Countypost Feb march 2018 by Adam Davison

Countypost Magazine Herefordshire & the Forest of Dean

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Antiques & Collectables Homes & Gardens Book Reviews Puzzles Car Reviews What’s On GAME-ON-GAMES

Countypost Magazine A Magazine for all the family

Welcome

Herefordshire & the Forest of Dean

February / March

to the

Countypost

There are plenty of fun things to do in and around Herefordshire; check out our ‘What’s On’ Section for details ! In this edition features include:

6 Black & White House Museum 10 Heliflight

8 Poppies

12 What’s On

14 Howle Hill Nursery

18 Midlands Air Ambulance

25 Game Review

22 Book Review 27 Ludlow Food Centre

16 Recipe

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01743 874098 Cover photograph : Winter Fun © Countypost

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Countypost is a registered trademark of County Signpost Ltd. Company Reg No: 04310940 VAT No: 762776982 Tel: 01743 874098 Email: sales@countypost.co.uk All material in this magazine is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of printing. Countypost does not accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies which slipped through. Copyright County Signpost Ltd 2018. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

28 Suzuki & Hyundai reviews

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Contributors this month Black & White House Museum

Rita Kearsey MRICS Smiths Auction Rooms, Newent

Tony Collier Red Kite Fostering

Peter Dowle Howle Hill Nursery

Clare Stevens Hereford Cathedral

Games Reviews by Felix Davison

Meet the Shropshire Mammoth New Exhibition & Activities Explore the 30 acre meadow Training courses & workshops Award Winning Café

Open Daily 10am-5pm Family Friendly Events & Activities

Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre

shropshirehillsdiscovery

@SH_DiscoveryCen

Tel: 01588 676060 School Rd, Craven Arms, SY7 9RS

Sh to g ow thi s e Exh t a 10% ibit i o n en dis try cou exp ires nt 1. 1.20

the home of Grow Cook Learn Registered Charity Number: 1158795

www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk

Boosters: dogs £23.00 cats £27.00 rabbits £22.00

New Open Clinic on Wednesdays in Ross-on-Wye between 1 - 2 pm

Carrot Tops Mobile Surgery runs walk-in veterinary clinics in Ross-on-Wye and Cinderford (no appointment necessary) Our consultation times are: Baileys DIY store car park (by Labels) Ross-on-Wye

Saturdays 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm Mondays 10.30 am – 12.00 pm Wednesdays 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm

Corinium Business Park (by Hawthorn) Speculation Rd, Cinderford

Saturdays 10.00 am – 12.00 pm Mondays 5.00 pm – 6.30 pm Wednesdays 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Our veterinary surgeon also provides an affordable home visit service (small animals only) by prior appointment. For details, please call or e-mail us on

01594 824765 enquiries@carrottopsmobilesurgery.co.uk

If you are unable to support us now would you please consider a Legacy in your will for the Herefordshire Samaritans, a Legacy pack is available from the Treasurer at the address above.

The Herefordshire Branch of the Samaritans offers anyone going through difficult times in their lives a safe and confidential place to explore their feelings.

Since the new Free Call Telephone service 116 123 started, the call rate to the Herefordshire Branch of the Samaritans has increased dramatically from 850 to 2,500 calls per month. In order to accommodate this huge increase we urgently need more funds. The Friend of Samaritans are holding their biannual Christmas Fair at the Chase Hotel on the 9th November. Yor support for this special event would be greatly appreciated, alternatively you could help by sending a donation to :

Herefordshire Samaritans is run by unpaid volunteers who are the backbone of the service. With the increase in calls we need more volunteers, if you would like to help but feel you might not be much good, you are posibly just the person we are looking for, please write to the Selection Secretary at the address above. Herefordshire Samaritans is a Registered Charity No.

1167937

Web:

www.samaritans.org

Email: volunteer@hereford-samaritans.org

The Treasurer Herefordshire Samaritans 44a Berrington St Hereford HR4 0BJ

GIVE SOMETHING PRICELESS Meet new people and learn new skills by volunteering with us. Please email ruralcommunities@redcross.org.uk The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by the Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949), Scotland (SC037738) and Isle of Man (0752). Photo ÂŠ Simon Rawles.

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Black & White House Museum

History Lives Here

Since its re-opening, this recently featured Hereford city centre refurbished museum has attracted over 1400 visitors in April alone.

The Black & White House Museum is a very welcoming place in the heart of the city. The house was built in 1621, and the museum gives an insight into 17th century life: after passing through the reception area and shop (where you can buy replica goods from the civil war period), the ground floor room tells the history of the period, with plenty of information panels and a model of Hereford at the time.

Moving upstairs to the re-created rooms from the 1640s, the museum visit becomes a lot more interactive: there is a dressing up rail of clothes, and visitors of all ages are encouraged to try them on and even to have pictures taken around the dining table.

