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❙ star chat ❙

Marriage made in Miranda Hart is delighted to be back playing Chummy in the new series of the BBC’s Call the Midwife – especially as she’s bagged herself a hubby

By Alison James fter two series of playing her unluckyin-love alter ego in comedy show Miranda, actress, comedienne and writer Miranda Hart couldn’t believe her luck when, as Chummy, she finally found love with PC Peter Noakes in the first series of Call the Midwife. Not only that, she also became a married woman, something that Miranda is absolutely revelling in.

“It is lovely finally to be married in a show,” she says.

“I am never married! Never.

Chummy and Peter are perfect for each other. It’s interesting playing them as a couple in the Fifties because there is still a slight formality and shyness between them. A sense that they keep to themselves whereas today the divide between men and women is less and less, we all know everything – for better or worse. I also love filming the scenes in their married home.

A new set is always fun and it shows, literally, that Chummy has moved on with her life.”

Miranda says that marriage has changed Chummy, and for the better. “Marriage has made her more confident and she feels more competent at her work.

She’s still rather a fish out of water, but she also fits in more.

PICS: BBC; THE GUARDIAN

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I deliberately didn’t stutter or break up sentences so much when I was learning the lines for this second series because I think everything flows a bit easier for Chummy now. She isn’t as shy or awkward as she was.”

Matrimony aside, Miranda is very happy to be playing Chummy again. “It’s such a joy acting out someone else’s words and not having to get a laugh every time. It was wonderful working with everyone again, too. There are no big egos, everyone has a great sense of humour – we all laugh a lot –

‘Marriage has changed Chummy, and for the better’ and we all love the show and work hard to make it as good as we can. There’s a great vibe on set. I think often a show is successful because there is love, warmth and friendship between the cast and these things translate. To be in an ensemble setting where you meet fascinating, open people – where you become Her heart’s instant friends desire… new husband, PC and you share Peter Noakes things – is just

Miranda, right, and her fellow midwives take a brief break from filming

brilliant. There’s none of that British reserve and small talk, which is what I wanted to get away from. I love being with that amazing group of girls. We all get on so well.

“I even loved getting back into uniform – apart from having to wear the Fifties stockings.

Every morning I seemed to get in a muddle putting them on. I laddered them within seconds and could never get the line right at the back. Me and tights are not friends!”

In the middle of the new series Chummy and Peter take off to Sierra Leone to fulfill her life-long dream of working as a midwife in Africa, but they return to Poplar – and our screens – in episode seven.

“I’m not saying what happens when they get back, but it is simply amazing.”

Playing Chummy has had some unexpected repercussions for Miranda. It seems that Sir Paul McCartney is a big fan!

Speaking recently, Miranda said: “Yes – Paul McCartney watches Call the

n heaven!

Midwife. He told me at last year’s Diamond Jubilee Concert. His mum was a midwife in Liverpool in the Forties and he told me how he remembered her cycling off to work just like Chummy.”

Chummy might be married and settled, but in real life Miranda is still single, as she usually is in her sitcom life.

In the past she has said she would like to get married and her ideal man would be someone tall who really made her laugh.

She has also admitted to being very romantic, once revealing: “I see the romance in every situation, but I probably don’t fall in love easily. I think it’s a wonderful pure thing, so I want to make sure it’s right.”

So what’s next for Miranda?

She recently announced she’ll be embarking on a nationwide comedy tour in 2014, performing at 13 arenas, including London’s O2, in the My, What I Call, Live Show. It will be a case of back to her roots as the comedienne performed sketches and stand-up on the live circuit before her TV success.

Miranda’s star just keeps on rising.

Chummy and the midwife girls would be proud.

B The new series of Call the Midwife is on BBC1 on Sunday evenings.

For more details about the live tour visit http:// mirandahart. com/

PIC:

‘It’s such a joy acting out someone else’s words and not having to get a laugh every time’ YOURS

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‘I helped cr e A young Stella, who played a major role in the Spitfire’s development, and, right, a recent photo of herself alongside the iconic aircraft

Stella Rutter, the UK’s first female draughtswoman, has broken a 70-year silence to reveal her part in the Second World War’s biggest secrets

By Joy Harris promise is a promise, but few can have kept one for longer than Stella Rutter.

