, it could be gone for months. ‘The service you receive from us is much more personal. You don’t need to worry about your item being sent away, you are always welcome to see it in the workshop and as an extra plus, repairs and services are completed in a short amount of time.’
I very much enjoyed being shown around their workroom and chatting to the staff who showed me what they were doing. You obviously need very good eyesight, a steady hand and the patience of a saint as this is very intricate, skilled work. Deft engineering on a miniscule scale.
Not every watch or clock that comes through the door is monetarily valuable, many of them aren’t but the vast majority have huge sentimental value, often passed down through generations. Part of the service is researching the history of some of the pieces, particularly clocks, and in doing so they have uncovered some fascinating stories.
The team is also very keen to utilise the space they have and are planning monthly events such as ‘an evening with’, bringing the community together further.
They are a very welcome addition to Stamford’s group of independent retailers and businesses, so do pop in and say hello, they’ll always make time for you.
stamfordtime.co.uk
There’s a new face amongst Market Harborough’s independent retailers. Begg Shoes have recently taken over Christians so we had a chat to find out more about them
When and where did the business start and why shoes? How many shops do you now have?
Begg Shoes was established in 1866 in New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire by Alexander Begg, a skilled shoemaker whose passion for crafting and fitting footwear laid the foundation for the business. Shoes became the focus from the very beginning, combining expert craftsmanship with a commitment to quality and comfort. Today Begg Shoes has ten stores across the UK, with the first store opening south of the border in Market Harborough in July. Over the years the business has expanded its Scottish presence with locations stretching as far north as the Shetland and Orkney Isles, maintaining its reputation for expert service and carefully curated footwear.
Is the business still in the same family? I see you’re Scotland based, so why come south to Market Harborough? Is there a connection to Market Harborough? The story of Begg Shoes is a true family affair. We’re proud that the business is still in the same family, currently led by the sixth generation, with Donald and Gaven at the helm, carrying forward a legacy of quality footwear.
As for the jump from our Scottish roots down south to Market Harborough, it’s a question we get asked a lot. The move wasn’t a random decision, it was spurred by
a fantastic opportunity. We have to thank David Wheway who previously ran Christians Shoes in the town for presenting us with the chance to take over the prominent space.
Market Harborough is the kind of town where we believe independent businesses can really thrive. We can’t wait to get to know the community, help our new customers find their perfect pair of shoes, and add something unique to the high street here.
Are the same staff still in the shop or has someone come down from Scotland to manage it?
It’s a wonderful blend of old and new. When we opened the doors in Market Harborough we were incredibly lucky to retain some of the excellent team members who have worked at Christians Shoes over the years. This meant we were able to keep that valuable local experience and trusted customer relationships right from day one. We have since proudly added to this core team locally, ensuring we are rooted in the community.
While the team on the shop floor is local, the family connection is always strong. The Begg family visit frequently, not to manage, but to assist with training and to share their deep footwear expertise. This continuous exchange ensures we maintain the high standards and knowledge that the Begg
'One of the UK’s last true independent footwear retailers, and the proud winner of Independent Footwear Retailer of the Year 2024'
name is known for, continually improving the customer experience here in Market Harborough.
What makes Begg shoes unique?
One of the UK’s last true independent footwear retailers, and the proud winner of Independent Footwear Retailer of the Year 2024, Begg Shoes is a place where craftsmanship, style and personal service come together. Each pair of shoes is handpicked from the finest brands around the world, offering designs you simply won’t find anywhere else in the UK. But it’s more than just what’s on the shelves. It’s the expert advice, the perfect fit and the care that turns every visit into an experience.
Do you cater for all the family? Men, women and children?
Our Market Harborough store offers an expansive range of men’s and women’s shoes. We do not currently offer children’s shoes in Market Harborough but we do offer them on our website with free Click and Collect to the store available.
Do you specialise in certain types of footwear or is it wide ranging?
We offer new and exciting footwear you won’t find anywhere else including exclusive styles from top European designers. We’ve expanded our selection of popular fashion brands like Birkenstock, Hoff and Crocs alongside well-known names like Skechers, Barbour and Bugatti. For those who love the outdoors, you’ll be happy to see our new range of active and walking shoes from brands like Scarpa, Merrell and Keen. We’ve also got all your other footwear needs covered, from cosy slippers to occasion shoes with matching bags to complete your look.
Can staff offer style advice and recommend shoes for wide fitting/ bunions/certain feet anomalies etc? Absolutely! Our team is far more than just retail assistants. They undergo extensive training to become genuine footwear experts. Whether you are looking for the latest style advice, need shoes that accommodate a wide fitting or specific issues like bunions, or require guidance for other foot anomalies, our team is equipped to help you find a comfortable, functional and fashionable pair.
Do you have a best-selling shoe/sandal? While there isn’t one single best-selling product, we are very excited to share the Creator boot range with Market Harborough. Our team and our customers just love them. They are known for using the softest Portuguese leathers to create a stylish and durable collection of statement boots. Plus, each style comes in a selection of bold, vibrant colours. beggshoes.com
'When John met Madeline 52 years ago she was already collecting tea towels. Everywhere she went she would buy one.'
In part three of our series Kate meets John Mayfield whose late wife Madeline collected tea towels from all over the world, but what should he do with them now?
In this series I’ve been meeting people with a passion for collecting things. We’ve had ceramics and calculators; this month it’s tea towels.
When John met Madeline 52 years ago she was already collecting tea towels. Everywhere she went she would buy one. The first place to visit was the tourist information office to get a map, find out where to go and buy a tea towel.