The second floor has reproduction furniture and visitors are encouraged to be hands-on here - try out the bed and see how it was put together, discover what the bedstaves were for (to loosen up the bedding), and to examine (but not use!) the ‘stool of ease.’ Finally, don’t miss the prodigal son story on the wall hangings in the smaller bedroom.

The museum is a welcome slice of history in the centre of the commercial heart of Hereford and well worth the visit.

“loved dressing up and activities” “it was amazing, it was great, we loved it” Bringing history to life

Some me to spare? Some enthusiasm to share? We’d love to meet you...

Come and volunteer for Hereford’s Museums and Art Gallery... We have a wide variety of roles available – whether you have an interest in history, literature and culture, or whether you just like mee ng new people and sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm. There are also opportuni es to get involved in events and workshops. Here’s what to do... Email us at: culturalvolunteering@herefordshire.gov.uk or pop in and pick up an applica on form. herefordmuseums

hfdscouncil

www.herefordshire.gov.uk/historyliveshere

HEREFORD CATHEDRAL

EVENTS FEB/MARCH

Uncovered! Sharing the secrets of Hereford Cathedral's historic collections.

A new temporary exhibition has opened within the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library Exhibition area at Hereford Cathedral. Researchers from all over the world regularly engage with the books, documents and objects in the Cathedral's collections. They bring their specialist knowledge and sometimes the latest scientific techniques to give us fresh interpretations and reveal hidden information. Uncovered! invites visitors to share the excitement of some of their recent findings. Find out:

• What the colours on Mappa Mundi and the Hereford Gospels are made of.

• How fingerprints more than 600 years old might still be able to be identified.

• How a diagram of everything can fit on one small page.

Uncovered! is on show until Saturday 19th May 2018.

Poppies: Weeping Window 14 March – 29 April 2018

Presented by 14-18 NOW, Hereford Cathedral and Herefordshire Council bring Poppies: Weeping Window to Hereford, offering people an amazing opportunity to experience this sculpture.

The sculpture by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper is one of two touring as part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. As with all 14-18 NOW projects, the presentation of this sculpture to new audiences across the UK aims to prompt a new, nationwide dialogue around the legacy of the war. Weeping Window is a cascade comprising several thousand handmade ceramic poppies seen pouring from a high window to the ground below. Together with a second sculptural work, Wave, they formed part of the iconic installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Tower of London in 2014, and were visited by over five million people.

The beautiful historic façade of the cathedral will provide a stunning backdrop for Weeping Window.

Weeping Window is from the installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ – poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited In conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces, originally at HM Tower of London 2014.

To find out more about the Poppies tour and other 14-18 NOW events visit 1418NOW.org.uk/poppies

Image credit: © Richard Lea-Hair and Historic Royal Palaces

Weeping Window is from the installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ - poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper - by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces, originally at HM Tower of London 2014.

14 March to 29 April 2018

Hereford Cathedral www.herefordcathedral2018.org #PoppiesTour

Heliflight (UK) Ltd

charter • photography • hire • pleasure flights

Based at Gloucestershire airport, Heliflight is one of the leading Helicopter provider in the UK. With an extensive fleet of helicopters including the popular Robinson R22, R44, Schweizer 300, and Bell B206 Jet Ranger. Heliflight UK have a helicopter to meet any requirement. Our services include executive charter, self-fly hire and training.

helicopter training - ppl - cpl - fi

Heliflight (UK) Ltd was established in 1996 at Halfpenny Green Airport near Wolverhampton. With a mission to provide high quality professional helicopter hire and flight training, Heliflight now operates exclusively at Gloucestershire Airport.

Heliflight prides itself on its customer care with an enthusiastic team who are on hand to make flying relaxing and a pleasure. Heliflight’s pilots take business men to meetings, people to the races, and families on flight experiences. Their commercial work involves flying helicopters for companies and news teams, be it capturing footage for a documentary or taking photographs of a construction site.

Heliflight’s flight instructors have trained hundreds of helicopter pilots. Many are keen to learn to fly for pleasure while some go on to become commercial pilots and flight instructors themselves. Heliflight is a recognised training school and offers a wide range of courses to its students.

For pilots who do not own their own helicopters Heliflight also hire out their helicopters to those with licences and the experience to fly them. Heliflight also offers hangarage and maintenance for people fortunate enough to own their own helicopter and help to potential owners wanting to purchase their own helicopter.