As a teenager, she earned a place in history and pledged never to speak about it for the lifetime of those involved. And, until now, she never has.

Great-grandmother Stella, 90 next year, was just 19 when she was plucked from a civilian job with the Navy in Portsmouth after a chance meeting between her father and an influential man from Supermarine, which designed the iconic Spitfire, looking for ‘someone with five specific talents and who could keep their mouth shut’. Stella, who had completed

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an art course at the college where her father was vice principal, fitted the bill perfectly. “My father told him: ‘I think my daughter is just the person you need,’” she recalls.

Her engineering knowledge and artistic ability had been recognised by the Navy but, as she cycled 30 miles for the interview in the Technical Publications section of Supermarine’s Design Drawing Office in 1942, she had little idea of the part she would play in Britain’s victory. “I was brought up by an Edwardian mother who controlled her family, so keeping my mouth shut was something I knew all

about,” she says now. “I had a very strict upbringing and hardly knew my father until I was about 14 when he realised I was good at art.

“When I started at Supermarine, I soon realised that my work was the final presentation and had to be kept secret, even from colleagues.”

Stella – who has never lost her precision skills and can still draw a perfect circle – set to work on drawings that would be crucial to the Battle of Britain. Working in ink on linen, she painstakingly drew by hand technical perspective diagrams which would help to create the Spitfire.

y living history y

The iconic aircraft can still bring a tear to the eye when it flies out on displays today.

She recently visited students at BAE Systems, successor to Supermarine, who use computer-aided design for their drawings. “It was quite interesting, but I didn’t understand it, and they couldn’t believe the way I used to work.”

Back in 1942, her work and secrecy skills did not go unnoticed and she soon found herself earmarked for special duties.

She was present when it was revealed by Joe Smith, head of Supermarine, that the German naval codes had been received by ‘Station X’ – revealed after the war as Bletchley Park.

In January 1943, Stella (aged 19) was given the same wage as her male colleagues – £3 per week.

The ATA female pilots did not receive the same pay as a man until five months later.

At just 20, she was given her most trusted role by Allied military commanders General Bernard Montgomery and General Dwight Eisenhower to attend a farewell party as the hostess.

She subsequently discovered it was for more than 60 of the most senior military commanders from the UK and the US on the eve of D-Day. Her role was to see they ate something from the magnificent buffet and to calm their nerves for the world-changing challenges of the days ahead.

She was placed on the BIGOT list, which stood for British Invasion of German Occupied Territory, which kept track of the select few who knew of the impending landings and ensured

Even today displays by the Spitfire can bring a tear to the eyes of spectators

they did not fall victim to enemy spies.

“It was quite an evening,” she recalls. “All anyone knew was I had gone to a party. I remember there was so much food – I hadn’t seen bananas for years until that night.

“I just talked to the men about anything I could think of under the sun – books, music, museums, the theatre, Paris and London. Any one of them knew they might not come back, so I cut the protocol and tried to make it as informal as possible, just as the generals required.”

‘Any one of them knew they might not come back, so I cut the protocol’ Another hostess was Joyce Coleman (née Cooke), whom Stella would love to see again, along with other BIGOTs. Attempts to trace her have failed and Stella fears that, as Joyce was older than herself, it may now be too late.

“Joyce was missing from work on Monday, June 5 and the union man came round asking questions,” remembers Stella. “I knew where she was, but couldn’t say. One of the Americans at the party had broken down while dancing with her and she was kept incommunicado for four days!”

It was General Montgomery,

in charge of D-Day planning and Commander of Allied troops after the landings, who insisted that, instead of signing the Official Secrets Act, Stella would remain silent about the events of the evening until all the commanders involved had passed away. She has only now revealed the highlights of her historic past by spending her savings on a self-published book called Who Goes Where?

As the war ended, Churchill met Roosevelt and Stalin at the Yalta conference to discuss the future of post-war Germany. He presented each with a leather-bound book on the Spitfire, containing many of Stella’s original drawings. Only six copies were produced and Stella remembers a photograph featuring Stalin with his copy on his lap.

