Vale Life Magazine May-June 2019

Vale Life FREE MAGAZINE

Your free magazine for Aylesbury, Thame and the surrounding area

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w art w music w people w Motors w homes w gardens w theatre w business w fashion w Beauty w health w Food w

May/Jun 2019

Inside:

Embracing the future

Family firm is ready to grow

Let’s get picking

Fruit is ripe at Rectory Farm

Time to celebrate

30 years of Michael Anthony

See our website at: www.vale-life.co.uk

Cover image: Artists James Ort (right) and Tom Shepherd, pictured at the Phoenix Studio, Towersey ahead of their forthcoming exhibition at Claydon House.

See feature, page 15. Picture by Lucy Walters: www.lucywaltersphotography.co.uk

Plus our columnists: Naomi, Polly, Amanda, Cathy, Lynnette, Nicola, Sandra, Shaun, Nigel, Rob, Alan, Virginie, Sherry and much, much more...

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O ng EE C ooki st FR SEC ed b ber 1 O irm em PR nf ov

co e N ith or W bef

Eat, Drink & Dine

INVITES YOU TO CHRISTMAS AT THE CROWN Telephone: 01296 670216 E-mail: info@thecrowngranborough.co.uk

Winslow Rd, Granborough, Buckinghamshire, MK18 3NJ Web: www.thecrowngranborough.co.uk

The Crown, Winslow Road, Granborough, Buckinghamshire, MK18 3NP A mile south of Winslow, within 15 minutes of Aylesbury & Buckingham Within 30 minutes of Bicester, Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes

THE BEST PUB IN GRANB

A charming village pub, situated between Winslow and Aylesbury, offering high quality dining in relaxed and comfortable surroundings, as found at Eat, our Drink sister&pub DineThe Old Thatched Inn at Adstock. Real ales available or choose from one of our 50 gins from our Gin Bar! Winslow Road, Granborough, Buckinghamshire MK18 3NJ

A charming village pub, situate Winslow and Aylesbury, offeri quality dining in relaxed and c surroundings.

Bookings now being taken for Parties, Christmas Day and N

Real ales available or choose f our 50 gins from our Gin Bar!

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Pub open seven days - Monday: 5pmFood toserved 9pm, Tuesday-Friday: to 11pm, - Tuesday - Friday: 12 noon - 2pm and 5 - 9pm, Saturday: 10.30 - 2.30 and 5 - 9pm, Sunday: 12 n Saturday: 10.30am-11pm, Sunday: 12noon to 8pm 01296 670216 www.thecrowngranborough.co.uk Food served: Tuesday-Friday: 12noon toTel: 2pm and 5pm to 9pm, Sat: 10.30am-2.30pm and 5pm to 9pm, Sunday: 12 noon to 6pm

Tel: 01296 670216 Web: www.thecrowngranborough.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

3

Rated as

GOOD

by CQC

Individual Care in Beautiful Surroundings Outstanding care in the heart of Buckinghamshire

A place of care for over 50 years, our focus is to tailor your stay with us to your agenda and your needs. If you are in need of recovery after an operation, a break whilst family are away or maybe you are looking for specialist respite care, we would be happy to help in all cases.

First-class rehabilitation

Delicious, nutritious meals

Relaxing environments

“My stay at Chilton House was outstanding in every aspect, staff were amazingly helpful with positive attitudes, the food was excellent, and the physios worked closely with me allowing me to reach my recovery goal.�

Mr A, Berkshire

Chilton House, Chilton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9LR www.chiltonhouse.co.uk | 01844 265 200 | enquiries@chiltonhouse.co.uk

4

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

&ADVICE

TRAINED & INSURED

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OVEN CLEANING

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• Oven cleaning • Window cleaning • Carpet & upholstery cleaning • Hard floor cleaning, polishing and sealing • Wooden floor sanding and refinishing Tel: 01296

399450

Email: clean@imopclean.com

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imopclean clean it green

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

5

Everyone is inspired At Buckingham Lodge care home, we embrace wellness. We support each of our residents as individuals, with their own rich history, skills and abilities and likes and dislikes. Our home is our community and it’s our residents’ life stories combined with our unique expertise in caring for people, that ensures they can express themselves, maintain their dignity and identity and live full and meaningful lives.

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Buckingham Lodge care home Aylesbury HP19 9DU If you’d like to find out more about the choices Anchor care homes offer our residents, please call 0808 102 4772 or visit BuckinghamLodge.org.uk Rated January 2018

Good

6

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Welcome to Coco Tamarind Fine Indian restaurant & takeaway at Askett, Princes Risborough

Coco Tamarind serves the finest modern and traditional Indian cuisine, in stylish, comfortable surroundings. The relaxed ambience and efficient service, plus our well stocked bar, will ensure your time with us is a most enjoyable experience, whatever the occasion.

Barbara Streisand tribute plus pop favourites selection with Karen Bizzell!

Tuesday, 18th June from 7pm

5 course meal with entertainment only ÂŁ29.95 Book today to avoid disappointment! l

l 10% discount on collected takeaways l Free home delivery within 5 mile radius (min order ÂŁ15) Become a Coco Tamarind Member and enjoy discounts and special offers l Please book ahead, we are busy all week!

Order your takeaway or reserve a table online at www.cocotamarindHP27.co.uk or call: 01844 343111 / 01844 346100 Coco Tamarind, Aylesbury Road, Askett, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9LY

01296 01296622975 622975 07711750917 07711 750917

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!

R LI for ing 01 DA you n 29 Y B r ow 6 RO 20 33 C 19 66 H 66 UR E

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EASTER CRUISES 2019 4 DAYS DEPARTING 19TH APRIL 2019 From £369* per person

IRELAND & THE ISLES OF SCILLY

Nwith GCMVEaboard R Itreat UEaster U RtheOintimate Polo with an optional T OAn P EMarco FO R O VandE R 4 0 Y E A R S visit to one of Europe’s most fashionable cities, Cork, on the Saturday to spend Easter Sunday on peaceful St Mary’s in the beautiful Isles of Scilly.

Relax and enjoy delicious full board PRICE INCLUDES cuisine, stylish evening entertainment and attentive service.

• Return coach transfers from

Last minute escapes!

If you are thinking about a last minute holiday – then look ‘LOVE LUXEMBOURG’ no further. We have a great range of holidays departing from BRISTOL > RINGASKIDDY (County Cork) > ST MARY’S (Isles of Scilly) > CARDIFF

local pick-up points

• Marco Polo Cruise as stated

for 3 nights full board SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT BREAK May 24th to the end of the month.

Come with us and discover: • Afternoon tea and late This superb early bird getaway weekend, full with of fabulous Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth, a harbour cruise; night snacks *Based on two people sharing a fun, marvellous music and divine dining, stays at the ever • tasting Self-servicein teaKent & coffee Category Standard Twintour Inside and Cabin; wine a boat trip,1 brewery popular, family-run 3* Grand in pretty Vianden (06.00 – midnight) 4 day travel insurance £25Hotel per person; orthesome ofperson John Constable’s idyllic in Luxembourg Ardennes.

Centrally located in old this English villages, £250 per non-refundable • On board entertainment deposit required. atmospheric, medieval town complete with fairytale East Bergholt, Dedham and Flatford Mill. activities & daytime Full hotel payment due 3 months castle, the has long been abefore favourite with Crusader • Porterage of luggage (port departure. customers. Your hosts, the Peverelli family, will ensure you to cabin) Cruise T&Cs apply. have a relaxing and enjoyable stay.

Highlights include two Note: Some ports, passengers will land • Port taxes evenings live entertainment, two sparkling breakfasts by of launch or tender. with local fizz, two included excursions and a drink each night with dinner. Enjoy this fabulous, value for money getaway break to one of Europe’s ‘secret’ DEPARTING corners!

5 DAYS 19TH APRIL 2019

Explore Constable Country

BRAND Last few rooms!

NEW FOR Chelsea Flower Show 2019!

May 24 - 3 Days from £309 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza (4 star) with breakfast & buffet dinner.

Entrance to Chelsea Flower Show and visits to Richmond & Windsor.

Torbay’s Jewel In The Crown From £599* per person

ENTERTAINMENT The perfect way to see the best of Holland from the picturesque Dutch On Saturday night, resident singer, Lisa, will entertain waterways. Enjoy all the comforts of the attractive 3* river cruise ship, MV with a great mix of popular songs and we have booked a Esmeralda, as you admire the ever changing scenery floating by. Visiting fantasticPRICE live band for the Sunday night – old timer Marcell the dazzling rainbow displays of tulips in the Spring has always been a firm favourite of Crusader but why not try this very special Bulbfields Trioen and his Little Red Rooster Band – always a big hit HELD FOR May 27 – 5 Days from £409 May 27 – 5 Days from £359 holiday and take to the water for Easter! No overnight sailing. with their superb repertoire of 60s and 70s favourites.

2019 Excursions included - Full Day Guided Based in Babbacombe with

DUTCH BULBFIELD CRUISE

Highlights of Slovenia

DAY 1 Cross the Channel and board at Zaandam

Tour of Constable Country, Lavenham excursions to Coast & Rivers of Torbay; INCLUDED EXCURSIONS DAYNaval 2 Optional visit to Zaanse & Bury St Edmunds plus Suffolk coast plus Plymouth & Scenic Luxembourg City Schans (open air museum with Aldeburgh & Southwold.

Harbour Cruise.

Atour full visiting day excursion to Luxembourg City, the charming windmills) – cruise to Amsterdam.

Breakfast dinner & 4 nights in Old Legacy for 4DAY nights little capital&with its UNESCO listed Town inAccommodation an 3 Fullwith day included excursion Mill Hotel,setting.

Sudbury; plus 2 nights breakfast and dinnerthrough at thisthe friendly attractive glorious bulbfields entertainment.

family run hotel, plusplus entertainment. a visit to Keukenhof Gardens.

Moselle River & Scenic Little Switzerland A local guide will show you the very best of this picturesque area including Remich, the ‘Pearl of the May 27and – 5 scenic Days from £439known as the Little Moselle’ Mullerthal, Jam packedofitinerary with visits included Switzerland Luxembourg.

Flavours of Kent

to Kentish Lady Boat Trip – Museum ACCOMMODATION of Kent Life – Brewery Tour, tasting & GRAND DEDown VIANDEN supper –HOTEL Chapel Vineyard tasting – The ever popular, family run 3* Grand Hotel de Vianden Brogdale entry & guided tour. is centrally located in the town and Accommodation at Holiday Inn forits4facilities include bar, restaurant, lounge and lift. All rooms are en-suite nights with breakfast and dinner 3 nights with TV. Please note that single rooms are small. plus supper out.

PRICE INCLUDES • Return coach transfers from local pick-up points plus Channel crossing

• MV Esmeralda Cruise as Re-join the boat in Hoorn (no stated for 3 nights full board included lunch today). (no lunch Day£819 3) May 24 – 9 Days from DAY 4 Full day cruising around HIGHLIGHTS • Afternoon tea on 2 days Discover the wonderful nature of this the IJsselmeer and onto Alkmaar.

• Late night snacks Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

• Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner compact gem of a country, blue glacial • Captain’s Farewell Dinnerand DAY 5with Early disembarkation for caves, mountains • A drink dinner each nightlakes, (local magical beer, wine or soft drink) (set menu) the journey back home.

rolling • 2 Sparkling breakfasts with free flowhillsides. local bubbly • On board entertainment for

*Based on two people sharing a5 nights in Hotel Park Bled with Lower Cabin; 5 day travel insurance breakfast & dinner, 3 overnight hotels • Porterage & welcome drink on arrival • Tour of Bulbfields & £36 per person; £100 per person with breakfast plus entrance to church Keukenhof entrance non-refundable deposit required • Two included excursions as stated above on island with castle visit and boat Full payment due 2 months before • Porterage ride. Rooms now on request. departure.

• Port taxes Cruise T&Cs apply.

• Live musical entertainment on Saturday and Sunday nights 2 nights

All above prices do not include Travel Insurance or Single Supplements (if available).

4 DAYS | FRIDAY 15TH – MONDAY 18TH MARCH 2019 From £299 per person No single supplement* Travel Insurance £34

01296 33 66 66 (Aylesbury)

*limited (Double room for sole occupancy £45)

01255 425 453 (Clacton)

www.crusader-holidays.co.uk

Visit us: Crusader Holidays 4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2LD

01296 33 66 66 (Aylesbury) 01255 425 453 (Clacton) www.crusader-holidays.co.uk Crusader Holidays Crusader Business Park, Stephenson Road West, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 4HP 8

Visit us: Crusader Holidays info@crusader-holidays.co.uk 4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, BucksFacebook.com/CrusaderHolidays HP20 2LD

Crusader Holidays Crusader Business Park, Stephenson Road West, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 4HP

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Contents 10

Classic, subtle & powerful

38

Feel like my own teeth again

12

Creativity knows no boundaries

39

Moving is your medicine

Wild beasts at Claydon

40

Jumping with joy!

Stopping distance

41

How many words?

Artists at work

43

Your guiding Knight

Not your regular Joe

44

Do your bit for dementia

Embracing the future

48

Colour wash

Aioli Provencal

56

Let works commence

Let’s get picking!

59

Time to celebrate

Pick a farm for Sunday

60

Promising a fruity harvest

Feeling refreshed

63

Former glory restored

The future is bright

68

Music, Food, Comedy, Art

French connection

69

Win tickets to Towersey!

15 16 17 18 24 26 28 31 32 35 37

‘Slip into neutral,’ says Lynnette

Artists cross the border for gallery Artists team up for gallery show Find out what the ink said...

Watch how it’s done in Becky’s shop Pupil shows he’s a bit of a card Family firm is ready to grow Virginie’s dish is garlic powered Fruit is ripe at Rectory Farm Where’s your nearest Open Farm?

New clinic will give you a lift Salon offers to freeze your ageing Laura’s facials have va va voom!

Busy time of year

T

here’s a lot going on at this time of year and sadly it’s not possible to find space in Vale Life to cover it all.

There’s a couple of things that deserve a plug though so I thought I’d mention them here!

This year’s annual run in Prestwood has had a makeover.

Run Prestwood is the new name for the Prestwood 10k and the event now incorporates a 5k fun run and a children’s obstacle course as well as the popular 10k timed race.

The family-friendly event starts at 10.30am with the 10k run

C

ongratulations to the following Mar/Apr edition competition winners! Hopefully your

through the streets of Prestwood on Sunday 12th May, raising much-needed funds for the Chilterns MS Centre. A 5k fun run will follow and fancy dress is very much encouraged!

Last year over £7000 was raised, which has enabled the Wendover-based charity to support many local families affected by MS. See www.runprestwood.co.uk for more info.

This year’s Aylesbury Relay for Life takes place from 12 noon on Saturday July 27th and will have a circus theme. The 24-hour free

prizes will have arrived by now, please let us know if they have not.

Commiserations to those who weren’t so lucky.

Dental lab will have you smiling Facts are clear says Andy

Trampoline Park is such a Rush!

Kids must learn to express themselves Elizabeth will help with pension maze Could you help someone who is suffering?

Concrete basins add splash of colour Nigel’s project is underway!

Firm still flying after 30 years

Lovely weather means bumper crop Sails are back on Buck’s tallest windmill Tickets flying out for Henley Festival Pair of tickets for day of your choice

event where teams keep at least one team member on the walking track throughout the day and night will be held at the Nuffield Pavilion in Halton.

Central to Relay is the Survivors’ Lap, where those who have successfully fought cancer, are undergoing treatment, or have received a cancer diagnosis, complete one lap of the track to launch the event. The Survivors’ Lap is followed by a special complimentary buffet lunch at which a Survivor’s guest (partner, friend, carer or supporter) are also welcome.

For more information or to find out how to register as a Survivor see: www.

There’s a chance to win some great prizes inside this edition, including a pair of tickets to the Towersey Festival, family tickets to

Oakfest’19, a copy of the Slow Chilterns guide and a variety of walking guides from Countryside Books.

Last issue’s prizewinner

relayforlifeaylesbury.org or email: aylesburyrelay.survivorship@ gmail.com Thame Artweeks (18th-27th May) is part of Oxfordshire Artweeks (www.artweeks.org) and features a number of artists in a variety of venues across the town, from textile artist Barbara Shaw at Fisher German to photographer Stuart Feurtado at Stoneworld.

Check out the website for details, there are some great exhibitions taking place.

Happy reading

Charlie Editor, Vale Life Magazine was: An Escape Experience voucher for 6 people at Don’t Get Locked In, Wing: Julie Bacon, Aylesbury

To advertise in Vale Life Magazine call Charlie on: 07702 006218 Vale Life Magazine is designed and published by Vale Life Magazine, 23 Glenham Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3WD Telephone: 01844 261579 Mobile: 07702 006218 Website: www.vale-life.co.uk Email: editor@vale-life.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of Vale Life. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions or late changes. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

9

with Lynnette Jackson

Personal stylist and image consultant Lynnette passes on tips and tricks for looking your fashionable best, plus the latest news on the high street trends...

Classic, subtle, yet powerful!

S

pring is in the air – the birds are starting their dawn chorus, and the daffodils are adding some welcome colour to the beautiful area that we live in.

This season there is a wealth of big colours in the shops – reds, yellows, greens blues – the list goes on! And then there is a more subtle trend which, on the face of it, is shy and retiring - but take a closer look – and you realise that this trend is strong and powerful in a quietly confident way: Neutrals.

This neutral trend is perfect if you aren’t a fan of bright colours, and you prefer a more subtle, chic and understated look. Think of a rainbow, but in neutral shades – dark to light, cool to warm and you’ve got it. Shades such as stone and rose brown, and everything in-between: oatmeal, biscuit, caramel, toffee, cappuccino, mushroom, fawn and tan. The list goes on!

So move over Spring brights – here’s my hints and tips on how to wear this Spring’s neutral trend:

lighter shade on your bottom half to give the illusion of balancing out your shoulders, and creating more of a defined waist – like these lightweight trousers from Next

Beige printed satin blouse: River Island, £35

a shade that complements your personal colouring.

If you have any warm red tones in your hair, then a warmer shade like caramel or even light gold is best – like this subtly quirky blouse from River Island (top pic).

If you have ash or grey tones in your hair, then a cooler shade such as stone would suit you better – like this gorgeous blouse from Coast If you are a light blonde, then a Next cotton linen blend trousers, £38 lighter neutral would complement your light look, vs if you have dark Neutrals to give height hair and eyes, then a better neutral Which shade of Neutral is best?

If you are 5’3 or under then would be one with some depth of Neutral shades can wash you out using a single shade of neutral from colour to it. if you are not careful – so chose head to toe will lengthen you and make you appear taller. So think Get the neutrals working about options such as a dress or for your Body Shape jumpsuit in your best neutral shade.

Using different depths of colours This dress from River Island, and can do wonders for our body shape this jumpsuit from Phase Eight (at – used well it can have an instant House of Fraser) are both also great slimming effect! for nipping in your waist too!

If you are pear shaped (narrower Whilst this maxi dress from shoulders than hips), then balance Wallis (see opposite page) is great out your proportions (whilst also for making a bolder statement making your waist look amazing!) by whilst still wearing neutrals. wearing a lighter neutral shade on your top half.

Neutrals to give interest Whilst if you have a more athletic When wearing neutrals, it’s a great build (think stronger shoulder line idea to create interest in your look Coast (at John Lewis) Aria High Neck Top, £49 and narrower hips), then wear a with different textures and fabrics.

10

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

River Island beige spot wrap slip dress, £40

Stripe jumpsuit: Phase Eight (at House of Fraser), £69

Shanice Tie Belt Jumpsuit: Hobbs (at John Lewis), £229

Cream paisley maxi shirt dress: Wallis, £65 This can be done with your clothes themselves – think a silk cami, knitted cover up and linen trousers.

Accessorise are also an easy way to introduce different textures, like this straw bag from Gap Or a statement necklace like this one from Accessorize How to be neutrally ‘you’ Some of us LOVE the neutral trend – its great if you like a look which is subtle and sophisticated.

This jumpsuit from Hobbs massively delivers the unstated quality of the neural trend. Just add the accessories of your choice and you are ready to go!

Some of us want to show more personality in our clothes – and if this is you, then maybe consider

adding a print in your best neutral shades. This one shoulder top from River Island is a feminine twist on the neutral trend with the bold floral print.

There is also lots of animal print around, which is neutral in colour, but far from neutral in terms of statement – like this snake print top from Next.

Go neutral – Go bold – but ALWAYS be the best you! l Lynnette Jackson is an awardwinning Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. She can help you look good whatever your size, shape, age or budget! Web: www.mycolourandstyle.com Facebook.com/mycolourandstyle Tel: 07971 198047

Long sleeve snake print top: Next, £15

Shilo necklace, Accessorize, £15

Woven straw cross body bag: Gap, £44.95

Cream floral one shoulder top: River Island, £35

Adams Travel Your Local Independent Travel Agent

11 Market Square, Aylesbury Tel. 01296 873017 aylesbury.adamstravel@gmail.com www.adamstravelaylesbury.co.uk

Helen Grace

Hats and Fascinators to match your outfit available to buy or hire HG

Bespoke pieces can be designed to perfection HG

Enjoy a one-to-one at our studio in Shabbington To book an appointment

T: 01844 201017 E: helen@helengracehats.co.uk W: helengracehats.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

11

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Creativity knows Thame is in the very South East corner of Oxfordshire, only a few hundred yards from Buckinghamshire. Being a border town could be said to bring mixed blessings but one of the benefits is the opportunity to celebrate exceptional artists from both counties in two major forthcoming Art Weeks events...