‘It was better than a photograph’, John told me. ‘It was something she could use or hang up. A bit like “I’ve been there, got the tee shirt/towel” sort of thing. And it was usually only £4.99 instead of the more expensive things in the shop. Being a Yorkshire lass, a tea towel was value for money. She was very old school, the daughter of a miner, brought up with an outside toilet.’
Nowadays people collect fridge magnets as a record of where they’ve been, but they’re not as useful! ‘It was a memory for her,’ says John. ‘It wasn’t a proper day out unless we came back with a tea towel. And they’re also portable, so you’re not lugging a great big item around with you all day.’
Royal tea towels
‘And she also used most of them. In fact, her favourites were the ones she used the most which I think is brilliant, they’re not kept behind glass doors. Her absolute favourite was the one from Portmeirion. And she loved the royal ones. She was a big royalist so we have lots celebrating different jubilees, the Queen’s 90th birthday and royal weddings.’
Madeline collected 170 tea towels in total, ranging from pretty embroidered ones, those with chickens, birds, elk, hearts and sunflowers on to those with Yorkshire sayings, Welsh phrases, recipes and poems. There are towels from many different churches, cathedrals and castles but the
majority are from towns, cities and countries all around the world.
‘It shows where we’ve been,’ says John. ‘The furthest away was Alaska. Our daughter Hannah lives in America, so there’s a lot from there. My daughter from my first marriage, Lisa, lives in Wales and my son Christopher in Devon, so of course, we have some from there too. We went on lots of cruises over the years to Russia, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Norway which was a good way of seeing lots of different places in one trip. Madeline and I always travelled together; the only place she went without me was Rome. It’s good if they have the date on them as you know exactly when you went to a place.’
I don’t think tea towels are appreciated in quite the same way nowadays. They are there to match your colour scheme, or are designed by celebrities. British birds, the various pasta shapes in Italy, Icelandic national dress or flora and fauna from Nova Scotia don’t seem quite as popular. Do write in if you don’t agree! Do people even use tea towels now? Most people have a dishwasher and the dishes come out dry.
‘We had a dishwasher once,’ John told me, ‘but not for long, it was too complicated. We always use a tea towel but you have to wash a new one twice before you can use it to dry anything.’
You could say that John and Madeline also collected children as Madeleine was a childminder, and they provided respite and foster care for 26 years.
‘We’ve fostered about 40 children altogether, some I still see. The youngest one we had was two hours old. He came straight to us from the hospital. But Madeline had planned to visit Hannah in America, so she left me with three days’ worth of clothes
and food as she was going on the Friday, coming back on the Sunday. The baby was two days old by then. On Saturday the volcano in Iceland erupted and she couldn’t get back for ten days. It was a bit tricky but I managed.
‘We had four children from one family who came with just the clothes they stood up in. And a boy Karl who was born at 23 weeks. We went to see him in hospital when he was four weeks old and eventually brought him home. The doctors said he wouldn’t walk, probably wouldn’t talk, but we worked at him. We had him for eight years and he’s just won the Lord Lieutenant’s Young Person of the Year award for Leicestershire, aged 14. He lives in Leicester now with long term carers and gives talks to various organisations on what it’s like to grow up as a child in care.
In his spare time from work and the children, John’s passion was making model train sets and even a quarter sized model of Seaton signal box. It took him two months to make and now it houses a model of Seaton station in the fifties.
Sadly, Madeline died in January and John is keen to do something useful with the tea towels. ‘It seems such a shame for them to sit in the airing cupboard. Most of the cotton is lovely, and first of all I wondered if someone could make a nice quilt out of them.’
He is very happy to rehouse them for a good cause so has decided to to sell them at his local village teas for 50 pence each and donate the money to the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall hospice in Peterborough. ‘Madeline was so proud of her tea towels. I hope other people come and buy them, and appreciate them too. You can never have enough tea towels…’
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Resilience, determination, ambition, hard work and a little bit of luck can get you a long way. Mary meets someone who proves this
Liv Edkins returned, with her parents, aged 17 to the UK from South Africa and settled in Rutland. That’s quite a hard age to move and make new friends, but she did so when she went to Stamford college to study for a BTEC in performing arts and drama. It helped also that she fell love in with Rutland, Stamford, the fabulous architecture and countryside. ‘I quickly felt very at home here,’ she says. She had already gained a footing in the acting world in South Africa having appeared on stage and in a Bollywood film so was starting to make a name for herself.
Because of this, after finishing her qualifications three years later she headed to London to do open auditions expecting the world to fall at her feet. ‘I was so naïve,’ she says. ‘I was working all hours in numerous jobs to pay the rent on a really grotty flat and feed myself. And because open auditions can be very last minute I wasn’t able to
book time off from my jobs so couldn’t get to them. I quickly became disillusioned, broke, and missed Rutland and the countryside.’
So, she left the bright lights and headed back to where she was happy. But she had a plan. ‘I wanted to establish myself with a business and enough money so that I could go and do the auditions. And I ultimately wanted my own pretty stone cottage.’ You have to admire her determination and ambition as this is exactly what she did. She moved back in with her father who ran the Railway Inn at Ketton and worked behind the bar. She also worked for her mother and stepfather at their art gallery in Uppingham and worked at the Cozy Club in Stamford as well. ‘I was working 70 hour weeks and was happy to clean the toilets, serve beer and became very good at selling paintings too.’ She also got herself a Border terrier puppy called Ruffin who has been her constant companion ever since. ‘He
goes everywhere with me (he came to the interview).’
