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Page 1: Malmesbury 2013 june web
Page 2: Malmesbury 2013 june web

2 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Hello All,

It would seem that summer has

arrived, or at least at the time of

writing, we have enjoyed some glori-

ous sunshine! So much to look for-

ward to, with the Sherston Festival,

MAMS concert, Garden Open Days and

the Family Frolic all on this month.

Great to hear that so many local busi-

nesses are doing well in regional and

national awards, and also local clubs

such as the Flyball team bringing

home the medals! If you are part of a

local sporting club and would like to

let us know what you are up to, please

email details to the address below.

The British Food Fortnight is coming

up in September, but there is lots to get

involved in before then, see page 36

for details on taking part.

Kind Regards

Renee Tuck

Page 3: Malmesbury 2013 june web

3 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Cowage Farm Park, Foxley, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 0JH

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Page 4: Malmesbury 2013 june web

4 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

6 June 1844 Foundation of YMCA

By Ted Bruning

London in the early 19th century could be a pretty dreadful place. Filthy, noisy, trackless (no A-Z then) and horribly overcrowded, it must have more than merely bewildering for the thousands of young country folk who, displaced by the forced enclosure of their land, swarmed to the capital in search of work: it must have been miserable.

Worse still, for many of these rural refugees, was London’s Godlessness. The devout young Congregationalists, Baptists and others, used to Chapel twice on Sundays as their principal recreation, found nothing available but beer and blood-sports. So, just as their fathers and grandfathers had done, they rolled up their sleeves and provided for themselves.

Typical of these staunch and self-reliant young Nonconformist migrants was George Williams. The youngest of eight children, Williams was born in 1821 on a moderately prosperous farm near Dulverton in Somerset and was apprenticed at the age of 13 to a Congregationalist draper in Bridgwater. Here, influenced by the charismatic Welsh minister at the town’s Zion Chapel, he experienced a spiritual awakening and by the time he moved to London a few years later he was a deeply committed Christian. London, though, had little to offer him spiritually, and on 6th June 1844 he founded his own Bible study and prayer group which he called the Young Men’s Christian Association.

William’s employer and future father-in-law, George Hitchcock, helped the fledgling group find premises and within a year there were YMCAs in Manchester and Leeds and by 1851 they had spread to Montreal and Boston. In 1855 Jean-Henri Dunant of the Paris YMCA (later founder of the Red Cross) proposed a conference at which YMCAs from Britain, the USA, Canada, France, Australia, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands came together to found an international HQ and committee and write a constitution.

From the very beginning, the YMCA had a strong focus on offering healthy recreational alternatives to pubs and women, as well as opportunities for self-improvement with lectures and classes. In 1873 the YMCA opened a pioneering holiday camp on the Isle of Wight; in 1879 the North American YMCAs started opening gyms, followed by one in London in 1881; and American YMCAs are credited with inventing, or at least codifying, both basketball and volleyball.

Williams, as well as being a very successful businessman, remained closely involved: he was knighted in 1894, and when he died in 1905 was buried in St Paul’s, with a memorial plaque in Westminster Abbey. Since his death the

“Y” has branched out into more general youth work and is now a huge organisation running hostels, housing schemes, leisure facilities, training courses, drug counselling and a host of other activities in well over 100 countries: it has never lost touch with its Christian roots but doesn’t attempt to force its beliefs on the millions it helps.

In some ways it’s a shame that the initials should first conjure up, in the minds of most people, the Village People’s worldwide smash gay disco anthem of 1979. On the other hand the record’s success is a testament to the affection in which so many people hold the “Y” (and with good reason). But disco aside, Williams deserves to be more celebrated. A contemporary of Dr Barnardo and Florence Nightingale, his name should be up in historical lights alongside theirs as a social reformer of enormous importance and continuing relevance.

Page 5: Malmesbury 2013 june web

5 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Our Zeiss Summer promotion

throughout May and June is a free

upgrade to the new Photofusion

lenses that darken in the sun on

our Zeiss varifocal lenses.