T

hame’s popular fitch & fellows gallery is owned and run by former West End star Susannah Fellows, who has an Susannah Fellows eye for pieces that will delight and engage whilst being of excellent quality. She has been showcasing the work of hundreds of artists and makers from across the UK for four years now and is celebrating both Oxford Art Weeks and Bucks Art Weeks this May and June with two wonderful shows.

From 11th-19th of May, fitch & fellows will be hosting the work of Oxford Art Weeks participants Brenda Hurley (paintings), Graham Lester (recycled sculpture and paper art) and Kate Wilkinson (jewellery).

Recycled bowls by Graham Lester 12

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Landscape by Brenda Hurley “Graham Lester’s laminated, recycled bowls and vessels always spark good conversation,” says Susannah. “He uses old maps, paper, lino, wood, Perspex, Corian and all manner of substances in his work and visitors often find it fun trying to spot exactly what he’s incorporated in each piece once they’re laminated together.”

You might be able to tell that Brenda Hurley has a background in the clothing industry as her bold colour combinations would make fabulous textile prints. Her work is divided into four main areas: landscapes, still life, figures and portraiture. She exhibits a strength and sense of drama through the use of colour, elements of design and texture and more than a hint of abstract influence.

“I love art weeks because I meet visitors who really love art,” says Brenda, whose work has previously been featured in fitch & fellows. “They may not paint themselves but they follow artists they like and it’s always great fun talking and hearing what they see in your work. It’s fabulous, too, to show work in galleries like Susannah’s where unique art can be found.”

Kate Wilkinson, whose stylish and unusual silver jewellery can also be seen in May agrees: “It’s my first time taking part in the Oxfordshire event,” she says, “I’m delighted to be showing at fitch & fellows as I love the imaginative feel of the gallery. Susannah exquisitely curates what she has and it seemed a good match for my work. I have known and

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

no boundaries!

Walberswick Ferry by George Boyter

been supported by Susannah since my first ever Chelsea Crafts Fair in 1997 when she had her gallery in London.”

Kate and Susannah met up again 6 years ago through Bucks Art Weeks, having both moved out of London with their families. Kate will be on hand in the gallery every day during Art Weeks making her jewellery and demonstrating her techniques for visitors.

“It means a lot to me that artists like to have their work here at fitch & fellows,” says Susannah. “In both my galleries, I’ve always wanted the space to be warm and friendly and full of the work of artists and makers whose work I truly admire. I know all of the artists who have their work here. The reason

Fragment Collection - silver jewellery by Kate Wilkinson

that I called it fitch & fellows (with lower case letters) was that my surname, Fellows, can also mean ‘friends’. Fitch is my leatherwork business so I combined the two – my leatherwork and friends.”

they recognised each other! She’ll be exhibiting her work with her new ceramic partner, Melissa Goode.

Valerie throws and builds the pots and Melissa applies the sgraffito images (sgraffito literally means scratched) into the slip covered surface of the clay.

“What Valerie does now is quite different to the work she made in the 90s,”says Susannah.

“Melissa’s input has taken them both into a new and very pleasing phase. It’s always interesting to see what happens when people combine their talents. Alchemy…”

A long-time fan and collector of contemporary art, Susannah is constantly sourcing exciting new artists and her gallery is bursting with gorgeous, fascinating, unique and desirable items priced from just a few pounds.

She has three basic criteria for selecting exhibits - How well the artist uses their materials; the strength of imagination shown; and how well the piece is finished - a formula that seems to work extremely well.

Pop in to fitch & fellows for a browse, or to pick up a Bucks or Oxon Art Weeks leaflet, there’s always something new to see and prices are very reasonable from around £20 upwards.

Oxfordshire’s showing is closely followed by Bucks Art Weeks, which runs from the 9th-23rd of June. This is a Ring by Kerry Newth special event for Susannah as she is Chair of the Visual Images Group that puts on Bucks Art Weeks every year.

Jeweller Kerry Newth will be returning to display her full range of sea inspired rings, earrings, necklaces, hair pieces and brooches with semi-precious stones and will be demonstrating her techniques for customers and making pieces they can watch her create.

Watercolour artist George Boyter will also be showing his latest work: “Bucks Art Weeks is a great incentive to up your game each year,” says George, a classic watercolourist, who, as Susannah describes it, ‘paints the light.’

Ceramicist Valerie Zec used to have work in Susannah’s London gallery in the 1990s but they had lost touch until she walked into fitch & fellows last year and

l fitch & fellows, 18 Buttermarket, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3EP Tel: 01844 215099 Email: fitchandfellows@gmail.com Web: www.fitchandfellows.com Open Tue-Sat 10.30am-5:30pm

Pot by Valerie Zec and Melissa Goode Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

13

TI LY N Y O TR ET N CK E

EE

@BucksMKAFD

FR

Armed Forces Day

Y B

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

#SaluteOurForces

Saturday 29th June Wycombe Air Park, Booker, Marlow SL7 3DP

12:00noon to 6:00pm

WHATS ON

• Air Show • Craft Stalls • Children’s Activities • Live Music • Funfair & • Vintage Military Attractions Vehicles • Food

Get your FREE Tickets at:

www.buckscc.gov.uk/ armedforcesday

14

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

29849 Armed Forces Day Poster A4 v2.indd 1

26/03/2019 11:43

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Wild Beasts at Claydon Fancy a Walk on the Wild Side? No, this is not an invitation to dust off your old Lou Reed albums but a rare chance to see an exhibition by two exceptional artists who specialise in painting and sculpting the most fabulous birds and animals...

A

t the end of May, the Courtyard Art Studio at Claydon Estate is staging a special exhibition, Wild Beasts at Claydon’ featuring the artwork of sculptor James Ort and painter Tom Shepherd – two young(ish!) artists who love to creatively capture the vibrancy and character of the animal kingdom.

“I am really happy to be exhibiting alongside James,” says Tom. “Although we create in different media, our work is very complementary and looks really good together. We both use a lot of colour, so the exhibition will be a vibrant bombardment on your senses!”

Tom is a professional artist and tutor.

He will be exhibiting his new watercolour studies in the show. They comprise of large, bold brush strokes that expertly capture the features of his chosen subjects with seemingly effortless precision.

James Ort runs The Phoenix Studio in Towersey, a rural art school that offers a range of courses in a variety of media. James has been sculpting for almost 10 years and likes to work in both wire and clay, combining the two contrasting mediums in various ways.

“I am delighted to be exhibiting at The Courtyard Art Studio’ says James. ‘Peter and

Tom Shepherd

James Ort

Kimberley Keegan, who run The Courtyard Art Studio, are my friendly rivals! We run neighbouring art schools but there has never been a competitive edge to our friendship.

When they invited me to show at their lovely venue, I jumped at the chance!”

Co-Director of The Courtyard Art Studio, Kimberley Keegan, says, “When the studio opened two years ago, we wanted the venue to be a place of excellence, both in terms of the quality of teaching and the quality of art work produced and exhibited. We’re thrilled to be hosting such a vibrant and dynamic exhibition, showcasing the work of two exciting and dedicated local artists.”

Wild Beasts Of Claydon runs from Saturday 25th May until Wednesday 5th June at The Courtyard Art Studio, Claydon Estate, adjacent to the National Trust’s Claydon House. The show is open from Saturdays through to Wednesdays (closed Thursdays and Fridays), from 11am to 5pm. Free entry and

free parking on site l The Courtyard Art Studio,Claydon Estate, Middle Claydon, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 2EX, T: 01296 733200 W: www.thecourtyardartstudio.com Instagram @thecourtyardartstudio Facebook @thecourtyardartstudio l James Ort manages, creates and teaches from the Phoenix Studio in Towersey.

The Phoenix Studio, Chinnor Road, Towersey, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3QZ W: www.phoenixstudio.co.uk Facebook: @phoenixstudiotowersey Insta: @phoenixstudiotowersey To find out more about artwork by James and Tom, please visit their websites or follow them on social media as below: www.jamesort.co.uk Instagram @james.ort Facebook @jamesortartist www.tomshepherdart.com Instagram @tomshepherdartist Facebook @TomShepherdArt Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

15 3

The ink said

Stopping Distance

I

t will happen, I promise you.

At least once in your life.

It changes you forever. It tastes like metal when you brake, and the sound? Somebody shouting. Sirens, coming to take you away.

I know what most people would do. It’s human instinct. But me, I close my eyes, and I go faster, faster, till I fly.

It starts in the kitchen, with the kind of cramp that makes you 16

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Ink Paintings and Micro Stories by Gabrielle Turner

gasp. I lie on my back, stretch out on the cold slate, and the relief is divine. Then, I see it. You find all sorts, under the cabinets. Crumbs, of course. A bamboo skewer. A black hairpin, the splayed-out kind that holds French twists together.

The kind of hair I’ll never have.

I’m looking at somebody else’s story, written on the kitchen floor.

It ruptures me. I give it a week.

We hardly speak. You don’t notice.

It wakes me up, the thought of a new life. In the mornings my shoulders ache like I’ve been flying all night.

The best way to escape bad weather is to fly away. This is called migration, and many

millions of birds do it every year.

What’s the opposite of flying?

Perhaps I’m a dodo. I’m a doll strapped into this metal robot, and we’re too heavy to take off. It’s your fault.

I’m looking ahead. The freeway.

Where does it end? How long?

When migrating, the birds who are not strong enough simply fall out of the sky.

I found the crumbs, John, I tell you at sixty, seventy, eighty. The hairpin. That’s what gave it away.

A voice is shouting beside me: slow down Carla, stop.

I should brake. The line goes dead. I taste metal. Somewhere, there are sirens.

Gabrielle Turner The ink said l Gabrielle Turner is a writer and artist at the Phoenix Studio near Thame. As @theinksaid on Instagram she writes daily micro-stories inspired by her abstract ink paintings. Also at www.theinksaid.com and www.gabrielleturner.co.uk

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Artists at work!

It’s a very arty time of year with lots of exciting exhibitions and studios to visit for Bucks Art Weeks.

Don’t miss a chance to visit Cymbeline Art and Cards gift shop and gallery in Princes Risborough though, where you’ll find stunning original art and a real live artist in residence as well...

B

ecky Cleland, owner of gallery shop, Cymbeline, in Princes Risborough is also an artist, with a degree in Fine Art. Becky has an artist’s eye for form and colour and her shop is packed with delightful gifts, cards, silk scarves, bags and homeware items in addition to the constantly evolving paintings and prints on display.

“When I opened Cymbeline,” says Becky, “I felt the area could do with more places for local artists to display their work and I have a varied selection on show that are selling well.”

“The art evolves and changes, so there’s always something new to see. I have a show by Oxford Printmakers each year and had some 40 works on display through March this year which proved very popular.

“We are currently showing paintings from Jackie Crabtree and Caroline Page, who both take a very different approach to their painting. Jackie’s work is semi abstract, using a process of layering and mark-making, to create vibrant, joyful pictures, whilst Caroline’s work explores stories, mystery and memories, specialising in the use of Egg Tempura. Both are exceptionally creative artists. Their work will run throughout April and May.” In June Bucks Art Weeks kicks off with numerous events happening all over the county: www.bucksartweeks.org.uk and at Cymbeline Becky has renowned textile artist, Barbara

Jackie Crabtree

One of Becky’s large, abstract works

Becky Cleland sponsoring Art in the Park in Princes Risborough this year. The final entry date is May 10th and the competition winner of a year’s membership for the Royal Academy of Art will be announced on Saturday 6th July.

Why not visit Cymbeline, see some fascinating and inspiring art and find an unusual or individual gift for that special someone, or even yourself!?

Barbara Shaw Shaw, demonstrating her talents from the 8th to the 22nd June. Barbara uses fabrics to create landscapes, town scenes, floral images, pictures of sheep and many more fascinating images.

“Barbara’s fabric collages of local landscapes and towns have proved very popular at Cymbeline,” says Becky, “and I am really looking forward to seeing her at work. All are welcome to pop in to see her in action and have a chat about her techniques and inspiration. Please call Cymbeline to check on demonstration times prior to visiting though.”

From the 25th June to the end of July, Becky will be exhibiting some of her own large and colourful abstract paintings. She works in acrylic and oils and often combines the two to create unusual effects and textures. There will also be some of her ceramics on show, while Jo Podmore is exhibiting her beautiful paper sculptures which manipulate shadow and light.

If you are a local artist Cymbeline is

l Cymbeline, 3-5 High Street, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 0AE T: 01844 698224 E: cymbelineartandcards@gmail.com W www.cymbelineartandcards.com www.instagram.com/cymbelineart Open: Tue to Sat, 10am-5pm

Caroline Page Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

17

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

o u r c r e at i v e va l e

with Sandra Smith

Not your regular Joe!

I

f you’ll forgive the unseasonal start to this column, please allow me take you back to last winter. Specifically, a wet December evening when Wendover was as festive as it’s possible to be, given a deluge of rain and soggy pavements. It was while dodging Christmas shoppers and umbrellas on the Manor Waste that I chanced upon a young entrepreneur. I decided there and then that I’d like to interview Joe Purnell and, sensing a marketing opportunity, he agreed.

Fast forward several months and I’m sitting in the warmth of Joe’s family home in Wingrave. This is where the 14 year old, a pupil at Aylesbury Grammar School, designs quirky ranges of cards and prints which are current, amusing and individual.

‘I’ve always liked making stuff,’ says Joe, a self confessed techie who had his first laptop at the age of four. ‘To start with I stuck photos onto cards but then thought I’d

Joe Purnell and one of his quirky card designs do something a bit different. I designed a new range while on holiday. I needed a catchy name and looked at a list of unusual words.’

He chose Dotish, a West Indian word which means silly and reflects a degree of light heartedness which infuses his designs. Is he able to trace the inspiration for each idea?

‘They just come to me. Or I

COME AND ENJOY

EXHIBITION & SALE OF ART

MAY BANK HOLIDAY 2019 The 11th Mentmore Arts Festival will be held in Mentmore Church and Mentmore Village Hall.

WeÕre raising funds for Keech Hospice Care, Riding for the Disabled Association, Home Start & the church.

MENTMORE CHURCH & MENTMORE VILLAGE HALL – LU7 0QF

SATURDAY 25 MAY SUNDAY 26 MAY MONDAY 27 MAY

• PAINTINGS • PRINTS • PHOTOGRAPHS • SCULPTURE • GLASS • POTTERY PLUS... TEAS IN THE VILLAGE HALL GARDEN RAFFLE WITH GREAT CASH PRIZES

OPEN

11am-5pm ADMISSION ADULT ENTRY £2.00 INCLUDES CATALOGUE

CHILDREN (UNDER 16)

FREE CAN YOU HELP? CONTACT

DEBORAH HALL:

07831 707023

deborahhall58@yahoo.co.uk

For more information visit: www.mentmore-arts-festival.co.uk 18

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

hear something on TV. The drawn ones are done straight onto Adobe Illustrator.’

In a buoyant market, Joe’s greetings cards are quality products printed on thick photographic paper and sold at competitive prices.

They tick other boxes, too.

‘We’ve gone plastic free at home and none of my products come in plastic, that’s quite unnecessary.

I use biodegradable cellophane.’

As he talks about the long term probability of going into graphic design, Joe’s business sense is, I reckon, as highly developed as his creativity. Excel spreadsheets and pie charts reveal the dedicated detail with which he tracks his costs and sales. He sold his Xbox to fund the purchase of ‘a fancy printer’ and is also developing a

Creative Vale

Sandra Smith reputation as a web designer.

Although the bulk of his cards are sold via his website through Etsy, Joe is looking forward to more fairs where he’ll share his story with customers. So do look out for him. And buy some cards. They are appealing and unbeatable in value. And you’ll also be supporting a budding young businessman, too. www.dotish.co.uk l Find out more about Sandra

Smith’s work as a freelance writer by following her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visiting her website: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk

Nina’s Escape to Art Art classes on Mondays!

Buckingham Park Community Centre

Jubilee Square, Buckingham Park Aylesbury HP19 9DZ

How do you find a way forward? kiddrapinet.co.uk/divorceadvice

Divorce is never easy, but with advice and a plan of action it is possible to bring about certainty and a way forward for your situation.

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UNDERSTANDING DIVORCE Book a free consultation with Anna Ferro today on 01296 506071 or email aferro@kiddrapinet.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

19

C u r i o u s Wo r l d

by Nicky Gregory

Stone and lead shot

G

unpowder, or black powder, was probably found accidentally by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century during medical expriments to discover the elixir of life. The Chinese name ‘Huoyao’ means ‘fire medicine’. Originally only used for fireworks, gunpowder was first used in warfare around 1000 AD. The first use of gunpowder in Europe was recorded in 1247. The cannon appeared in 1327, the ‘hand cannon’ in 1364. The ’hand cannon’ became the hand gun.

The first ‘round shot’ was made of stone. A ‘round’ is another name for a bullet. The 1560s brought about the use of cast lead balls as projectiles. By the 17th century they had moved on to iron. ‘Bullet’ is derived from the French word boulette, which roughly means ‘little ball’.

Lead shot is small balls or pellets for shotguns and was originally

Nicky Gregory

Curious world

Windsor Castle.

Round Stone and Lead Shot recovered from the Mary Rose sunk in 1545

The bullet which killed Lord Nelson mounted in Beatty’s locket

made by pouring molten lead through screens into water, making what was called ‘swan shot’.

The first record of a metal ball from a hand cannon penetrating armour occurred in 1425.

In 1805 Admiral Lord Nelson was killed with a single French lead shot or musket ball at the Battle of Trafalgar. The shot was extracted from the wound by William Beatty, surgeon on board HMS Victory, but

it had caused fatal damage to the Admiral’s lungs and spine. The shot was still fused to the gold lace from the epaulette of Nelson’s jacket.

It was mounted for Beatty into a locket which he is said to have worn for the rest of his life.

On Beatty’s death in 1842 it was presented by his family to Queen Victoria and today the Nelson Bullet can be seen at the Royal Collection Trust, Grand Vestibule,

l Nicky Gregory is the owner of Antiques@Wendover, The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU T: 01296 625335 E: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Web: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk Do you know what the mystery object below is? Email your answer to: editor@vale-life.co.uk and you could win a voucher for Antiques at Wendover

Mystery object

ANTIQUES AT… WENDOVER A Dateline ANTIQUES CENTRE Est. 1987 A QUALITY ANTIQUES CENTRE offering town and country antiques in a Tudor, brick and timber house, with wall paintings and inglenook fireplaces.

Park in the Courtyard at the rear, where you will find Garden Antiques, a Tea Room, the Barn Courtyard Shops and an Artist’s Studio.

We are open every day from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Late 18th Century Walnut Chest on Stand: £1,850 The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 625335 Email: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Website: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk 20

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Celebrating Life Chacombe Park is more than a care home. It’s a family home.

A friendly home. Your home. A home that provides tailored care, beautiful environments and choice in every meal or activity.

A place that celebrates the little things that mean everything – morning, noon and night.

Visit us anytime for friendly advice and to look around.

Call: 01295 641805 Banbury Road, Banbury, OX17 2JL www.barchester.com Residential care • Nursing care • Dementia care • Respite breaks En-suite rooms • Landscaped gardens • Salon • Wi-fi

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

21

by Cathy Soughton

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

The Heritage Park

Pitstone Green Museum

T

he Heritage Park at Pitstone is a wonderful Rural Life Museum with a vast and eclectic range of interesting exhibits, many relating to farming but with other attractions too including three model railways and a Lancaster Bomber cockpit.

The museum is situated in the grounds of what was Pitstone Green Farm. The farm was built in 1831 by the Countess of Bridgewater who owned the Ashridge estate and it was run by the Hawkins family until the 1960s. There has been a farm on the site for centuries but the 17th century Big Barn, which houses many exhibits, is thought to have originated from another location and was brought to the site when the new farm was built.

At some point in the early 20th century when parts of the Ashridge estate were sold off, the Hawkins family became the owners of Pitstone Green farm. The viability of the farm was briefly under threat by a proposal to relocate the

SOUTH BEDS

1940s room Brooklands motor racing circuit in Surrey to Pitstone. This did not materialise, but later in the 1930s some of the farm land was sold to Danish company F.L. Smidth & Co. Ltd who built the cement works and extensive quarries. For many years this was a major industry for the area and employed many local people but the works closed in the 1990s and were later replaced with housing and light industry.

Although farming is often seen as being very traditional, Pitstone Green Farm was involved in several innovations in this period including silos built in 1948 to a new design which allowed for more efficient drying of grain, helping feed a country still recovering from war.

In 1963 the Pitstone Local History Society was formed to preserve the history of farming in the area and began collecting objects associated with farming and rural life in the locality. One of the founding members was the farm owner Jeff Hawkins who stored many items at the farm. In 1974 redundant buildings including a WW2 Nissan hut were transported to the farm which now houses the Wags Wharf model railway.

In 1992 the Society, (its name having been changed to Pitstone & Ivinghoe Museum Society), were granted a 99 year lease on Pitstone Green Farm by Jeff to run the site as a museum and when he died in 2001, the farm was gifted to the

National Trust who lease it to the Society.

The farm site now includes various items of scientific and military interest including a Lancaster bomber cockpit, as well as displays depicting rural life in the Vale in Victorian times which have proved very popular. The name of the Museum has also been changed to The Heritage Park to reflect the size and scope of the attractions now on offer. There are many demonstrations to watch including a working blacksmith and working print shop and various hands-on activities to try.

Run entirely by volunteers, the Heritage Park is open to visitors on Bank Holidays and the second Sunday each month between Easter and October and offers a fascinating and inexpensive day out.