And then fate took over, in quite a big way. By sheer chance Mark Guthrie who is a producer happened to be working at the Cozy Club as the dining host. ‘He loved doing this as he met lots of people and it gave him ideas for shows,’ says Liv. Presumably he was between jobs (and lived in Stamford) as he has quite a long list of well known productions under his belt including, most recently, the Madame Blanc Mysteries.
He was working on developing a new show, Lost Souls, and asked Liv if she wanted to audition for it. She, of course, jumped at the chance. He came to the gallery and filmed her there and within two hours she’d been offered the job. This was in 2017 and it was going to be another three long years before it started production. But this meant that Liv was able to learn so much about the trade as Mark offered her the role as his PA and researcher for which she is really grateful as he basically took her under his wing. In this role she researched and found some of the locations they have shot at. And she has also been on set working on many different projects as the assistant line producer so she’s learnt about the business from the bottom up being a runner, working in the costume department, being a script supervisor and much more. Because of this when they actually started working on Lost Souls and shooting she was made the associate producer as well. So, what is Lost Souls?
Originally aired in America it is in Liv’s words, ‘raw, honest and completely real. Nothing has been spoofed or edited for entertainment purposes.’ It is a ghost hunting show but filmed in a documentary style and based on scientific facts trying to prove, or disprove, if ghosts are real. Liv openly admits that when she first started working on the show she ‘was definitely a sceptic, as we all were.’ She thinks that Mark chose her for the show as she knew nothing about ghost hunting so her reactions when filmed are completely raw, along with the audience. Sometimes she is genuinely scared. Both presenters, Jason Coupland and Liv, are learning along with the audience. The two presenters work with professional investigators who can answer all their questions.
They also use scientific equipment so they have solid evidence. Electro magnetic field (EMF) meters are used and all electricity turned off so there is no interference. Ghosts emit EMF. Geiger counters are used too. On some of the shows nothing is found ‘but that is how it is so we wanted to show this.’ You’ll need to watch the show to find out more about how they communicate with them; and they do.
'It is a ghost hunting show but filmed in a documentary style and based on scientific facts trying to prove, or disprove, if ghosts are real.'
The first series features a few locations within a 15 mile radius of Stamford. The second series, which they are filming now, is worldwide. Interestingly they choose to shoot at more modern unknown sites, including a factory in Ketton, rather than Victorian gothic mansions.
First aired in America on Amazon Prime it was viewed over a million times within a week of being launched so has certainly been a success. It took another year for it to be licensed in the UK and they are now working on the second series.
Another string to Liv’s bow – and this is a fascinating one – is classic cars. She’s ‘a complete petrol head who always wanted to be a Top Gear host. And she has used this love of cars to build up a business. She bought a vintage car, did it up and sold it on to buy another and kept doing so. And now has quite the collection saying ‘they are my pension.’ She has a fleet of mainly British cars that she is planning to rent out to the film industry. Most of them are soft tops including her favourite ‘Penelope,’ a soft top 1988 Jaguar XJS which is her favourite runabout. And she was doing this whilst working 70 hour weeks. So has she got her pretty stone cottage? Of course she has. Hard work, determination and ambition has paid off and it has to be admired.
Lost Souls is definitely an interesting concept. ‘It’s a genuine attempt to document what might await us on the other side, if anything.’ You need to watch it to decide for yourselves.
WILL’S WALK
Will Hetherington narrows it down to five critical elements that combine to make a decent outing.
This doesn’t have to be mountains, or even rolling countryside. I write from experience, living right on the edge of the Fenlands which are famously known as big sky country. There are fabulous walks around Market Deeping, West Deeping and Maxey for instance. Instead of hills there are open fields with views for miles, irrigation dykes, and those never ending skies.
But if it’s rolling hills you are after then we are well catered for in this little corner of the country. Whether it’s sauntering up to the highest point in Rutland (197 metres in Cold Overton Park between Knossington and Braunston) or climbing out of the Welland valley from Tinwell up to Eastonon-the-Hill on a classic loop from Stamford, a little exertion doesn’t do any harm. And on that walk from Stamford to Easton you can, in less than five miles, walk in four
different counties: Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
Venturing further afield, greater climbs offer greater views, but everything is relative. In Slovenia they say you can’t be a true Slovenian until you have scaled the mighty 2,864 metre Mount Triglav - the highest peak in the Julian Alps. It’s the national symbol, and at 9am one July day in 2019 my wife and I reached the top of this tremendous rock – following a long climb the day before, a night in a mountain hut and a 6am start.
It was truly memorable terrain but the truth is that, apart from four Belgians, we were the slowest movers on that mountain. Even Slovenian children passed us with ease, not to mention the people who seemed to be out for a morning jog and passed me on the final ridge, as I was clipped on to the safety wire and trembling. There was even a
guy selling cans of coke at the top for five euros a pop. But, everything is relative, and for me that was a long, long way up and worth every lung-busting and leg-aching step.
What’s the opposite of good terrain? It’s mud, up to your ankles, for fields and fields. It’s broken stiles surrounded by hordes of nettles waiting to swallow you up when you topple. It’s also absent footpath signs and padlocked gates. But mostly it’s mud. For many people, a muddy path quite sensibly means no walk. For me it usually means an unpleasant trudge, a possible fall (it happens a lot), straining muscles that aren’t used to that sort of effort, and a filthy hound.
I fully understand why people don’t like it, but welcome to England. We may have had a warm and dry summer but there will be mud out there this winter. It’s why we have wellies.
I can remember when I was at university speaking to Mark who had grown up in Mill Hill in north London. I was talking about growing up in a small village in Lincolnshire. He just couldn’t come to terms with living somewhere without shops to walk to. But to me that’s all part of rural life. You have to think ahead.
