Malmesbury/Tetbury/Nailsworth Town Crier Magazine June/July 2015 by Town Crier

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♥ TownCr er Magazine COVERING: TETBURY, MALMESBURY, TETBURY UPTON, BROKENBOROUGH, CRUDWELL, SHERSTON, LUCKINGTON, AVENING, NAILSWORTH, RODBOURNE, STARTLEY, PINKNEY, FOXLEY, HULLAVINGTON, LITTLE SOMERFORD, GREAT SOMERFORD, LONG NEWNTON, MINCHINHAMPTON, CHERINGTON & CORSTON.

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JUNE/JULY 2015

Get ready for

Summer!

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The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

FOOD & DRINK l HOME l MOTORING l GARDENING l PET CARE

BARNES Day trips by Coach

JUNE 2015

Mon 1 Senior Special - Bournemouth Tue 2 Salisbury (Market Day) Wilton Shopping Village & Salisbury Wed 3 Horse Drawn Boat Ride on Kennet & Avon Canal (Inc. food) & Newbury Thu 4 Tyntesfield House & Scenic Drive Sat 6 London (Kensington or Park Lane) Westfield London Shopping Centre Sun 7 Weston Super Mare London (Kensington or Park Lane) HMS Belfast and free time in London Tue 9 Bournemouth Poole Thu 11 Senior Special - Weston Super Mare Sat 13 Brighton London (Kensington or Park Lane) National Gallery & Tate Britain Sun 14 BBC Gardeners’ World Live & Good Food Show Three Counties Show London (Kensington or Park Lane) Westfield London Shopping Centre Mon 15 Christchurch (Market Day) & Bournemouth Wed 17 Dorchester (Market Day) & Weymouth Thu 18 Royal Ascot Ladies Day - Coach Travel Only Royal Ascot Ladies Day - Silver Ring Royal Ascot Ladies Day - Grandstand Sun 21 Bournemouth Poole London (Kensington or Park Lane) Greenwich (Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory etc.) Wellesbourne Wings & Wheels Sat 27 Winchester Flower Festival London (Kensington or Park Lane) London Zoo Sun 28 Weymouth Senior Special - Bournemouth London (Kensington or Park Lane) Westfield London Shopping Centre

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Adult Senior Child - £15 £15 £13 £10 £15 £13 £10 £29* £26* £32* £29* £22 £19 £22 £19 £19 £17 £22 £19 £22 £19 £21 £19 £21 £19 - £14 £24 £22 £22 £19 £22 £19 £43* £38* £37* £35* £22 £19 £22 £19 £21 £19 £23 £20 £26 £25 £72* £71* £120* £119* £21 £19 £21 £19 £22 £19 £22 £19 £22* £19* £26* £24* £22 £19 £37* £33* £22 £19 - £15 £22 £19 £22 £19

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

£24* £20* £14 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14* £23* £14 £14 £14 £14 £24 £24 £24 £14 £14 £14 £14 £14* £20* £14 £25* £14 £14 £14

JULY 2015

LOCAL PICK-UP POINTS

Adult Senior Child Thu 2 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show £49* £45* £14* Fri 3 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show £49* £45* £14* Sat 4 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show £49* £45* £14* Lymington (Market Day) & New Forest £21 £19 £14 London (Kensington or Park Lane) £22 £19 £14 Westfield London Shopping Centre £22 £19 £14 Sun 5 South Devon Tour (Totnes, Dartmouth & ferry) £29* £25* £14* Weston Super Mare £19 £17 £14 London (Kensington or Park Lane) £22 £19 £14 Tower of London £42* £37* £24* Mon 6 Senior Special - Mystery Seaside Day Trip - £15 Tue 7 Abergavenny (Market Day) & Brecon Beacons £23 £21 £14 Sat 11 Bournemouth £21 £19 £14 Poole £21 £19 £14 London (Kensington or Park Lane) £22 £19 £14 Portobello Market & Notting Hill £22 £19 £14 Sun 12 Scenic Drive & Crudwell Strawberry Fayre £16 £14 £12 Exmouth £25 £23 £14 Sidmouth Bay Cruise & Exmouth £31* £29* £20* Sat 18 London (Kensington or Park Lane) £22 £19 £14 Westfield London Shopping Centre £22 £19 £14 Sun 19 Royal International Air Tattoo: RAF Fairford £54* £52* £14* Portsmouth (Gunwharf Quay, Spinnaker Tower, Historic Dockyard) £21 £19 £14 Southsea £21 £19 £14 London (Kensington or Park Lane) £22 £19 £14 Spitalfields Market, London £22 £19 £14 19/09/2014 11:13:29

To book your coach trip call:

Tel: 01793 821303 or visit us online at:

www.barnescoaches.co.uk

3 for 2

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The StoneHouse team is expanding. To introduce our new, highly experienced therapists we invite you to take advantage of an introductory offer of three sessions of Physiotherapy, Osteopathy or Pilates lessons, for the price of two*.

T: 01249 700 417 www.stonehouseclinic.co.uk PLEASE QUOTE REFERENCE YL/001 WHEN BOOKING *To qualify initial appointment must be made before 31.12.15 The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

♥ JUNE/JULY 2015

Editor’s Letter

At last summer has arrived! Time to dust off the BBQ and get cooking!! In this issue, there are some handy tips for choosing a new BBQ - and some garden furniture to go with it! There’s also some great recipes to try and Vinotopia in Tetbury have kindly selected some wines to go with them! Talking of food, in this issue the Cotswold Crusader reviews the Star Inn at Hullavington on page 24.

WIN!

Our cover photo of summer Strawberries reminds me to mention the Crudwell Strawberry Fayre in July, and there are plenty of suggestions of other things to do in our What’s On Section. One big event coming up in July is the WOMAD Festival, and we have a great competition prize in this issue to win two weekend tickets - see centre pages for how to enter. Until next time . . .

Annie

Your Local

TownCr er Magazine

The Stables, Fishers Brook, Calne, Wilts. SN11 9HB Tel: 01249 811068 www. towncriermagazine.com Deadline for submissions for the August/September 2015 issue: 9th July 2015 Editor: contact@towncriermagazine.com Advertising: steven@towncriermagazine.com Artwork: production@towncriermagazine.com CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING: The Editor reserves the right to refuse any copy which she feels may not be appropriate material for print. No responsibility will be taken for any damage or loss of material caused by inaccuracy or omission of any advertisement. Artwork prepared by us remains the property of The Town Crier Magazine and reproduction in any form is expressly forbidden without prior permission from the Editor. We provide artwork free of charge and where possible we will adhere to your request on layouts and type, but we cannot guarantee an exact copy. If you wish to produce your own artwork to a specific layout, or have any changes to an existing advert, please ensure your copy is with us by the 1st of month prior to publication at the latest. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the The Town Crier Magazine.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

TO WOMAD 2015 TICKETS SE E PAGE 18 IN THIS ISSUE

6 What’s On Local News and Events 14 Puzzle Corner Crossword/Sudoku 16 Malmesbury Vics FC Football Success Story 18 WOMAD Competition Win Tickets to the Festival 20 BBQ Summer Tips for buying 21 Food & Drink Recipes & Wine selection 24 Cotswold Crusader Review of The Star Inn 26 Summer Garden Furniture & outdoor play 31 Sun Protection Sun safety 32 Books by Mark Haddon &