More details can be found on the Museum’s website at: www.pitstonemuseum.co.uk l Cathy Soughton is a local

professional genealogist and house historian providing family history and house history research: www.bucksresearch.co.uk, www.benchmarkhousehistories.com Email: soughton@bucksresearch.co.uk

Organised by the Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society

29th & 30th June 2019

at New Manor Farm, Harlington, Beds LU5 6LA Gates Open - 9:30am

Charity No. 291744

Attractions include:

“Wye Valley Axemen” Action Packed Arena Trade Stands Craft & Food Hall Children’s Fun Fair

www.sbcs.org.uk

22

Birds of Prey Working Demonstrations Heavy Horses Vintage Vehicles Farm Animals Steam Engines PUBLIC CAMPING AVAILABLE please download or contact for a booking form

/bedfordsteam @bedfordsteam

ADMISSION PRICES: Adult £10.00 Children (Under 16) FREE

All enquiries to BSEPS, PO Box 346, Henlow, Beds SG6 9GP Tel: 01462 887200 Email: show@sbcs.org.uk

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

a n i m a l m ag i c

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

with Lucy Ellis

A guide to raw feeding

T

he most natural way to feed your dog or cat is to replicate the whole prey diet with raw meat and bones in the ratio of 80% meat, 10% bones and 10% offal.

It’s easy to see why this diet is so suitable when you look at the facts: dogs are carnivores, and cats are obligate carnivores (which means they have to have meat). They have sharp teeth for tearing meat, short digestive tracts to process protein quickly and highly acidic stomachs to breakdown bacteria and bones.

Some pet owners delight in hacking up bits of carcass and creating a tasty dish from all parts of an animal, but the majority of us lead busy lives and just want something quick and easy to feed our pets. Raw feeding doesn’t have to be complicated or scary and there are many brands offering “complete” meals, where the ratios are already calculated for you. They come in a variety of handy serving portions, ranging from 100g to 1.5kg. As well as big name brands,

at Unique Pets we also stock smaller local suppliers and we now have our own range of raw food too. Visit our stores in Aylesbury or Winslow to find out more.

The benefits of feeding your dog or cat a raw diet are numerous: - Clean teeth and fresh breath.

Chewing chunks of meat, tendons and bones all help your dog and cat to keep their teeth naturally clean without the need for pet toothbrushes or traumatic trips to the vet.

- Improved skin and coat. Once you feed your pet a healthy natural raw diet, you will likely find that conditions such as itchy skin,

sore or hot spots, a dull coat and dandruff, disappear and you will see a lustrous, thick, glossy coat.

- Improved stool production.

Low quality commercial pet food is bulked up with carbohydrates which your dog and cat can’t absorb or process properly, resulting in large smelly waste. With raw feeding your pet will produce much less poo which is firm and almost odourless.

As well as it being more pleasant to up, the more solid waste helps to clear anal glands naturally.

- Fitter, leaner physique. On a raw diet, cats and dogs shed unwanted pounds and develop increased muscle mass. You will quickly see your pet’s body become leaner and healthier with a defined waist.

- Fewer trips to the vet. The good balance of essential fatty acids and nutrients helps to strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammatory conditions and ward off infections. Raw fed pets are generally in better health and require fewer trips to the vets for

Lucy Ellis

Animal Magic routine health problems.

- Natural growth. Puppies and kittens fed a raw diet tend to grow at a steadier rate which avoids rapid growth spurts and the resulting joint pains.

Even if you don’t feed raw, you can still give your pet some of these benefits by feeding raw meaty bones as a treat. Chewing on raw bones is not only essential for the health of your pet’s teeth and gums, but is also a great way of keeping them occupied and content as the natural chewing action releases calming endorphins. For more information on raw feeding, come and chat to our trained advisors. l Lucy Ellis is a writer and

blogger who with Jenna Tomlins runs Unique Pets (Aylesbury & Winslow), independent pet shops, www.uniquepets.co.uk

Pet Industry Federation Independent Retailer of the Year!

...a great family day out!

Aylesbury 01296 706403 Winslow 01296 715697 www.uniquepets.co.uk Chamberlain Road, Aylesbury / High Street, Winslow

Top quality food & accessories for all your pets, from dogs, cats and horses to rabbits, wild birds, small mammals, chickens, fish and reptiles.

Expert advice, tailored feeding plans, hydrotherapy pool, puppy socialising, dog training classes, pet photo studio, professional dog grooming and pampering service and much more...

Aylesbury

Sundaye 23rd tJou5n pm 11am

01296 706403 The Grange, Mursley Road, LU7 0ES

Entry £5

FREE PARKING

Project9_Layout 1 12/10/2018 17:19 Page 1

Under 12s FREE

Call 01296 706403 or pop into shop to book your grooming appointment

www.qualityhomes.co.uk

Dog show, children’s rides, stalls & much more!

Supporting St Michael’s Church CHARITY NO. 1048297

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

23

Vale Life : May/Jun 2018

Embracing the future Last year Haddenham Garden Centre celebrated its 40th birthday and embarked on an exciting development of the site to create more retail and restaurant space and introduce new product ranges and shopping options. It’s not just a great place to purchase plants now but a one stop shop for all your home, garden and lifestyle needs...

H

Stephen, Kate and Ben Hawkins

hand from staff if required. addenham Garden Centre Chris Hawkins The latest project, a was founded in 1978 by major new development, is Chris Hawkins and his father, Jack, trading from a single nearing completion and has already created a huge amount of light and airy new indoor glasshouse. The family owned independent retail space with a lovely covered outdoor has steadily grown over the years and is today plant shopping area too. New commercial run by a third generation of the Hawkins family: Stephen, Kate and Ben, although Chris kitchens have been installed and the restaurant expanded and redesigned to create attractive and his wife Margaret are still active behind indoor and outdoor seating areas. A new the scenes. menu will cater for breakfast, brunch, lunch, The business has changed dramatically afternoon teas and Sunday Roast Lunches over the years, it has grown in size several with more vegetarian and vegan options times and lots of new product ranges have planned as well. been introduced, from pet food to homeware, On the retail side new shopping options for clothing, gifts, cards, food and drink.

It’s still a relaxed, pleasant and friendly place customers to enjoy, include: The Farm Shop: smart, spacious and full to shop though, where customers can browse of tempting delicacies from local producers the homeware section, garden furniture and and suppliers, including; beers, gins and wines, barbecues before having a coffee or snack oils and vinegars, meats, cheeses, honey and and picking up some bedding plants, a bag of compost, something for supper and maybe a preserves, bread, fruit, vegetables, delicious frozen ready meals and desserts, in fact it’s stylish new item of clothing from Edinburgh foodie heaven!.

Woollen Mill, Tigi or Joules (coming soon)!

The new Butchery is run by traditional, There’s lots of free parking right outside local butchers, Beef Olive, known for the too, so wheeling items to the car is easy, with plenty of sturdy trolleys available and help on quality of their products and their friendly,

Knowledgeable staff like Plant Area Manager Jane are on hand to answer your plant questions

helpful service. They offer premium cuts of meat from nearby suppliers and the best of British farm produce - high quality, seasonal meats, traditionally reared and properly hung to promote the best flavour. Homemade Sausages, local game and their own homecured bacon are all available, as well as a full range of barbecue meats and freshly marinaded ready to cook dishes - grab and go from the pre-packed selection or request bespoke cuts from the butcher’s block.

The Bakery: combines freshly baked instore produce with daily deliveries from local bakeries to ensure a full range of delicious cakes, pastries, scones, tarts and biscuits as well as traditional and artisan breads.

The Deli Counter: showcases a mouthwatering selection of award-winning cheeses, mostly made in Britain but with a couple of continental classics to satisfy popular demand, as well as home-cooked meats, fresh breads and antipasti ranging from olives to seasonal salads. There’s also a selection of seasonal home-baked snacks such as pies, handmade scotch eggs and freshly baked sausage rolls.

Homeware by Sophie Allport

Paradise for pets!

24

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

The new covered plant display area Frozen Ready Meals and Produce: The Farm Shop is stocking a range of excellent Cook frozen ready meals - delicious mains, popular sides, tempting desserts, impressive canapés and delicious party food. This is a brand known for superb taste and quality.

Also in the freezer section is a range of edible delights from field fare. ‘All the taste and no waste’ they say as you buy their range of freshly frozen seasonal produce by weight.

Just scoop out as much or as little as you like - there’s great tasting fruit and veg, frozen pastries and more!

Groceries: An extensive range of chutneys, jams, honey and pickles oils and vinegars, as well as chocolates, sweet treats and crisps to tickle your taste buds and complement some of the other fantastic Farm Shop produce.

Wines, Spirits, Beers & Ales: There’s fabulous drinks to please here whatever your tipple, from artisan gins to fruity liqueurs, beers, ciders, wines and more from both local producers and those based further afield.

The Works: Many of you will know The Works already for their great quality, great value gifts, stationery, toys and books and selection of art, craft and hobby materials.

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill: No not just scarves and jumpers - EWM boasts a stylish selection of high quality, fashion clothing and accessories for men and women.

In addition Haddenham Garden Centre has expanded their own offering to include a haberdashery section, a larger pet food and accessories section, outdoor living display areas, a larger houseplant selection, more greeting cards, more toys...

Houseplant displays

“We are still primarily a Garden Centre, Farm Shop Manager Sasha though” says Kate Hawkins, “and we pride ourselves not only on the range and quality of our plants but on having them displayed in a way that shows which plants work together well. We also have knowledgeable staff who are happy to offer help and advice and a beautiful new wooden canopy providing extra undercover space for shopping plants outside when the weather isn’t good!

“We have a comprehensive range of seasonal bedding, for you to create your own displays, plus a wide selection of pre-planted Pet Nutrition Advisor Becky cans, hosepipes and trellis.” arrangements and hanging baskets and a big range of It’s always nice to get something for pots and planters in colours to suit everyone’s nothing and Haddenham Garden Centre taste plus garden ornaments and landscaping, customers can sign up for a Reward Card, free paving and fencing materials. in store. You then earn points every time you “Our shrubs are arranged in ‘Year of colour’ shop, and receive reward vouchers to spend beds, so that you can ensure your garden in the store. Members also receive exclusive has points of interest throughout the year, special offers and promotions. Gift vouchers while our roses and cottage garden plants are are also available. arranged in colour themes, ideal if you are With their spectacular redevelopment looking for a plant of a particular colour, or Haddenham Garden Centre are very much planting a colour-themed bed. embracing the future in creating a stylish “We stock fruit trees, fruit bushes, herbs, modern shopping facility that will appeal to the strawberries and a range of seasonal vegetable whole community for years to come. plants. There’s vegetable and flower seeds l Haddenham Garden Centre, Stanbridge Road, and bulbs, ornamental trees, climbing plants, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8HN alpines, heathers and grasses... plus all the tools Tel: 01844 290395 and accessories, compost and grow bags, weed Email: hgcenquiries@btconnect.com killers, grass seed and lawnfeed, wood paints, Website: www.haddenhamgardencentre.co.uk stains and preservatives, garden canes, watering Local delivery service available

Ask Jenny what she recommends from the deli counter

High quality meat from Beef Olive

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

25

Food & Drink

The Seasonal Table

by Virginie Bonvalet

Aïoli Provençal

chopped in large florets 2 Red Endives 2 Bay leaves 2 Sprigs of thyme his is a traditional Provençal recipe 8 Potatoes - we often refer to Aioli in the UK as garlic mayonnaise but the traditional 4 Boiled eggs 2 Tbsp. Olive oil “Grand Aïoli Provençal,” is a complete dish. Often served with whelks or Salt & Pepper mussels and salted cod. In my version I like Micro herbs (optional)

T

to use prawns and halibut but make sure that it comes from a sustainable source.

I like my aïoli strong, so I use extra virgin olive oil and plenty of garlic, but you could reduce the amount and use a milder oil if you prefer. Finally, I love a little saffron on the top - not only does it look fabulous, but when you dip your ingredients into it, it tastes delicious too!

Serves 6-8 Prep time: 45 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Ingredients 800g Thick halibut fillets 8 Large prawn (pre-cooked) 4 Large artichokes 1 Large bunch of asparagus 1 Bunch of radishes 6 Medium carrots 200g French Beans A head of cauliflower, 26

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

For the Aïoli: 6 Crushed garlic cloves ¼ Tsp. sea salt 2 Egg yolks 2 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1/2 fresh lemon Freshly ground black pepper Few strands of saffron Method Prepare the Aïoli: peel the cloves of garlic, cut them in half and crush. In a small bowl mix garlic and salt until completely smooth. Add the egg yolks and the olive oil in a continuous stream, stirring with a hand whisk until you get a trim mayonnaise consistency. Add the lemon juice and stir in until mixed thoroughly.

Taste for salt and acidity - adjust to taste - keep refrigerated until serving.

Peel the hard first layer of the bottom leaves from the artichokes and peel the hard skin off

the stem. Boil the artichokes in a pan of salted water adding the rest of the squeezed lemon from the aioli into the water (This will prevent them changing colour). The artichokes are cooked when the stems are soft and you can easily insert a small knife into the heart.

Put another large pan of water on to boil for the remaining vegetables. Peel the carrots - you can leave a little of the green stalk on as it looks pretty - and add to the water together with the cauliflower florets - cook for 15 minutes.

Snap the tough stem bottoms off the asparagus and trim the top and bottom of the beans and add to carrots and cauliflower. Cook for a further 6-8 minutes.

Poach the fish in boiling water with salt pepper the bay leaves and the 2 sprigs of thyme.

Serve the fish and vegetables warm with the radishes, the endives and the prawns on a big plate with the Aïoli decorated with few strands of saffron and micro herbs to dip them into.

All photographs, recipes & words ©Virginie Check out my website www.virginiebonvalet.com Email: bonjour@virginiebonvalet.com Social: @virginie_bonvalet

Food & Drink

1) Akker

(Hertfordshire dialect)

2)Lousy

A) a field, arable land B) a single ear of corn C) a small cavity in a rock

(Hertfordshire dialect) A) verminous B) secret, shady C) tired, exhausted

3) Binge

4) Dew-bit

(Buckinghamshire dialect) A) a single black eye B) to soak a wooden tub to prevent it leaking C) to amuse oneself

(Berkshire dialect) A) a snack, a packed lunch B) the inside of a cow’s lips C) snowfall which hinders habitual work

od fo

Can you guess the right definitions of the following words?

exican St M re ic e t n

t

A local dialect ‘Call My Bluff’ by Jacot de Boinod

Aut he

Pardon my English!

A Food Truck for any outdoor event or party Tel: 07507 627623

l Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the

television series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World, published by Penguin Books. Having researched our rural dialect, he is setting a fun ‘Call-My-Bluff Quiz for Vale Life readers - mind your language now...

@el_comenzal

www.elcomenzal.com

ANSWERS: 1A) a field, arable land 2A) to soak a wooden tub to prevent its leaking 3B) verminous 4A) a snack, a packed lunch (from a mid-morning breakfast taken in the fields when the dew is still on the ground)

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ORDER FOOD/RESERVE ONLINE www.radhunihp27.co.uk B o o k i n g s t a k e n fo r X m a s a n d N e w Ye a r The Old Library, Church Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9AA

Lunch Every day 12-2pm Dinner Monday to Saturday 6pm till 11pm Sunday 6pm till 10pm

FIND

US

Experience the Authentic taste of India Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

27

Food & Drink Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Let’s get picking!

It’s been a lovely Spring and we should soon be reaping the benefits with a bumper harvest of fruits and vegetables. What could be more fun than getting yours fresh from the farm? Even better at Rectory Farm near Thame you can pick your own and have a fun family outing at the same time...

R

ichard and Carla Stanley have been farming at Rectory Farm since 1980. Their daughter Imogen came back to the farm in November 2016 and together they oversee the running of the farm and its popular Pick Your Own section with café, shop and children’s play area.

The Pick Your Own opened in 1980 with just one and a half acres of strawberries and half an acre of Raspberries. Since then it has grown substantially and now boasts some 45 acres at the main Pick Your Own and Shop site and a further 75 acres of Asparagus.

Rectory Farm also grows about 110 acres of Potatoes (nearly 2000 tonnes) and 750 acres of Wheat and Oilseed rape. The wheat is solely grown for breadmaking with a large proportion of the crop (approx 1800 tonnes) going to Warburtons to be used in the baking

of their bread.

The Stanley family are tenants of Rectory Farm which has been owned by New College, Oxford, since 1539 and has throughout the ages provided food for the inhabitants of Oxford. Much of the land is easily worked which was vitally important in the days before tractors, when only human and horse power were available!

Fruit, vegetables and flowers Rectory farm offers a great day out for all the family, not only picking your own fruit but also in learning about where the fruit comes from and of course stopping for some wellearned refreshments, once you have harvested your crop.

Rectory Farm is one of only six places in the country where you can pick your own Asparagus and in May Asparagus season will be in full swing - so don’t miss out - there’s nothing like the taste of fresh new Asparagus, especially dipped in a boiled egg!

From the middle of May the early varieties of Strawberry are ripe for picking as they are protected from the weather in polytunnels. The strawberry season continues right through the Summer into September, with different varieties coming through in succession, for a continuous stream of fruit.

Raspberries, broad beans, red currants,

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Food & Drink Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

fields are fairly peaceful during the week, even at the height of the season, when you can pick a punnet of strawberries in 5 minutes.

“Picking your own fruit is really cost effective, especially if you want a larger quantity, say for jam making. Quantity discounts are introduced at eight punnets of fruit.

“This year we are trying to reduce our impact on the environment in a number of ways. In particular we are encouraging people to reuse their punnets for other things around the house and there is a discount for customers who bring their own containers.”

blackcurrants, blackberries and more fruits ripen throughout June and July and are ready to be picked and eaten, or taken home and frozen for use through the winter.

Rectory farm also grows a small selection of beautiful English flowers, gladioli and pinks that are sold from the farm shop.

Potatoes Rectory Farm potatoes start in June when you can buy those delicious little new potatoes, followed by the main crop of roasting, mashing and baking potatoes in September.

These are available from the farm shop, which is open until September and then from the farm yard until March.

on the free bouncy castle and slide.

The Tractor Shack farm café offers freshly roasted barista coffee, tea, strawberry milkshakes, cold drinks and a range of snacks, including: paninis, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, a large selection of cakes and the delicious Yarde Farm scooped ice-cream.

Tractor and trailer rides also run during weekends in the holidays when the weather is good.

“Picking your own fruit is a great way for children to learn where food comes from and how it grows,” says Imogen Stanley. “If you don’t feel like picking your own fruit and vegetables, we have fresh, ready-picked produce from our fields in the farm shop, that has been harvest within the previous 24 hours.

There is also fruit and vegetables from other farms plus meats, eggs - including duck eggs, bread, a wide range of homemade jams and chutneys, biscuits, flour, juices, rapeseed oil, dressings and vinegars and much more.

“Fruit picking can be very relaxing and with such a large area to explore you will find the

l Rectory Farm, Stanton St. John, Oxfordshire, OX33 1HF Tel: 01865 358309 / 07818 011656 Email: shop@rectoryfarmpyo.co.uk Web: www.rectoryfarmpyo.co.uk Shop and café opening: Tuesday to Saturday: 9.30am - 5.30pm, Sunday: 9.30am-4pm, Monday: Closed except Open Bank Holiday Mondays Asparagus Pick Your Own opening times: Tuesday to Thursday 2-5pm, Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-1pm Tractor Shack enquiries: tractorshack@rectoryfarmpyo.co.uk

Days out Entry to the Pick Your Own is free. You then have 45 acres of fields to walk around and pick your own food. A small amount of tasting is allowed but the rest is paid for by weight at the till, with discounts on large quantities of fruit – which is handy if you are a jam maker!

After picking your fruit you are welcome to relax in the glade in the sun, while the kids play

All photographs by Nick Dempsey Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

29

Join in the fun at Sandy Lane Farm Farm Shop open Thursdays 11am-6.30pm & Saturdays 10am-2pm Fresh organic veg, slow-reared free-range meat & more...

Events throughout the year & ‘pop-up’ Seasonal Suppers Visit: www.sandylanefarm.net for more information Find us in Tiddington (between Thame & Wheatley) OX9 2LA

Help for carers of elders in Oxon/Bucks Free help for family and paid or voluntary carers of elders.

Local, practical, money and time saving tips: See:

www.maudandmum.com @maudandmum

S

andy Lane Farm at Tiddington, near Thame is once again looking forward to welcoming visitors to Open Farm Sunday, this year on June 9th. Visitors will be able to see Sandy Lane Farm sheep being expertly hand-sheared

by Fred and to relax in the farm yard with refreshments from the Horsebox Coffee Co. Nodene will be selling her delicious, freshly baked cakes and the Sandy Lane Farm gourmet BBQ with be all fired up!

A highlight for visitors of all ages, is the tractor-trailer ride.

Charles or George will show you what is growing and where and talk you through the innovative ways in which organic farming helps the environment, as well as producing delicious vegetables.

What’s On​: Tractor-trailer rides (£1 a ride, under 3 yrs free) Sheep shearing

Easy DIY children’s activities Follow the farm trail and learn about the organic veg we grow Climb on a tractor and see the machinery display Farm shop with fresh organic vegetables, free-range meat, organic ice cream and other locally sourced produce Shand’s freshly made cakes The Horsebox Coffee Co. Sandy Lane Farm BBQ serving free-range pork sausages and lamb burgers with buns from a local bakery. l Sandy Lane Farm, Sandy Lane, Tiddington, Oxfordshire, OX9 2LA www.sandylanefarm.net

waitrose.com/thame

Community Matters Every month we give our time and money to local communities.

We donate £1000 to be shared by three good causes that you choose.

Waitrose Thame Supporting the community 30

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

out and about

with Heather Jan Brunt

Pick a farm for Sunday!

I

f you’ve ever wanted to know what goes on behind the fences and gates of local farms now’s your chance.

All over the country farmers will be opening their gates to the general public, on 9th June, as part of the 14th annual LEAF Open Farm Sunday.