In the summer we enjoyed a tremendous walk in the wild country at the top of Swaledale around Ravenseat Farm, the home of the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen and her tribe. The walk also passes the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Great Britain. But, apart from the farm and the pub it’s 10 miles of blissfully quiet moorland. When we had finished I was trying to buy ice creams with my bank card in the shop in the tiny settlement of Keld, when the lady behind the counter, who was clearly the proprietor, gave
Images: Will Hetherington
me the most Yorkshire advice: ‘Don’t come into the countryside without any cash.’ I had been shamed and we both knew it.
But when it comes to assessing a walk –tranquillity is a great barometer. My mate Mark from university would probably hate it, but for me, three hours in the countryside far from motorways, supermarkets, scam emails and the ever-depressing news is pure bliss.
We are blessed in this region with peaceful places. One that springs to mind is Shillingthorpe Park between Belmesthorpe and Greatford. Once the home of a great house, which was pulled down after the Second World War, there are just ruins there now, but the rest of the park has retained a little grandeur as a legacy. Not a lot, but there is a tree-lined avenue and some belts of well-planted woodland. And the old bridge over the West Glen river. Admittedly the bubble is occasionally burst by a train on the East Coast mainline half a mile away. But I don’t mind that – in fact I often welcome the reminder I am not on board heading for a meeting in the big city.
Another place of great tranquillity is the Welland valley around the Harringworth viaduct. Happily sandwiched between the A43 and the A47 which carry all the HGVs the traffic is light down there in the valley. Places like Barrowden, with its duck pond, multiple village greens, beautiful stone houses and, of course, the village pub are the very epitome of serenity in England’s
smallest county.
When it goes wrong: Think road noise, other people and tricky encounters with man or beast. People often ask me if I actually do all the walks in this magazine and in my books. I think that says more about them than me! In a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent I can assure you there is no way you can write accurately about a walk in the country unless you have done it, and recently at that.
For instance, last year we went out to recce a potential route in High Leicestershire. I know the area well but hadn’t tried this loop before. We parked in Tugby and soon crossed the A47 and there was the first problem. For the initial 45 minutes we never got far enough away from this busy main road between Leicester and Peterborough to escape the constant traffic noise.
This was not conducive to tranquillity but as it happened the walk got even worse, when five overly attentive horses wouldn’t leave us alone in a field near Rolleston. We were on the public footpath and had a Labrador in tow and they wouldn’t be shooed away – despite some frantic gestures and shouting. I was terrified of the dog or my wife or me getting kicked, because a colleague had had her lower leg shattered by one of her own horses not long beforehand. With overbearing road noise and worryingly attentive horses the result was that the walk never reached it into print –and people still ask if I do all the walks.
‘We are blessed in this region with peaceful places. One that springs to mind is Shillingthorpe Park between Belmesthorpe and Greatford.’
How do you define good company? I have walked thousands of miles on my own (if you don’t count the dogs) and I have walked in groups of anything from two to 60 people. In 2018 when I was on the 530-mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Northern Spain I spent an extraordinary four hours one morning with a 75-year-old American called Norm who had spent his career working for Coca-Cola. We were on the endless Meseta plain between the ancient cities of Burgos and Leon. As we walked we started to tell each other more about our life stories. The conversation got deeper and more emotional and the result was an embrace and more than a few tears there in
Some of you may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned dogs and the answer is simple; not everybody has the luxury of being able to walk with a canine and nor does everybody want to walk with dogs. I love them and for me it’s not quite the same out there without one, but I appreciate that’s not the same for everyone.
And others might say what about rivers or the seaside, or a lake. Just some water! Again, I love to walk by the water but not all great walks involve water.
Of course, that’s a matter of opinion and if you would like to share your thoughts on the matter then email us: walks@theactivemag.com
the middle of nowhere in northern Spain. It sticks in my mind as an example of what can happen when two people walk and talk far from the constraints of whatever normal life looks like.
I have walked with people from all over the world: Colombians, Americans, Germans, Dutch, French, Swiss, Romanians – even Australians. And guess what, they are all great. Sometimes the language barrier makes for short conversations but the sentiment is always clear.
You get the point – pretty much everyone is good company if you want them to be and sometimes solitude is bliss, but sometimes it’s not.
When it goes wrong: If you find yourself in bad company on a walk then you have been unlucky indeed. In five weeks of walking the Camino I met all those nationalities above, and the only time I recall having to make some swift excuses to get away was early one morning when I was accosted for an hour by a fire-and-brimstone preacher from these very isles. It’s probably not a coincidence that I acquired my only blister of the pilgrimage that morning.
In my experience, company is what you make of it. And if you get unlucky, think fast and make your excuses.
What do you prefer? A cold and crisp winter’s day or bright sunshine and 27 degrees in July? Or maybe you love nothing more than an autumnal stroll kicking the leaves, picking conkers off the ground and listening to the wind rustling through the trees above?
And is there anything better than April and May in England? Lambs bleating, bright yellow daffodils, carpets of bluebells in the woods, birds singing and an increasingly warm sun on your back. You take your pick.
We can generally trust the weather forecast these days so it’s your lookout if you get caught by a shower, or it’s colder or warmer than you expected. When I am most concerned by the weather is when I have a large participation walk organised and the forecast turns sour. I had to cancel one a few years ago because of an impending storm and I was worried about someone getting hit by a falling branch. Even then, a few of us went out and it wasn’t that bad – it rarely is once you get going.
The flipside: Flooding. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that our lovely water meadows in the likes of Oundle and Stamford flood when we have had excessive and prolonged rain. But it can be inconvenient. Sometimes
you just need to turn around and go back, but occasionally we let optimism get the better of us and end up with extremely wet feet when the water flows over the top of the wellies.