She would love to see one, but has failed to find a copy.

Life settled down for Stella after the war. She married a soldier, brought up two daughters and kept her secret. Her husband had played his own key role in the war, operating the radar on board the ship that brought the King of Norway to Britain, where he set up his government in exile after resisting the German invasion.

More recently, Stella has helped to document the Spitfire’s history by donating personal artefacts to the BAE Systems Heritage Archive in Farnborough. “It was too important not to write down and for it all to be lost for ever,” she explains. “I am probably the last person alive who remembers the creation of the design of the Spitfire. It’s been quite a life.”

B To read the full story in Who Goes Where? send Stella Rutter a cheque for £12 (£10, plus £2p&p) to 31 Furlonge House, Emsworth House Close, Emsworth, Havant, Hants PO10 7JR. B An illustrated talk by the author may be arranged at no charge, but transport is requested.

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PICS: PaUl CaRTER/UNP; REx FEaTURES

r eate the Spitfire’

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Now visit www.yours.co.uk for more up-to-date fashion advice

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Next issue: We scour the nation’s high streets to discover this season’s most flattering skirts

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Recharge your

health

While some of us love the cosiness of winter, others dread its damp, chilly days and long, dark nights.

If you’re in a midwinter slump, these tried-andtested mood enhancers will help to banish the blues

By Martine Gallie

We’ll all feel better when the clocks go forward on March 31.

Longer days means more mood-boosting daylight!

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Rediscover y

❙ health advice ❙

! m o o v a v va

r your

Stay active

Go out and about Going outdoors, particularly around midday or on bright days, can help to give your mood a lift. When our eyes take in daylight, the pineal gland in the brain stops producing the hormone melatonin, and this makes us feel more alert. By all means wear a hat if the sun is strong, but don’t wear sunglasses as this will block out mood-enhancing daylight.

Getting out of the house also increases the chance of bumping into someone you know and enjoying a friendly chat.

Physical activity is proven to boost serotonin activity and mental wellbeing. Stick to activities that won’t drain your energy too much, such as swimming or walking. One study showed that a daily one-hour walk in the middle of the day can be as helpful for coping with the winter blues as light therapy, where exposure to bright lights is used to treat winter depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Turn the page for more on SAD.

Try St John’s Wort Get the T factor The amino acid tryptophan is vital for the manufacture of the feel-good hormone serotonin. It is found in protein-rich foods, including red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, Cheddar cheese and milk. You can buy it as a supplement (5-HTP or L-tryptophan) but talk to your GP or pharmacist first as it can interact with other drugs, including antidepressants.

Try Happy Days tryptophan tablets from Healthspan (£13.95 for 60 tablets); visit www. healthspan.co.uk or call 0800 73 123 77.

If your winter melancholy doesn’t lift, you could try St John’s Wort.

Research shows this herbal remedy is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression.

Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you are thinking of trying it as it can interact with other drugs and might have side effects. One side effect is that it increases the skin’s sensitivity to light so don’t take it if you also use light therapy. Try Boots Mood Lift tablets (£10.79 for 30 tablets).

Hibernate!

If all else fails…

While it’s good to get out and about during the day, it’s also important to have plenty of downtime during the darker hours. We naturally sleep more in winter, so it’s a great time to catch up on some shut-eye. Winter is also the time to simplify our lives and give ourselves some TLC. Leave major tasks, such as decorating, repairs and entertaining, for the summer months. Cold, wet days are ideal for cosying up on the sofa with a good book or watching your favourite TV programme or DVD.

…go on holiday! There are lots of tempting deals on offer, so if you feel down when snowflakes start falling, why not swap your summer holiday for a winter break? (Read about Yours reader Gillian’s amazing trip to Thailand on page 101).

See your GP before taking supplements or herbal remedies, particularly if you take prescribed medicines. Always speak to your GP before stopping any medication or before starting any diet or exercise regime.

Turn the page to learn how YOURS readers combat the winter blues YOURS

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How to...

If you’ve retired and need extra cash, or find your home too big now the family has flown, downsizing is worth considering.