Each farm is unique and so the open days will vary – there are small farms and big ones, arable and livestock in very different locations and they will offer different experiences and you will get to meet the farmer and his family and have a chance to talk to them about what they do.

Managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), the campaign unites the whole industry in showcasing the goods and services that farming delivers and the positive impact it has on all our lives.

Farmers are passionate about their work and have a deep commitment to caring for the countryside as well as their animals.

They manage valuable resources

like water and soil, and habitats for wildlife to thrive. Some farms have been passed down through generations of a family, others are managed by people who have chosen farming as their career.

Farms are working environments so connecting people with the countryside through a managed, safe visit such as Open Farm Sunday is invaluable.

Last year 67 events took place across the South East, enabling visitors to experience time spent on a farm, meeting a farmer, getting up close to the crops and livestock, and engaging all their senses to

create inspiring and memorable experiences that were often shared with friends and family on social media and beyond.

LEAF chief executive Caroline Drummond describes a farm visit as, “the ultimate 5-D cinema – it touches every sense.”

More than 80 per cent of the UK population is urban and distant from how their food is produced, but even in rural areas many of us, especially those not directly involved in farming, know very little about what goes on in the fields around them. Reconnecting the with farming, food production and the countryside builds public support and recognition of all the ecosystem services the agricultural sector delivers.

One in five visitors to Open Farm Sunday have never been on a farm before, so the many activities that are considered everyday events to a farmer, his family and workers, are unique and interesting and provide a whole new world of interest to people who go along - so why not give it a whirl!

Out and about

Heather Jan Brunt At some farms you can just turn up and pay on the gate. Others are invitation only or have an online ticketing option. Details of all farms taking part, the admission charges, facilities and events are online at www.farmsunday.org Local farms taking part include: Buckmoorend Farm, Butlers Cross, HP17 0UT: 11am - 4pm www.buckmoorendfarm.co.uk Orchard View Farm, Stockwell Lane, Little Meadle, HP17 9UG www.orchardviewfarm.co.uk Sandy Lane Farm, Sandy Lane, Tiddington, OX9 2LA www.sandylanefarm.net Watlington Hill Farm Sanctuary, Christmas Common, OX49 5HS: Vegan Fete 11am- 3pm l Follow Heather Jan Brunt on

Twitter @HJBjournalist

Win a copy of Chilterns book

N

eil Matthews and his wife Helen have lived in the Chilterns for many years, Helen all her life. Despite being seen often on TV and film – the setting for everything from Hammer Horror films to The Vicar of Dibley and Midsomer Murders, Neil and Helen think the Chilterns is a surprisingly little-known area.

“We are proud to have written what we think is the first in-depth guide to the Chilterns in over 40 years,” says Neil. “And we have additional content on the Thames Valley and a bonus chapter on the Vale of Aylesbury.”

Their book is part of a series of ‘Slow travel’ UK regional guides.

‘Slow travel’ looks beyond the obvious, best-known sites (though they’ve included a few, such as Windsor Castle) and celebrates the offbeat, the unexpected and the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a specific place.

“We already knew some local quirks,” says Helen, “High Wycombe’s annual public weighing of its mayors, for instance and the

accommodation options, 12 walk itineraries, 85 café, pub and restaurant reviews, 12 nature notes written by a local wildlife expert, 22 shop listings and 17 extra fact boxes… with additional content online!

Local residents will enjoy reading the book – and may even discover one or two things they didn’t already know. If you’d like the chance to win a copy, simply email your name, address and

telephone number, plus answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which comedy actress played the role of Vicar of Dibley?

Winner to be drawn and notified by email on June 4th, 2019.

l Slow Travel: the Chilterns and the Thames Valley, by Helen and Neil Matthews is available now via: www.bradtguides.com www.slowchilterns.com

Thames ritual of ‘swan upping’. But we hadn’t heard about the barn in a small Oxfordshire village which is home to the Aston Martin Heritage Museum; or Hertfordshire’s first gin distillery (Puddingstone), just outside Tring; or the pub with its own architectural salvage yard...”

The guide features: descriptions of around 80 towns, villages and visitor attractions, 75 Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

31

B e au t y s p ot

Health & Beauty

by Amanda Trott

Feeling refreshed

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate we are told... and we know that drinking plenty of water does us good, but sometimes it’s just not enough to keep our skin looking Amanda Trott its best. Fortunately there is now technology that can give us a helping hand... Beauty Spot

E

mma Rothery recently opened ERA, a new skin and laser clinic in the heart of Thame. One of the fabulous treatments she recommends at her welcoming, bright and airy practice, is the celebrity endorsed, anti-ageing HydraFacial, which promotes healthy skin and a beautiful glowing complexion.

Emma kindly invited me to try the Hydra-Tight facial recently, a combination treatment of a 60 minute Hydrafacial and Radiofrequency treatment, with the added bonus of a complimentary head, neck and shoulder massage.

On arrival, Emma welcomed me to her clinic and introduced me to therapist Beth, who explained the Hydra Tight system. Rather than the traditional cream on cream facial, HydraFacial uses a state of the art machine which enables a variety of tools and wands to suck out impurities and push in lots of goodies, leaving your skin super clean, lifted and glowing.

The steps include deep cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, light therapy and of course the all important hydration.

Once Beth had taken a full consultation she led me to the treatment couch, made sure I was comfortable and wrapped me in super soft blankets. She then applied grapeseed oil to my face so the wand would easily glide across my skin. The first part of the treatment was the deep cleanse which felt like a gentle vacuum pulling away impurities. The next phase was the peel, where Beth applied a combination of a very low strength salicylic and glycolic acid.

The combination of physical exfoliation from the wand and chemical exfoliation from the peels gives a good result quickly, without the wait and tingling that you might experience with a traditional peel. After a couple of minutes it was removed with cool water in preparation for the extraction phase. This step utilises a different wand to suck away blackheads and sebum, whilst honey extract and spiraea ulmaria flower extract hydrates, calms and soothes.

A red anti-ageing LED light is then passed across the face to promote cell turnover and soothe the skin before a serum containing an infusion of antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid, which attracts water to the skin and helps keep it hydrated and plump, is

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Above: Extracting impurities from the skin Right: Red anti-ageing light being applied.

Top right: Radio Frequency treatment Far right: Claire’s relaxing massage applied. It also contains arnica flower extract to calm and red algae extract to brighten.

Once the Hydrafacial was complete Beth took me upstairs to the Radio Frequency treatment room. Here radio waves penetrate the outer layers of the skin delivering heat energy to the muscles and tissue beneath. This heat stimulates collagen production and in turn, triggers tissue contraction.

The result is tighter, brighter skin and a reduction in sagging and wrinkles. Beth placed markers over my face using a white pen so as not to overlap and applied a gel to allow the wand to glide over my skin. The skin is regularly checked with a heat probe as it needs to reach a certain temperature to take effect and stimulate collagen production. She worked on each side for exactly 10 minutes. For best results a course of monthly Hydrafacial and Radio Frequency treatments is recommended, although a one off treatment is noticeably beneficial.

Beth then left me for massage therapist Claire to take over with a soothing neck, shoulder and scalp massage. Using a deliciously scented coconut oil, Claire combined traditional Swedish and Indian head massage techniques for a tension busting, super soothing treat.

Afterwards, not only did my skin look and feel great, it was noticeably smoother with a distinct radiance and I felt relaxed and restored

as well. Beth recommends not applying makeup for 24 hours after treatment and to be sure to use a good SPF. My skin was glowing on this occasion but should I have been worried about leaving the clinic without make-up there is parking right outside, so you don’t have to brave the High Street on foot.

ERA (Enhance, Rejuvenate and Anti-ageing) is a great addition to Thame. It is clear that Emma’s team are all trained to the highest of standards. Beths knowledge of Hydrafacial was extensive and I felt confident that she had chosen the best combination of treatments for my individual needs.

Claire is an experienced massage therapist who takes great pride in her work and delivers a tailor made massage suited to your requirements.

If you would like radiant hydrated skin then make sure you book soon, as getting an appointment with this team of talented ladies is already proving tricky!

You can book online at: www.eraclinics. co.uk or call ERA on: 01844 698441. l ERA Skin & Laser Clinic, 98a High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3EH. T: 01844 698441 E info@eraclinics.co.uk W: www.eraclinics.co.uk FB: / eraskinandlaser Instagram: eraclinics l To contact Amanda please email:

editor@vale-life.co.uk

E m ot i o n a l h e a lt h

with Roo Davies

Unlock Your Superpower

B

Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.” Roy T. Bennett Self belief is believing you are valued for who you are Your ability to truly believe in yourself is your superpower. It makes sense, right? If you don’t feel good about yourself and believe in your abilities how can you can fulfil your potential?

Start Unlocking Your Superpower.

Ask yourself: 1. What do I value about myself?

Start by identifying the qualities which you most value about yourself and the attributes that make you feel good about yourself - name your top 5 favourite things about yourself. This helps you to acknowledge your value and give it a platform in your mindset.

For some, this process can feel indulgent and egocentric, especially if you’re not used to investing time

and energy in championing yourself.

Stick with it and write down as much as you can for each question.

When have you felt most fulfilled, happy and proud?

The trick here is to spend time identifying and understanding what 2. What am I saying to myself? your core values are. These are We all talk to ourselves! Identify at the very heart of who you are and the life that you want to live.

WHAT your inner voice is saying and HOW you’re talking to yourself. By becoming more aware of these central threads in your life, you will It’s easy to fall into the trap of internalising negative messages and feel more self-assured to step out of that comfort zone and believe in dismissing the positive. Your brain may automatically go into overdrive, yourself. especially if you’re operating out of 4. What am I really good at? your comfort zone. Your inner voice may be saying things such as ‘I’ve Identifying and talking about our bitten off more than I can chew’ or strengths, or talents, is something that generally doesn’t come ‘I’m really not going to be able to pull this off’ and so on and on... naturally (research shows that Switching from this selfBritish women in particular struggle deprecating dialogue to kind and with it). Yet these strengths are at the epicentre of your superpower rational talk, stops negativity undermining your self-belief. so it’s critical that you work out what you’re really good at and then 3. What is it that makes me, me? embrace them.

Get to know yourself. What’s The great news is that YOU hold important to you? What makes the key to lock your superpower. you tick? What do you care about?

When you believe that you are

Everyone

valued, worthy and capable you really can flourish and be your own Super Hero!

Start today and ask yourself some of these questions and start unlocking your superpower?

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” E.E. Cummings l Award-winning Mindset and Life Coach, Roo Davies, is passionate about helping empower people to thrive rather than simply survive. She offers one to one coaching and workshops.

Roo Davies (Your Life Journey), The White House, 2 East Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3JS Tel: 07753 756512 Web: www.yourlifejourney.co.uk Email: roo@yourlifejourney.co.uk Facebook.com/yourlifejourney.co.uk

Maria Bray

Charlotte Mobile Hairdresser Professional Hairdressing for

Roo Davies Life Coach

Nutritional Therapy

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Helping to keep your feet in a healthy condition Based in Thame, I am also a fully qualified massage therapist offering holistic massage and reflexology REGISTERED MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONERS

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Life bites

by Sarah Virág

Unearth Your Purpose

A

t some point in life, it’s totally normal to question your purpose, and the path that you’re on.

Like the ticking of some giant, invisible clock, the passage of time can occasionally make us wonder if we’re perhaps missing some critical link in our personal journey.

And quite often we start this deep soul searching as we move into the so called ‘middle years’.

It’s the time when children are becoming more independent, or have flown the nest. Equally, our self questioning may follow major upheaval such as divorce, a change of career, the loss of parents, or any other life changing event.

But this perfectly normal process of reflection and occasional self doubt shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing. Think of it as vital mental ‘housekeeping’ - urging you to keep on track of what you want out of life. No matter your age.

These 4 questions will help reveal whether you’re on course; 1. “Am I being true to myself?”

Make sure that daily life is

Sarah Virág Confidence Coach

aligned with the aspirations you hold for yourself. Try to start each day with a mental list of 3 small personal goals to achieve before bedtime. A life spent plodding through only that demanded of us by others can be very debilitating.

2. “Am I tuning into my inner strengths?”

Great satisfaction comes from knowing that you’re tapping into innate personal skills. Because when you allow your unique skill set to shine, everything feels more

Your yoga practice is....

comfortable and authentic.

3. “Will I look back one day and feel that I accomplished something meaningful?”

Your drive in life is beautifully unique. So if you feel motivated to solve a problem you see, or to get behind a global cause, perhaps to explore or create something unique, for example, then follow your passion and don’t be put off by others around you!

4. “Does my life fulfil me and fill me with optimism?”

If you’ve ever thought to yourself ‘there has to be more to life than this…’, then it’s time to sit up listen to that knowing inner voice - and take action. Remember that all adventures and journeys start with that tiny first step, and you don’t need to wait for anyone’s permission. So decide what’s calling you, and start taking bite sized steps towards that goal.

“What’s the purpose of life?”

To create a life with purpose! l Sarah Virág BA (Hons) is a

confidence coach, writer, former global events manager and author of bestselling book ‘Wings for Life‘.

Follow her on Instagram for daily coaching insights: @sarah.virag Website: www.sarah-virag.com Email: sarah@sarah-virag.com FB: /SarahViragConfidenceCoach Instagram: @sarah.virag

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Thame Therapy Clinic Complementary Health Therapies from Experienced Practitioners 23 Upper High Street, Thame, OX9 3EX Tel: 01844 215555

www.thametherapyclinic.co.uk

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

The future is bright Ellen Aubrey’s 4beauty salon may be located in the quiet backwater of Whitchurch but the award-winning business caters for a sophisticated clientelle who appreciate the premium brands and high quality service provided...

N

ow in it’s 13th year 4beauty is firmly established as one of the area’s leading beauty salons but Ellen and her team still work hard to offer more.

Treatments and services are constantly updated, while the salon and its range of sophisticated equipment is kept up to date and in tip top condition. When Vale Life visited recently one of the main treatment rooms had just been refurbed with floor, decor and units all updated to complement the salon’s bright, clean, modern look, while the reception area, nail bar and luxuriously regal pedicure stations rejuvenated last year also look rather splendid.

“I am really pleased with our brighter more clinical look,” says owner Ellen. “I think it suits the treatments we are introducing. People are looking for results these days and we now have some really exciting and effective new skincare and anti-ageing treatments to offer, in addition to our popular Guinot range.

“In what is arguably our most exciting launch yet we are now officially partnered

by Crystal Clear - the British born global brand, favoured by beauty professionals for its pioneering and innovative treatments - which boasts an unrivalled celebrity following and is famed for its ‘Red Carpet Ready’ instant result facials.

Ellen administers a COMCIT Elite Frozen Facial

4beauty owner Ellen Aubrey

“We are now able to offer our clients the COMCIT Elite H20 Glow Facial, a targeted treatment to give your complexion an instant boost of hydration resulting in a radiant, fresh, youthful ‘event ready’ skin.

“And also the COMCIT Elite Frozen Facial, which is a focussed anti-ageing treatment, using advanced therapies of Microdermabrasion, Cyrotherapy, Oxygen and Mircochannelling / Microneedling.

“After giving the skin a crystal blast to remove all dead skin cells and a frozen infusion followed by a helping of pure

4beauty reception and retail section

oxygen, the MicroChannelling then creates hundreds of microscopic channels in the skin’s epidermal and dermal junction, allowing the topical infusion of powerful skin rejuvenation ingredients to be driven into the skin, resulting in instantly smooth, fresh, firmer, plumper and more youthful skin.

“The treatment reduces lines and wrinkles and promotes new collagen production resulting in tauter, rejuvenated skin. It is painless, non-invasive and has no down time.

“With both treatments a course is recommended in order to achieve maximum results but you should see an instant improvement after your very first treatment.

Your skin will be beautifully plumped and feel firmer and after the COMCIT Elite Frozen Facial the results will get better and better as new collagen production is kick-started around day four. For the ultimate rejuvenation we recommend a course of six treatments, taken two weeks apart.

“We would like to offer all Vale Life Magazine readers who contact us in May or June 15% off your first Crystal Clear COMCIT Elite H20 Glow or Frozen Facial.”

To book your discounted facial, contact 4beauty as below and quote the code: ‘Vale Offer’. l 4beauty Ltd, 56 High Street, Whitchurch, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4JS Tel: 01296 640644 Email: admin@4-beauty.com Web: www.4-beauty.com Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

35

Health & Beauty Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

G o o d h e a lt h

with Sandra Smith

Gout playing up again?

I

f you associate gout with bloated historical figures who filled their time scoffing rich food, washed down with copious amounts of fortified alcohol, then you’re right. Or to be more accurate, half right. You see, this painful condition may have been common hundreds of years ago, amongst overweight men with an unbalanced diet but, and here’s the bad news, it hasn’t yet been eradicated.

Gout is a form of arthritis typically affecting foot, knee, ankle, hand and wrist joints, and especially the big toe.

Attacks, which are likely to affect more than twice as many men as women, are painful and often arise without warning, leading to swollen joints which are hot to the touch. Family links to the disorder are also possible.

Right, that’s the doom and gloom out of the way. Now read on because I’m pleased to say

Gout can cause joints to swell painfully there are ways of reducing your likelihood of succumbing to this nasty ailment. First, here’s the science.

Substances known as purines exist in cells within the human body and foods we eat. As meals are digested, and old cells broken down, purines are converted to uric acid and an excess of uric acid in the bloodstream causes gout.

Anti-Wrinkle

An attack usually peaks within a few hours and may last for several days so it is best to consult your GP as soon as possible.

A simple blood test will ascertain your uric acid levels though a more specific test – taking fluid from around the joint – will confirm whether or not the problem is gout. As far as possible, painful joints should be immobilised; ice packs will help reduce any swelling.

Short term remedies include anti-inflammatory medication or steroids. But by making adjustments to your lifestyle, you could significantly lower the chances of any, or repeated, debilitating bouts.

Carrying too much weight is, the UK Gout Society advocates, inadvisable. Slow weight loss is recommended along with eating smaller amounts of purine rich foods such as red meat and seafood. They also suggest

Good Health

Sandra Smith reducing alcohol consumption. In fact the NHS advises at least two alcohol free days and no more than 14 units of alcohol per week plus avoidance of fatty foods, so reducing uric acid levels.

Gout may not be confined to the history books but changes to your eating and drinking habits just might be the key to ensuring your life is not blighted by painful joints. www.ukgoutsociety.org l Sandra Smith is a freelance

writer, follow her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visit her website: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk

Clinic

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

French connection Hidden Beauty is about revealing your fabulousness not hiding it away and in Laura Gilbey’s cosy new one room salon there’s a host of options to help you feel “très bon” and look “magnifique”...

L

aura Gilbey is a fully qualified Beauty Therapist with more than 25 years experience in the industry.

She has worked in the Aylesbury area for much of this time and run her own salons in Bedgrove and more recently in Stoke Mandeville (at the Bucks Goat Centre).

She is now offering a range of beauty and relaxation treatments at her newly appointed salon by the side of her home in Fairford Leys.

Laura is a friendly, conscientious and caring professional who has always provided outstanding customer care and utilised high quality products.

Treatments offered include: Manicures and Pedicures (including OPI Gel Colour and Shellac), Rock Star Nails and Minx Designs; a variety of Massage options including Indian Head Massage and Thai Foot Massage; Waxing; Eyelash and Eyebrow Tints, Eyebrow Waxing, Eyelash Extensions and Infills; Callus Peels to soften and heal painful cracked heels or hard skin areas; ear piercing; and a fabulous range of Payot Facials.

“I am really excited to be offering Payot

Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion products and facials,” says Laura. “It’s a high quality brand from France that’s been around for nearly 100 years but we don’t really know it over here. It’s a brilliant skincare brand based on innovative formulas that incorporate the latest scientific advances and they produce really lovely products that give great results.

“It’s taken me a while and a lot of research and sampling to find a skincare range that has really impressed me but I am very pleased with Payot’s treatments and products and the results they can achieve. The facials involve a lot more than just applying products, there are

Laura Gilbey

specific relaxing massage movements to go with them and the training is very detailed.

“I offer two Essential Facials (45 mins) a deep cleansing, rehydrating and nourishing facial; and a deep cleansing, detoxing and brightening facial; and an Eclat Essential Facial (60 mins) - a superfruit facial to revive a dull complexion while plumping and energising your skin, which are all fabulous.

“Payot’s Liss Absolu facial (75 mins) helps combat the first signs of ageing by delaying the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with a professional AHA peeling, rebalancing and repairing mask. It also helps protect your skin from the blue light emitted by computer and mobile screens, using their revolutionary Blue Techni Liss products. You are left relaxed while your skin will be smoother, radiant and luminous.

“To prevent the signs of ageing and loss of radiance there is La Supreme Experience (90 mins), which includes two specialised treatment masks to help smooth, plump and rehydrate your skin, visibly reducing fine lines and wrinkles, firming facial contours and leaving the skin looking quite radiant.

“I also offer Diamond Tip Microbrasion (60 mins) which is a non invasive form of deep exfoliation using a wand with a choice of three diamond tipped heads to smooth and soften dry and dehydrated skin, acne scarring, surface lines, wrinkles and other skin

irregularities and blemishes. The treatment continues with a relaxing massage and a hydrating and soothing mask and finishes with the appropriate moisturiser for your skin type.

It’s brilliant - the perfect facial to instantly replenish and revitalise your skin.

“I am also qualified in Thai Foot Massage which I actually love having done myself. It’s especially good for those who don’t want a body massage but would enjoy and benefit from a really lovely, relaxing experience.”

Laura is looking forward to welcoming clients old and new to her new salon. For more information, see her website or give her a call. Visits are by appointment only, so please contact her as below. If she doesn’t answer she may be with a client, so please leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as she is free.