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The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

ON W NE HAT A R ’S YO U

Local Focus JUNE/JULY 2015

What’s happening locally • News • Events • Charities • Clubs

Crudwell Strawberry Fayre & Flower Festival 11th-12th July 2015 (Flower Festival Preview Evening 10th July) Relax and enjoy the ‘taste of summer’ with strawberries on the village green. See the beautiful flower arrangements in the ancient church (courtesy of the North Wiltshire Villages Flower Club) Browse the stalls in the Village Market Sizzle & Swing - Tap your feet to the sound of the JJ Swing Band on Saturday – bar open from 7.15pm All tickets (including raffle) available from Crudwell Post Office or sales@crudwellstrawberryfayre.co.uk www.crudwellstrawberryfayre.co.uk All proceeds for All Saints Church, Crudwell

The stunning VOCES8 are performing in Malmesbury Abbey on Saturday, 20th June at 7:30pm Malmesbury Abbey Music Society (MAMS) are very excited to be welcoming VOCES8, now established as one of the most versatile and bestloved singing groups in the world, to Malmesbury Abbey for the first time on Saturday, 20th June 2015 at 7:30pm. MAMS warmly invites you to join them and be comforted by the sound of these 8 beautiful, unaccompanied voices singing their new programme LUX in perfect harmony. LUX, Latin for light, brings radiance, hope and comfort. From the pale glow of the moon or starlight to the blazing of summer sun, it nutures both the body and spirit and as this luminous selection of pieces of music demonstrates, composers across the ages have felt the same way! The programme includes music by Tallis, Elgar, Ola Gjeilo, Allegri, Taverner. Tickets for the concert are priced at £15 (or £12 members) or £5 for students, and can be obtained from the Malmesbury Abbey Bookshop, from the MAMS Ticket Secretary David Barton on 01666 824 924 or from Joy Smith on 01666 840 865. Tickets will also be available on the door.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

What's On

Diary Dates JUNE /JULY/AUGUST 2015

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 9BZ Tel:01666 823748 Email: tic@malmesbury.gov.uk

THE NORTH WILTSHIRE VILLAGE FLOWER CLUB meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month in Crudwell Village Hall at 7.30pm – Contact 01666 577125 MALMESBURY MORRIS meets every Thursday at Corston Reading Room at 7.30pm. New dancers and musicians welcome MALMESBURY WRITERS GROUP Our friendly group aims to deliver a supportive environment in all aspects of writing. We aim to meet twice monthly, on a Sunday. For info call Felicia on 07928 104228 LINE DANCING Thursdays 7.30-9pm £5 per session in Malmesbury All welcome! Please call Tracey 07835 467551 to confirm venue SUMMER SUNDAYS AT SEVINGTON VICTORIAN SCHOOL Open every Sunday until 13th September 2–5pm Homemade afternoon tea, children’s activities and free tours of the school. SN14 7LD www. sevingtonvictorianschool.co.uk WESTONBIRT 10K RUN FOR THE TREES! 8 Jun 2015, Tetbury The Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt is encouraging runners to take part in their new summer event, the Westonbirt 10k. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt MALMESBURY FILM SOCIETY SUMMER 2015 What We Did On Our Holiday 21st June

Finding Vivien Maier 19th July The Philadelphia Story 16th August £5 per film – no booking required 7.30pm every 3rd Sunday of the month St Mary’s Hall Malmesbury Further information – malmesburyfilmsociety.org.uk SWINPEX 2015 ‘STAMP & POSTCARD FAIR’ Saturday 13th June - 10.00am to 4.30pm St. Joseph’s Catholic College, Ocotal Way, Swindon This Annual Fair is organised solely by the Swindon Philatelic Society and is the 26th Annual Stamp Fair that the Society has organised. There will be 48 top Dealers in attendance selling a wide variety of stamps, collections and postcards. Also in attendance, there will a number of Specialist Societies giving displays and information. There will be Society Table Top Sale, a Raffle (great prizes), excellent refreshments and plenty of Free Parking. For further information please contact: David Gibbon Tel: 01793 813484 or gibbon35@gmail.com MALMESBURY COMMUNITY CHOIR 2nd Birthday Concert Saturday 13th June 7.30pm (doors open at 6.45pm) Malmesbury CofE Primary School, Tetbury Hill Cash only bar from 6.45pm Tickets available from A4 Stationers Adults £8 under 16 £4 RIDING LIGHTS THEATRE COMPANY Present – Roughshod Irresistible Friday 19th June 7.30pm at Malmesbury Abbey. See page 10. Tickets £7 (£3 students) Please call 824339 for more information YATTON KEYNELL VILLAGE FETE Back again in its traditional slot, Yatton Keynell’ s best-known and best-loved annual event. Saturday 20 June 2015 starting at 12.30pm For more information see www.yattonkeynell.com

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

THE VILLAGE SINGERS & ENSEMBLE – VIVA VIVALDI Saturday 27th June 2015 from 6pm Malmesbury Abbey are hosting a sumptuous musical picnic. Featuring Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ as the main course, with a selection of choral favourites and opera classics, the concert will be performed by Wiltshire based community choir The Village Singers and supported by soloists and chamber orchestra. Guests are invited to bring their own delicious picnic and refreshments to enjoy during the evening. Tickets £12.50 available from Malmesbury Abbey or Sutton Benger Post Office or www.ticketsource.co.uk FOREST LIVE AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM Robert Plant Friday 10th July Spandau Ballet plus special guest James Walsh Saturday 11th July McBusted Sunday 12th July For ticket information call 03000 680400 or forestry.gov.uk/music THE BOONDOCKS FESTIVAL 17-18th July 2015 www.theboondocksfestival.co.uk FAIRFORD INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO 17th-19th July www.airtattoo.com/airshow WOMAD FESTIVAL Charlton Park, 24th-26th July See article in this magazine for full details. www.womad.co.uk FESTIVAL OF BRITISH EVENTING Gatcombe Park, 7th-9th August www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk BRISTOL BALLOON FIESTA 6th-9th August Ashton Court www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk GIFFORDS CIRCUS – MOON SONGS Minchinhampton Common 6th – 17th August. Please call 0845 4597469 to book tickets www.giffordscircus.com

CLASSES FOR CHILDREN OF 3 YEARS AND ABOVE. Ballet, tap modern & jazz classes held in Malmesbury, and Brinkworth. The Little Balloon Company Wiltshire

07791 796223 info@thelittleballoonco.co.uk

www.thelittleballooncompany-wilts.weebly.com

Supplying every kind of Balloons, HandCrafted Wedding Stationery, Wedding Hire Items, Table Decoration & so much more! Tel: Sarah 07753 123368 Or Gill

07729 763759

Web: www.malmesburyandbraywooddance.co.uk E mail: malmesburydance@live.co.uk Find us on Facebook

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Local Focus

Sampler Exhibition and Sports Day at Sevington Victorian School Sevington is a perfectly preserved Victorian school, near Grittleton. It's open to the public throughout the summer, every Sunday from 2.00 - 5.00 and this year we are including two special events.