Sarah Jagger looks at the options f you own your own home, you may be asset-rich even if you are income poor. One option is to downsize by selling your home to buy somewhere smaller and cheaper.

You can then invest the surplus proceeds to provide you with extra income.

“There are many considerations before you downsize,” says Michelle Mitchell at Age UK. “Where you live can have a huge impact on your quality of life. Think about what you might need in the future as well as what you want now.

Talking through the possibilities with family or friends, or taking independent advice, can help.”

DOWNSIZE successfully

I

Housing choices

✢ Retirement villages A growing number of over-55s are moving to retirement villages which offer housing for rent, sale or part purchase. On-site facilities include restaurants, libraries, gyms and IT suites.

Villages can be divided into two categories: not-for-profit (which may include an element of charitable subsidy) and commercial enterprises. Both can usually accommodate extra 54

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care when needed.

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust (0870 777 4800, www. extracare.org.uk) works with housing associations and local authorities to create retirement villages. “We have 13 sites and are building five more over the next five years,” says Richard Tower for ExtraCare. A one-bed part-purchase apartment starts at £78,750, plus £89 weekly service charge. Check the fees involved and take financial and legal advice before signing up.

| DID YOU KNOW? | One in five retirees are relying on moving to a smaller property to boost retirement income

✢ Housing association These are non-profit organisations that provide housing for rent. “Eligibility for a housing association property isn’t straightforward as different providers have different policies,” says Joe Oldman, housing specialist with Age UK. “Many of them have an agreement with the local council that they will offer housing to people already on the council’s register. Some housing associations accept direct referrals but they may still require you to put your name on the council’s housing register.”

Speak to your local Age UK (0800 169 6565, www. ageuk.org.uk) or First Stop Care Advice (0800 377 7070, www.firststopcareadvice.org)

John and Joyce, (left ) moved to Old School Court

Y OU R ST ORY

“We’ve got independence and security” John and Joyce Williams, both 85, made the difficult decision to move from their large house in Norfolk, where they had lived for more than 30 years.

“We loved our family home but simply needed to find somewhere more manageable,” says John. “We really didn’t want to sacrifice either our independence or quality of life.”

After much searching, John and Joyce settled on a property on an independent development in Great Shelford, a village four miles from Cambridge.

“We bought a twobedroom house in Old School Court,” says

MAKING THE RIGHT MOVE A move will only be a success if your new home is right for you.

Ask yourself these questions before making a decision:

John. “It was everything we were looking for. We walked into the show home and both said, ‘This is for us!’.”

“The house is beautifully finished and very spacious, which is vital because, as downsizers, we have a lot of things we’ve collected over the years,” adds Joyce.

“Clever use of design future-proofs the house. The staircases are wider than normal and have deeper treads, making them easy to use. The shower in the bathroom is very large – you can even sit down in it if you want to! Our fuel bills are also lower because the house is

or contact your local housing association directly for more information about this option. ✢ Park homes “Park home living is similar to living in leasehold property; you own the home but not the land it is sited on,” says Louise Wood of The National Caravan Council.

Prices start at £25k and rise to over £100,000. Pitch fees vary but are likely to be in four figures. To buy using a finance agreement, you have to use a specialist lender such as RoyScot Larch (01235 438280, www.royscotlarch.co.uk).

Park homes are classed as ‘mobile homes’ and covered by separate legislation. In 2013 changes to the law governing park home sales will benefit consumers; visit www.theparkhome.net.

so well insulated, so we rarely need to have the heating on.”

“It’s the perfect location because we are close to the centre of the village, it is easy for us to pop to the shops, or a short bus ride takes us into Cambridge to meet our family and see our great grandchildren.

There are electric gates and bollards at the entrance – so we feel very safe.”

✤ Prices at Old School Court start at £237,000.

For further information or to book a viewing, call Hill Residential on 01223 875 400 or visit www.hillresidential.co.uk

GRANNY ANNEXES “The number of granny annexes has grown recently,” says Douglas Bratten of Granny Annexe (0800 334 5774, www.grannyannexe. com). “A one-bedroom 28m2 annexe costs around £33,350. Planning permission takes about eight weeks, then from digging the foundations to decorating takes four weeks. A well-planned annexe adds value to your property.