Laura is available all day on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. She works flexible hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and is closed on Sundays.

For Vale Life Magazine readers wishing to try one of her Payot facials Laura is offering a special discount of 15% off all facials during May and June 2019. Facials range from £35 to £70 (see website for details). l Hidden Beauty, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 7FW Tel: 07771 330366 Web: www.hiddenbeautyaylesbury.co.uk

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Health & Beauty Vale Life : May/Jun 2018

“

They feel like my own teeth again!

It’s smiles all round in Saunderton, where Oakview Dentures is celebrating a year since opening its doors to the local community. The high quality services offered are much in demand and the future is looking bright...

B

ased just outside Princes Risborough, in Saunderton, Oakview Dentures provides a full range of services for local denture wearers, including repairs, relines, new dentures and a full denture cleaning service.

“We’ve had a great first year,” says Oakview’s Clinical Dental Technician, Roy Davies, who runs the Denture side of the business, “which has really established us as a quality denture provider for the local area. Many happy customers have passed through these doors, since February 2018 and all have given us positive feedback on the service and quality of our products.”

One such customer from Hughenden Valley commented: “I had heard about Oakview Dentures and was really keen to talk to them since my old dentures looked terrible and were very uncomfortable.

“Oakview Dentures is easy to access and has plenty of parking, so appointments were no worry and Roy was so patient throughout the whole process, it made things very easy. As for

Before

Roy Davies, Oakview’s Clinical Dental Technician the dentures they have made - they are absolutely marvellous - they feel like my own teeth again!

Quite simply - the most natural-looking dentures you’ll find!

When you’re creating something as unique as a tooth you need to be a perfectionist and Oakview Dentures has a team of them - all dedicated to providing the very best service and an end product that exceeds expectations. Plus having a dental lab on-site, speeds up the whole process, from start to finish.

With National Smile Month taking place this year from 13th May to 13th June, there is no

better time to see what Oakview Dentures could do for your smile as during this period, all denture work undertaken will receive a 15% discount.

Call Oakview Dentures on: 01494 569466 to set up a no obligation appointment to see how they can help. l Oakview Dentures, Units 1 & 2 Ministry Wharf, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4HW Tel: 01494 569466 www.oakviewdentures.co.uk

After

Our clinical dental technician, Roy, is a master craftsman who creates the ultimate in aesthetics for removable dentures.

The ‘True to Life’ technique incorporates tissue colour mapping using digital photography and individual tooth and gum characterisation. l

Fast and reliable service

l

Easy parking on site

Call Oakview Dentures directly on: 01494 569466 to arrange an appointment

T: 01494 569466

Oakview Dentures, Units 1 & 2 Ministry Wharf, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4HW

www.oakviewdentures.co.uk 38

Vale Life : May/Jun 2018

”

H e a lt h f o c u s

Health & Fitness

with Andy McCrea

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Moving is your medicine W ouldn’t it be great if there was one pill or potion that could;

REDUCE • Type 2 diabetes by 40%, • cardiovascular disease by 35% • joint and back pain by 25% • colon and breast cancer by 20%

Sessions of manual therapy help in the short term but DO NOT provide a long term solution.

A tailored exercise programme specific to you and your condition is far more appropriate (and easier on your wallet) !!

How much exercise?

Imagine if the same pill could reduce stress and depression, improve sleep patterns and help with weight loss - a pretty remarkable drug right ????

Well there is an intervention… it’s free... it’s not a pill or potion AND it’s applicable to all ages EXERCISE !!

At Elite we have all the technology (ultrasound, shock wave, interferential, isokinetic machines) and we perform acupuncture and manual therapy, but the more I do this job and the more success stories I see, the more I realise that the best preventative medicine and maintenance of physical health is exercise.

Andy McCrea Elite Physiotherapist

Which exercise is best?

To be honest anything that you enjoy!! This can be walking, cycling, lifting weights, Thai Chi, dancing, whatever gets you moving and makes you sit less. Two strength sessions a week has had proven success in maintaining bone density and managing weight.

Simples !!

There are practical steps you can take - we have a saying at Elite “tweak your week” i.e. take the stairs, alight one stop early, stand up meetings, park further from the shops, be creative !!

I will leave you with one final thought from Edward Stanley: “Those who think that they don’t have time for exercise will sooner or later have to make time for illness”

Andy hosts free lectures on “Exercise is Medicine” and has presented to local business’ and organisations including The Women’s Institute, Ellesborough Golf Club, Thame Hockey Club, Aylesbury Grammar School and Ashfold School.

For further information on these seminars or for a bespoke exercise programme contact the team at Elite as below. l Elite Physical Medicine. Clinics

in Aylesbury, Haddenham and Tring T: 01296 437717 E: enquiries@elitephysicalmedicine.co.uk W: www.elitephysicalmedicine.co.uk Facebook Instagram Twitter Check out our Google Reviews

weights

North Street Thame OX9 3TH | 01844 261754 | info@racquets-fitness-centre.com Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

39

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Jumping with joy!

It’s hard to find places that are not only fun but cool enough to appeal to the whole family. RushUK in Wycombe provides plenty to occupy the energetic amongst us, whilst those who would rather take it easy, can do so in comfort, with a great cup of coffee...

R

ushUK is an exciting, state-ofthe-art brand of trampoline parks currently boasting facilities in Birmingham and High Wycombe.

Rush offers a safe family-friendly environment where kids of all ages can escape the pressures of life and enjoy letting off steam while improving fitness with a range of activities. The parks are a heaven for kids and a haven for parents and include a comfortable restaurant and relaxation area with good quality snacks and drinks, stylish seating, WiFi and Sky TV. The Main Court is packed with a sea of trampolines and more! You can book an open jump session for 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes and bounce yourself silly on the 72ft long tumble lanes, flat dodgeball court, extreme dodgeball court, giant foam pits and trampoline-sprung basketball lanes among others. Under fours are restricted to dedicated Toddler Open Jump sessions to keep them safe.

It’s not just for kids though, Rush is an adult trampoline park too with the Main Courts hosting Adult Trampoline Fitness Classes, Student Socials, Team Building Days and activities for Autistic and SEN children, in addition to Children’s Trampoline Parties.

Other fun, bouncing options include: Dodgeball (ball throwing/dodging team game), Rush Wipeout (avoid the sweeping arm), a High Performance Arena with Stunt Walls - a must for gymnasts, tumblers and parkour experts, where you can master the fanciest freestyle flips and tricks; Adrenaline Rush Assault Course; Battle Beam (gladiator style jousting with your friends and family); Foam Pit (jump and enjoy a soft landing); Trampoline Basketball; Dodge Attack (ball/ target trampoline game); Football Darts (test your soccer skills with a giant dartboard); and Walking Sticks (test your balance and bravery on the ascending stepping sticks see centre picture). There is also a range of fitness classes utilising the trampolines from Bootcamp to Circuits, High Intensity interval training and Discocise, plus Spinning on bikes in the Spinning Studio.

Rush UK is run by Sam Williams, a mother 40

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

The Main Court

Sam Williams

Walking Sticks of three with a background in finance and an interest in fitness (she is a qualified personal trainer) who wanted to create a clean, safe, environment where families could enjoy healthy activities together. She opened her first centre at Wycombe in 2015 in a converted 30,000sqr ft warehouse and it has proved very popular. She now has a second in Birmingham.

In addition to the activities Wycombe has an impressive mezzanine level café/restaurant overlooking the trampoline park, which is the perfect place to kick back with a cuppa whilst feeling confident that your kids are safe and having fun. Refreshments include handcrafted coffee and a range of drinks and healthy, homemade food (don’t worry - burgers pizzas

and party fare are also on the menu, plus sugar free slush puppies and calorie controlled ice cream!)

It’s not all bouncing though, recently Rush Trampoline Parks teamed up with Bandai NAMCO to bring their customers additional family fun in the form of some spectacular, interactive, stand up games. The selection at Wycombe includes: The World’s Largest PAC MAN - played on a video billboard; MACH Storm flight simulator; X Games Snowboarder simulator; A green screen ‘Movie Booth’ that will seat you next to your favourite Hollywood star; Air Hockey and Pac Man Basket Ball!

Rush is the perfect venue for kids parties, with a variety of packages combining time on the trampolines, (including games with your dedicated party host), with delicious party food and drink options in your private party room.

Rush is also good for group events such as school or club trips, charity fundraisers, corporate events and much more. With a popular Kids Holiday Camp, Fitness Classes and a weekly DJ Night too, there really is something for everyone. l Rush Trampoline Park, Lexmark House, Coronation Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 3TA Tel: 01494 414128 Email: jump@rushuk.com Web: www.rushuk.com

Education

E d u c at i o n m at t e r s

by Nick Andrews

Nick Andrews

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

How many words..?

Y

ou might be surprised to hear that most readers of this column will know between 50,000 and 60,000 words.

The English language has well over 1,000,000 words, so we cannot know them all but by the time children get to GCSE they need to have developed a hoard of around 50,000 words to really thrive.

There is much talk in education of ‘closing the gap’; or the current version, the rather more twee, ‘narrowing the difference’.

Politicians and educationalists have all failed to do this; despite earnest and well-meaning efforts.

There is now a wide body of research that links word poverty to relative failure at school. After home postcode and earnings and academic qualifications of parents, word recognition is emerging as the most significant factor in later success.

The vocabulary gap starts early and grows exponentially thereafter.

Word poor children are left unable to describe their world, the limits of their vocabulary really do prove to be the limits of their potential.

So, what to do? Let’s define some terms first.

The important distinction between Receptive vocabulary, the words we hear and read, and Expressive vocabulary, the words we say and write is key.

I will deal with the former this month and the latter next – both deserve the space.

Receptive vocabulary Talking with your child is a parental responsibility – but beware; a surprisingly small number of words (2,000) make up 80% of our spoken language.

The parent must consciously and deliberately expand the vocabulary in the talking, including abstract, academic and more complex words.

Just ‘chatting’ is not enough.

This must be twinned with high quality guided reading. This means reading alongside, your child and pausing at frequent intervals to check and re-check understanding as you read the same book together.

We should not believe that children’s reading ability is fixed at five years, the age most learn to read. It is a mistake to then passively assume ‘reading for pleasure’ will take care of vocabulary development thereafter.

Your child’s development can easily stall, become circular and repetitive and then they suffer badly at the leap from Primary to Secondary schooling when they need to deal with multiple academic subjects.

A way through this for conscientious parents is to work with the child to discover both the meanings of new and exciting words (notice that I didn’t say difficult and uncomfortable); their etymology - where the word came from – and their morphology -

Education Matters knowledge of the word parts.

In other words – the dictionary ‘game’ ( where etymology and morphology is found) is vital to the end ‘game’ – which is your child leaving school with those 50,000 words independently accessible to them.

It really is about words.

Hearing new ones, reading new ones and discovering what they mean and where they came from.

They provide access to all the subjects at school and just 300 to 400 new ones a year from Reception onwards can foster an annual growth of 3000 to 4000 words – and it is something every family can do.

Expressive vocabulary next issue! l Nick Andrews, a retired Headteacher, offers an individual home tutoring service in English and Maths. Contact him on: nickubiq@gmail.com

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41

Health and Fitness

f o ot h e a lt h

with Jenney Klose

Put your best foot forward

F

oot care is important in all stages of life. For children, it is necessary to take extra care to avoid problems and deformities in later life, and as we get older, everyday wear and tear can take its toll. Podiatrists are experts in all aspects of the foot and lower limb, with years of specialist training enabling us to diagnose, treat and help people to look after their feet and lower limbs.

Feet are one of the hardest working parts of our bodies, but they are also one of the most neglected. During the Summer we enjoy exposing our feet more, so it’s a good time to encourage people to get to know their feet better and not ignore any foot pain they are experiencing.

Here are five easy tips for keeping your feet healthy: 1. Cut nails correctly. It’s best to use nail nippers rather than cutters, because they have a

small cutting blade and a longer handle. Cut nails straight across and not too low at the edge or sides. The corner of the nail should be visible above the skin.

It’s better to cut nails after a bath or shower when they are softer 2. Don’t forget to moisturise.

After washing feet, dry thoroughly and apply a good foot moisturiser all over the foot. Avoid moisturiser between the toes, as this can cause the skin to become overly macerated and break down. The best foot creams contain urea!

3. Don’t assume flat is best.

People are aware of the health problems associated with wearing high heeled shoes frequently, but completely flat slip-on styles, such as a ballerina pump, are not ideal for everyday wear, as they offer very little shock absorption or support. Slip-on styles also cause the toes to claw in order to hold the foot in place 4. Alternate shoes and keep

them clean inside. Feet naturally sweat and wearing the same pair every day doesn’t give them a chance to dry out. They can then become a breeding ground for bacteria. To help keep shoes clean and non smelly, clean inside with surgical spirit on a cotton wool pad to reduce bacteria.

5. Check your feet regularly.

Common symptoms to look out for are yellow, brittle and discoloured nails - which can be a sign of a nail infection, flaky skin that may be dry, red or itchy – which can be a symptom of athlete’s foot, and any changes to the structure of the foot such as swelling to the joint around the ball of the foot.

Foot pain is not normal. If you or a family member experience pain then visit a podiatrist.

Ignoring problems can, over time, cause damage to the feet and lower limbs. If your feet hurt, or you notice anything unusual about them, visit a registered podiatrist,

Jenney Klose Podiatrist

who can diagnose causes of pain and provide appropriate treatment.

Always ensure that any practitioners you visit are registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and describe themselves as a podiatrist (or chiropodist).

To book an appointment at Feet First Podiatry clinic in Thame please contact us on 01844 261023 Monday to Friday or for more information visit our website www.feet-first.org l Feet First, 13a Upper High

Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3ER Tel: 01844 261023 Email: enquiries@feet-first.org Web: www.feet-first.org

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Your guiding Knight UK pension options have changed in recent years and many of us can now choose how we receive the fruits of our contributions. It is a complicated area though with serious financial implications if you make the wrong decision! Happily pensions expert Elizabeth Knight is here to create some clarity...

E

lizabeth Knight is something of a pensions expert, having specialised in this particular area of the financial sector for many years. She has worked for pension companies; with Pensionwise, the Government’s pension information service; and with the Financial Ombudsman Service as a pensions specialist.

“Pensions are incredibly valuable,” she says.

“They tend to be your biggest asset after your home and if you get them wrong it can make a big difference to how comfortable your retirement is.

“I realised when I got some of my own pension information together that it really is quite complicated, even to someone like me who has years’ of experience in the industry.

People have been given the power to make decisions on their own but will often feel that they need professional advice to help them understand exactly what the options and implications mean.

“Many people now have company pensions, private pensions and workplace pensions in addition to their State Pension and there are numerous ways we can access our pension pots. The options are a little confusing though, so it is not just those who wish to manage their own affairs that need help in understanding what their retirement options mean. Even if you have a financial advisor already you might be unsure where to start with them and which questions to ask.

“It is complicated, however, it can be explained in a simple way. I am here to provide clarity as to your position and

Elizabeth Knight

what is possible, so you can then decide where and how you are going to invest your pension. You can then do this on your own or by seeking financial advice, I don’t push particular products or sell anything, I am just hear to explain the options.”

Elizabeth set up Clarity Pension Guidance 4 U to help people understand what their options are when investing or drawing on their pension pot. Primarily aimed at those who are 55 or over, as this is the age from which you can access your pension, it is especially useful for those who have several different pensions, accumulated whilst working for different employers and for those who are not yet of State Pension age but would like to work less and top up their reduced income, or those who have hit pension age but don’t want to retire yet!

“I’m not a financial advisor,” says

Elizabeth, “I don’t sell financial products or offer investment advice, I offer guidance and will explain clearly and simply the options that are open to you. I aim to equip you with the information you need to feel confident when taking the next step - whether that is with your current provider, through a financial advisor or by doing it yourself.

“Pensions are valuable assets. What you do with your pension is one of the most important decisions you can make - after all there will hopefully be many years and events to plan for.

“You will find there are different kinds of annuities you can buy, different options you can build in: lump sums, flexible income, tax liabilities, strange abbreviations and terms... having someone to explain what it all means can be very helpful.

“I will ensure that you are fully informed, empowered and able to think clearly about what you want to achieve with your valuable pension savings pot, so you can make the right choice, for you.”

Elizabeth is based above Martin Kemp’s offices on Temple Street in old Aylesbury.

She offers a one hour appointment for £60 and generally finds this is sufficient time to explain your choices, although if a couple wanted to discuss both partners’ options it would require longer. Her hours are flexible and can include evening or Saturday appointments. She is also happy to do telephone consultations. Appointments can be booked by telephone, email or online via: www.claritypensionguidance4u.co.uk Elizabeth also offers a consultation service for smaller businesses who don’t have their own pension departments. She can go in and explain to groups of employees nearing 55 what their options could be and where to look for products or investment advice. She can be contacted as below. l Elizabeth Knight, Clarity Pension Guidance 4 U Ltd, 1st floor, 26 Temple Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2RQ T: 01296 767456 E: elizabeth.knight@claritypensionguidance4u.co.uk W: www.claritypensionguidance4u.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Community

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

G o o d to g i v e

by Katie Higginson

Do your bit for Dementia

D

ementia can be a scary and lonely prospect. It makes us question our sense of self – who are we if not our memories and our personality?

But those who have lived with dementia, in themselves, friends or relatives, will also know that it can be full of moments of light and joy.

Dementia is used to describe symptoms that include memory loss, difficulties with language, thinking and decision-making.

Other signs may be difficulties in language, changes in mood, frustration, visuospatial skills, anxiousness and orientation issues.

All of which are a challenge for the person to adapt to and for those around them.

Statistics suggest that by 2021 there will be a million people living with the condition. It mainly affects older people, and increases in likelihood with age, but dementia also affects nearly 40,000 people under the age of 65 in the UK. Alzheimer’s Society have a base

Katie Higginson

Good to give Diane Rutter with her father Charles in Buckinghamshire and have a great Side by Side volunteering programme where you get the chance to make a difference to someone’s life.

This programme involves you partnering up with an individual with dementia and assisting them, providing advice and supporting them with activities. Small adjustments can make a difference to wellbeing and help fight feelings of isolation and vulnerability. In return you will feel rewarded with a sense of fulfilment and by giving back to the community.

You can also get involved in

A quote that not many painters and decorators can match.

Decorare D e c o r ato r s to t r u s t

Call 01844 299040 or visit www.decorareltd.co.uk 44

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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On their van it says ‘Decorators to trust’.

That is 100% true. Could not be bettered.

Dementia Action Week which is from 20-26th May, it encourages people to take positive action by improving the lives of people with dementia.

My colleague Diane Rutter told me “Being alongside my father throughout his dementia opened my eyes to the rich possibilities of living life with fun together. He loved reminiscing, reciting tongue twisters, watching animals at play.

A trip out to the garden centre was filled with delight as his face lit up at blossoms and flowers and he tried to tell me about them. As his cognitive abilities diminished we

nevertheless found things to make him smile and laugh – and that was so rewarding. So much so that I am now a volunteer Dementia Friend Champion with the Alzheimer’s Society. I’d encourage anyone to get involved and bring a smile to people’s faces.”

If you would like to find out how you can get involved visit: www.do-it.org for befriending opportunities or alternatively get in contact with Jane Penton, Volunteering Officer (Bucks, Berks, Oxon), at Alzheimer’s Society on jane.penton@alzheimers.org.uk or 01296 331722. l Katie Higginson is CEO of

Community Impact Bucks: Tel: 0300 111 1250 www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk

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CASE STUDY

MODERnAyLESBuRy SERVICED OFFICES AyLESBuRy AyLESBuRy AyLESBuRy AyLESBuRy AyLESBuRy MODERn SERVICED OFFICES MODERn SERVICED OFFICES TO LET MODERn SERVICED OFFICES MODERn SERVICED OFFICES MODERn SERVICED OFFICES AyLESBuRy MODERn SERVICED OFFICES TO LET TO LET In pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE TO LET MODERn SERVICED OFFICES TO LET TO LET To LetSALE-In Aylesbury TO LET pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE OF 43 BUSINESS UNITS IN AYLESBURY In pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE with great on-site car parking In pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE TO LET In pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE InIn pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE TOTALING 19,551 SQ FT pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE with car withgreat greaton-site on-siteOffices carparking parking with great on-site car parking Serviced Inwith pRETIGIOuS BuSInESS CEnTRE with great on-site car parking great on-site car PureModern Offices are located on the popular Midshires Business Park, on the western edge of with great on-site carparking parking Aylesbury town centre and within easy access to the A418 and the on-site A41.

Pure Offices are located on the popular Midshires Business Park, on edge of with great on-site car parking in Prestigious Business Centre with great caredge parking Pure Officesare arelocated located onthe the popular Midshires Business Park, onthe thewestern western edge Pure Offices on popular Midshires Business Park, on the western ofof

Space Business Centre

pRESS RELEASE

Pure Offices are located on the popular Midshires Business Park, on thewestern westernedge edgeof Aylesbury town centre and within easy access toto the A418 and the A41.

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Aylesbury town centre and within easy access to the A418 and the A41.

Aylesbury town centre and within easy access to the A418 and the A41.

Pure Offices are located on the popular Midshires Business Park, on the Aylesbury town centre andand within access totothe A418 the Aylesbury town within easy access the A418and and the A41.

Pure Offices arecentre located on the easy popular Midshires Business Park, onA41. the western edge of

Aylesbury townof centre and within easy access with to theeasy A418 access and the A41. western edge Aylesbury town centre, to the A418 and A41

CHAnDLER GARVEy MARkET nEW COMMERCIAL Buy TO LET OppORTunITy In AyLESBuRy

Alan Chandler, Director of Chandler Garvey has been instructed by Kingston Space Ltd to market the Space Business Centre, a development of 27 units located in one back to back terrace and 16 units in the other. The units are of modern construction, having been built in 2009. The sizes range from 367 sq. ft. up to 908 sq. ft. and are fitted with a mezzanine floor.