Page 6: Malmesbury 2013 june web

6 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Malmesbury Travel

Agent scoops top

national award

Staff of Malmesbury travel agents Miles Morgan Travel are celebrating after being awarded the accolade of ‘Best Travel Agent in the UK’.

The Travel Agents Achievement Awards ceremony, which is held annually in London at a special dinner attended by top business people from across the British holiday industry, is designed to recognise the country’s most successful travel companies.

Miles Morgan Travel was started by Miles Morgan in 2006 and now have 11 branches throughout the South West. Miles said that his staff were absolutely jubilant at having their success being recognised nationally in this way. “Everyone in the team has worked so hard to provide outstanding customer service and we are so glad that this has been recognised with this award”.

The Malmesbury shop, which is in Market Cross, is run by manager Caroline Fenech , she said her and colleague Meg Williams were delighted to receive this prestigious award.

Commenting on the success of his company, Miles Morgan said that whilst he realised that many businesses were finding things difficult in the current economic climate, he believes that hard work and a positive attitude still pays off.

He puts his company’s success down to ‘sticking to business basics’, which he said were being innovative, attracting and motivating the best staff and offering excellent customer service.

“Many people seem to pay lip service to these, but fail to live up to it on a daily basis, but that is what my team and I do”, he said.

Page 7: Malmesbury 2013 june web

7 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

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Page 8: Malmesbury 2013 june web

8 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Mr Green in the

Conservatory by Derek Thompson

A leaky, uninsulated porch is a friend to no one. But a demolished porch replaced by a mini-conservatory = firewood + bricks + glass for cold frames + indoor space for more plants (especially welcome since our greenhouse had to go).

“So what do you think?” Anne pointed to her makeshift plan on the kitchen table.

I thought we could fit at least a dozen plants on the shelves, plus five trays of seedlings on the floor, and still be able to sit down.

That humble pencil and paper outline was the beginning, but it was a long and fretful journey to the finished conservatory. Low points included our builders doing a two-week vanishing act, them breaking the lid on our chiminea on the first day, and failing to put up 90-degree angle walls - twice. The wood and glass conservatory, however, was - and is - spectacular. Mind you, someone else supplied it. And, once the floor was tiled and those tantalising shelves were slated, we were ready to go.

The cat was the first visitor to the conservatory and, to be honest, didn’t seem that impressed (although she didn’t know how much we’d borrowed to pay for it).

Operation Hothouse went into action. We started with surprise tomato plants - in that they turned out to be a yellow variety - swiftly followed by Fasold green beans and Kennedy mange tout. The results were impressive, but top billing went to the California Wonder sweet peppers. Never having grown them before, I erred on the side of excess and planted 16. The 12 that thrived also gave us ample camouflage from walkers who passed up the lane.

As the peppers grew - and believe me, they grew a lot - we harvested, swapped and even froze a few (depipped and sliced first). And still they kept coming. On rare, hot days, the room smelt like a sweet pepper sauna.

I became so convinced of the conservatory’s powers that I brought in the sweet potato plant, which was ailing. It rallied a little, but when it came to harvest time I felt that the label’s bumper crop guaranteed had overstated the case. Seven sweet potatoes might be good for one plant, but not if they’re all the size of a 20p piece.

Naturally, we need to water everything regularly and employ judicious temperature control with the windows. Which also means that flies and wasps are frequent visitors. But hey, that’s nature for you. And it’s a dinner guest or two for the spiders, which moved in almost immediately.

Going forward, we want to reduce volume and increase

variety (because even home-grown peppers can become a little samey). Chilli peppers are next - I’d love to grow Bhut Jolokia - reputed to be the world’s hottest chillies. Anne is a tomatophile (I like the plants, but can’t stand the taste of the fruit), so we’ll definitely look a mixture of plentiful and interesting.

The conservatory has already been nursemaid to a range of herbs and seedlings. It’s not only an extension of the house, but also an extension of our lifestyle. Anne would like more space to sit down in comfort. Or, at the very least, be able to find the cat among the indoor undergrowth.

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Page 9: Malmesbury 2013 june web

9 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

SHARPES

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Page 10: Malmesbury 2013 june web

10 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Finance The Longest Holiday

By Arwyn Bailey

Most of us shy away from considering our later years and what they might bring. There may be the joy of watching our family grow and develop with grandchildren, great nephews and nieces, but understandably we do not like the idea of becoming incapacitated.