Riding Lights at Malmesbury Abbey 19 June 2015 7:30pm Malmesbury Abbey SN16 0AA In partnership with Open Doors, who have served persecuted Christians across the world for 60 years, Roughshod Theatre Company is taking this bold blend of powerful drama, music and comedy into venues across the country. Encounter the lifestyle guru whose advice goes a step too far, a desperate daughter who takes hold of her destiny and the intrepid bible smuggler who found hope in the darkest places when he dared to say â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;?. www.ridinglights.org/irresistible/

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

On Sunday 14th June there's a display of samplers and garments made by the pupils of Sevington and other schools. The exquisite workmanship really brings home the skill of even the youngest children. On Sunday 12th July, Miss Squire's Sports Day is a traditional event for all the family, including hoop rolling, Swedish drill and a dressing up race (Victorian style, naturally). All ages are welcome. Admission is by donation and visitors can enjoy tea and home made cakes in the teacher's parlour, visit the school room stroll round the small Victorian garden and wash house. Sevington Victorian School, Grittleton, near Chippenham SN14 7LD Tel: 01225 755713 www.sevingtonvictorianschool.co.uk

Westonbirt Golf Course

WESTONBIRT LEISURE

Westonbirt Leisure are delighted to offer the use of Westonbirt Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picturesque and challenging Golf Course to members of the local golfing community and beyond. The course is set within the grounds of the historic Westonbirt House and it provides access to 9 quality golf holes, providing a memorable location for beginners and the more experienced golfer.

T 01666 881404

Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QG sportscentre@westonbirtleisure.com www.westonbirtleisure.com

Green Fees: ÂŁ10 for 18 holes Weekdays and Weekends Membership is currently available We are located just across the road from the National Arboretum

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What's On

Challenges raising funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance (WAA) is challenging people to walk, cycle or trek during its Silver Jubilee year and raise money for the lifesaving service. There is the White Horse Challenge, a sponsored walk involving seven of the county’s White Horses on July 4 and 5, the Wiltshire Big Wheel, a public cycling event beginning and ending in Devizes on September 6, and a 100km Trek across the Sahara Desert from October 10 to 18 2015. The White Horse Challenge is in its tenth year and has raised £110,000 for WAA. Organised by Wiltshire businesses Monahans Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers, Rygor Commercials and Rocking Horse Nursery, distances range from a seven mile family challenge to the full 52 miles. This is the first time that WAA is taking part in the Wiltshire Big Wheel, organised by Bristol-based Bike Events, and the charity has 40 places available. Riders can choose from a 12 mile family challenge, 45 mile or 100 mile route. The Sahara trek in Morocco is a 100 km trek through stunning scenery and there are 16 places available. It is organised by Adventurous Ewe. Rebecca de la Bedoyere, WAA’s Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted to offer these fantastic challenge events for our Silver Jubilee year. We’ve been flying and saving lives for 25 years thanks to the amazing people of Wiltshire, and we’re really hoping people will get stuck into a challenge this year and go the extra mile to raise vital funds.” Information about all of the challenge events are on WAA’s website, www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk

Wrong Trousers Day Friday 26th June Have you ever had the urge to do something outlandish, like go shopping in your pyjamas, or turn up for work in a pair of Speedos? Well, now you can – hopefully without being arrested! – whilst simultaneously earning money for charity! Since 2003, the Wallace and Gromit Charity has been raising funds for sick children in hospitals and hospices throughout the United Kingdom by encouraging people like you and me to show up for school or work wearing their wackiest clothes. Over the past fourteen years, Wallace and Gromit’s Wrong Trousers Day has raised over £2 million which has been used to help buy specialist equipment, fund arts, music and therapy programmes, provide family accommodation and offer respite care. The charity’s aim is to ensure that whilst in hospital and hospice care, children can still play, socialise and recuperate from treatment in a child-friendly environment. Every £1 donated by wearing the wrong kind of trousers helps them achieve just that. Anyone can participate in Wrong Trousers Day, which takes place this year on Friday 26th June. Just register your event at www. wallaceandgromitcharity.org/event/wallacegromits-wrong-trousers-day to receive a free fundraising pack, then all you need do is persuade lots of people to join with you in looking ridiculous for a day!

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Shipton Moyne Open Gardens Sunday 7th June 2pm to 6 pm Cost £5 per adult Gardens big and small open Teas in the Village Hall, Flower Festival in the Church and Art in the Barn at Street Farm, Children’s trail, skittles, plant stall, and bric a brac Monies raised in aid of Church and Village Hall

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

The Three Crowns

Local Employment Opportunities THE THREE CROWNS VILLAGE SHOP (On the corner of the Three Crowns Pub) Opening Hours 8am - 6pm (between 11-2.30 please call into the bar for service) Everyday Essential Goods, Local Eggs and Milk, Everyday Sliced Bread Available, Freshly Baked Bread on Fridays and Saturdays, Birthday Cards & Stamps, Ample Parking (If shop door closed ring bell)

The Street, Brinkworth, SN15 5AF Tel: 01666 510366 www.threecrownsbrinkworth.co.uk

in Malmesbury and Tetbury:

• Accounts/Finance Assistant • Trainee Duty Hotel Manager • Hotel Housekeeper • NHS Sales Professionals • Media Sales Professionals • Health and Beauty Sales Executives • Front of House Restaurant Assistants • Assistant Sous Chef • Self-employed Therapists to join wellbeing centre

Please call for details on 07933 580869 or send your CVs to: susielewis@hr3sixty.co.uk

View our website for our Bi-seasonally changing, locally sourced menu !

COME AND TRY OUR NEW EARLY SPRING MENU!

You will receive a 2nd main course FREE* when you buy 1 main course from our local award winning à la carte menu!

Garden dining also available - offer available every day for lunch & dinner To take advantage of this offer a reservation is essential and you must state this offer from the Town Crier upon booking. * Lowest priced meal free. Pre-booking required. Valid up to and including Friday 31st July. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer and subject to availability.

Book now for a real treat at Best Western Mayfield House Hotel Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9EW. Tel: 01666 577409 reception@mayfieldhousehotel.co.uk www.mayfieldhousehotel.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

What’s On

PUZZLE CORNER

The Rotary Club of Chippenham Wiltshire Vale in conjunction with Art In The Park RAISE MONEY for YOUR FAVOURITE CHARITY OR COMMUNITY GROUP by going

Dragon Boat Racing The11th Rotary Club of 10am–4.00pm Saturday July 2015 Chippenham WiltshirePark, Vale Chippenham River Avon, Monkton in conjunction with

In The Park Fantastic Art Dragon Boats are provided so why not enter a team, have a really fun day, support your local community, and raise money for good causes at the same time! RAISE MONEY For further information, call for L. Goodridge YOUR FAVOURITE CHARITY OR740714 COMMUNITY 01380 850565 or W. Henry 01249 or visitGROUP by going www.rotary-chippenham-wv.org.uk/dbr or Email infodragonboatscwv@gmail.com