The Heliflight team are dedicated to ensuring that clients enjoy their helicopter flying experience safely and are on hand to assist you from simply having a ride to becoming a flight instructor.

type conversions - r22 - r44 b206 - h500 - e480

trial lesson • gift vouchers

If you want a taste of flying in a helicopter we have a range of flight experience packages. Our pleasure flights allow you to choose where you would like to fly to, perhaps see your house from the air, while our helitours take you over places of local interest. Perhaps you might want to try flying a helicopter. We can offer you a lesson, where you’ll take the controls and be guided by an instructor in our dual controlled training helicopters, you’ll soon be flying across the countryside. It’s a unique experience that some continue with to gain a Private Pilot’s Licence. Hundreds of pilots have been through our training facilities with some going on to gain commercial licences and flight instructor qualifications.

If you’re looking for a unique present our gift vouchers allow you to buy a flight and the recipient to choose when they want to fly at a later date. You can buy on-line, print the voucher yourself or we can send it for you.

Why not treat yourself, or someone special, for a special occasion? It could be a birthday, and anniversary, a celebration or a wedding. Say a trip to Aintree to the Grand National, or the meet at Epsom or even Glastonbury !

A helicopter flight costs less than you think and will add a touch of glamour and sophistication to a special occasion. Our experienced professional helicopter pilots can whisk you to your destination with time to take in a tour of the local scenery before turning heads as you land. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best way to make an entrance.

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If you need to hire a helicopter, just want to experience flying in one, or want to learn to fly, Heliflight are here to help. Canar

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Gloucestershire airport, hangar se36 staverton, gloucestershire, gl51 6sr t : 01452

714 555

f : 01452 714 666 e: glosops@heliflightuk.co.uk

Countypost Magazine

What's On

ean t of D s e r o F & the shire d r o f Here

2 February, 9am - 4pm Swan Brewery is holding a free tasting day for 4.5% Mortimer Ale - a uniquely hopped ruby ale on Friday 2nd February 9am to 4pm, which also happens to be the 556th anniversary of the Battle of Mortimer Cross. The event takes place at the brewery, HR6 0LX, near the new police station. www.swanbrewery.co.uk

17 - 25 February, 10am - 4pm Snowdrop the fairy trail at Croft Castle 01568 780246 croftcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk

13 February Burlington House &The History of The Royal Academy of Arts. - Stephen Richardson examines the history of The Royal Academy at Burlington House from its beginnings in1868 to the approaching 250th Anniversary in 2018. The Green Dragon Hotel, Broad St. Hereford www.hereford-dfas.org.uk 01568 797703

23 Feburary - 11 March Borderlines Film Festival - at venues across Herefordshire, Shropshire and the Marches. www.borderlinesfilmfestival.co.uk

7 February, 7.15pm Market Theatre Ledbury Tosca – (Live Screening from Royal Opera House) Tickets £15 /students & over 60 £12.50 wwwthemarkettheatre.com 07967 517 125

14 February, 7pm Market Theatre Ledbury Twelfth Night (Live Screening from RSC Stratford) Tickets £15 /students & over 60 £12.50 wwwthemarkettheatre.com 07967 517 125

14 February Hereford Cathedral. Ash Wednesday Imposition of Ashes will take place at all services; Sung Eucharist at 5.30pm will include Allegri’s Miserere. www.herefordcathedral.org

16 Feburary, 7.30pm - 10pm Wyld Bird Seed in Concert. Join us for an evening of listening, dancing and enjoying your favourite tipple while supporting Monmouthshire based charity, Homestart - 01600 715608 Tickets: £7.50 (include a burger or hot dog) from Devauden Village Shop or Home Start Office, Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth. 17 February, 8pm Market Theatre Ledbury Red Hot Boogie – 60’s night. Tickets £12 wwwthemarkettheatre.com 07967 517 125 17 Feburary, 10am - 12.30pm Children’s Willow Crafts Workshop at Queenswood. For children aged 7 and over; places limited so please book early! www.herefordshirewt.org/whats-on

19 - 23 February, 1pm - 2.30pm This February Half Term, join Hogweed's School of Magic. Calling all young witches and wizards, your classes await …. Divination, Potions, Disapparation. Have your training wand pick you and release the magic. Just £4 per accompanied 4 - 11 year old. Spaces are limited so book now to avoid disappointment. Craven Arms SY7 9RS 01588 676060 www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk

28 February, 7.15pm Market Theatre Ledbury The Winter’s Tale (Live Screening from Royal Ballet Covent Garden) Tickets £15 /students & over 60 £12.50 wwwthemarkettheatre.com 07967 517 125 3 March, 10am - 5pm Lucton Food Festival www.luctonfoodfestival.com

4 March, 4pm Hereford Cathedral Choir sings Choral Evensong at Belmont Abbey 11 March, 11am - 5pm Mother's Day at Berrington at Berrington Hall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall

11 March, 10am - 5pm Mother's Day at Croft Castle 01568 780246 croftcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk 13 March What Makes a Photograph Unforgettable? Following on from his lecture, Preserving Your Photographic Histories, Ted St George discusses what makes a photograph unforgettable, illustrating with a series of memorable images from the last 150 years of photography. The Green Dragon Hotel, Broad St. Hereford www.hereford-dfas.org.uk 01568 797703