However, we should start thinking about what can be termed as the “longest holiday” of our lives sooner rather than later, as it is now clear that the government will not be funding the ongoing costs of any care that might be required.

The reason for the government’s stance becomes clear when examining some of the facts.

According to statistics from the Office for National Statistics, the average percentage of people over 65 in 1992 was 15.8%. By the year 2033, estimates show that this figure will have increased to 22.9%.

As the state is not going to assist in any meaningful form regarding ongoing care needs, we need to consider the cost of buying care as this is also rising. For example, maintaining professional quality care in one’s own home is now running at around £13.68 per hour.

Furthermore, full time basic fees in a care home now average at just over £27,000 a year rising to over £38,000 for nursing home fees.

Here are some tips that will enable you to start planning for the future.

1. Check your pensions, ensuring that you have current information for all of them.

2. Complete a BR19 form and send it off for a State Pension assessment. The reason for this, particularly for women, is that it will be assumed that your NI contributions would have continued if you had not stopped work in order to care for your children. However, the benefits agencies will not know of this and your past situation unless you inform them. Taking this action will enhance your state pension benefits.

3. Realistically consider what your ISAs and other savings might be worth. Monitor your investments regularly with a professional adviser.

4. Think about when your mortgage will be repaid, along with any other commitments. Put income that you have released, when loans are repaid, towards ISAs and pensions for your future.

5. Start thinking of your house as a commodity that might have to be used to fund care needs in the future.

6. Consider a special form of trust to ring fence the equity of your house. This can protect your home from local authority means testing when you qualify for care.

7. Review your Wills and the position regarding inheritance tax.

8. Review whether any property you own are as Tenants In Common or under Joint Tenancy as this is important in this arena of planning (Scottish law varies in this regard).

9. Seek independent financial advice from an appropriately qualified professional, and appoint an adviser on a fee basis to advise you.

The facts before us may not be favourable and planning for our longest holiday may take many years to achieve. Although our finances might be under pressure at this time, doing something now is going to be better than doing nothing.

Arwyn Bailey is a former financial adviser of almost 18 years, now a freelance journalist, photographer and author. You can learn more about Arwyn at: http://

gponlinephotos.com and: http://themoneyartist.com.

Page 11: Malmesbury 2013 june web

11 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Page 12: Malmesbury 2013 june web

12 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Keeping Gum

Disease Away By Julia Faulks

How often have you seen blood in the basin when brushing your teeth and done nothing about it? Unfortunately, this is just one of the signs of gum disease, which has been linked to heart and lung disease, diabetes, strokes and premature births. Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is where the gums become swollen, sore or infected. It can cause bad breath, bleeding gums, abscesses, loose teeth, receding gums and cavities. With around half of the population having some degree of gum disease, the risk of further health complications makes for scary reading. But the good news is that there is plenty you can do to improve things. Bad bacteria The disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth, which contain hundreds of bacteria that can be harmful to your gums. If you don’t brush your teeth properly or have them regularly cleaned by a professional, this plaque can build up and irritate your gums. Surprisingly, even if you aren’t experiencing any pain you might still be suffering from gum disease. In severe cases, a condition called periodontitis can develop - this affects the tissues that support your teeth and hold them in place, meaning that you may even lose teeth. There are cases where you may be more likely to get gum disease – and not just because you aren’t brushing your teeth well. For example, if you: • are over the age of 35 • are a smoker • have a condition that makes it harder for your body to

fight infection • have a high level of stress • are taking certain forms of medication linked with gum

disease, including tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, antimuscarinic drugs, some antiepileptic drugs, some antipsychotics, beta-blockers, diuretics (water tablets)

• have a poor diet • are pregnant Dental check-ups With many of us neglecting our visits to the dentist and a recent survey revealing that men are the worst culprits when it comes to regular dental check ups, you may be completely unaware of the existence of a problem other than perhaps seeing blood in the sink when brushing your teeth. Don’t wait for your gums to become painful, inflamed or bleed before you visit your dentist – mild cases can be easily treated or even reversed. However, in cases of

severe gum disease, you may need further treatment carried out by a specialist. There’s no shame in asking your hygienist to show you how to clean your teeth properly or the best way to floss – years of bad habits can be hard to change, but even changing your toothbrush every three months can help. Top tips • Brush your teeth for at least two minutes with a fluoride

toothpaste after every meal (leave 30 minutes after eating so your mouth acids have time to reduce).