The total accommodation on the estate is 19,541 sq. ft. The site benefits from tax and stamp duty savings, cheaper than renting, commercial investment yields will be higher than yields on residential buy to lets, all units are business rates exempt (small business rate relief), and there is a dedicated unit and visitor parking.

The freehold is owned by Aylesbury Vale District Council and Kingston Space Ltd are the long leaseholders, with over 130 years remaining. Units are available from £64,000 plus VAT.

All units are let on monthly licences now producing Chandler Garvey were instructed a year or so and ago are

by Kingston Spacea gross Ltd annual income in excess details from Alan Chandler – ac@chandlergarvey.com / 01296 398383. to dispose of of the£300,000.

43 smallFurther business units at Space Business Centre, 'Undeterred by our Aylesbury. The units ranged from 367 sq ft, rising to the largest instructions that the majority measuring 908 sq ft and totaling some 19,551 sq ft, together with good of the estate be sold as on-site car parking. individual units, Alan and his

team worked hard to build All the units have been let on either short term leases or periodic up sales momentum and in licenses and the long leasehold of all of the units have been sold by the end we achieved a Chandler Garvey through their Aylesbury Office. So confident was the The property benefits fromhis themouth following amenities: fantastic result.'

Agent in the investment that he put the money where is and The property benefits from the following amenities: Theproperty propertybenefits benefits from thefollowing following amenities: property benefits from the amenities: from the following amenities: lbenefits from the following amenities: Stylish and Break Out Areas/kitchenettes l Ample WCs The property benefits from the following amenities: TheThe property benefits themodern following amenities: bought aThe unitproperty as part of hisfrom pension!

Ian Bond,throughout Kingston Space Ltd l l Free Superfast Broadband included 6 person passenger lift l Carpeting The property benefits from the Out following amenities:  Stylish and modern break Out Areas/ kitchenettes  Ample WC’s Stylish and modern break Areas/ kitchenettes  Ample WC’s  Stylish and modern break Out Areas/ kitchenettes  Ample WC’s Stylish and break Out Areas/ kitchenettes  Ample WC’s Meeting Rooms Stylish andmodern modern break Out Areas/ kitchenettes Ample Stylish and modern break Out Areas/ kitchenettes l Perimeter l l Trunking Good on-site car parking Fabulous  Stylish and modern break Out Areas/ kitchenettes 8Ample WC’s  Superfast Broadband included 8person person passenger Superfast Broadband included passenger liftliftlift Superfast Broadband included 8 person passenger lift The freehold is owned by Aylesbury Vale District Council and Kingston  Superfast Broadband included  8 person passenger Superfast Broadband included 8 person Superfast Broadband included and modern break Out Areas/ kitchenettes Board Ample WC’s lStylish l Monthly l Disabled Suspended ceilings with recessed lighting rolling contract access  Superfast Broadband included 8 person passenger lift  Carpeting throughout Board room Carpeting throughout room Carpeting throughout  Board room Carpeting throughout 8 Board Carpeting throughout Board room Space were the long leaseholders with over 130 years left. Individual Carpeting throughout Superfast Broadband included  person passenger lift  Good on-site car parking  Perimeter Trunking  Carpeting throughout Board room Offices available from 87sq ft to 524 sq ft Good parking  Perimeter Trunking Goodon-site on-sitecar carparking parking Perimeter Trunking sold Perimeter Trunking Good on-site car parking Perimeter Good Good on-site car parking last units have at around £165 to £170 per sq ft,contact however the saleroom Carpeting throughout Clarke Board ceilings with recessed lighting Fabulous meeting Rooms  Suspended Suspended with recessed lighting Fabulous meeting Rooms  Good on-site car parking Perimeter Trunking For further information please Terri at our Aylesbury office  Suspended ceilings with recessed lighting  Fabulous meeting Rooms Suspended ceilings with recessed lighting Perimeter Fabulous meeting Suspended ceilings with recessed lighting Fabulous Rooms Suspended ceilings with recessed lighting  Good on-site car parking  Trunking  Disabled access  Flexible lease terms exchanged contracts just before Christmas and comprised the whole of  Disabled Flexible lease terms  Suspended ceilings with recessed lighting  Fabulous meeting Rooms 398383 Disabledaccess access E. tc@chandlergarvey.com T. 01296  Flexible Flexible leaseterms terms Disabled lease Disabled access Flexible Disabled access Suspended ceilings withsq recessed  Fabulous meeting Rooms one terrace totaling some 7,366 ft (unitslighting 28 to 43) plus a further six lease  Disabled access Flexible terms Offices available from 87sq 87sq|ftftValuations to 524 524 sq sq m Offices to m  Disabled access  Flexible lease terms Lettings | Acquisitions | Investments | Property Management Offices available from 87sq to524 524 sqoverseas m units. This investment has been bought by an investor who Offices available from 87sq to 524 sq m Offices available from 87sq ftftftftto sq m Offices available from 87sq to 524 sq m Rent Reviews and Lease Renewals | to Development / Planning Advice | Business Rates Offices available from 87sq ft 524 sq m paid over £1.4 million for opportunity.

For further information please contact TerriClarke Clarke ChandlerGarvey GarveyLogo Logo For further please Chandler Alan Chandler: 01296 398 383 Offices available fromthis 87sq ft to contact 524 sq Terri m Forfurther furtherinformation informationplease please contact TerriClarke Clarke on property ChandlerGarvey GarveyLogo Logo For further information please contact Terri Clarke Chandler For Terri Chandler For further information please contact Terri Clarke ac@chandlergarvey.com A contact new perspective E. tc@chandlergarvey.com tc@chandlergarvey.com E. E. tc@chandlergarvey.com For E. further information please contact Terri Clarke Chandler Garvey Logo E. tc@chandlergarvey.com E. tc@chandlergarvey.com T.tc@chandlergarvey.com 01296 398383 T. 01296 further information contact Terri Clarke Chandler Garvey Logo T. 01296 398383 please www.chandlergarvey.com E.For tc@chandlergarvey.com T. 01296 398383 T. 01296 398383 T. 01296 398383 tc@chandlergarvey.com T.E.01296 398383 T. 01296 398383

Amersham

Aylesbury

High Wycombe

Marlow

01494 723999

01296 398383

01494 446612

01628 902488

www.chandlergarvey.com

Slough

01753 725700 Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

45

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

d ow n to b u s i n e s s

with Philippa Batting

Take some local time out

T

he spring and summer months provide some great opportunities to explore Buckinghamshire, whether you’re looking for relaxation, inspiration or an adrenaline boost.

The Buckinghamshire business community works its socks off all year round, but all work and no play makes for unproductive businesses full of people too stressed to work to their best ability.

Luckily, we live in a county that offers a work/life balance to rival anywhere and there’s no need to spend hours travelling as there is plenty of fun to be had close to home.

It’s easy to miss what’s right in front of us, or take it for granted.

What starts as “we’ll go there next time” can become “it’s a shame we never got to go there”. Stop and look around you, because you’ll find gems everywhere, and I’m not only referring to the Chiltern Hills, historic market towns, charming

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Take a ride on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway tea rooms, ancient woodlands, and 2,500 miles of public footpaths and bridle paths by the River Thames and Grand Union Canal.

There’s a lot to be said for supporting local attractions, from the economic benefits of spending locally, to the feeling of community that you get from places that just feel close to home. The main reason to keep your day trips in the local area though is the sheer volume of incredible places to go, from Stowe, Waddesdon Manor, Cliveden, and Hughenden Manor, to Bekonscot Model Village, Buckinghamshire County Museum, The Old Gaol, Chiltern Open Air Museum, and the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway. There’s also international sensation – the Midsomer Murders

Trail – which has been attracting visitors from Australia, the US, and Scandinavia to explore Thame and the surrounding villages.

Big things are in the offing at Silverstone too, with the new Silverstone Experience launching this spring, where you can get up close to iconic racing cars and take a Virtual Reality lap at the wheel of your own car?

The National Paralympic Heritage Museum recently opened at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. This legacy is something all local people should feel proud of and now the opportunity is there to learn more about it.

One exciting thing to look out for later this year is L’Etape UK – the

Philippa Batting Down to business

only cycling event in the UK that is officially affiliated with the Tour de France. This should provide a windfall to local businesses and the economy. This Chilterns cycling extravaganza takes place on July 14th and is a great chance to showcase local businesses, who can get involved with this event and the global Tour de France brand.

For more information visi: www.visitbuckinghamshire.org www.experienceoxfordshire.org or www.visitchilterns.co.uk l Philippa Batting is MD of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), working to support and facilitate success within the business community. Membership is free - visit: www.bbf.uk.com

Wellbeing

M e n ta l H e a lt h & W e l l b e i n g

by Lisa Lloyd

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Beating exam stress

S

o many people I’ve worked with recently are enduring the roller coaster of emotions that come with exams. Children learn from a young age that they have the potential to fail. And with age comes the sense of significance; if I don’t get the grades, my dreams are over.

There are so many myths and poor study habits that present barriers to effective revision and memory recall that it’s worth taking a step back and considering the big picture.

Let’s start with the parents.

Yes your ‘wee ones’ may now be independent teenagers but they need you. During this daunting time they need comfort and security.

But be warned, this may not be in the form that you’d recognise!

Irrational, tearful, angry, withdrawn behaviours are all signs of stress (and hormones). Your child isn’t choosing to behave in a way that makes their (and your) life

miserable. If your responses mirror their emotional insecurities, it’s going to be a very challenging time!

We need to ensure our students’ brains are in the best health. That means meeting their basic needs.

Are they getting 8-9 hours sleep a night; engaging with a relaxing, non-work, screen-free activity pre-bedtime; exercising for 30 minutes/day and getting fresh air to increase their energy levels; limiting caffeine, drinking plenty of water and eating healthy meals and snacks? If you answered “Yes!” to all these, you have a rare breed!

Young people often understand the

logic but need help to implement these self-care strategies.

Your scholar needs a timetable with realistic goals, broken into small chunks with breaks. When panic creeps up, encourage deep breathing, exhaling longer than the inbreath. Doing an activity mindfully during these intervals (e.g. walk, gym, have a bath) and fully engaging the five senses, helps bring racing imaginations back to the present, reducing emotional arousal and restoring rational thinking.

Most young people tell me they don’t have time for breaks. But imagine trickling a constant supply of stress into a jar... it soon fills up.

Emptying it out regularly allows the cognitive brain, concerned with memory, reasoning and logic, to perform at its best.

Revising with peers can be an effective technique that helps students absorb facts and benefit from social support to increase confidence. Encouraging young

Lisa Lloyd

It’s Time for Change

people to talk is crucial at times of stress and it is worth supporting them to get help from teachers and/ or health professionals if the young person is really struggling.

Finally, remind your son/ daughter that this moment in time is not going to determine their fate for ever. Remind them how far they have come and to believe in themselves. Helping them gain a sense of perspective is essential.

Anxiety during this time is normal and helps motivate students to take action, so frame it as an exciting time to show off all they’ve learned! l Lisa Lloyd Strategic Wellbeing: Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Trainer & Consultant at It’s Time for Change www.itstimeforchange www.linkedin.com/in/lisapsychology

serviced office space & business support 01844 211080 follow us twitter.com/sanderumcentre www.sanderumcentre.co.uk hello@sanderumcentre.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Homes & Gardens Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Step inside

by Polly Gibbs

Yellow Cloud Bathroom - Yellow Cloud Studio

Colour Wash

Return of the Coloured Basin A quiet little trend is emerging with a spattering of examples from pastels to fresh greens, with not an avocado suite in sight....

W

e’ve long been wedded to white sanitaryware since falling out of love with avocado, chocolate, pink, burgundy and even canary yellow most of which I redesigned in a decade of bathroom revamps for clients who couldn’t get rid of them quickly enough.

So you may well shudder at the thought of a coloured basin... yet, well, the new collections look pretty cool.

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Sienna basin in Forest

Polly Gibbs Step inside Polly Gibbs, Creative Director at Coco Design, shares her down to earth approach to interiors, from design secrets to trends and everything in between.

Step inside

Arla basin in Blush Introducing Kast Concrete basins made from an old school mix of aggregates, sand and cement.

Founder Tim Bayes explained how he started out with a fine art degree, however experimenting with various concrete surfaces evolved

into bespoke commissions for contemporary interiors. Spotting a demand, he developed “a collection of basins that are strong, durable and aesthetically pure.”

The range of colours is striking from masculine greys to feminine

by Polly Gibbs

Homes & Gardens Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Pitch basin in Mineral pastels, that challenge the notion of concrete as hard, cold and brutalist.

Concrete’s versatility not only allows for variations in form and colour, but texture too. The new Kast Canvas range includes textured exterior surfaces. Shown here, Vos,

Mara and Elm (see page 53) are imprinted with decorative detailing that bring a ceramicists artisan quality to them. A really beautiful and unique look.

Tim explained that concrete will Continued on page 50

Quartz & Granite Worktops

Superior Materials, Crafted with Care Find Us At

Views Farm Great Milton OX44 7NW

Call for a qoute today 01844 279274

www.stoneworld.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Homes & Gardens Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Step inside

Vos basin in Sandcastle Continued from page 49 continue to naturally patina over time, in much the same way as wood, antique mirror and natural

stone. Care is similar to that for natural stone; though sealed, wiping up spills promptly will help to maintain the integrity of the sealant

by Polly Gibbs

Mara basin in Ember and only warm soapy water with a non-abrasive cloth should be used for cleaning. Brackets are provided to wall-hang securely onto a suitable

substrate, or alternatively, they can be mounted on a specially made powder coated floorstanding frame.

Continued on page 52

High quality bespoke kitchens and furniture, handmade by skilled craftsmen in Buckinghamshire Complete Kitchens | Bedrooms | Wardrobes | Cupboards | Shelving | Storage Solutions | Furniture | Desks | Offices

‘Mark’s attention to details, such as the plate rack and bespoke drawer dividers, make everything a pleasure to look at and use.’

Unit 23, Kemps Farm, Chapel Road, Ford, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8XG Tel: 01296 706030 Email: mark@markwilliamsonfurniture.com Website: www.markwilliamsonfurniture.com 50

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Join the flush windows & doors revolution!

Finally there is a real alternative to timber windows.

A fully stocked showroom showroom including

Visit our Long Crendon & see our selection of stunning, premium quality Residence flush windows & doors Solidor ÂŽ

Superior flush casement windows and doors l Premium grade finish l Stylish design l Built to last l Energy efficient l Enhanced security l Looks like timber l Low maintenance l Easy to clean l Choice of colours, glazing options and hardware l Intelligent, 7 chamber design for high levels of durability and performance l Traditional straight joins or welded l

Omega Homestyle has over 25 years’ experience of designing and fitting premium doors, windows and conservatories We firmly believe that by keeping the entire process as stress free as possible, we are adding to your enjoyment of your new windows, doors and conservatories. For an individually tailored service and to find out exactly what we can do for you please contact us or come and visit our newly refurbished showroom.

Omega Homestyle, Woodway Farm Industrial Estate, Bicester Road, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 9EP Tel: 01844

201888, email: info@omegahomestyle.co.uk or visit:

www.omegahomestyle.co.uk

Lots to see! QuaLity products

Free parking

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Homes & Gardens Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Step inside

by Polly Gibbs

Charles Huntington Flooring Charles Huntington Flooring

•Expert Advice •Professional Fitting •Very Competitive for Residential and Commercial work •Carpets to suit all Budgets •Free Quotes •No Obligation Elm basin in Storm Terra basin in Mint •Free Parking

•Expert Advice •Professional Fitting •Very Competitive for Residential and Commercial work •Carpets to suit all Budgets •Free Quotes •No Obligation The concrete basins are •Free Parking complemented so perfectly by the

Charles Huntington Flooring

Continued from page 50 incorporated Kast Concrete basins mainly for raw materials with a (Kast Basins from around £1310 - in their ‘Triangle’ design for a fresh natural colour palette and textures” CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS look, “aiming at creating a serene explained designers and architects £2350 excl. frame/fittings).

SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES Eleni and Romanos.

Yellow Cloud Studio and tranquil atmosphere we opted

Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment

green/broken-white Bert & May Continued on page 55

•Expert CARPETS • VINYLSAdvice • SISAL • STAIR RODS SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES

•Professional Fitting Tel: 01296 337181 Mob: 07767370067 •Very Competitive Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Tel: 01296 Mob: 07767370067 for337181 Residential and 23 DUCK FARM COURT, STATION WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Commercial work DUCK FARM COURT, STATIONvinyl, WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ON QUALITY OR SERVICE l Independent, family run carpet l Carpet, sisal, coir, hardwood l Extensive range of23traditional Charles Huntington Flooring to suit all and flooring specialists l Exclusive suppliers of Roger Oates and contemporary flooring •Carpets Charles Huntington Flooring Charles Huntington WEcan WILL NOT BE BEATENyet ON hard-wearing QUALITY OR SERVICE •Expert Advice beautiful runners l Expert fitting service at competitiveFlooring prices - we Budgets and rugs in our local area l Domestic and commercial match or better your quote •Expert Advice Providing advice and installations Advice •Expert Advice•Free Fitting to private customers, professionals•Expert and •Professional Quotes•ProfessionalFitting •Professional Fitting •Professional Fitting contractors for over 25 years •Very Competitive •No Obligation for Residential and •Very Competitive •Very Competitive •Very Competitive Extensive experience with Commercial work for Residential and for Residential•Free and Parking thatched, heritage and listed buildings.

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Charles Huntington Flooring

Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment

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for Residential •Carpets to suit and all Budgets •Carpets to suit•Carpets all to suit all Commercial work Budgets Budgets •Free Quotes CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS •Free Quotes •Free Quotes •No Obligation •Carpets toParking suit all SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES •No Obligation •No Obligation •Free THE BEST IN home •Free Parking •Free Parking Budgets Opening Times: Monday to Friday •10am 5pm CARPETS VINYLSuntil • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS Saturday • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR CARPETS • VINYLS SISAL • Any STAIRother RODS SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES 10am until•RODS 4pm. time•Free by appointment Quotes Stoves, Installations Servicing SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD •&BINDING TAPES SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Tel: 01296 337181 Opening Mob:Times: 07767370067 •No Obligation Saturday 10am until 4pm.

Any other time by appointment Opening Times: Monday toto Friday 10am until 5pm Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm North Mill Road Bledlow Bucks HP2710am 9QP 01844 342400 info@northmillstoves.co.uk www.northmillstoves.co.uk Opening Times: Monday Friday until 3pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Saturday 10am until 4pm. 10am Any other appointment Saturday until time 4pm. by Any other time Tel: by appointment 01296 337181 Mob: 07767370067 Tel: 01296 337181 Mob:337181 07767370067 Tel: 01296 Mob: 07767370067 Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk •Free Parking 23 DUCK FARM COURT, STATION WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ Unrivalled customer service through the commitment of our family team.

Oxfordshire • Buckinghamshire • Hertfordshire • Berkshire • and beyond

Contact us to book your free home survey or to visit our showroom to see the stoves in action.

52

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

comforts

Homes & Gardens

A stove to make nature a part of your family home...

Call to discuss our Summer Installation Offers, or better still visit our new showroom

Tel: 01844 201208

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53

17/04

‘The Art of Wood Burning’

JØtul “fighting the cold since 1853”

The most comprehensive showroom in Oxfordshire Over 75 stoves and 15 under fire on display Kiln dried and Eco logs

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Boundary Business Park, Wheatley Road, Garsington, OX44 9EJ Showroom open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-1pm For technical advice it is advisable to make an appointment

01865 361505 www.manorhousestoves.co.uk Featured stoves from JØtul 54

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Step inside Continued from page 52 encaustic (cement) tiles, it’s like they were made for one another.

Polished plastered walls and soft tinted bespoke vanity units provide a contrast to the chalky matt of the cement and concrete. The space is injected with refreshing textural elements that bounce off each other. The symmetrical layout brings order, reflected in the grid of the crittal doors, whose solid black lines link with the shower screen, fittings, taps and lights by Flos (Stockist: Clippings). The towel holders mounted on the side of the vanity units show a level of detailed thought that marks out a true designer, where beauty holds hands with functionality. Greenery above the mirror cabinets complements the tiles, softens the hard surfaces and breathes in natural life. It’s a truly beautiful and harmonious space.

Cloakrooms are always great for making a statement and these Collina 35 basins are perfectly sized to add a touch of wow. Available in saffron yellow, powder pink, sage green, lavender, sea blue

by Polly Gibbs

Bathroom by Yellow Cloud Studio feat. Kast Concrete basins

and black, and of course white.

Play with surface ideas to find the best contrast to make the colour pop. Don’t be afraid to approach local artisans, metal workers and tradesmen to explore bespoke countertops and splashbacks made from unexpected surfaces like; galvanised steel, antique mirror, copper, gold, oak, or powder coated finishes. Just Google local suppliers and manufacturers and have a chat to see what’s possible. (Collina 35 Basin, £1014. For stockists,

Homes & Gardens Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

: Shower with Bert & May tiles

contact Alchemy Award info@ pinterest.co.uk/curious_coco/ alchemyaward.com). instagram.com/thecuriouscoco For more inspiration browse the Curious Coco dedicated ‘Bathroom l Polly is an award-winning Interiors’ Pinterest board and follow designer, Decorex100 interiors influencer & Amara Interiors @thecuriouscoco on instagram for a Blog Award Finalist. kaleidoscope of design inspiration.

If you’ve got a rockin’ interior or design dilemma, message her and it could feature in the next issue.