14 March to 29 April Poppies: Weeping Window. The stunning artwork by Paul Cummins, artist and Tom Piper, designer, created from the ceramic poppies that were originally at HM Tower of London, will be displayed on the north façade of the cathedral. www.herefordcathedral.org

17 March, 7.30pm Hereford Choral Society concert. Conducted by the cathedral’s Director of Music Geraint Bowen. Tickets priced £15 - £25 with free tickets for children under 16 from the Courtyard www.courtyard.org.uk

27 March, 7pm J S Bach St John Passion, with Hereford Cathedral Choir. Sung by the Cathedral Choir and distinguished guest soloists, with Marches Baroque, conducted by Geraint Bowen. Tickets £25 and £18 from the Cathedral Shop (01432 374210). Supported by the William A Cadbury Charitable Trust. www.herefordcathedral.org

30 March - 2 April, from 10am Cadbury Egg Hunt at Berrington Hall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall

30 March - 2 April, from 10am Cadbury Egg Hunt at Croft Castle 01568 780246 croftcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk

HER EFOR D C ATHEDR A L Home of the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library

Whatever the weather, a warm welcome awaits all our visitors

www.herefordcathedral.org www.themappamundi.co.uk 01432 374200

Countypost Magazine

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Be seen throughout Herefordshire & the Forest of Dean

Howle Hill Nursery at RHS Malvern Spring Festival

This year, RHS Malvern Spring Festival stalwarts Howle Hill Nursery have designed and will create a main avenue show garden entitled ‘The Spirit of the Woods’.

The planting and construction has been carefully designed around three beautiful Simon Gudgeon sculptures, each set in its own space exploring different views and backdrops. The central sculpture will be a serene, contemplative face (1.6m high), set in a Grotto made from Forest of Dean Rock. The grotto will have a naturalistic dripping feature, then filled with ferns and mosses, set towards the rear of the design. There will be stepping stones in front of the face which will be fully reflected in a large pool, with the main viewing point from a solid Oak Jetty overhanging the pool at the other end. This piece has been purchased by Kew Gardens and will be installed to a permanent position in the Rose Garden.

'At one with...Meditation Garden' Gold Medal at Malvern Spring Festival 2017

This will be the first time Simon Gudgeon has exhibited at Malvern and a real honour to work with such a prized sculptor. His main exhibition base is ‘Sculpture by the Lakes’, which is set in 20 acres of lakes and parkland in Dorset. The planting will take our usual passion but combines it with a completely different palette to previous years to inspire the television viewers and show visitors. For further info and tickets, please see rhsmalvernspring.seetickets.com RHS Malvern Spring Festival - 10-13 May

One of the other pieces, ‘Whispering Spirit’, is a smaller bronze - a somewhat mystical, serene face with lips lightly parted inviting you to listen to her murmurings. Audiences will be greeted with seashell-type echoes, a quite magical experience!

The final piece is a beautiful Ballerina in an upright poise, made from thousands of Copper leaves set amidst the trees with a large vertical rock backdrop.

'Firebird' Simon Gudgeon at Sculpture by the Lakes

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Countypost Magazine

Recipe of the Month

White chocolate and Captain Morgan custard tart With thanks to the Lion at Leintwardine

Ingredients - For the pastry • 250g plain flour

• 1 pinch salt

• 80g caster sugar

• 100g butter, cubed and at room temperature • 1 egg yolk

• 50ml water

Ingredients - For the filling • 150ml Captain Morgan’s rum • Pinch of ground nutmeg • 4 large eggs, beaten • 250g caster sugar • 200g white chocolate • Seeds from 1 vanilla pod • 300ml cream • 50g butter

Method

First make the pastry case.

Combine flour, salt and sugar. Rub in butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and water and knead to form a ball. Wrap the in cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease and flour a tart tin.

With a little flour roll out the pastry to about 5mm thick. Gently place the pastry into the tin, pressing down with your fingers to evenly cover the bottom and sides of the tin. Remove any excess pastry and crimp the edges with your fingers. Prick the bottom with a fork, cover with baking parchment and fill with dried beans or lentils. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or till lightly browned on the edges. Remove from oven and cool. Custard filling. Melt the butter, add the nutmeg and the rum. In a separate mixing bowl whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla and cream together until light. Add the melted white chocolate and then the the butter and rum mix.

Place the mixture in the tart case and bake for 25 minutes at 180’c. You will hopefully find you have a crust on top with a smooth custard bottom.