• Floss regularly and use interdental brushes to reach the parts of your teeth that normal brushing can miss.

• Visit your dentist regularly, as well as a hygienist, who will not only clean your teeth but check your mouth generally for the signs of problems.

• Speak to your pharmacist or dentist about additional treatments, such as an anti bacterial mouthwash, which can help control gum disease and keep your mouth in mint condition.

• Cut down on sugary food and drinks and quit smoking – these things alone are two of the worst culprits when it

comes to causing gum disease..

Page 13: Malmesbury 2013 june web

13 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Page 14: Malmesbury 2013 june web

14 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Page 15: Malmesbury 2013 june web

15 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

“Children at risk of Measles outbreak

health bosses warn” Since the widespread introduction of MMR, recommended by the World Health Organisation, rates of Measles, Mumps and Rubella had fallen close to zero in immunised western populations. That is until recently! Now MORE than 6,000 young people in Wales alone are still at risk from measles, a health board has warned. Hywel Dda released the figures that showed of 6,865 10 to 18-year-olds identified as not being fully vaccinated, just 469 have come forward since November. Hywel Dda School Nursing service is currently visiting all secondary schools offering the MMR vaccine to pupils who have not yet received either the first or both MMR vaccinations. The current number of cases in the outbreak now stands at 1,039 since November 2012.

Dr Ash Banerjee, public health consultant for Worcestershire County

Council, said the outbreak in Wales and the general national upsurge in

cases meant measles could start circulating in the next few weeks and

months.

"This is absolutely not a time for complacency," he said. "Measles can be

very serious, carrying the risk of complications such as pneumonia, in-

flammation of the brain, hearing impairment, and even death. In milder cases the symptoms, such as fever, rash,

cold-like symptoms, aches, pains and poor appetite, are still unpleasant, and require at least five days off school.

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known - children who are unprotected are highly likely to catch

measles if they come into contact with an infectious child. Children with measles are infectious before the rash

appears so parents cannot easily prevent their children mixing with infectious cases." Parents first voiced concerns over links between MMR and autism and the bowel condition Crohn's disease in the mid-1990s. There were several cases of healthy children developing these conditions after being given the vaccine. Increasing numbers of parents decided not to have their children vaccinated with the triple vaccine. Dr Andrew Wakefield, a consultant gastroenterologist, drew national attention to a possible link between the ill-nesses and the MMR method of vaccination in a study in 1998. Dr Wakefield resigned from his post at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in North London after being told his research did not 'fit in' with the college's strategy. Dr Wakefield speculated that the MMR vaccine damages the bowel, releasing toxins that travel to the brain and trigger autism. Statistics on autism seem to back up the suspicions of those opposed to the MMR vaccine. Some research suggests a ten-fold rise in cases in the past ten years. This corresponds to the introduction of MMR. However if more than 15 per cent of the population fails to vaccinate their children, measles epidemics could return to the UK. A Government-commissioned study (published in the Lancet in 1999) concluded that there was no link to claims that MMR was linked to autism and bowel disease. The scientific establishment remains convinced that MMR is the safest option. Professor Peter Lachman, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: 'Even if there are dangers, all the evidence suggests that the chances of something nasty happening to you as a result of not getting vaccinated are around 100 times greater than something nasty happening to you if you do.' Children in nurseries and schools are more at risk to communicable diseases, being cared for together in large groups, so parents should make informed choices on vaccinations. They should weigh up the dangers of their child actually contracting the disease and its implications on their child’s health rather than speculation on the possible side effects of Government recommended protection against these.

Page 16: Malmesbury 2013 june web

16 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

glasspace.com

Bring Me Sunshine Katherine Sorrell looks at what you should consider when planning to build a conservatory.