E: polly@curious-coco.com W: www.curious-coco.com Insta, Twitter, FB: @TheCuriousCoco

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VISITS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to book call our Head Office on 01487 740044 Open Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 2pm Closed Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

55

Homes & Gardens

safe as houses

with Nigel Grace

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Let works commence!

A

fter what seems an eternity works have finally started on our latest project.

We completed the purchase on the Tuesday, I met the contractor at the house on the Wednesday and by 8am the following Monday morning works were underway at a furious pace.

When you are planning a project and it has been delayed like my one, it is very important that you keep your contractor fully informed of the delay and when the job is likely to start. This is what I have been doing and as a result even though we completed the purchase several weeks later than originally intended, our contractor, John Shaw of JFS Property Services Limited was able to reallocate his labour so that they were available to start almost immediately, which was fantastic.

Within a couple of days all of the ceilings had been removed, the plaster removed from the first

56

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Nigel Grace

Safe as houses

A fair bit of work to do! floor walls and most importantly we had arranged for two window companies to come and give us a quote for the replacement windows and doors, and then the damp specialist visited to establish which walls needed treatment to eradicate the small areas of damp – surprisingly small considering the

house had been unoccupied for so long.

Our biggest challenge so far has been the services – gas, water and electric. We had established that the house had a gas supply (which we didn’t need), but the situation with the water and electric was a little different.

We couldn’t find a water meter, but a call to Thames Water established that the house had a water supply – we just needed to find it! After a short hunt we found what we thought was water – well it was a valve on a copper pipe, we turned it on and then turned on the tap and hey presto – water started to flow into the sink! It was more of a brown gunge to begin with but after a few minutes it started to resemble water!

The electricity was not so easy.

We arranged for a surveyor from UK Power Networks to visit and he established that whilst the house had an incoming supply it was not connected to a meter (so we couldn’t use it) and that it was not large enough to cope with the demands of twenty-first century living. It needed upgrading and we are hoping that this can be done fairly easily and take 2-3 weeks to arrange. If not, then a new supply will need to be installed and this will involve digging up the pavement and worse, closing part of one of the main roads through Aylesbury – which will not make us popular. It will not only be expensive but take time – 2-3 weeks for a quote and then another 4-6 weeks to get permission to close the road and do the work.

Not what we need when power is wanted almost every day on the site. So we are waiting fingers crossed to see what is possible.

There is a lesson to be learnt here – and it is true on all projects which require input from the services companies – book them as early as you possibly can. I know of many developments (and I am also working on one now for a major UK bank) which have been delayed or incurred significant additional cost due to services not being available when you need them. So get quotes as early as you can and then when you have them, place the order and make payment so work can be booked in.

Now the majority of the internal strip out is complete the focus is moving to the external – primarily because we were aware that some of the brickwork needed repointing – particularly around the chimney and also where a second chimney had been poorly removed. Water was entering the house and causing some damp issues so it is important that we address this before we go too far inside.

Hopefully by the time my next article is written we will have made good all of the brickwork, roofing and pointing and most importantly have power – but I certainly wouldn’t put any money on it! l Nigel Grace MRICS is an experienced chartered quantity surveyor, who has built and redeveloped many houses himself.

If you need help or advice on your project contact him on: nigel@nigelgracelimited.co.uk

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is essential that you have confirmation from us that we’ve received your message. If we don BIG BRAND hear from you before our deadline, we will use the advert as above in our next edition(s) NAMES and you will be invoiced as booked. All advert designs are copyright Chiltern Directories Ltd nd must not be used in any other publications or websites unless we have given written approv Vale Life : May/Jun 2019 57 at which will we also supply youa range with a print right to charge a Based time in Thame,we Oxfordshire supply and install of garage doors.ready file. We reserve the

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

homestyling

by Marie Westerman Roberts

Reasons to be fearful I have written for Vale Life about Home Staging (preparing your home to appeal to the most buyers and sell quickly for the best price) and have given tips and trend advice. I get lots of great feedback but those who aren’t so positive usually quote the same few reasons, fear not though...

Marie Westerman Roberts

G

ill Wilkinson, is a qualified Home Stager and a fellow member of the Home Staging Association. Here she lists the five most common reasons people give for not hiring a home stager and explains why they may be incorrect.

1. You shouldn’t spend money on your home when you’re selling I totally get this; you’re moving on and looking forward to putting your stamp on a new place, so why would you ‘spend’ your hard-earned on something you’re leaving behind for your buyers to benefit from?

Money spent on Home Staging is an investment rather than a cost; by investing in making your home look the best it possibly can when selling, you’re ensuring it will ooze buyer appeal and instantly attract a stream of folk keen to make it their next home.

You’re also avoiding the inevitable price reduction your Agent will recommend when it doesn’t sell in those important initial weeks.

2. Friends and family have said your home is beautiful and will definitely sell quickly And they may be absolutely right and that may well happen.

However, home staging isn’t an interior design project and it’s

Before staging NOT about your personal taste; it’s about working to tight time scales and tight budgets to make your home appeal to the widest possible audience. It’s about being able to see your home through the eyes of a potential buyer which is particularly important if you have a somewhat quirky taste when it comes to interiors.

3. We’ll end up with something that doesn’t feel like home and isn’t our taste Staging your home will mean living slightly differently while your home is on the market. This is why Show Homes work so well.

It’s about clearing the decks, adopting a less is more approach and de-personalising. This doesn’t mean stripping all the personality from the property just scaling back on personal items displayed, so the

FLOORING - DOORS - FURNITURE - WORKTOPS Over 600 ßoors on display in store in solid wood, engineered wood plus luxury laminate and vinyl.

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After staging appealing lifestyle elements of the property can be showcased.

4. There are things you’d like to update but you’ll leave those to the new buyers It’s really important to tackle those ‘little jobs I’ve been meaning to do’ before instructing an Agent.

You may no longer notice what needs updating but potential buyers will and any major works will be highlighted at the point of the survey (when 11% of house sales fall through) so ignoring them isn’t an option.

Once you start viewing properties yourself you’ll be far more critical and much quicker to spot potential issues; the key is to level that same degree of critique at your own home.

5. I don’t like what I’ve seen on

TV in terms of staging Always remember that what you see on screen is made for television and not a true reflection of real life. Yes home stagers do work to tight budgets and a staple gun and Velcro are an important part of their armoury but ‘charity shop chic’ is by no means the norm. Staging work is specifically tailored to the style of each individual property, its target market and asking price so that the aspirational lifestyle element of every house purchase is showcased. l Marie Westerman Roberts is an experienced home stager and the owner of Scandihome Home Staging Services.

For more information visit: www.scandihome.co.uk E: marie@scandihome.co.uk T: 01844 390017 Instagram @scandihomeuk

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58

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Iliana Glaister

Time to celebrate!

Michael Anthony is one of our leading independent estate agents with five branches serving the area.

Founded by local lad, Michael Donnachie, the company is currently celebrating 30 years in business with Michael, and his boundless energy and enthusiasm, still very much a key component...

“

I

’ve been blessed!” says Michael Donnachie, Founder and Senior Partner of Michael Anthony Estate Agents, “I love doing what I do for a career - I can’t really class it as a job, as I enjoy it so much! Every day is different. I like being there on the ground floor, taking properties, seeing clients, selling properties. I take a personal interest in the services we offer and if there is an issue I am there to deal with it.

“There are so many different aspects to this business and such a wide range of knowledge and experience required, I think it takes a company that has been going a while to offer the best service. We have a great team here, we do things properly and we really care, and that is the root of our success.

“If you are doing a good job, past clients will return to engage your services again and we now have sons and daughters of clients coming to us and even the children of their children, which shows just how long I have been in estate agency!”

Originally from Paisley near Glasgow, Michael moved to Aylesbury with his family aged three and grew up locally. He attended Aylesbury Grammar School and on leaving at the age of 18 decided to go into property: “My first job was with W. S. Johnson & Co, a firm of Chartered Surveyors based near Milton Keynes,” says Michael. “I then joined Palmers, in 1981, at their office on Aylesbury High Street, where I worked alongside Kevin Hurst and our manager, Martin Kemp, who both went on to set up their own agencies.

“Palmers was bought by John H James & Co in the early 80s and I was able to take on their Aylesbury franchise. That went well and

Michael Donnachie in 1988 we sold out to General Accident and I became a Regional Director, looking after some 16 offices. I didn’t feel the focus was right though - too much emphasis on selling additional products and services and not enough on the clients and their property sales, so I decided to set up my own company.

“I’d noticed people found Donnachie a tricky name to spell and pronounce, so for my new business, founded in September 1989, I used my first and second names, Michael Anthony as it would be easier to remember.”

Michael Anthony now has five branches across the local area and employs around 60 staff, several of whom have worked with Michael for many years. Michael is based at the original office on Kingsbury Square, Aylesbury, where he first started, 30 years ago, while additional branches are located in Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Bletchley and Milton Keynes. In addition to estate agency the company also offers a full professional lettings service, run by Michael’s brother Gerry Donnachie. Michael’s brother-in-laws Paul and Stephen Swindlehurst also work for the firm running the Tring and Hemel Hempstead branches respectively.

“Over the years our business has changed in terms of technology but not in terms of service and good old fashioned estate agency,” says Michael. “It takes experience to know the local market and who is looking for a particular type of house, so you can match buyers and sellers quickly. Technology can only do so much, it is a personal business people want to be able to talk to someone who knows what they are talking about, who is trustworthy, knows the area and can

talk knowledgeably about the property and its location and what the local services are.

There’s still a need to speak with people face to face and give good honest advice.

“At Michael Anthony we won’t give a false impression of value just to get your instruction. If something needs tidying up to make your property more appealing, we’ll let you know. We are working with you to get your house sold at the best price. We accompany viewings so we can get feedback as to whether anything is putting potential purchasers off. It’s all part of the service.”

With the growth of the internet Michael Anthony has invested in technology to offer clients the most efficient, up to date service: “We are with all the major online sales sites,” says Michael: “Rightmove, Zoopla, PrimeLocation, OnTheMarket... and we take great care in the preparation of property details and in making sure images and layout plans are of premium quality to give the best impression.

“I love this area and the people here and as a firm we enjoy being part of the community and helping out local charities, clubs and causes. We support the Chilterns MS Centre, Berryfields Scouts and sponsor the Aylesbury and District Football League among others.

We try and treat people the way we would like to be treated and we look forward to being a part of our local communities for at least another 30 years too!” l Michael Anthony Estate Agents, 54 Kingsbury, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 2JE Aylesbury office: 01296 433666 Email: aylesbury@michaelanthony.co.uk Web: www.michaelanthony.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

59

Homes & Gardens Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

In the garden

with Naomi MacKay

Promising a fruity harvest “The weather has been varied to say the least, but it looks like gardens will be benefiting from the early heatwave and April showers,” says Naomi MacKay...

T

he weather has kept gardeners on their toes over the past couple of months. February saw the hottest day in winter ever when south-west London hit the mercury at over 20 degrees C – and Wales was even hotter!

I don’t know what’s going on with the weather, but it’s doing my garden the world of good. The blossom on the Victoria plum and apricot tree is as prolific as I have ever seen it – better start looking

Naomi’s Magnolia Tree in full bloom out some recipes now! – and my chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) is covered in dainty little chocolatey-

pink brown blooms – it’s been the best year yet.

On the downside, while my

magnolia tree is bigger than ever and covered in more blooms than I have ever seen – many of them

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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In the garden have been hit by the weather and are suffering from browned edges that are taking away from their pinky-white beauty.

Making a house a home with lots of plants - Housebuilder David Wilson is busy on a number of developments within Aylesbury Vale. And the company has come up with houseplant suggestions for each room to help your house look good.

Now’s the time that many homeowners looking for a new home decide to move, so if your house is on the market, liven it up with a bit of greenery!

Glenn Copper, sales director at David Wilson Homes North Thames, said: ‘’Many homeowners underestimate the qualities plants can bring to your home. Research has shown they can boost moods, and may be the perfect way to decorate an interior without breaking the bank.’’

Stay lively in the living room Houseplants in the lounge can create an inviting atmosphere. The

Peace Lily can make a statement, is easy to grow and also raises humidity levels by 5% - good for resident’s health, as central heating can dry out the air inside the house.

Use plants to cook in the kitchen - Potted herbs can be dotted along the windowsill or even on the worktop with the dual role of looking good and being useful - you can easily add a sprig of rosemary or a sprinkle of coriander leaves to your culinary concoctions.

A tranquil place to work - A home office can sometimes be a slightly chaotic place. Suspend plants from the ceiling and use neutral pots to add to the calm, tranquil feeling of the space. If you want a plant to stand in a corner the cast iron plant, better known as Aspidistra elatior, is ideal.

Go tropical in the bathroom - Keep it simple with arrowhead plants (Syngonium podophyllum) grouped by the bath or by a

Homes & Gardens with Naomi MacKay

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

cupboard. These plants reduce bathroom tiles. air pollution so you can breathe fresh air while you take that Get busy with Busy Lizzies rejuvenating bath after a hard day - Plant growers Ball Colegrave at work. reckon 2019 is going to be the Begonias are also great for year of the Busy Lizzie. This bedding plant favourite has bathrooms – they only need indirect light, grow well indoors probably fallen out of favour over and come in all kinds of bright the past few years, but a new colours. Sit onPROFESSIONAL a windowsill and variety promises to help it return TREE SURGEONS allow the plant to trail downwards to popularity. Impatiens Beacon Treeresistance Felling to Downy to soften the hard edges of has a• high

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Email: sales@oakgardenmachinery.co.uk Email: sales@oakgardenmachinery.co.uk Website: www.oakgardenmachinery.co.uk Website: www.oakgardenmachinery.co.uk Visit us at our showroom: Oak Garden Machinery, Pearce’s Yard, Visit us at our showroom: Oak Garden Machinery, Pearce’s Yard, Aylesbury Road, Thame, Oxford, OX9 3AS Aylesbury Road, Thame, Oxford, OX9 3AS

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Grass cutting | Weeding | Pruning | General tidying Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

61

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

In the garden

David Wilson Homes home office at their ClementsGate development Mildew disease, which can be devastating to this kind of plant.

Look out for the variety in garden centres – it will not be widely available, so if you’re not lucky this year, look forward to spring 2020, when it will be more widely distributed.

Sweet scents for summer Look out for the stunning Petunia ‘Evening Scentsation’ in garden centres. Not only does it have these stunning indigo blue flowers, it also has amazing fragrance – which just

Homes & Gardens

with Naomi MacKay

Busy Lizzie Impatiens Beacon

gets better as the day wears on – expect a hyacinth-like scent from these stunners!

Stay safe As the days get longer, sadly thefts from gardens increase. Here are five tips from Thames Valley Police to keep your garden safer: • Check locks and bolts – replace any rusty items, ensure all padlocks and hasps bear the British Standard kite mark and are made of hardened steel.

• Check the hinges on your doors or a couple of bars across the inside – if a burglar can’t breach the lock, of the window to stop it opening far.

• A battery-operated siren alarm they may attempt to unscrew the The Gardeners favourite for versatility hinges. Use coach bolts, non-return could cost less than £20 and is and Summer screws or simply damage the screw long simple colour! to install and use. head; you don’t need to do every • Get into the good habit of screw, just a couple on the hanging putting everything away when you have finished with it. Your own tools plate and a couple on the door plate. might be used to break into your storage.

• Secure outbuilding windows – • Security mark tools. It can even ones that don’t open can be prevent them being sold on, and vulnerable. Obscure windows with allows police to return recovered an opaque window film to reduce temptation. Alternatively, fit a grille goods.

Garden Railway Specialists

Garden Railway Specialists Garden Railway Specialists

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Christmas is coming, looking for a present suitable for

A d ro p o f s h e r ry

by Sherry Hostler

Former glory restored

Y

ou may have heard President Trump’s claims recently that any house near a windmill will lose value by 75%, that the noise made by wind turbines cause cancer, and that all around the base of a windmill you will find the dead carcasses of birds.

Bearing in mind I live a only a few sails distance from the newly restored windmill in beautiful Quainton village, I’m quite pleased that I don’t take anything that comes out of Mr Trump’s mouth too seriously.

I’m not generally a windmill fanatic, but as this one is quite literally a stone’s throw from my house, it’s been quite exciting to be involved in history being made, even if it’s just by location.

Ever since I moved to Quainton the tower mill has stood proud, if a little lonely without it’s sails, and I’ve heard mutterings of its renovation, which has kept the

Installing new sails at Quainton Mill villagers on tenterhooks as to when it might happen.

The mill was originally built in 1830 to the order of Mr James Anstiss and operated for about 50 years before closing and falling into disrepair.

In 1974 the Quainton Windmill Society was formed, and like caped crusaders set about saving the now derelict mill with a full restoration,

which was completed in 1997, and allowed grain once more to be milled.

Unfortunately all was not plain sailing for our poor beleaguered windmill. In fact by 2000 the sails had rotted so severely they had to be removed in case bits fell on someone! A second set was constructed but then unbelievably faced more problems in 2012, meaning they too had to be removed shortly after.

Bearing in mind this Grade II building is Buckinghamshire’s tallest windmill you can understand why the village of Quainton was excited to learn that not only were the sails going to be replaced once more, but we were all going to be able to see this work taking place.

The installation had to be meticulously planned and was also subject to weather conditions - I can imagine that none of the technical team would want to be caught six stories high in a cherry picker

Sherry Hostler

A drop of Sherry

during 50mph winds!

I wandered over to take a look during the final day of restorations, and have to say it was fascinating to watch. I was not alone - school children also gathered to marvel at this piece of history taking place, while local residents enjoyed an afternoon tea party in celebration, and we all felt as uplifted as the sails to witness the event. The windmill looks fabulous now and I’m glad to say, there hasn’t been a single dead bird reported yet! l Sherry Hostler is a freelance

writer and blogger. She loves dogs, red wine and snowboarding, but not all at the same time. You can find her at www.adropofsherry.com

Win local walking guides W

e are lucky to be living here with such lovely countryside all around us!

Whether it be to walk the dog or get the children out into the fresh air, there’s plenty of choice, so much in fact, it can be hard to decide just where to go at times!

To give you inspiration and helpful tips, Countryside Books have a great selection of useful guides covering this area.

Buckinghamshire - A Dog Walkers Guide is a great little book, full of the best walks to take our beloved pooches on. It contains maps, tips for safe, off lead, free running places for the dog to enjoy, along with dog-friendly country pubs and cafés en route. Even local vet details, just in case!

Summer:Stroll along Coombe Hill The Chilterns Year Round Walks and take in the far-reaching views is another fabulous guide. Helping of the Hambleden Valley. the walker every step of the way, The guide suggests places to stop it even includes how strenuous the and take in the view and ideas for walk is and what the terrain is like. where to have a bite to eat and Highlights include: Spring:Ramble drink along the way. through the bluebell-carpeted A bestseller from the day it woods of Cowleaze and Wendover, was first published, Pub Walks

in the Chilterns is for those who enjoy both walking and visiting country pubs. The pubs have been selected for their good food and the routes give the walker the opportunity to experience some of the most glorious countryside in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.

Countryside Books have many other titles which can be found in outlets such as bookshops and garden and visitor centres across the country.

You can purchase these handy guides locally at: Haddenham Garden Centre, Number 1 Gift shop in Wendover, The Chiltern Brewery, Buckinghamshire Railway Centre and at Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre.

To see the full range of titles available, visit: www.countrysidebooks.co.uk If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a copy of each of these books, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which Countryside Books title suggests walks for each season of year?

Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by June 4th, 2019. l www.countrysidebooks.co.uk Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

63 3

What’s on Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

s h ow t i m e

with Shaun Nolan

Just mad for musicals!

W

hether you’re looking to the lights of London, or visiting venues closer to home, there is a lot to see this month!

At the David Evans Court Theatre in Tring, Berkhamstead Theatre Company return to the stage with their new production of CRUSH: The Musical (15th – 18th May). Set in 1963, the story takes place at the Dosserdale School for Girls which has a proud tradition of fostering free spirits. But when the school’s founder dies, the institution is left in the hands of a new headmistress, whose main aim is to find the culprits of some ‘indecent and unnatural behaviour’ going on in the art room. The fast-paced and exciting musical comedy brings to life a host of colourful characters including a kind caring deputy head, a school sneak, an undercover games mistress, overbearing parents, love struck teenagers and runaway students. It sounds like

Shaun Nolan Showtime!

The cast of CRUSH: The Musical awesome fun and well worth a visit.

Also at the David Evans Court Theatre this month is Vale Musical Society’s production of High Society (8th – 11th May). I used to perform with the society, so can personally vouch for the high standard of shows that they produce. High Society tells the story of Tracy Lord, a society girl with high standards who is set to marry the rather dull George.

The day before the wedding, she becomes overwhelmed by family, ex-husbands and people who are professing their love. Who will

she choose? The show features a cracking score including hit songs such as Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? and is one not to miss.

If you fancy a trip to London though there’s much to see. Let me recommend Josie Rourke’s new revival of the musical Sweet Charity at the Donmar Warehouse, led by Anne Marie Duff, as well as a revival of Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum, led

by Kelsey Grammar, which I’m sure will excite many of you.

If plays are more your thing, how about the transfer of The

Lehman Trilogy from the National Theatre to the Piccadilly (from May 11th) and the first London production of Kenneth Longeran’s The Starry Messenger starring Matthew Broderick and Elizabeth McGovern at Wyndham’s Theatre (from May 16th). I saw the former at the National Theatre last year and was truly blown away by the incredible theatrical storytelling.

So… what will you be seeing this month? l Shaun Nolan is a freelance writer

and producer who also writes his own fictional stories and scripts. You can find him at @shaunycat on Twitter and if you want your show mentioned in this column, tweet him and let him know!

Win tickets to Oakfest!