Spring at the Lion Leintwardine, book your table for Mothers Day High Street, Leintwardine, Shropshire, SY7 0JZ T: 01547 540203

www.thelionleintwardine.co.uk

Countypost Magazine

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Be seen throughout Herefordshire & the Forest of Dean

Racing Legend and TV Star To Lead Charity Bike Ride Out

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, organisers of the widely popular Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, has announced that two special VIP guests will be returning to the event on Sunday 22nd April.

Former World Superbike champion and racing legend, Carl Fogarty, and motorcycle and truck racing legend, Steve Parrish, will lead the Ride Out on Sunday 22nd April from Meole Brace in Shrewsbury, to RAF Cosford for the Bike4Life Festival.

Carl Fogarty explains: “It’s a brilliant atmosphere leading over 5,000 bikers, with crowds of people lining the roads to wave you on, not to mention the hundreds of people there to greet you at the Festival.”

“This will be my third Bike4Life Ride Out, and I can’t wait to support this fantastic charity again.”

As the Ride Out is limited to 3,500 bikes, people are being urged to pre-book their tickets online to avoid disappointment.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival supported by the Safer Roads Partnership, is one of the biggest biker events in the country, attracting in total over 12,000 bikers. Starting from Meole Brace in Shrewsbury, the Ride Out takes you on a 23-mile route to RAF Cosford, home to the Bike4Life Festival.

In 2017, the event that raises awareness of biker safety and funds for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity raised an amazing £73,800. To book your place, visit: bike4lifefest.com

Keep up to date on social media by following Bike4LifeFest on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out more information more information on the Safer Roads Partnership visit thinksaferroads.org.uk

For more information about the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and how to support the organisation, please contact the team on 0800 8 40 20 40 or visit www.midlandsairambulance.com

R.G &R.B Williams - Auctio neers

If you are looking for antique furniture or fine china, then a visit to the Ross Auction Rooms on the Ross Auction Centre site near Baileys and Labels is well worth a visit.

The Antique Furniture auctions have been held on the site since 1992, by the old established firm of R.G & R.B Williams. The auctions are held every month (except August & December); each sale usually comprises 800-1000 lots. The sales are well run by the experienced team, getting through 150 lots per hour ! If you want a solid oak dining table and chairs or a fine leather sofa at a fraction of the cost new make a beeline for the Ross Auction centre !

Tel 01989 762225

wwwrgandrbwilliams.co.uk

Monthly Auctions of Fine Art and Furniture Viewing

Tuesday 13th Feb. 1pm-7pm Tuesday 13th Mar. 1pm-7pm

Sale Day

Wednesday 14th Feb. 10am Wednesday 14th Mar. 10am

Ross Auction Centre, Overross, HR9 7QQ www.rgandrbwilliams.co.uk Tel. 01989 762225 antiques@rgandrbwilliams.co.uk

Roses Country Fayre Garden Centre

• Afternoon Teas • Sunday Roasts • Popular Specials Selection

Visit Roses Country Fayre - a family run business, for all your gardening needs ... high quality & great value.

Producing top quality plants for over 35 years * Special Offer Seed potatoes £4.49 / 2 for £8 ! *

Postcode GL18 1DL

to Ross, Ledbury Road, Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1DL Gorsley www.facebook.com/rosesgardencentre 01531 821242 • info@rosesgardencentre.co.uk • www.rosesgardencentre.co.uk B4221

Why not tie in a visit whilst seeing the nearby Dymock daffodils?

Mens advice line ........................................................ Victim Support ............................................................ Childline ..................................................................... National Domestic Violence Helpline ......................... National Drugs Helpline .............................................. National Neighbourhood Watch Association .............. Herefordshire Road Safety Hotline ............................ West Mercia Police (non emergency) ........................ rossonwyerural.lpt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk Samaritans Freecall........................................................ Jo@samaritans.org................................................... Gas Emergency ......................................................... Central Networks Electricity ...................................... NSPCC Child protection helpline ............................... RSPCA Animal protection 24hr cruelty line ............... Emergency Ambulance, Fire, Police, CaveMountain Rescue ....................................................... EU wide emergency number .................................... Crimestoppers ........................................................... Police Non emergency .............................................. Ross Community and other Herefordshire Hospitals Minor injuries ...................... Hereford County Hospital .......................................... Ledbury community hospital ..................................... NHS Direct ................................................................. Herefordshire Council ................................................ National Rail Enquiries .............................................. Citizens Advice Bureau .............................................. Herefordshire Neighbourhood Watch: www.communigate.co.uk/here/hfdsneiwatch

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B4215 Ledbury Road

To Ledbury, Hereford

Nurseries

B4215 to Newent Gloucester

Book Reviews by Countypost

Rendezvous with Death

Magazine

Artists and writers in the thick of it 1914-1918

Tony Geraghty is a former Sunday Times chief reporter, having covered conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Biafran War and the Middle East. He had previously served as a National Service sergeant with 16 Independent Parachute Group in Egypt. After leaving journalism he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve and saw active service in the first Gulf War.