Kit or bespoke? Kits tend to be cheap and DIY-friendly, as most of the parts (usually a PVCu frame and polycarbonate roofing) are pre-cut and pre-drilled ready for installation. Bespoke designs will cost more, but you’ll have something tailored to your individual requirements.

Size and aspect For a useable room allow at least 8-10 metres of floor area and consider how the space will complement your property and garden. How will your conservatory adjoin the house? Is there a large enough exterior wall, and will you have to avoid obstructions such as trees or outbuildings? Try to place it facing east or west, as north-facing conservatories tend to be cold, while south-facing ones can overheat.

Walls and frames Traditionally, conservatories are built onto a 600mm high ‘dwarf’ wall made of brick or stone, to match or complement your house. More recently, fully-glazed structures have become fashionable, offering a contemporary look and even more light. The most popular choice for the wall framework is PVCu, a material that is light, strong, requires little maintenance and can be system-built quickly and easily. Bespoke conservatories are generally made in hardwood, which can be carved into slender, intricate designs and suits older properties, though it is more expensive and requires regular maintenance.

Glazing Double or triple glazing is essential and the best glazing combines a low-emissivity coating that reflects heat back inside, and argon-gas filled units for maximum insulation. In a bespoke conservatory, you can specify tinted, etched, obscured, anti-sun, fire-resistant, self-cleaning or other specialist glass at a price. For roofs, choose from glass or polycarbonate panels. The latter are light and strong, cheap, and quick and easy to fit, but tend to obscure light, particularly at thicknesses that achieve the same thermal performance as double glazing. Near trees, they may also suffer from algae growth.

Heating Heating is essential and, to comply with building regulations, it must be independent from your main system. You could place radiators against the dwarf walls or install under-floor heating, either warm-water pipe or electric cable, or you may consider electric trench heaters, hidden under grilles around the edges of the floor. Where there’s room for a chimney or flue you can install an open fire on the wall that was the outside of the original house.

Ventilation In the height of summer you’ll need a cool waft of air. Roof

vents may be opened manually (with long-armed winding gear) or electrically, or may even be thermostatically controlled to open and close at the necessary time. Trickle vents in the roof or side windows are useful, allowing warm air to flow out as necessary. You may also wish to add a central ceiling fan.

Shading Blinds ensure privacy, provide shade from direct sunlight and reduce the build-up of heat. If heat is a problem, try solar-reflective roller blinds..Take your time choosing a look that’s right for you; consider how easy they are to clean and whether you want to open and close them with pull-cords, rods or via remote control.

Do I need permission? Many small, domestic conservatories don’t need planning permission, but there are conditions. Check www.planningportal.gov.uk and consult your local planning authority.

Page 17: Malmesbury 2013 june web

17 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Enjoy a lunchtime treat at The Manor House Hotel... Book lunch at the Michelin starred Bybrook restaurant and enjoy three stunning courses for the price of two! Three courses from the market menu for £25 per person Available for lunch Tuesday - Friday until 31st August 2013 Quote ‘Malmesbury Connections’ when booking.

The Manor House Hotel and Golf Club, Castle Combe, Nr. Bath, SN14 7HR

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Page 18: Malmesbury 2013 june web

18 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Bespoke Beauty

Providing bespoke beauty sessions to cater for any pampering needs

Treatments include CACI, GUINOT, THALGO, UNIVERSAL CONTOUR WRAP, SHELLAC, NAILTIQUES

and ST TROPEZ

Quiet home based salon established for 14 years and with an outstanding professional reputation

For a full price list please visit the website or call for an information pack

www.bespoke-beauty.co.uk Tel 07713468861

E-mail [email protected]