Saturday 11 th July 2015 River Avon, Monkton Park, Chippenham 10am – 4.00pm

Fantastic Dragon Boats are provided so why not enter a team, have a really fun day, support your local community, and raise money for good causes at the same time! For further information , visit www.rotary-chippenham-wv.org.uk/dbr Or Tel: L .G oo dr i dg e 01380 8 5 0 5 65 Or Tel W Henry 01249 740714 Email infodragonboatscwv@gmail.com

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

ACROSS 1 Hit, clouted (6) 4 Abundance (6) 8 Institution (12) 9 Precise, singular (10) 12 Required (6) 13 Like better (6) 16 Amenities (10) 17 Advanced culture, society (12) 18 Prompt (6) 19 Rides a bike (6)

DOWN 1 Ceasing (8) 2 Watched, looked (8) 3 Deliberation, Cogitation (13) 5 Outstanding (13) 6 Cares for (5) 7 Concern, problem (5) 10 Accredited, authentic (8) 11 Gifts (8) 14 Stiff (5) 15 Father’s brother (5)

Solutions to the crossword and sudoku on page 33

The 10th and Final

Bowood Charity Dog Show & Summer Fair

Sunday 21st June 2015, 10am to 5pm Every Dog Has Its Day! This will be the 10th (and final) Bowood Charity Dog Show and Summer Fair, held to raise funds for charities serving the people of Wiltshire (just under £250,000 donated to date); a great family day out, whether or not you have a dog.

For our final show, some old favourites will be making one last appearance - including the Essex Dog Display Team, Thérèse and Temujin (Lady Chichester’s camels), Joseph’s Amazing Racing Pigs, Olivants Equine ‘Big & Little’, Bill Galpin’s Racing Terriers, Falconry displays and the Greatwood Shetland ponies. New this year for food lovers will be the Bake It Big Productions show: they put the rock into rolling pin with a variety of celebrity bakers, chefs and hosts (final line-up to be confirmed). There will be a dance stage featuring demonstrations and classes of various dance types. Moving amongst the crowd will be Higher Beings - stilt walking costumed characters providing visual entertainment. A timeless sight in Devizes is the team of two Wadworth Shire Horses who still deliver beer in the town by dray. They will be on show – a good chance to get up close and ask their grooms all about them. Further information on the attractions can be found on our website. One of the important parts of the day is the Dog Show, comprising family and fun classes, with companion classes for pedigree dogs, all being held under Kennel Club rules. There will be several Have-A-Go events in which you and

your dog can take part: Agility, Splash & Fetch, Recall, the Fun Dog Scurry and Lurcher & Terrier racing – all fun to take part in and even better entertainment to watch! There are also displays, attractions, and activities for children, including fun rides, circus workshop and donkeys. There will be a shopping village with varied stalls and a Farmers’ Market. Licensed bars and a variety of food stands complete the picture. Admission on the day is Adult £10, Child (2-16) £5 and children under two FREE. Carer accompanying wheelchair user FREE. Dogs, of course, are FREE. Advance tickets only available until 8th June from http://www.bowood.org/product/ advance-dog-show-tickets/ and are Adult £8 and Child (2-16) £4, Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children – advance purchase only, not available on the day) £20. The proceeds will again support charities serving the people of Wiltshire. At Bowood House, Calne, Wiltshire, see website: www.bowooddogshow.org, our Facebook page or email: bowooddogshow@aol.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Football

Malmesbury Vics FC

OW, WHAT A TOPSYTURVY few months it’s been at The Flying Monk Ground. After almost folding at the end of the last season, due to financial difficulties, the supporters, from both here and abroad, rallied round to keep the club afloat. We started with the hugely successful “Beer, Cider, and Sausage Fest”, (thank you Martin), continued with “The Vic Fest”, ending with,” The Carnival Dance”. These events allowed us to get our house in order, pay our bills, and put us on a firm footing. Membership numbers rose, as former town residents heard of our plight and contacted us. Donations arrived from around the world. Raffles and a Duck Race were staged. Jonathan Davies and Johnny Constable came aboard to handle our finances, and have been an integral part of our resurgence. These events have put us back on an even keel, but we cannot allow things to slip. On the pitch there were drastic changes as well. Manager, Wayne Kibble, and his assistant, Richard”Jig”Alley, stepped up from the reserve side to run the firsts. We took a step backwards by going down a league, but felt we needed to consolidate our position for at least a season or two. Wayne and Jig’s knowledge of the local football scene was invaluable at this time, as they brought back local players who traveled to play for other teams. Everything started to take shape, and we were able to also field reserve, and development sides, plus ladies training. Things started well, although we were hampered by having players who were also talented, 16

had hoped for, after playing with only ten men for the majority of the match, our supporters were in superb voice, singing and encouraging throughout the game. This match, I’m sure, will live long in the memories of both players and fans alike.

and successful cricketers, for both Malmesbury and Goatacre clubs. Astute signings were made, including Allan Webb, who returned to the club, having last played for us, in the title winning team, of 1999/00. Alan Griffin, with his dodgy knees, ankles, and hair cut, was another; whose arrival from Chippenham Town caused quite a stir on social media. Crowd attendance zoomed, to the delight of Daphne Merrit, our halftime raffle organiser. We had a fantastic run in The FA Vase, beating Bracknell Town, of The Hellenic Premier League, along the way, which brought us fantastic media coverage, with us being the lowest ranked team in the competition. The next round took us to Bradford-on-Avon, and with transport, generously supplied by our sponsors, Brendon Rice and Graham Hancock, everyone had a fantastic day out. Although not getting the result we

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

With our cup exploits over, it was back to league football. The lads were amazing, going on an unbelievable unbeaten run of twenty-four games. Culminating in us receiving The Wilts Premier League Winners Trophy, after our game against Westbury United. Ed Wilkins, with twenty-six goals, is the league’s top marksman, with an injury hit Sam Parker a close second. Ewen Kenny, at 17 years of age, was drafted in from the reserves through injury, and seized his chance with both hands, being ever-present since. Young Danny Cook has excelled. The development goalkeeper Josh Langley has signed a contract with Cirencester Town. Jordan Thompson and Tyler Quinnell have stepped up to the plate when asked, giving performances that belie their years. Krystian”Aggie”Hext, Jake Fortune and Sam Jenner, are now showing the potential, that most at the club felt they possessed. New stopper, Jack Haines, has come in and has immense presence. Even our Life President, Dave”Badger”Picter has a spring to his step, and looks good for another couple of seasons. Things are looking rosy, but we can’t take our eye off the ball for us all to continue forward. The Phoenix may not have, as yet, risen from the ashes, but it’s flapping hard! Photos: Robert Peel