And there is that other problem we face at our latitude – lack of daylight in the winter. Evening strolls around town are fine in the dark but, even with a headtorch, it’s not the same in the countryside when you can’t see the views, and every protruding root becomes a major trip hazard.
Rather inevitably, the X Factor is a happy combination of the previous four criteria: terrain, company, tranquillity and the weather. Get them all right, by good
luck or judgement, and you have every chance of a very enjoyable walk indeed.
Although, there is one further ingredient I haven’t mentioned yet – that old British tradition of the public house.
A few years ago when I was walking the Herriot Way in the Yorkshire Dales with some friends, we stopped in the King’s Arms in Askrigg in Wensleydale, having already walked 13 miles of an 18-mile day. As I sat in the cosy little back room of the bar and drank my pint of Black Sheep I drifted off into a reverie.
The scenery had been beautiful all day, the company couldn’t have been better, and the pub and beer whisked me away. I was aware of everything around me, but I was also blissfully happy in an almost thoughtless state.
It’s a priceless feeling and one that I have happily experienced on many other occasions in some of the excellent pubs in this area. I hope you get to experience the same, perhaps even on a cold and crisp day during this festive period.
Merry Christmas!
‘Sometimes you just need to turn around and go back, but occasionally we let optimism get the better of us and end up with extremely wet feet when the water flows over the top of the wellies.’
Meet Witham’s new 2025 school council. Each year group has chosen a representative from their class to help make school life better. Led by Mrs Hogan, head of history, the Council will meet monthly and aims to give every pupil a voice – from Reception to Year 8.
The Stamford School chapel choir gave an outstanding performance of choral evensong at Peterborough Cathedral recently.
The service, sung according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, required careful attention to the intricate structure and musical detail of Anglican liturgy. The choir’s delivery was described by the cathedral clergy as ‘highly proficient,’ with particular praise for their confident navigation of the complex order of service and the depth of musical understanding shown throughout.
Participation in services such as choral evensong offers Stamford’s young musicians a valuable opportunity to perform in sacred and professional settings, developing ensemble skills, musical discipline and a sense of heritage within the Anglican choral tradition. The occasion was a memorable experience for all involved.
The LGS Stoneygate school community is incredibly proud to celebrate two talented pupils.
Corey has been cast as Kurt in the upcoming Sound of Music production this Christmas at the Curve Theatre, Leicester.
Meanwhile, Darcy will take centre stage in the lead role of Peter Pan at The Cripps Hall Theatre, Northampton.
Both Corey and Darcy are balancing school work and rehearsals with remarkable energy and dedication, even spending their half-term break in extra rehearsals.
Congratulations to Corey and Darcy for their commitment, talent and drive. The school looks forward to seeing them on stage.
Stamford Junior School are proud to be one of only 310 schools that has been awarded the primary science quality mark (PSQM), a nationally recognised accreditation that celebrates a commitment to developing excellence in science leadership, curriculum design, teaching and learning.
Led by the University of Hertfordshire for over a decade the PSQM has been setting children on a path to a life filled with exciting possibilities and opportunities, by giving them access to a strong foundation in quality primary science education.
PSQM is a comprehensive, year-long professional development programme that equips primary science subject leaders with the knowledge, capability and support needed to raise the quality and profile of science across the whole school.
‘Such success is only possible through the collective effort of the whole school community and all those involved should be incredibly proud of this achievement and the positive difference this is making to children’s learning and understanding of the world around them,’ said Helen Sizer, director of PSQM.
Leicester High School for Girls recently hosted a vibrant dance show, celebrating movement, music and creativity. Pupils from across the school performed a range of styles from ballet and lyrical to tap, acro, Bollywood and contemporary.
The evening opened with a dynamic group routine choreographed by Mrs Corcoran, head of PE and dance and featured a performance from the Year 6 PE class. Many pupils also choreographed their own solos and group pieces showcasing their imagination, confidence and teamwork.
The show concluded with a joyful whole-cast finale, warmly applauded by families and friends.
With the help of Those History People, a company providing educational workshops, Witham Hall pre-prep pupils experienced history through a live action-drama workshop about the Great Fire of London. Travelling back in time to 1666 the Year 2 pupils’ curiosity was ‘ignited.’ They learnt about the cause and outcome of the great fire and life in 17th century London through a combination of practical activities, drama and role-play.
EDITED BY KATE MAXIM
We have all heard the old wives’ tales about treating a cold, but do they work?
The common cold is probably the UK’s most usual illness with statistics showing that most adults experience on average two to four colds a year, and children even more. Whether it’s great grandma Jean, your next-door neighbour or Google Almighty, we all know someone, or have recourse to a theory, on how to get rid of a cold. But just how valid are these pearls of wisdom?
Sweat out a bug with a sauna
Warmth is helpful, as your body is already trying to raise its temperature to break down the baddie with heat. However, saunas involve loss of fluid, which is bad for mucous membranes which need to stay lubricated and flexible, especially when dealing with an extra load of phlegm. It’s quite likely that you will crawl out of the hotspot feeling debilitated and wrung out, rather than liberated from the infection.
Burn out a bug with exercise
Definitely don’t! Keep fresh air circulating regularly in your sickroom, but don’t try hurling yourself around a gym or forcing the pace with your Fitbit. Your energy is needed to counter the infection. Diverting it to power your muscles and heart in a bout of exercise will leave you limp and feeling even worse. Muscles feel weaker with an infection anyway as protein is diverted to support immune activity. Be kind to your body and let your immune system do its job unhindered by extra demands.
foot bath
This is an age-old remedy for anyone feeling the effects of a heavy cold: headaches, congestion, a rattly chest or the shivers. Putting your feet in hot water (around 37°C) will expand blood vessels allowing blood to be drawn down from congested areas and potentially alleviating headaches and a sore chest. It’s also a simple way to balance your temperature, reducing feverish highs, but warming a shivery low. Ten minutes’ emersion is plenty.