Geraghty, now in his eighties, is the best-selling author of the history of the SAS “Who Dares Wins”, and other military histories.

This is the story of some of the creative artists of the First World War, men like Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, J.B. Priestley, Edward Thomas, Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Butterworth, amongst others. It is a story of artistic creativity born of and cut short by the Great War.

The book is clearly constructed with each chapter telling the story of an artist; full of description and anecdotes relating to each one and liberally interspersed with telling quotes from them. This has the effect of bringing to life both the events and the men, and makes the book both very readable and a source of reflection.

To win a copy, just answer the following question:

In which county was Wilfred Owen born ?

a) Herefordshire b) Shropshire c) Staffordshire

Answers to sales@countypost.co.uk Closing date 12th March 2018 (Editor’s decision is final !)

www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

Win a free copy

The Importance of Being Earnest

The UK tour of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest will visit The Courtyard in 2018.

Kerry Ellis will star as Gwendolen in her first nonsinging role and will be joined by Geoff Aymer, Louise Coulthard, Thomas Howes, Peter SandysClarke and Simon Shackleton. They join the previously announced Gwen Taylor as Lady Bracknell and Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism in the tour which will begin on 24 January before visiting The Courtyard from Monday 5 – Saturday 10 February 2018.

Recently announced as playing Gwendolen, renowned theatre star and recording artist, Kerry Ellis is best known for originating the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You. She was also the first British actress to play Elphaba in Wicked, for which she won the 2008 What’s on Stage Award for ‘Best Takeover in a Role’.

Oscar Wilde’s greatly admired and much loved comedy The Importance of Being Earnest follows

Jack Worthing’s endeavours to marry Algernon’s cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen. But first he must convince the fearsome Lady Bracknell of his respectability. Wilde’s classic play looks at the clash of town and country in a story of romance, identity and capacious handbags.

The Importance of Being Earnest will be in The Courtyard’s Main House from Monday 5 – Saturday 10 February. To book tickets, or for more information contact the Box Office on 01432 340555 or visit www.courtyard.org.uk.

S i l v e r • J e w e l l e r y • C l o c k s & Wa t c h e s • P i c t u r e s • C o i n s • M e d a l s • S t a m p s

SMITHS OF NEWENT AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

I am going to start this months anecdote by wishing you all a Happy New Year and hoping that some of you have made some excellent New Year Resolutions including trying to visit ‘that interesting little Auction Rooms in Newent’ !!

Joking aside I am hoping that we will continue to see an increase in private buyers over the course of this year since (as you probably know) I am passionate about trying to persuade people that auctions are great place to purchase a huge range of items from jewellery to dinner services, furniture to pictures and beautiful ornaments to useful essentials.

I recently visited a house in Ross on Wye where the owner both wanted to raise some cash but also to dispose of a few surplus items around her home. After having a quick look through her jewellery which she was rather sad to part with I suddenly spied a very beautiful Royal Worcester pot pourri vase on a side table. ‘Of course if you sold this’ I exclaimed then that would settle the whole dilemma as it would easily cover the figure required. The vendor was quite happy to dispose of the vase and I was more than delighted to be able to offer such a fine quality example in my salesroom.

The large and glamorous looking pot pourri vase and cover was painted still peaches and grapes by the well known Worcester artist John Freeman, who was one of the best and most senior of the Worcester fruit painters. After painting, the vase would have been gilded in 22 carat gold by a skilled gilder and then burnished to give a final lustre to one of the most impressive and rich looking items of porcelain available on the market. The final plus point for me was that the whole piece was in fantastic condition without any chips, scratches or even general wear and tear.

With the owners agreement we gave it a sensible pre-sale estimate of £1800/£2500, thereby allowing potential bidders plenty of leeway and encouragement to ‘get them going’. A high reserve and estimate can often put potential buyers off as they like to feel they are bidding against other buyers up to a market price - rather than being forced to bid up to a high reserve set by the vendor. Also once a buyer has become interested and started bidding they are more likely to continue on to try and complete the purchase. Royal Worcester fruit painted porcelain is always very sought after and an impressive example like this in good condition was bound to be very popular, especially just before Christmas. There were a number of online and telephone enquiries prior to the sale and two telephone lines were booked. On sale day it finally sold to one of the telephone bidders for a very successful final price of £3,300 plus buyers premium of 20%.

Smiths next sale is on the 2nd March and includes a full range of antiques and collectables as well as a special section for medals and militaria. Entries are invited on the 1st, 6th, 8th & 13th February 10am3pm or by appointment. Please telephone 01531 821776 or visit www.smithsnewentauctions.co.uk for further details

Rita Kearsey ASFAV is the manager at Smiths Auction Rooms

W VIE RE

Slay the Spire is a deckbuilding game, currently available on Steam for PC. The premise is refreshingly simple: you start off at the bottom of the spire, and your job is to get to the top of it. You start with a choice of one of two characters, the Ironclad and the Silent, and once you make that choice, you're dropped off at the bottom.