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Father’s Day

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Sunday June 21st

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ATHER’S DAY is celebrated worldwide in recognition of the contribution fathers make to the lives of their children. In the UK it takes place on the third Sunday in June. There are various stories about the origins of the day. Some believe it is associated with pagan sun worship as the sun is known as the father of the universe and the June solstice occurs around the same time as Father’s Day each year. Others claim that the tradition originated in the ruins of Babylon. It is said that a young boy called Elmesu carved a father’s day message on a card made out of clay around 4,000 years ago. The UK is believed to have followed on after the USA started celebrating the annual occasion. Again there are different versions, but most link the commencement of the modern Father’s Day with the campaign led by Sonara Smart Dodd. When she was 27, Sonara decided after listening to a Mother’s Day Sermon that there should be something similar for fathers. The local Spokane Ministerial Association and the Young Men’s Christian Association supported her and a local celebration took place in 1910. The popularity of the day spread across the USA and it became officially recognised by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

by Susan Brookes-Morris The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

WOMAD CHARLTON PARK, WILTSHIRE 24-26 JULY 2015

WOMAD is the world’s premiere celebration of international music, arts, dance, culture and food. After a record-breaking year in 2014, which saw the festival sell out completely, 2015 promises to be even bigger. Hundreds of top class musicians, performers and artists from dozens of countries will bring a scintillating array of entertainment to 7 stages in the lush and leafy surroundings of CHARLTON PARK IN WILTSHIRE. From the mouth-watering TASTE THE WORLD stage to the thumping SAN-FRAN DISCO BAR, via an extensive range of workshops and one of the largest children’s activity areas at any UK festival, WOMAD is a thrilling adventure for the whole family. Artists already announced to play include: DE LA SOUL (USA), LAURA MVULA (UK), TIKEN JAH FAKOLY (COTE D’IVOIRE), BELLOWHEAD (UK), TINARIWEN (MALI), SOUAD MASSI (ALGERIA/ FRANCE), 47SOUL (PALESTINE/JORDAN/SYRIA), AURELIO (HONDURAS), OSAKA MONAURAIL (JAPAN), ESKA (ZIMBABWE), ESTER RADA (ISRAEL) AND MANY MORE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED For further information and a full line up please visit www.womad.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

WIN A PAIR OF WEEKEND TICKETS to the WOMAD Festival 2015 If you want to be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize worth £330, just answer the following question: Where is the WOMAD Festival held? A) Charlton Park B) Central Park

C) Hyde Park

Email your answer, plus your name & address to: jake.sales@towncriermagazine.com by 30th June 2015. The Editor’s decision is final. TERMS AND CONDITIONS A pair of weekend tickets (entrance/camping only) Tickets cannot be exchanged or sold on in any way All minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 and over. Holders of Adults Weekend Passes may have access to the campsite and festival arena from 8am on Thursday 23 July through to Monday 27 July 2015. All tickets are non-returnable. We do not offer refunds on the basis of inclement weather. Lost tickets and wristbands will not be replaced. You will be required to exchange this ticket for a wristband which must be worn on the wrist at all times during your attendance at the festival. No overnight drumming allowed anywhere on site. No animals allowed on site except guide dogs. No trading may be carried out on site except by WOMAD authorised traders. In the event of antisocial, unruly, unsafe or illegal behaviour, or in the event of noncooperation with event officials you may be required to leave the site and your wristband will be removed. Line up is subject to change. Ticket Holders consent to being Filmed, Photographed and Recorded. On entry on to the site, you accept you may be searched at the entrance or on any part within. Persons resisting searches may be refused entry or be evicted from the site and have wristband removed.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Food & Drink

Summer BBQ

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti

ou can’t beat the tantalising aroma and taste of freshly barbecued food, but how do you choose the best barbecue for you?

When time is of the essence, a gas barbecue may be the best option. Fuelled by propane and lit by the touch of a button, they give instant heat - great for impromptu family meals after work. Some have multiple burners which can operate at varying temperatures to suit different foods, and the top models have flavouriser bars to give food that authentic charcoal flavour. If you like to relax over your cooking - maybe at the weekend when you have family and friends over - a charcoal barbecue is a 20

great option. Using lump wood or briquettes for fuel, they take about 45 minutes to warm up and you can adjust the heat by raising or lowering the grills. Kettle barbecues also come with lids for roasting or braising food. If portability is key, say for camping or picnicking, then consider a smaller, lightweight model that can fit in the back of the car. You can even buy disposable barbecues that can be bought at the supermarket and thrown away after use. A warming rack is useful to keep food up to temperature whilst other food is still cooking, and don’t forget a fork, tongs and spatula! Now let’s go BBQ!

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Penne with Kale and Sun-dried Tomatoes Kale is from the same family as cabbage. It’s packed with calcium, vitamins and other nutrients as well as being full of fibre. It’s already classed as a super food, but this simple supper dish proves that it’s super-tasty too. Servings: 1

See our wine recommendations Ingredients for these recipes 60g penne pasta overleaf 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Preparation time: 20 minutes

1/2 a bunch of kale, finely chopped Handful of baby spinach 1 clove garlic, crushed 30g sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained & chopped 1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Salt and ground pepper to taste Method Cook the pasta according to the instructions.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic, kale, spinach and salt – cook gently for a couple of minutes, then add sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Drain pasta and add to veggie mixture in skillet – stir well. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and some Parmesan shavings and serve.

BBQ Sweet Chilli Coconut Skewers Serves 4 Preparation time: 1 hour Cooking time: 20 minutes Ingredients 165ml can coconut milk 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 teaspoon fish sauce 800g / 1.5lbs beef rump steak, trimmed, cut into 2cm cubes Coconut chilli sauce 1 tablespoon roughly chopped roasted unsalted peanuts 1 tablespoon shredded coconut, toasted 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander leaves 1 bird’s eye chilli, deseeded, finely chopped (optional) 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce

Method Combine coconut milk, sugar, sweet chilli sauce, cinnamon, cardamom, garlic and fish sauce in a nonmetallic bowl. Add beef. Toss to make sure the beef is coated with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, longer if time permits. To make the coconut chilli sauce combine the peanuts, coconut, coriander, chilli, sweet chilli sauce and 3 teaspoons cold water in a bowl. Heat a greased barbecue plate or griddle on mediumhigh heat. Thread beef onto skewers. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes each side or until browned and cooked through. Drizzle with coconut chilli sauce. Serve with steamed rice, salad and lime wedges. The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Food & Drink

Healthy Thai Style Chicken Wings

Makes about 8-16 chicken wings depending on size. Preparation time: 10 minutes plus 30 minutes marinating time Cooking time: 45 minutes Ingredients 1 kg/2 pounds chicken wings 2.5cm/1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped 8 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons sake or dry sherry 2 tablespoons sugar 225g/8oz plain all purpose flour Method First make the marinade. Mix the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sugar and sake or cooking sherry in a bowl. Marinate the chicken wings in this sauce for at least 30 minutes. Make sure all wings are coated and turn a couple of times during the marinating process. Preheat oven to 200C / Gas Mark 6. Cover a large tray with baking parchment. Place the flour into a shallow bowl then drain the wings of the marinade. Dip each wing carefully into the flour, shake off any excess then place the wings on the prepared tray. Bake skin side up for 15 minutes. Then turn the wings over so that the skin side is down and bake for another 15 minutes. Finally turn skin side up again and bake for a final 15 minutes to make sure they are crispy. Serve with salad on a bed of lettuce leaves.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

. . . s r e v o l e n i w l l a Calling

1-3 Baytree Court, The Chipping, Tetbury GL8 8EU

Wine Selection

by Alan Webb of Vinotopia, Tetbury

01666 502262 www.vinotopiawine.co.uk

Sweet Chilli Coconut Skewers To match this mix of different flavours, a soft, fruity red will be perfect. Calusari Pinot Noir at £7.95 has aromas of violets and dried cherries and is juicy, berry filled and velvety in the mouth.