Few would be tempted to try this when feeling poorly and that is correct. A higher body temperature makes an uninviting habitat for cold-causing viruses, so staying cosy is best. Having short blasts of cold water when uninfected is, however, a strategy for supporting health. You don’t have to go to Wim Hof extremes, but a little regular cold exposure counts as ‘hormesis,’ or a healthy challenge that leaves you stronger.
Long, glistening talons may tick the fashion boxes, but require rigorous hygiene to ensure that they don’t provide ideal hiding places for germs to lurk… Say no more.
Not only is this a juicy fruit that aids hydration, it is also crammed with vitamins C and A, good for the immune system and for respiratory tract tissue.
The perennial favourite, chosen by grandmothers and philosophers alike. And rightly so. Protein and zinc are provided in this nourishing soup and the warmth is good for sore throats. If your diet means plants have replaced animals then source your protein and zinc from pulses and beans, seeds and nuts.
Onion and garlic are often mooted for this. The idea is that, when next to the skin of the foot, raw sliced alliums will pull toxins out of the body. Garlic and onion do definitely have antiviral properties when eaten, and the sulphide compounds they contain can be very helpful to our immune function, but
there is no evidence that wrapping them around your feet will do any good at all.
A caffeine charge is bound to help beat the infection fatigue, huh? No, no, no… Firstly, the fatigue is there to help you; you need to rest and divert energy to your immune system which is frenetically busy quelling the infection and healing damaged tissue. Secondly, dealing with the caffeine uses up nutrients that are much better utilised to fuel your immune cells rather than flogging your weary muscles to rush you around. The post-caffeine slump will also make you feel far worse than before, so instead go for hot drinks that contain helpful ingredients such as lemon, ginger or black elderberry.
Unless you develop a secondary bacterial infection antibiotics should definitely not be your first thought when trying to shift a cold. The vast majority of colds and flu are viral in origin. When you use antibiotics for anything other than a bacterial infection it won’t do you any good. But it will kill off the friendly bacteria in your gut, weakening your immune system. Also, the incorrect use of antibiotics allows bacteria to become more resistant. Since antibiotics were first introduced, more and more resistant strains of bacteria have evolved, meaning that many antibiotics are now not working against the infections they used to slay.
Yes! There have been oodles of studies and papers into this helpful herbal – even the BBC in their ‘The Truth About Boosting Your Immune System’ concluded there was reasonable evidence to support its use to prevent and treat symptoms of the common cold. There are several types of echinacea, with echinacea purpurea by far the most well-researched. We also know that this specific type of echinacea can play a useful role in preventing the incidence of colds and flu, as well as reducing their severity and duration of symptoms. Echinaforce® Hot Drink with extracts of black elderberry can be especially warming at this time of the year and is registered for the relief of cold and flu symptoms.
For further information, visit Raj and his team at The Body Store, 13 Town Square, Syston, LE7 1GZ or call 0116 269 4348.
Whatever you want to say to your team, clients or suppliers – be it hello, thank you, sorry, Merry Christmas or congratulations, hampers are a wonderful way to send your best wishes. We deliver individual hampers along with personalised handwritten cards – using cards from our hand-illustrated range or something customised for you.
We ofer three diferently sized hampers flled with a selection of pickles or preserves, crackers, chocolates, cookies, tea or perhaps something a little stronger! Or course, if you would prefer something smaller, larger, rounder, or fashier then we can make that happen too.
To order just visit: bulwickvillageshop.com or thepickleshop.com or pop into our wee shop: Bulwick Village Shop, Main Street, Bulwick NN17 3DY or call us on: 01780 450774
Oundle based clinicial psychologist Dr Naomi Murphy explains
People of a certain age won’t be able to see that phrase without picturing a youngish Bob Hoskins promoting BT’s services in a TV ad in the mid-1990s. Trite though it might have been though, it does touch a deeper truth, one well worth exploring.
Therapy – isn’t that what Americans pay a fortune for? Or isn’t it just what people who are ‘screwed up’ do? Well that may be the old-fashioned view, but increasingly people are using the connection they can make through professional therapy to improve their lives, in so many ways.
There is no stigma in seeking help to better mental well-being. View it in the same way that going to the gym to get fitter and stronger is seen as perfectly normal. Many ordinary, everyday people seek out a therapist because they want to improve their relationships with others and need guidance to set them on their way.
Perhaps you want a deeper bond with your romantic partner or want to be more assertive with family members and friends. Maybe you want to be less fearful of displeasing your boss or be less worried about what strangers think about you. Ironically, the solution to how you might more easily navigate relationships with others often starts with how you relate to yourself.
Those who are secure in how they view themselves tend to have more straightforward relationships, both with those close such as family and friends, and with others in less intimate relationships, say with colleagues or neighbours.
If you feel lovable and deserving of respect, you will find it easier to recognise the people who are nourishing for you to spend time with; you will know when to expect and ask for better, as well as being capable of hearing and acknowledging when you have fallen short. You will be able to identify those whose company is not good for you and find strategies to make interacting with them easier.
If you lack confidence that you are lovable or have worth, it will shape how you connect with others. You might keep others at a
distance, fearful that if they see the ‘real you’ they will be disappointed or disapproving, maybe even reject you. You might worry your relationships are fragile, so avoid conflict or even ‘people please’ to keep others close. Perhaps you fear being taken advantage of or made to look stupid so find ways to demonstrate no-one’s more powerful than you or that you don’t need anyone?