FINANCE ■ Is there an amount you need to release to make the move viable?

■ Is there accommodation available within your budget?

LOCATION ■ What are the local facilities like?

■ Is there a post office, shop or bank nearby?

■ Will you be able to keep up your hobbies and interests?

■ Are there social clubs and places of worship in the area?

■ Do you like the area?

■ Do you feel safe?

ACCESS ■ What is the public transport like?

■ Are buses regular?

■ Is there a local train station?

■ Are amenities within comfortable walking distance?

■ Will your friends or family be able to visit easily?

CONSIDER THE FUTURE ■ Even if you drive now, there could be a time when you do not want to or cannot continue. How does this affect your decision?

■ If you are a couple, how will the other manage if one dies?

■ Will your new home be suitable or easy to adapt if your needs change in the future?

■ Is your new home easy to maintain now and in the future?

■ What type of heating system does it have? Is it easy to keep the property warm?

Turn the page to find out how to make money from your home YOURS

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❙ cooking for you ❙

Food

notes

News, tips, recipes…

Compiled by Alex Frisby

Yours

EXTRA VALUE determined to bake this year?

GOOD FOR YOU… del Monte Naturally Light £1.59/1 litre

del Monte’s Naturally Light range contains less than 65 calories per 250ml glass, and comes in three delicious flavours – Mango and Papaya, Pineapple and Lime, and Super Fruits. Each provides 100 per cent of your daily Vitamin C allowance, and the juice is light and fresh.

Available in Tesco and selected Sainsbury’s stores.

Win this perfectly practical set of Great British Bake Off stationery and accessories, worth £71.99, from www. quadrille.co.uk. It’s sure to brighten up your kitchen.

B Find the range in Waterstones and House of Fraser We have three sets up for grabs. Send your name and address to Yours, PO Box 57, Coates, Peterborough PE7 2FF marked ‘Stationery Giveaway’ by Feb 8, 2013.

If you do not want to be contacted in the future by Yours magazine please write ‘No Further Contact’ clearly on the postcard.

WE LoVE… Special K Cracker Crisps £1.99/100g or 60p/23g

Kellogg’s has come up trumps with a tasty, healthier savoury snack that’s great value, too. At 95 calories and only 2g fat per 23g bag, they’re not to be missed. The Salt and Vinegar (pictured) were our favourites, but the Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream and onion came a close joint second!

Available in all major supermarkets.

SURE TO IMPRESS… Nuts about Banana Crème Pie Serves: 12-14 Per serving: 180 cals Fat: 11g

Sat fat: 4.5g

Preparation time: 50 minutes plus 1 hour chilling Cooking time: 30-35 minutes Preheat oven to 175°C/340°F/Gas Mark 31/2. Prick a 23cm (9in) pie base. Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown, then cool. Whisk 1 tsp powdered gelatin into 60ml (2fl oz) fat-free evaporated milk. Leave for 3 minutes, then whisk over medium heat until melted, without boiling. Add 60ml (2fl oz) milk and freeze for 10 minutes. Combine 225g (8oz) reduced-fat cream cheese and 130g (41/2oz) peanut butter. Add 42g (11/2oz) Truvia® sweetener and 1 /4 tsp salt. Once the edges of the milk are setting, beat for 5 minutes, to resemble whipped cream. Combine with peanut mixture and 10g (1/3oz) toasted coconut, then cover the crust. Layer with sliced banana before pouring over the rest. Garnish with 10g (1/3oz) toasted coconut and peanuts.

Cover and chill for 1 hour. © Truvia, www.truvia.co.uk

WHY NOT TRY..?

‘Spoonable’ Heinz Tomato Ketchup £1.79/300g

These new ketchup jars from Heinz are a far cry from the upended plastic bottle. Designed with adults in mind, they’re enhanced with new flavours – try Balsamic Vinegar, Basil and Oregano or Roasted Garlic, Thyme and Honey. Available in all major supermarkets.

Turn over for five recipes for one YOURS

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