Healthy Thai Style Chicken With its mix of ginger, garlic and soy, this dish needs a wine with depth and flavour to pair with it. Alvi’s Drift Viognier at £8.75 is packed with apricot and peach flavours with hints of gingerbread and cashew nuts.

Penne with Kale and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Olive oil and tomato based dishes demand a classic Italian wine, Canapi Nero d’Avola at £7.95 is ideal. With its smooth, juicy and berry layered character it will complement perfectly the flavours of this dish.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Food & Drink

The Cotswold Crusader

™

Celebrating excellence in customer service across the Cotswolds

Jackie and Wally of The Star Inn, Hullavington

APPRECIATE THAT WE are not the first parents to have shared our home with teenage daughters. I completely understand that the highs and lows we are experiencing are a perfectly normal and necessary stage of adolescent development that prepares the child for adulthood. I know that – I have read the books. But it doesn’t make the rollercoaster ride of parenthood any easier. And now, as if it wasn’t challenging enough, we have reached GCSE season. I have found the fine line between motivation and alienation as treacherous a line to travel as a high-wire. One unbalanced move either way can lead to relationship freefall. And so it was on Friday evening, the beloved and I suggested that our eldest take a break from her revision for the night to join us 24

for a meal out. We had heard that under new management, The Star Inn, at Hullavington, had been completely refurbished, so we thought we would give it a go. We weren’t disappointed. A roaring fire invited us into a sympathetically restored bar lounge, maintaining its traditional charm whilst introducing some very tasteful contemporary twists. By the time the menus had arrived, we had started to unwind from the pressures of the week and were left with nothing more taxing to do than consider our choices. Whilst we waited for our food to be delivered, we soaked up the busy and friendly atmosphere. The sweet smokiness of the fire mingled with wafts of food passing by us en-route to adjacent tables. We were soon dissecting the ups and downs of our week over our oriental king prawn rolls (a family favourite), before moving on

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

to our expectations of the week ahead. The options for the main course were extensive, prompting much deliberation. The beloved and I had opted for rib-eye steak, whilst the girls ordered lasagne and beef burger. Over our large plates of hot, home cooked fayre, we shared each other’s company without the hindrance of phones, ipods or ipads. The teenage years are as difficult for them as they are us. Making the journey from childhood to adulthood is not easy. Finding the balance of parental support and interference is just has hard. But it turns out that even the most stressful of times can be soothed with the right recipe of good food, a pinch of teasing, a spoonful of laughter and a ladle of love. With that in mind, I am counting down the days until our youngest starts her GCSEs. Hold on tight! – it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

THE STAR THE STAR I

E ER W M EN

THE STAR INN

Hullavington, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6DL •

Hullavington, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6DL • Tel

• Skittle alley/function room available for hire available for parties, christeningsOpening or skittles evenings

PENSIONERS SPECIAL

Friday Lunchtimes times

2 courses for £6.95

Evenings Kitchen Opening times BURGERS, FISH AND CHIPS

Lunch • Beer garden, Disabled access available

Available forOpening takeaway Hours Tuesday - Saturday From £5.95

• Choice of 3 real ales, selection of ciders, lagers, wines and spirits. Lunch

Mondays

Closed

Tuesdays

Closed

Evenings

• We are a child friendly, family run pub.

Closed Mondays Closed PleaseWednesdays support your village pub! Thursday Closed Jackie & Wally Tuesdays Closed Friday

12.00-2.30

Kitchen Opening Hours

7.00-11.00 Closed SUNDAY LUNCHES

Choice of 2 available from 7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 Roast Beef, Roast lamb

7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 7.00-11.00 Closed Roast Pork, Roast Chicken

Available from 12.00-3.00 Sundays 7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 From £9.95

6.00-11.00

12.00-2.00 6.00-9.00

Wednesdays

Closed

7.00-11.00

Thursday LUNCH

Closed

7.00-11.00

Friday

12.00-2.30

6.00-11.00

Saturday

12.00-2.30

6.00-11.00 12.00-2.00 Sunday lunches6.00-9.00

Sunday

12.00-5.00

Choices of two available from: Closed 12.00-3.00 * EXCLUDES PENSIONER'S SPECIAL beef, RoastVALID lamb, Roast Pork, Roast Chicke UNTIL 31.7.15 Available Sundays from 12.00-3.00 - From £9.95

Saturday OPENING TIMES 12.00-2.30

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

EVENINGS

KITCHEN OPENING HOURS 12.00-5.00 Closed Closed 7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 Closed 7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 Closed 7.00-11.00 7.00-9.00 12.00-2.30 6.00-11.00 12.00-2.00 6.00-9.00 12.00-2.30 6.00-11.00 12.00-2.00 6.00-9.00 Roast 12.00-5.00 Closed 12.00-3.00

Sunday Closed 7.00-11.00

7.00-9.00

10% off

6.00-11.00

12.00-2.00 6.00-9.00

Closed

12.00-3.00

7.00-9.00

12.00-2.00 6.00-9.00

WITH THIS ADVERT* Sunday lunches

Hullavington, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6DLof • Tel: 837258 Choices two01666 available from:

Skittle alley/function available f Roast beef, Roast lamb,room Roast Pork, Roast Ch The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015 25 Available Sundays from 12.00-3.00or- skittle From £ available for parties, christenings

Summer Garden

Choosing Garden Furniture H by Susan Brookes-Morris

AVING the right garden furniture can really enhance the hours we spend in our gardens in the Summer. To help you decide what you need, consider how you will spend most of your time outdoors. Will it be daily alfresco dining with the family, weekend barbecues with family and friends, or just you relaxing in the sunshine with a good book? Knowing the function of your furniture can help you decide whether reclining padded beds, a sophisticated dining table and chairs, or relaxed informal seating is what you need. Of course it may be a mixture of all of the above, in which case you will need to look for versatile combinations. The amount of space you have available should also be taken into account. You might drool over a fantastic sofa with matching arm chairs in a catalogue, but

do you really have the space to accommodate it successfully, or would smaller fold-away seats be more suitable? In addition to your outdoor space, think about where you will store your furniture in Winter. Whilst vinyl covers can protect your furniture from Summer showers, it really is best kept in a shed or garage during the worst weather. This is where fold-away pieces can be incredibly practical, or in some cases, you may be able to take pieces apart for storage too.

Consider the durability and maintenance as well as appearance; wooden furniture is popular and versatile, but needs regular weatherproofing. Metal items require less maintenance, but have the disadvantage of being hot to touch in the sun. Some colours of plastic furniture also become hot, and plastic may become brittle if left outside in all weathers. Wicker and rattan pieces will need greater

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

protection from the wet and are more easily damaged. Cost of course will also be a factor. Plastic items are usually the cheapest, but it is generally true that you get what you pay for in terms of longevity. Several materials offer a variety of colour choices. Remember though that white and silver reflect the light so can be uncomfortable to look at in the glaring sun, and black absorbs the heat so can become very hot. The safest colours are therefore mid-greens, greys or natural wood. Many prefer muted tones, adding style and personality through bright cushions and tablecloths. Whatever you choose, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go on appearance alone. The most stylish items wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get used if they are incredibly uncomfortable. So do try out your intended purchases in-store to ensure they will help you to enjoy the outdoors!