Success, happiness and inner peace. We are all born with the potential to have these. However, accomplishing them often depends on your ability to connect with others. Something much easier to achieve if you’re well-connected to yourself. No-one should struggle with lack of connection but sadly our attitudes to ourselves are shaped very early on. Often, exploring how we came to be who we are can be the platform for making adjustments in our view of ourselves and our relationship with others, which leads to more happiness and fulfilment. And that is always easier to achieve with the support of a
skilled, qualified therapist who can create the safe space in which you can explore, resolve and grow.
Most of us feel we could be happier, more at ease with ourselves and the world, if only we knew how to do it. So many of us are kindly and forgiving to others but find it hard to show compassion and forgiveness towards ourselves. Seeking support to achieve that is often the first step in the process of living a happier and more fulfilled life. And the rewards of first talking the talk, are potentially life-changing.
Start by checking out the credentials of your would-be therapist. Then pick up the phone. Most reputable therapists will offer a free introductory session so you can see whether you are the right ‘fit’ to work together. After all, it’s good to talk.
Dr Naomi Murphy is a leading clinical and forensic psychologist and co-host of the acclaimed Locked Up Living podcast. She has recently moved to new consulting rooms at The Courthouse in Oundle.
octopuspsychology.com
‘Perhaps you want a deeper bond with your romantic partner or want to be more assertive with family members and friends.’
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Christmas stress and strains can mean that a physiotherapist is busy. Chartered physio Sarah Babbs discusses the best ways to keep out of her clinic
With the shops filling their shelves with Christmas goodies galore as I write, my thoughts turn to the inevitable medical stories we hear and see around this time of year. People break their toes dropping the heavy turkey, backs are made sore by leaning over to wrap presents and reaching up to decorate the tree. I once looked after a lady with neck and arm pain after she received a jigsaw, put it together on the floor, whilst looking up at the Boxing Day television. This aggravated the nerves in her neck because of the repetitive, unusual action.
The Magic Circle
I often use the Circle of Tolerance principle first taught to me by a physio I admire, Adam Meakins. Our bodies cope with the daily demands we ask of them, provided they are within our ability; think of it like a circle around those activities. If the circle shrinks, perhaps because of illness, stress, or time away from activities then those daily demands can fall outside the circle. Hence, when we return from illness we are less able to lift our previous squat weights, run our usual Parkrun time or garden for our usual three hours. And trying to do these things without building back up can result in injury. If we try and do activities that fall outside the regular circle then problems can also arise. Some have run further (‘the weather was beautiful’), some have lifted every day in the gym (a social media challenge), some may have cut 30m of hedges in one day. All of these would have been fine if they had enlarged that circle, in other words trained up to the event. Similarly, suddenly lifting that Christmas turkey out of the oven, all 8kgs of it plus the stuffing, when the last time we did it was a year before, can fall outside the circle and cause problems.
Many more people are doing weight training at different stages in their life and getting huge benefits and enjoyment from it.
There is evidence that metabolic health improves with increased muscle mass, a result of lifting weights. The improvement includes improved blood pressure and better blood sugar control. Another study, a 12 week trial of resistance training exercises, showed brain chemical changes which may suggest protection against age-related cognitive decline.
A subject close to my heart is bone stress injury. There are many studies showing weight bearing exercises improving bone mineral density so lowering the risk of
‘People break their toes dropping the heavy turkey, backs are made sore by leaning over to wrap presents and reaching up to decorate the tree.’
osteoporosis and therefore fractures caused by falls in older age. A big study in Australia called the Liftmor trial specifically looked at women suffering from osteoporosis who have improved their bone density. Some were lifting well over their bodyweight having built strength up under the guidance of physiotherapists.
As well as strength training, balance is important and again can deteriorate if not maintained, especially as we age. Back to that hedge, reaching over to cut it using a heavy hedge trimmer requires good balance and strength.
I have mentioned the fabulous advert before with an elderly man looking wistfully at old photographs. He remembers a heavy kettlebell in the garage and drags it out. Over the next few weeks he regularly lifts it, much to the consternation of neighbours and family. Finally, Christmas arrives and his gift to his granddaughter is a star for the Christmas tree. His gift to himself and his family is that he is able to lift the child up to put the star on the tree. Not a dry eye in the house, including mine. When I show it to patients it hopefully encourages them in their endeavour to become stronger and fitterready for all eventualities - especially, but not just for, Christmas.
To contact Sarah ring 07780 900201 or 01780 480889.
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We start with football and my thanks are due to Stamford’s Richard Curtis for pointing out that, until The Daniels visited Stourbridge last month, there were only two sides in the entire top seven tiers of English football who were yet to win in the league this season. Fans of the Premiership’s Wolverhampton Wanderers now have that dubious honour only to themselves, as Stamford fi nally broke their duck by winning 3-1.
It’s been a surprisingly tough start after so many campaigns challenging for the promotion spots but manager Graham Drury has certainly rolled the dice and rung the changes. There were six debutants in the line-up for their first match after a difficult pre-season schedule in which he said he ‘wasn’t happy’ and thought ‘it wasn’t strong enough.’ Not what Drury would have wanted in this, his 10th year in charge and, indeed, on the exact date of his anniversary a week or so later, they lost 0-3 at home to Worcester City to leave them at the bottom of the table. More of a brown ale celebration than a champagne one sadly. All is not lost however – only eight points would take them out of the relegation zone so Dannies fans will keep the faith. At least the women are showing the men the way, having a successful time and currently fourth.