The gameplay is a little opaque at first: a map of the tower, dotted lines linking little symbols snaking up and off the screen. There's a key, but on your first run through, only “enemy” and “treasure” are likely to make sense. That said, it's quick to pick up, and since you're likely to die relatively quickly on your first time, it shouldn't be more than half an hour before you're well on your way.

There are no difficulty settings, but the game is pitched well, mixing in enough luck to keep you guessing as you go through. Each battle plays out the same way at first, with you drawing a hand of cards and being given three energy to spend; each turn, you draw a new hand, and get a new supply of energy. As an example, the Ironclad starts off with Strike, Defend and Bash cards, and the combination of those you draw each turn determines what your strategy will have to be.

Each battle isn't just a case of playing whatever cards deal the most damage until you win. There are definitely ways to do that, but given that you can see an “intent” (what each enemy is going to do next), each turn is a strategy game in miniature: do you try to kill the enemy that's about to hurt you, or that's about to make itself stronger?

As you climb the spire, your choices will only get more complicated. Every battle ends with adding another card to your deck, and these are much more interesting than just dealing or blocking

Countypost

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damage; for the Ironclad, there are interesting ways to combine, power up and generally amp up every attack, and for the Silent, poisons, debuffs and afflictions of all kinds can be combined together, and that's just scratching the surface.

At the top of the map comes a boss to fight, and for most players, this will take quite a few runs to get past. At first, it might seem badly designed, but all it does is force you to build a better deck next time – and a better one after that, and so on. It's a roadblock, but a good one, and one that extends the game's lifespan quite a bit. And then it shows the second map.

The first time you beat that boss is an achievement, and it should be, but that's far from all the game has to offer. The combinations you can put together are interesting, and the game's relics, special items that bend the rules, only make it more interesting; the right one can change your whole strategy.

The graphics are perfectly fine, the art 2D throughout with just a little depth. That's not why you should play the game, but it and the sound are good enough that they'll never take you out of the experience; the overall vibe is medieval, in the same vein as Chivalry and similar games.

All in all, Slay the Spire is a bit of a slog, but one that's going to be more rewarding the more time you spend on it.

Overall Score: 85% - Gold

A GUIDE TO THE AWARDS 60% - BRONZE 70% - SILVER 80% - GOLD 90% - MUST-BUY 95% - ESSENTIAL

01743 874098 - sales@countypost.co.uk

Be seen throughout Herefordshire & the Forest of Dean

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Ludlow Food Centre

Enjoy a great day out the at the Ludlow Food Centre. With a range of facilities for the whole family, including the gift shop, plant centre and bike shop as well as the award winning Ludlow Food Centre itself.

Here is where you can watch half of the farm shop’s produce being created through windows into the production kitchens. See how cheese, butter, yoghurt and ice-cream is made using milk from the Estate’s very own cows, speak to the talented and knowledgeable butchers who will help you select the perfect Estate reared meat and don’t forget to taste the extensive range of delicious jams and pickles which you can watch being made. They go perfectly with the scrumptious selection of breads made fresh daily in the onsite scratch bakery. If that’s not enough, there is also an extensive deli and range of ready meals made in the onsite production kitchen and an array of coffees roasted and ground almost daily in the coffee roasting room. You can take pleasure in the delicious food available for you to purchase safe in the knowledge that 80% of it is sourced from Shropshire and the surrounding counties.

Stock up for your very own picnic; the children’s play area and picnic area are sure to be winners. Or if you’d prefer, enjoy lunch at the inviting Ludlow Kitchen which serves fresh seasonal meals and light bites using produce from Ludlow Food Centre and other local suppliers.

You can also enjoy lunch or dinner at the award winning Clive Restaurant which serves traditional food from a diverse and interesting menu that has a little something for everyone.

To really make the most of your visit, why not stay overnight in one of The Clive’s bedrooms and explore the rest of what Ludlow and South Shropshire has to offer the very next day.

Bromfield - Ludlow - Shropshire - SY8 2JR www.ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk

Countypost Magazine

Suzuki Special Editions Ignis Adventure and Vitara Kuro

Ignis Adventure is based on the SZ-T and adds a selection of the most popular and distinctive personalisation options available. SZ-T standard specification includes rear view camera, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and individually sliding rear seats and Adventure adds a further specification of rear spoiler, side mouldings, front and rear skid plates, coloured front grille centre bar, side decal set and colour keyed front fog lamp bezels.