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Summer Garden

Garden Toys for Summer Fun Y

OU don’t always need to leave home to have some Summer fun with the children. If you invest in some great garden toys you can keep them busy for hours, and ensure they get some fresh air and exercise. Traditional toys such as swings and slides remain popular. There are many different sizes and styles available, so do make sure that you pick carefully to match the age of the children that will be playing on them, and to ensure they are robust enough. Trampolines have really increased in popularity in the last five years or so. Do take care to consider where you will place one in your garden. Do you really have a big enough, flat surface available? All but the small junior ones come with safety enclosures. Do read the assembly and usage instructions carefully. Frequently these will say there should be only one person at a time on the trampoline, but this

can be tricky to enforce. Give them a sense of the beach by buying a sandpit. Designs vary from simple circle shaped pits, to shaped items, right through to luxury wooden models, with seats and built-in sunshade. It can be useful to have one with a lid to protect the sand from wet weather. Stores recommend that you buy special play-sand to ensure it is clean, safe and non toxic, and ideal for making sand castles with. Or perhaps you might prefer a play table that incorporates a sand area and water play?

Lots of fun can be had in a paddling pool. These range from very cheap, simple single ring designs, to those with multiple rings, rigid sides, and those incorporating slides and other activities. Ease of inflation is an important consideration when you have excited children waiting to play. Other toys that can help kids have fun with water in the garden include sprinklers, and of course water pistols, or as they are more commonly known these days ‘Supersoakers’. An empty sand pit or paddling pool can also double up as a ball pool. Or why not have your own World cup or Wimbledon, by investing in football goals or tennis equipment? If you only have a small garden or limited budget, do not despair, there are still many choices. How about a croquet or skittle set, skipping rope, slingshot, hoola hoop, some blowing bubbles or a small play tunnel? If you’ve not room for ball games requiring lots of space try something like swingball. Or you could let the little ones do some garden role play by buying some play ‘mini garden tools’ Whatever you buy, always check age guidelines and look for quality marks.

by Susan Brookes-Morris 28

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

R TE AF

FO BE

Green Stripe Lawncare

ADVERTORIAL

We are a local business offering a good old fashioned service using a modern approach and techniques to care for your lawns throughout Wiltshire. We like to think of your lawn as the carpet for the biggest room at your house. We’ll look after it for you and help turn it into a beautiful space for relaxation and enjoyment. Our treatment programme incorporates five pre-arranged visits to your lawn throughout the year. You can start at any time during the year. Our treatments start from £15.50 per treatment. Each visit includes seasonal, bespoke lawn feed treatments as well as weed & moss control applications. The treatments feed your lawn, help strengthen the turf and help to eradicate or control weeds and moss, producing a lush green and healthy lawn. We also offer Scarifying and Hollow Tine Aeration as well as Over-Seeding, Top Dressing and specialist treatments to prevent & control lawn pests such as Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets as well as turf diseases like Fusarium Patch and Red Thread. Trained and qualified by City & Guilds NPTC to apply lawn treatments correctly and safely, all our treatments are safe for you, your pets, wildlife and the environment. We are also a supplier of lawn fertiliser and lawn care products on a wholesale basis to the trade, as well as catering for small or one off orders for DIY customers, delivered straight to your door. Give us a call and we’ll be only too pleased to provide a free, no-obligation quotation for a bespoke package of our treatments to suit your lawn or even supply you with our own branded DIY Lawn Treatment products. Whether you live near or far, you can count on Green Stripe Lawn Care to help solve your lawn care issues. To contact us please call 01249 816917 or email enquiries@green-stripe.co.uk or visit our website at www.green-stripe. co.uk.

Lawn renovation and maintenance throughout the year • Professional Grade Fertiliser • Professional Selective Weed Killer • Hollow Tine Aeration • Covering all areas at competitive prices

• Moss Control • Scarification • Overseeding • Paddock Maintenance

Treatments from only £15.50

For a free no obligation quotation call 01249 816917 www.green-stripe.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

ADVERTORIAL

Microchipping Dr Sarah Long BVSc MRCVS

It is National Microchipping Month in June; so if your pet hasn’t already been microchipped it’s the perfect opportunity to ensure future peace of mind. A microchip is similar in size to a grain of rice and contains a unique number, like a barcode, to help identify your pet should they get lost. Stray animals will be checked with a scanner at any veterinary practice to see if they have a microchip. If a pet carries a chip then the scanner will reveal a unique number which can then be matched against national databases to retrieve the contact details of the owner and help reunite them with their pet at the earliest opportunity.

Illustrating a typical microchip’s size in relation to rice 30

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Microchipping is one of the most permanent forms of identification as collars and tags can be easily lost or broken. Implanting a microchip is a safe and easy procedure and can be carried out by a vet or trained member of staff. This can be done during a consultation or while a pet is in for another procedure, such as neutering. In dogs and cats the microchip is usually placed under the skin between the shoulder blades or in the scruff on the back of the neck. Once your pet has been microchipped it is important to keep your contact details up to date. This isn’t something that can be done through your vet – the owner must contact the microchip company directly. Far too often we have pets brought in to our branches with out-of-date contact details against their microchip records and this can delay and hinder a return to their owners. A recent case in point: our own reception team had to call a vet practice in Yorkshire who had fitted an identi-chip to a “lost” pet which had been brought into the practice - the pet’s owner had never registered their details on the database. Through a little luck, much detective work and with the help of social media we finally located the owner, who now resides in the Cotswolds. Sadly however, pets that can’t be reunited with their families end up with the dog warden or local rescue charities. Microchips aren’t just useful if your pet goes missing; they are also needed if you travel abroad using a pet passport with the Pet Travel Scheme. From 6th April 2016 all dogs in England over eight weeks of age will need to be fitted with a microchip by law under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015. We recommend that cats should be microchipped too but you can also microchip lots of other animals from horses to tortoises! If you would like more information about how to get your pet microchipped then contact us - take advantage of our June microchip offer - or your own veterinary practice.

www.georgevetgroup.co.uk 01666 823165

Sun Protection

Top 10 Tips

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti I have had a couple of holidays ruined after suffering from the effects of too much sun. To keep your holidays burn, blister and misery free, follow these ten top sun protection tips! With these measures in place, you should enjoy happy, problem free sunshine and, on a more serious note, reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

1. Cover up! Simple as it may sound, clothing offers the best protection around. 2. Avoid being in the sun between 11am and 3pm when its rays are the most damaging. 3. Use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. 4. Go for broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. 5. Make sure your sunscreen is not past its expiry date. Most have a shelf life of 2-3 years. 6. Apply sunscreen evenly, thickly and regularly.

Reapply sunscreen after being in the water, or if you sweat a lot!