No such angst over at Harborough Town who continue the fi ne run of form which has placed them top of the same table that has Stamford at the bottom, with games in hand to boot. On Remembrance weekend they faced a tough test at home against fellow
promotion chasers Alvechurch with an almost unchanged side, the exception due to an injury to Josh Walsh, Rob Morgan making his first start of the season as a result. Nothing separated the teams at half time but Bees keeper Elliott Taylor was the busier in the first few minutes of the second period with ‘two superb saves’ according to the club’s Andy Sparrow.
Manager Austin responded by ringing the changes up front, bringing on Brady Hickey and Ben Stephens. It proved to be the right move as, with ten minutes left, Alex Morris poked home after some ping pong in the box to score the game’s only goal. Just how close a game it had been was
emphasised by keeper Taylor being named man of the match.
Harborough is a club with much more than a men’s first eleven. The over 45 team is not only top but has a 100% record and the Ladies Queen Bees have progressed to the third round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 win away to Marlborough Rovers. Remarkably, they’re only one of three women’s sides they regularly put out every week and are actively recruiting new players. ‘We’ve created a space for every woman to train and play football - no matter your experience level,’ they say. Search Queen Bees on Facebook for how to sign up.
Bourne Town have had a start more
‘All is not lost however – only eight points would take them out of the relegation zone so Dannies fans will keep the faith. At least the women are showing the men the way, having a successful time and currently fourth.’
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redolent of Stamford’s than Harborough as they sit in the relegation slots over in the Northern Premier but their form has improved of late to move them within two points of safety with four successive draws followed by a win against Rugby Town. Wakes’ manager Martin Bond said: ‘The confidence after that performance will only take us one way.’
Market Harborough’s rugby side is just as successful as their football team and they too sit proudly at the top of their league following an emphatic win away to Kettering by 57-15, with skipper Monty Maule, Purnell, Moss, Burrows, Digby and Staff all in the running for man of the match. This followed an even bigger win at home to Peterborough by 66-7 which the club called ‘a colourful, comprehensive and confident display (which) showcased slick handling, powerful carries, and clinical fi nishing across the park.’
Stamford were promoted into Harborough’s league last season and are fi nding life challenging at the higher level but keeping their heads above water in ninth place. A last gasp one-point victory against Olney with an injury time conversion from Fraser Hutton will have lightened the mood and eased the pressure especially as that late effort secured an extra bonus point for tries scored. The women’s side still continue to go from strength to strength and are third.
Oundle too were promoted last time around, to the highest level of all our local clubs in National League 2, but seem to have settled in rather more successfully than Stamford and currently stand a very creditable fourth in a league that includes
famous names such as London Welsh. They seem to be growing in confidence, as evidenced by their reaction in their last outing when handed a penalty at 24-24 against Canterbury in injury time. It looked kickable but they opted instead to go for touch and scored a try from the line out through man-mountain Kieran Frost. This after being two tries down in the first half. Canterbury gave us an insight to Oundle’s strengths summing up the game
‘Stamford were promoted into Harborough’s league last season and are fi nding life challenging at the higher level but keeping their heads above water in ninth place.’
thus; ‘It was the ability of the home forwards to turn entries into the 22 area into scores that proved the difference. Three of Oundle’s tries came via that catch, drive and mauling route while Canterbury, despite having similar opportunities, could only crack it once.’ Oundle’s Rian Hamilton was named man of the match for having ‘led from the front.’
The new regime and young side at Oakham continue to show promise but haven’t quite clicked yet – in fact they’ve lost their past three fi xtures by thirty points or more in spite of the generous plaudits often paid by their opposition. I’m sure there’s a master plan so keep the faith! If you’d like to help out, the club’s launched an Oakham RFC Community Card which unlocks ‘fantastic exclusive offers, discounts and promotions with a growing list of partner businesses…from restaurants, retail and entertainment venues to health, fitness and lifestyle services.’ £100 from their website.
ROUTE
Distance: 20.91 mi
Elevation: 948 ft START / FINISH
This month Gary Waterfall rides around Ruland Water, but not how you would think. He covers 21 miles and 1,000 feet of climb
Unless you’re on a gravel or mountain bike, the ride around Rutland Water isn’t advisable. This is as close as you can get on a road bike.
Starting at The Rutland Watermill, head north past St George’s Barracks and turn right at the mini roundabout in Edith Weston. Follow the road on the south eastern shore of Rutland water. Turn left near the end and take care as you join the main road briefly as you enter Empingham. Then turn right through the village and north at the crossroads towards Exton.
Turn left at the end of the road and follow until the road ends where you’ll turn left and then right after 300 feet. At the end of this road turn left taking care as you join a busy road and take the next right. Then enjoy the downhill all the way to the roundabout where you’ll take the first exit to Oakham.
The choice is now yours, to either ride through the middle of Oakham or use the bypass. Either way, leave Oakham on the
Uppingham Road following it until the road bends right under a bridge. Here join the Rutland Water cycle path and ride up past The Horse & Jockey in Manton. Turn left at the top of the hill to ride back to Edith Weston then right at the roundabout and you’ll soon be back at The Rutland Watermill.
I’ll leave you with a safety tip. Regardless of the weather conditions, it’s always wise to ride with a front light bright and –preferably – flashing. It significantly helps motorists notice you as they pull out of side turnings. Happy riding.
For the route, follow this link or scan the QR code. https://www.strava.com/ routes/3421140219017937128
Geordan Murphy (Ex British and Irish Lions) Director of Rugby Performance
NURSERY · JUNIOR · SENIOR · SIXTH