The added value of these personalisation options is £1,900 and with Adventure priced at £13,999 it represents a premium of just £1,000 over the SZ-T. A zero per cent APR PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement is available at just £159 per month over 43 months. This requires a deposit of £2,216 and an optional final payment of £5,105 to keep the car.

The Vitara Kuro makes a return to the range through customer demand and a further 1,000 units are now being produced. Based again on the 1.6litre SZ-T 2WD manual transmission model with auto air conditioning, satellite navigation, Smartphone link audio and rear privacy glass as

standard equipment, Kuro offers a unique specification and £1,700 added customer value for a premium of just £750 over the SZ-T.

Kuro offers a very high and unique specification including ‘Misti’ satin black alloy wheels, Black front bumper and side body moulding set, Black door mirrors, Black rear upper spoiler, Black front grille and side trims and Kanji ‘Kuro’ badge. For the interior, the colour design theme continues with Piano Black to dashboard, ventilation trim ring set and centre console trim. A Carbon effect centre analogue clock is also included as standard. Vitara Kuro is also available with zero per cent PCP at a monthly rate of £199 payable over 43 months if an initial deposit of £3,390 is made with a £7,001 final optional payment required to keep the car at the end of the term.

The 0% finance is also available on straightforward Hire Purchase - just put a substantial deposit down and pay the balance over time - the overall price therefore remains the same.

Suzuki Special Editions ÂŁ13 OT

,99

Ignis Adventure and Vitara Kuro (with zero % finance offers) ÂŁ1 a m 99 ont h

Stirling Suzuki

Request a test drive today: suzuki.co.uk/cars/dealers/stirling

Ross Road, Callow, Hereford HR2 8BT. TEL. 01432 374700

Hyundai i30 Hatchback

Countypost Magazine

Our most recent test drive was in the third generation of Hyundai’s hatchback, the i30 1.4 Gdi SE Nav 5dr. The car is in the Ford Focus/ VW Golf segment of the market, and has good levels of standard equipment (including Satnav, DAB radio, bluetooth and reversing camera) and a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty; couple this with the current finance deal then you have a practical family car that offers good value for money.

The i30 1.4 can currently be financed at 0% from Hyundai – so making monthly payments for the model tested just £238 (based on a 3 year / 8,000 mile a year deal, with a customer deposit of £3,620 and a final payment of £6,860). On a similar deal the i30 SE 1.0 T-GDi can be financed for just £219/month.

The 1.4 140 PS i30 pulled well on the long uphill on the A49 south out of Hereford, and has a quiet and smooth ride. There are plenty of safety features as standard on the entire i30 range including: autonomous emergency braking, driver attention alert, lane departure and front collision warning system,

The dashboard is clearly laid out with big buttons beside the touch screen, and the usual controls on the steering wheel. There are USB and auxiliary input sockets at the base of the centre console, within easy reach. SE Nav models and up have an 8.0in colour touchscreen which is good to look at, just as easy to use and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

The new i30 is a versatile family hatchback, backed by the five year unlimited mileage warranty and now made even more appealing with 0% finance.

Countypost Magazine

01743 874098 - sales@countypost.co.uk

Be seen throughout Herefordshire & the Forest of Dean

New Generation i30 More than expected as standard New Generation i30 With Apple CarPlay™ & Android™ Auto*. i30 S range from:

16,995

Motorline Hyundai, Hereford Ross Road, Callow, Hereford , HR2 8BT 01432 802550 | www.motorline.co.uk/hyundai/ dealerships/motorline-hyundai-hereford/

Fuel consumption in MPG (l/100km) for New Generation i30 range: Urban 42.8 (6.6) – 67.3 (4.2), Extra Urban 56.5 (5.0) – 78.5 (3.6), Combined 51.4 (5.5) – 74.3 (3.8), CO2 Emissions 125 – 99g/km. These official EU test figures are to be used as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect all driving results. *Apple CarPlay™ and Android™ on selected models only and compatible with selected smart phones. Model shown: New Generation i30 S at £16,995. On the road (OTR) prices shown include customer saving discounts where applicable, VAT where applicable, delivery, vehicle first registration fee, number plates and 12 months’ Road Fund Licence. All offers and savings are subject to availability, while stocks last and are only available to private retail customers on new cars purchased and registered in the UK (excluding Channel Islands or Isle of Man), between 1st January 2018 and 31st March 2018 inclusive, sourced through Hyundai Motor UK Ltd or its authorised dealers. Apple CarPlay™ is a trademark of Apple Inc. Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. Offers are not available for customers under the Hyundai Affinity Programme. Hyundai 5 Year Warranty subject to Terms and Conditions see website Hyundai.co.uk

The Premier Roofing Company Solutions are our Business Servicing Herefordshire for over 50 years (3 Generations) Free Guttering with all Fascia and Soffit orders!!!

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