O

akley CofE Combined School are thrilled to announce that they will be hosting their sixth OakFest music and beer festival, OakFest’19 on Saturday 8th June.

“Oakfest is growing each year and raising essential funds for our school,” says Event Organiser, Iola Seaton-Reid. “The support from our sponsors, the musicians and the audience is tremendous, we have raised almost £45,000 over the last five years, which is a fantastic achievement for our little school.

“We are delighted that this year Windmill Windows are sponsoring the main stage, Lovell Fuels sponsoring the acoustic stage, Westfield Fasteners of Long Crendon sponsoring the bar and Oakley Wood Timber sponsoring the tea and cinema tent once again.

“We look forward to welcoming you to the best music and beer festival in Oakley!”

The gates to the school field on Worminghall Road, HP18 9QY will open at 12.45pm and the crowds 64

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

will be entertained through to midnight by 14 bands and artists; many local to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including: Public Service Announcement, The Ponderosa, 2am Blue, Hair of the Dog, The Vibe, The Superpowers, Bitterroot, Zach Johnson and the ever popular The Band With No Name who will close the show.

As well as the superb talents of the musicians there will be a fully stocked bar featuring a good selection of real ales, local ciders, lots of lager, a Pimms tent, the delicious ‘OakFeast’ Barbecue as well as a traditional tea tent.

For the children there is a craft

activity tent and bouncy castle, ice creams and festival merchandise and a free cinema tent in the evening.

Sponsor, Rugby-Tots will be running free rugby sessions and Premier Sports will run free sporting activities.

All monies raised will go towards providing much needed equipment and learning resources for Oakley CofE Combined School, Oakley Pre-School and towards the running costs of St Mary’s Church, Oakley.

So bring a deckchair or blanket, be entertained and have a fun-filled day! It’s a great little family festival and all are welcome.

Tickets are available now from the school office, online via: www.cuatoakfest.co.uk or on the gate on the day. Adults: £10, Under 18s and over 65s: £5.

Advance ticket sale offer (ends 24th May), buy one Adult ticket get an under 18s ticket free.

For full details see: www. cuatoakfest.co.uk or follow Oakfest’19 on Facebook/ Oakfest19.

If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a family ticket (2 adult & 2 under 18 tickets) to Oakfest’19, email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which band is closing the show this year?

Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by May 31st, 2019. l www.cuatoakfest.co.uk

www.facebook.com\oakfest19 Tel: 01844 238364 Email: office@oakley.bucks.sch.uk

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

@50 1969-2019

SATURDAY 25 MAY

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

DJ Kris Needs

Box Office 0844 871 7607

Online: atgtickets.com ticketmaster.co.uk seetickets.com www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk In association with X-Ray and Siren Artist Management

classical lass

with Nicola Lisle

May’s musical delights

T

here are some fabulous classical music events coming up in the Vale over the next few weeks, starting on 4th May with a lovely charity concert by The Witchert Chorale (www.witchert.org.uk).

The Haddenham-based choir is joined by Golgatha-Kantorei from Berlin in Friends Reunited, which includes music by Chopin, Fauré, Reger and Schütz. Proceeds will go to the Haddenham Syrian Family Project.

You can catch The Witchert Chorale again two days later, on Bank Holiday Monday, when they will be singing madrigals from the church towers at Long Crendon and Cuddington.

Arcadian Opera (www. arcadianopera.com) is at Stowe on 5th May with its annual Opera Gala, conducted by Justin Lavender and starring the Opera Babes. This glamorous duo – soprano Rebecca Knight and mezzo Karen England – were spotted busking in Covent

Chilingirian Quartet Garden in 2001 and have gone on to enjoy a stellar international career. They join other professional soloists, a full chorus and orchestra.

There’s more opera later in the month as Garsington Opera (www. garsingtonopera.org) opens its 30th anniversary season – and what a sizzling season it is! First up is Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, a vibrant celebration of Czech culture featuring irresistible, toe-tapping dance tunes. Sung in Czech with English surtitles, The Bartered

Bride opens on 29th May and runs to 30th June.

This is followed on 30th May with Mozart favourite Don Giovanni, which tells the tale of one of opera’s most notorious womanisers and features the famous ‘catalogue’ song. The production runs to 21st July.

If chamber music is more your thing, you can hear the wonderful Chilingirian Quartet play music

by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mozart on 11th May in the glorious setting of Waddesdon Manor’s Windmill Hill. Visit www. waddesdon.org.uk for details.

On the same night, renowned pianist Joanna McGregor is giving a recital at St Mary’s Church, Wendover (www.wendovermusic.org), while on 19th May Tring Chamber Music presents a programme of music for flute and strings at Hastoe Village Hall (www.tringchambermusic.co.uk).

There’s choral music in abundance, too. On 11th May you

Nicola Lisle

Classical Lass have a choice of two irresistible concerts: Amersham Choral Society (www.amchor.com) performing Duruflé’s Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria at St Mary’s Church, Amersham, and Thame Choral Society (www. thamechoralsociety.org.uk) performing choral works by Mozart, Fauré and Elgar at St Mary’s Church, Haddenham, accompanied

by Thame Sinfonia.

A week later, Wendover Choral Society (www. wendoverchoralsociety.co.uk) is at St Mary’s Church, Wendover, with Haydn’s gloriously evocative The Creation – just the thing for a (hopefully!) sunny May evening! l Nicola Lisle is a freelance writer and author specialising in classical music, genealogy and social history.

Follow her on Twitter @NicolaLisle1 and send her a tweet if you would like your event mentioned in this column.

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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What’s on Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Tigers, Eagles & Ho An Olivier Award-nominated children’s theatre favourite is joined by the world’s official No.1 Eagles tribute, a tribe of hormonal housewives and some Strictly Come Dancing favourites to make it a super Summer of fun at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. Just read on for more details...

T

he Tiger Who Came to Tea (Friday 7th to Sunday, 9th June) celebrates more than 50 years as Britain’s best-loved picture book and promises to be the ideal introduction to theatre for children aged 3+. The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her Mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger! Enjoy all the teatime mayhem with sing-a-long songs, oodles of magic and interactive fun.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea: Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June

Hotel California, Take It To The Limit, Desperado and many more, this is a chance to witness musicianship at its best.

Put down the iron, grab a wine and binge on a night of hilarious comedy as Vicki Michelle and the Hormonal Housewives (Thursday, 27th June) romp onto the stage

to present the joys of being a fabulous 21st century woman.

From weight gain, mood swings, moody teenagers, men, zumba, housework, electrolysis, men, working out, staying in, going out, celebrity gossip, chocolate, wine, social media and more wine, there’s much to be discussed! No subject is taboo for these

The Illegal Eagles: Friday, 28th June

If you have an appreciation for live music and acute attention to detail, you will not want to miss the incredible showmanship of The Illegal Eagles (Friday, 28th June).

No strangers to entertaining the masses, this phenomenal group of musicians has been touring for more than two decades. Featuring the classic hits of The Eagles including:

66

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

What’s on Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

ormonal Housewives Thursday, 27th June

Bring Your Own Baby - Comedy: Wednesday, 19th June

girls and no thought is too private as the challenges of modern womanhood are sliced, diced and put to rights.

Here Come The Boys: Wednesday, 26th June

A Latin, Ballroom, Commercial and Contemporary battle is in store with three of the biggest rock stars of dance when Alijaž Šcorjanec, Giovanni Pernice and Gorka Márquez arrive in Here Come the Boys (Wednesday, 26th June). The setting is a club, and the challenge is to find out who’s the best on the dance floor! They are there to impress as they go head to head in a dance-off! The boys will show you why they are the true heavyweights of dance. From J.Lo to Bruno Mars, MJ, Gloria Estefan, dance anthems and club classics! Accompanied by a live percussionist and flamenco guitarist, with live vocals from Elizabeth Troy (formerly with Clean Bandit.)

Finally a comedy show to go gaa gaa for takes to the Waterside’s Second Space with Bring Your Own Baby Comedy on Wednesday, 19th June. With soft flooring, buggy parking and baby changing available this is the perfect daytime trip for parents and mini me’s alike!

Pick up a Waterside Theatre What’s On guide for a full line up of shows or check online at www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury (booking fee). l Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG Telephone Booking: 0844 871 7607 Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

Coming up at Aylesbury Waterside Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on...

The Barricade Boys The Simon and Garfunkel Story Russell Kane Rhythm of the Dance All About Eve (Encore Screening – Second Space) The ELO Experience

Fri 24th May Thur 31st May Fri 31st May Thu 20th June Thu 20th June

Fri 21st June The Wonder of Sat 22nd Whizzfizz June Money for Nothing Sun 23rd Dire Straits Tribute June The Magic of Motown Sat 29th June

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

67

c d i o o F s u M Come Art dy

Henley Festival is back! The UK’s most glamorous boutique festival, and winner of Headline Performance of the Year at the 2016 Festival Awards, returns to its stunning setting along the river bank at Henley-on-Thames, from 10th-14th July 2019, and tickets are selling fast...

Boy George

H

Tom ODell

enley Festival is Vale Life’s No.1 Summer event! The UK’s only black-tie boutique festival, this five day event is glamour personified, offering Michelin-starred food, award-winning comedians, Turner Prize nominated artists and the biggest names in popular, world, jazz and classical music. Many festival goers arrive by boat, and the green lawns of the festival river bank are transformed into a Great Gatsby vision, as black tie clad revellers spill across the festival site, champagne in hand, while fireworks explode overhead!

Enjoy fabulous things to eat in sumptuous marquees on the banks of the River Thames, international stars in concert on a floating stage, street theatre, performing arts and all manner of musical entertainment. Your only problem is what to watch next!

So dig out your DJ or cocktail dress and prepare for a stellar cast which this year includes headliners: Boy George (Wednesday 10th July); Jessie J (Thursday, 11th July); Tom Odell plus 90s Anthems DJ set by Jo Whiley (Friday, 12th July); Bjorn Again (Saturday, July 13th); and on Sunday, July 14th, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra!

The 2019 comedy line-up is set to be bigger and better than ever, with the likes of Ed Byrne, Andy Hamilton, Julian Clary and Murray Lachlan-Young among the biggest 68

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Jessie J

Jo Whiley’s 90’s Anthems

names performing this year. The comedy line up will also include a special performance by Richard Herring who will be recording the show for his podcast with Barry Cryer.

Henley Festival’s very own Jazz Club, in the stunning Spiegel Tent, offers dining and live jazz music before and after the main headline act. This year you can marvel at one of the UK’s top boogie piano players, Ben Waters, who opens Henley’s Jazz Club with his Quartet on Wednesday. On Thursday night, The Dime Notes demonstrate their blues-drenched 1920s style New Orleans Jazz, while Friday night sees London’s own Si Cranstoun present his dazzling show. On Saturday Britain’s first electro swing band, Swing Zazou, will get the party going and on Sunday Hetty & Jazzato Band bring a taste of ‘la dolce vita’ with their Anglo-Italian fusion of classic Italian songs, swing, jazz and foot tapping rock’n’roll, while Pocket Sinfonia is a quartet that focuses on delivering orchestral pieces with the intimacy of a chamber music performance.

Up and coming bands curated by BBC Music Introducing this year include: The Kleeks, Oliver Hoare & The Late Great, Nate Simpson, and Calum Foad, while in the Bedouin Tent global world music and home spun British folk combine. There’s flamenco and rumba from De Fuego, Trio Zimbora and their rhythms of Brazil, and

Bjorn Again

Celtic Music from French musical virtuosos Plantec. Afrosamba are a Brazilian band covering styles such as Afro Brazilian Jazz, Samba and Bossa Nova, while “the voice of Cajun” - French accordionist Sarah Savoy - will be thrilling Henley on Wednesday night. And don’t miss King Cassady, a gypsy jazz trio with flamenco tendencies.

Folk music includes alt-folk duo Stables, UK’s leading ceilidh band Bowreed and Johnny Cash Converters - a band who play “country music for people who hate country music” and cover dance anthems in the style of Johnny Cash.

Original folk duo Megson take the Bedouin Tent stage on Sunday evening after performing a special family folk set in the afternoon as part of the Family Day. All this plus an amazing food selection, art, plenty of bars, weird and wonderful street performers and an amazing firework display to end each evening.

It’s going to be another amazing festival, so don’t delay, get your tickets today, as some evenings have already nearly sold out! l Henley Festival, Henley Bridge, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2LY Tickets from £45 to £140 T: 01491 843404 E: info@henley-festival.co.uk W: www.henley-festival.co.uk Facebook: /HenleyFestival Twitter: @henleyfestival Car park opens: 4pm / Festival gates at 6pm

Win tickets to Towersey!

I

magine another lovelier world.

A place you can forget the outside world even exists with big skies, fresh air, starry nights and a sense of belonging like nowhere else...

Yes it’s the 55th Towersey Festival, at Thame Showground and this year’s headliners include: The Selecter, Newton Faulkner, Hothouse Flowers, Seth Lakeman, Bruce Foxton’s From The Jam, and Steve Harley and The Unthanks!

The annual four-day folk and roots festival takes place from 23rd-26th August 2019, and also boasts appearances from folk rock legends Oysterband, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, and Cornish shanty singers Fisherman’s Friends, fresh from the huge success of their cinema film.

Others joining the line-up include Welsh/ African duo Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita, winners of the fRoots Album of the Year 2018 Critics Poll; Show Of Hands’ guitarist Steve Knightly; BBC Scots Trad Music Award 2018’s

Best Live Act, Elephant Sessions; and representing an exciting new generation of British singersongwriters, troubadours Beans On Toast and Will Varley.

Alongside an extensive music programme across 4 stages, the

festival also features over 30 hours of ceilidh, daily workshops, crafts and arts, storytelling, film screenings, roaming performers, an acclaimed dedicated programme of activities for children and teenage festival-goers plus well-stocked

bars and plenty of street food.

Tickets for Towersey Festival, which runs from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th August 2019 at Thame Showground in Oxfordshire, are available now from £139 (adult), £130 (conc), £97 (youth), £65 (child).

Book online at www.towersey festival.com or in person at Bizzie Lizzie flower shop in Thame.

If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a pair of adult day tickets to this year’s Towersey Festival, email your name, address and telephone number, along with the day you would like to attend and the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which Towersey headliner had a hit with ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)’ in 1975?

Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by June 4th, 2019. l Towersey Festival tickets via: www.towerseyfestival.com or from Bizzie Lizzie flower shop in Thame.

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Roa d to t h e f u t u r e

with Alan Candy

Three times a winner Car of the Year Awards 2019

C

oming tops in the World Car of the Year and being a triple winner really sets the pace.

How appropriate, then that the awesome Jaguar I-PACE should snap and snarl its way to the title. Not only that, but the Jag actually picked up two other titles on the way for an unprecedented treble – 2019 World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year.

Generally, the other class winners are also cars that few of us can actually afford; such is the price of greatness.

This year’s World Luxury Car went to the Audi A7; the World Performance car winner was the McLaren 720S; and World Urban Car was scooped by the all-new Suzuki Jimny, the compact 4x4 with a big personality.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “We started with an ideal, to move towards our Destination Zero vision; zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion. I-PACE is our first step to achieving this, and it was conceived when EVs were little more than a niche choice.

“So we started from a clean sheet of paper to create a new benchmark – the world’s best premium electric vehicle, and a true Jaguar driver’s car.

“For I-PACE to be awarded 2019 World Car of the Year gives our first all-electric vehicle the ultimate recognition it deserves.”

Designed and developed in the UK, I-PACE is attracting new customers to the Jaguar brand, and for many of these the purchase will also be their first EV – to date, over 11,000 customers in more than 60 countries worldwide have taken 70

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

Alan Candy delivery.

The combination of sports car performance, exceptional refinement and true SUV practicality make I-PACE the stand-out choice in its segment.

I-PACE has a state-of-the-art 90kWh lithium-ion battery and delivers a range of up to 292

The new Suzuki Jimny won the World Urban Car category miles. It is capable of charging from 0-80% in just 40 minutes (100kW DC), or takes just over 10 hours to achieve the same state of charge when using a domestic wallbox (7kW AC) - ideal for overnight homecharging.

This is the second “World Car of the Year” award win for Jaguar Land Rover. The Jaguar F-Pace won the title in 2017 as part of a double-win for the company. The car also won the 2017 World Car Design of the Year award that year.

UK DRIVERS rank the Toyota Prius MK4 as number one in the Auto Express Driver Power 2019 survey, crowning it Britain’s best new car to own.

This is thanks to the hybrid family hatch’s wide range of

Jaguar I-Pace talents. Take running costs.

While the Prius naturally brings bigger bills at the pumps than a pure-electric car, owners say it offers savings elsewhere, such as with insurance (which can be relatively expensive for EVs).

Drivers also heap praise on the servicing costs, and accumulated data places the car a strong third for fuel consumption.

Interestingly, the Prius gains similarly high individual marks for the three elements that make up the engine and gearbox category, suggesting it is as smooth as it is fast and quiet, and Toyota has refined its hybrid tech impressively.

Owners also award high scores for the car’s safety features.

It’s not all good news; drivers say that the sat-nav could be better and the controls could be more user-friendly, and they would also like Toyota to tone down the styling inside and out, it seems. But the ratings here are not disastrous; certainly not enough to knock the Prius off the top spot.

Factor in a smooth ride, an enjoyable driving experience, excellent reliability and impressive levels of perceived quality, and Toyota’s hybrid is clearly a thoroughly deserving winner.

The Lexus IS (Lexus is the luxury arm of Toyota) climbs

nine positions from last year’s chart to achieve a podium finish in Driver Power 2019, and missed out on the top spot by only the thinnest of margins.

Motorists love the drivetrains (the vast majority are hybrid), saying they’re quiet, smooth and provide strong acceleration.

Owners are also massive fans of the interior, both in terms of the design and how well it’s put together. The front seats are comfortable, while the view out is excellent.

The IS impresses on the road as well, with its responsive steering and brakes, excellent ride and great handling. And, unlike the big RX SUV, the saloon gets a strong score for economy, plus drivers rate the exterior highly for its looks and construction. But the saloon shape translates to a decent, rather than outstanding, result for practicality.

Infotainment brings the lowest rating on the IS’s category score card, although you tell us you like the smartphone connectivity, and that the sound systems are decent.

The sat-nav system picks up a middle-of-the-road ranking, but there’s sharp criticism of the visibility and sensitivity of the infotainment system. Given that the IS features a similar mouse-like input control set-up to the RX, this seems to be a configuration owners are unenthusiastic about.

The Lexus RX MK 4 also came fifth.

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Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

o n t h e roa d

with Rob Auchterlonie

Rolling back the years!

FORD FIESTA ST

F

ORD’S Fiesta ST is the sort of car dentists love.

Not necessarily to drive, but because it provides them with an endless stream of hapless victims.

The sort of car you find yourself groping around in the footwell to find your fillings. Because suspension travel is, shall we be generous here, minimal.

Not really the car for the family man, then, who would find his offspring vomiting into the door pockets after a few miles of any spirited motoring.

So, enter stage right, those who have a penchant for wearing their baseball caps back to front, the waist of their trousers halfway down their buttocks, and who like their music loud (they’ll love the B&O audio system). Cars that

Rob Auchterlonie

ON The Road are a bit edgy, a bit blingy with fancy alloys are their thing and the latest ST kind of fits that bill.

Actually, it also fits the bill for those with diminishing grey hair who can recall the very first of the hot Fiestas, the XR2 of 1981, and still appreciate a small car that can roll back the years.

The first ST Fiesta came on stream in 2004 and its been a pretty decent success story since

Ford Fiesta ST then.

Times change of course, and so too do cars, but the boy racer urge never dies. Advancing years just help to keep it under control.

Thankfully this one is pretty well under control too. It doesn’t throw

its wheel rims at the undergrowth as the XR2 did at its Donington Park press debut nearly 40 years ago (the alloys on the ST are significantly better anchored to the car), as is the car itself to the road.

It comes with three selectable

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72

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

o n t h e roa d drive modes – Normal, Sport and Track, which is a clue to where the ST may find itself spending part of its life.

The third-generation Fiesta ST has an all new all aluminium 1497cc three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that manages to combine performance and efficiency together. With 200ps and 290Nm to hand, it certainly earns its ‘pocket rocket’ cachet, hitting 62mph in 6.5 seconds and powering on to 144mph if the racetrack allows.

It has what’s acknowledged to be the most direct steering rack fitted to a front wheel drive Ford and a limited-slip differential – the first to be offered on any Fiesta hot hatchback. The LSD isn’t standard though but comes as part of Ford’s £850 ST Performance Pack (fitted here), which also gives you launch control (not found on many small cars) for those occasions when you want to annoy the neighbours and the local plod.

But you probably won’t want to attempt to use full throttle until you hit the third gear mark because there is a whole lot of grunt channelling itself through those

Vale Life : May/Jun 2019

with Rob Auchterlonie

Find the best motor finance deal for you www.tracerfinance.co.uk

front tyres. Best to keep a firm grip on the flat bottomed steering wheel.

The controls feel well weighted, with plenty of feel through the brake pedal and it has a short, slick, positive gearchange.

As you’d expect from a hot hatch there are a pair of bum hugging Recaro seats to keep you located in a cabin that is neatly picked out

by Ford’s trademark blue accenting to the seat belts, floor mats, switchgear and lighting.

Fiesta is still Britain’s best selling car month after month but it’s now a far cry from the pokey little family hatch that made its debut back in 1976.

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Fastfacts:

Ford Fiesta ST-2 Price: £20,245 (£23,765 as tested) Engine: 1.5 litre, turbo, three cylinder, petrol Power: 200ps Torque: 290Nm Transmission: 6 speed manual Top speed: 144mph 0-62mph: 6.5 seconds Economy: 47.1mpg CO2 emissions: 136g/km

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