8. Do not stay in the sun longer than you would if not wearing sunscreen. It should not be used as an excuse for staying out longer. 9. Wear a hat with a wide brim or peak to protect your face and head. 10. Wear glasses to protect your eyes. Look for ones with a UV 400 label or that offer 100% block out of UVA and UVB rays.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Books

A Good Read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Mark Haddon

........................................... Wellington is dead. He was killed with a fork. That’s not quite so odd though. It was a garden fork. Discovering the body of his neighbour’s dog, 15 year old Christopher is determined to find out what happens so he decides to do some ‘detecting’. What he discovers will tell him so much more than just who killed Wellington. As a reader you see the world through Christopher’s eyes. A world where maths is in charge and helps to make sense of everything. A world where seeing five red cars in a row is a sign of a ‘super good day.’ Christopher has Asperger’s Syndrome: a form of high functioning autism. This means that he doesn’t see things the same as others do. Facial expressions are difficult to decode – his teacher gives him clues to help him – and metaphors are just confusing and don’t really help you to understand things because you have to spend so much time trying to work out what it means. This highly acclaimed novel is an insight into a world inhabited by many people, but alien to most of the population. Haddon also brings out the difficulties of raising a child with Asperger’s. His widowed father tries to be patient but struggles with the lack of emotion from his son. In many ways Christopher has a better way of coping with life as he can shut himself away in a world ruled by algebra, patterns, and prime numbers.

As the novel draws towards its rewarding ending you will feel reluctant to leave him as he takes the next steps through life, telling us, “I can do anything.” And like many people with Asperger’s, he just might.

Jack Stalwart: The deadly race to space: Russia Elizabeth Singer Hunt

........................................... Most nine year olds only have school to worry about. Jack’s life is a bit more complicated than that. He is a secret agent. It must run in the family as his older brother Max was also a secret agent: only he has now gone missing. Jack must travel around the world battling some of the most dangerous villains there are, in the hope that he will one day find Max. In this book (the ninth in the series) Jack must find the space project’s chief engineer who has gone missing on the eve of the launch of manned mission to Mars. With his spy gadgets, such as gripper gloves and a mind eraser, this appears to be straightforward, but Jack is in for a shock. The Jack Stalwart books are aimed at young readers aged 7+ and appear to be a natural draw for boys of this age. Hunt cleverly mixes fiction and non-fiction in this series. Each book is set in a different country and contains factual information as part of the story, plus ‘fact file’ pages in the book. This age is a tricky one when it comes to reading, especially for boys, and the fast-pace of the story, plus the non-fiction aspect is a definite plus. Reviews by Willow Coby

AMOS joinery

Nailsworth Mills Estate, Avening Road, Nailsworth, Glos GL6 0BS Tel: 01453 836996 Mobile: 07800 932098 keith@amosjoinery.co.uk www.amosjoinery.co.uk 32

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Bespoke designs and craftsmanship including: • Doors • Furniture • Stairs • Windows • Garden Furniture and Gates

Foot Health Care www.foot-health-care.co.uk

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Specialists in all roofing, Upvc fascias, soffits and guttering, leadwork, chimneys and sundry works for your home or business

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The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Tennis

Anyone for Tennis? It’s Wimbledon fortnight!

BROKEN pony-roller belonging to the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club was the catalyst which led to the birth of the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world: Wimbledon. When the roller broke in 1877 the members decided to hold a lawn tennis competition to raise funds for repair. There were 22 male competitors who each paid a one guinea entrance fee. The champion was 27-year-old Spencer Gore who won 12 guineas and yes, it did rain on the day of the finals! In spite of the weather the competition was such a success that it became an annual event. In fact there have been only ten Wimbledon-free years since that first competition: four years during the First World War and six during the Second World War. At the start the only event was the gentlemen’s singles. Then, in 1884 the ladies’ singles and the gentlemen’s doubles were added, followed by the ladies’ doubles and the mixed doubles in 1913. Only top-ranked amateurs were allowed to play until 1968 when the tournament became ‘open’, meaning that professionals could finally enter.

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

Every year about 27,000 kilos of strawberries, 7,000 litres of cream, 60,000 pints of Pimms and 14,000 bottles of Champagne are consumed by spectators during Wimbledon. It is the only tennis competition where players are required to wear all or predominantly white clothing. The British dominated The Championships, as they are known, for the first 30 years: Ernest and William Renshaw, and Laurie and Reggie Doherty were national heroes. But our winning streak didn’t last. Until recently the last British man to win at Wimbledon was Fred Perry in 1936. He won a hat trick of titles just before the Second World War. The last British woman to win Wimbledon was Virginia Wade in the silver Jubilee year, 1977. Then, in the glorious summer of 2013 Andy Murray finally brought the title home to Britain and won the heart of the nation. He’s on a high this year having married his fiancé Kim Sears in the spring. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he made this a real fairytale year and won Wimbledon again? Wimbledon fortnight starts on 29th June.

by Louise Addison

Wilts Electrical Contracting Ltd,

Unit 10 Harris Road, Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9PT, TEL: 01249 812850, Email: enquiries@weclimited.co.uk www.weclimited.co.uk

FOR ALL YOUR RENEWABLE AND ELECTRICAL NEEDS

CALL US NOW FOR INFORMATION ON OUR SPECIAL SUMMER OFFERS The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015

VEHICLE SALES • SERVICING • REPAIRS • MOT • HIRE VEHICLES

YOUR LOCAL HIRE CENTRE Becoming the United Rental System licensee for the Malmesbury area enables us to offer a professional and flexible approach to car and van rental. We have a growing fleet of modern low mileage well maintained vehicles with flexible hire options at competitive prices. We can even pick you up or deliver a vehicle to your home or place of work as part of our great service.

• SERVICING • REPAIRS • MOTS • EXHAUSTS • BATTERIES • TYRES

YOUR LOCAL BOSCH CAR SERVICE CENTRE

NEAR RY, MALMESBU TETBURY & ER CIRENCEST

• CAR AND VAN HIRE • VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS • AIRCON RE-GAS, SERVICING AND REPAIR

Crudwell Garage is a long-standing Bosch Car Service Centre – giving you high quality car servicing and diagnostic capability in the Malmesbury, Tetbury and Cirencester area. We have huge experience of servicing cars and vans, whatever the make and model, from Ford to Renault, Mini to 4×4 Land Rovers, you can trust us to service your car properly. Crudwell Garage is also a specialist repair shop for VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, and Vauxhall.

YOUR LOCAL TYRE FAST FIT CENTRE

• ENGINE INDUCTION SYSTEM SPECIALIST CLEANING

As part of the Bosch Car Service Centre tyre program we can offer a large range of car, van and 4×4 tyres at competitive prices. All tyres are fitted and balanced using the latest Bosch tyre fitting and wheel balancing equipment.

We are conveniently placed on the main road – A429 in Crudwell, just outside Malmesbury and within easy reach of Tetbury, Charlton, Oaksey, Hankerton, Minety and surrounding villages on the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire borders.

OPENING HOURS Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 5:30pm Saturday: Sales by appointment Sunday : Sales by appointment

• POWER STEERING SERVICING

Crudwell Garage Ltd, Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9EU Tel: (01666) 577242 www.crudwellgarageltd.co.uk 36

The Town Crier Magazine | JUNE/JULY 2015