Page 19: Malmesbury 2013 june web

19 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Beauty Tailored to You Bespoke Beauty's owner Debbie has been in the beauty industry for 14 years. Start-ing as a beautician and fitness instructor at a leading health spa and progressing to owning two beauty salons in Lyneham and at the Wiltshire Golf and Country Club. She is now concentrating on a personal consultancy basis devoting attention to de-tail and giving her clients the personal attention they deserve. Clients have the choice of paying an hourly fee or opting for the usual treatment rates if something specific is required. Personal bespoke sessions not only give the client exactly what they want but many treatments can be done at the same time giving tremendous value for money. Bespoke Beauty is the high class salon brought home, giving clients a very specialist treatment list at amazingly affordable prices. CACI non surgical facelift treatment £44 Microdermabrasion £36 Guinot hydradermie facial £45 Gel polish manicure £15 Reflexology (includes mini pedicure) £25 Pedicures (includes bottle of polish) £24 Bespoke sessions £36 per hour As standard there are special offers which can be enjoyed over a 2 month period, en-suring that however frequently you visit the salon you can take advantage of them. Ad hoc promotions are sent at regular intervals along with newsletters. If you would like to receive these just send an E-mail stating you would like to be on our distribution list.

Page 20: Malmesbury 2013 june web

20 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Bugs and Beasties By Pippa Greenwood

Bugs and beasties are really thriving in this warmer weather, so just how should you deal with the most common problems you are likely to encounter at this time of year?

Aphids Greenfly and blackfly, also known as aphids, can be a real menace as they suck sap from your plants and can transmit viruses at the same time. Aphids breed incredibly rapidly, so regular control is necessary. • Check plants regularly and either spray with a suitable

insecticide or a soap or plant oil based insecticide • Use biological controls – they’re totally safe for all other

creatures and of course leave no residues • Use a strong jet of water to blast the aphids off plants, but

do a thorough job or else they will soon be back up and causing damage

Caterpillars Caterpillars come in all shapes, sizes and colours, but can do a lot of damage as they munch their way through your plants and perhaps even into your vegetables. • Hand pick the pest where possible and either squash or

place on the bird table. They’re easiest to spot at dusk or very early in the morning.

• Spray with a suitable contact insecticide or better still use the Nemasys Caterpillar biological control.

• Some caterpillars, in particular the Tortrix Moth produce quantities of fine webbing which they use to bind leaves or other plant parts together to create particularly safe shelters for themselves. It’s hard for a pesticide to actually reach them so hand picking or squashing is often the best answer.

• Cover caterpillar-susceptible crops such as calabrese, broccoli and other brassicas with Envirofleece or Enviromesh.

Woodlice Woodlice often cause a lot of concern, however these little creatures are rarely responsible as they simply do not have adequately strong mouthparts. They can cause damage to soft new growth or occasionally to soft-fleshed fruits such as strawberries but can’t tackle tougher plant growth. You may see them at the ‘scene of the crime’ and presume that they have caused the initial damage but they have probably moved in to clean up a lot of the debris created by other creatures.

Earwigs Earwigs can cause quite a bit of damage, particularly on the flowers of plants such as clematis and dahlias, where they nibble out large quantities of petal or occasionally leaf. Try trapping them using an inverted flowerpot on top of a bamboo cane. The bamboo cane and pot should be positioned amongst susceptible plants and the pot needs to

be stuffed loosely full of hay, straw or similar material. The earwigs climb in there to hide and the pots can them simply be emptied out on a regular basis.

Mildew Powdery mildew is also a problem at this time of year; it coats plant leaves, stems, buds and sometimes even petals with a white flowery deposit. Sometimes the mildew can also prevent fruits from swelling normally, cause the leaves to become distorted and even fall early. Prompt action is essential and if you wish you can use a proprietary fungicide but check the label carefully for suitability.

Keep the damage to a minimum in the first instance by ensuring that the plants are kept well watered. In addition try to ensure a good flow of air around the plants. A bit of careful pruning or weeding often helps too.

Page 21: Malmesbury 2013 june web

21 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

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Page 22: Malmesbury 2013 june web

22 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Everywhere I go, the

dads wanna rock Chris Russell

In 1965, when Roger Daltrey sang ‘I hope I die before I get old’, he defined a generation. Music belonged to the young, and this meant that getting old wasn’t just uncool, it was to be avoided at all costs.

The irony is that Daltrey and co have now reached the stage in life they once demonised and decided that maybe it ain't so bad after all. What the 21 year-old Daltrey didn’t know, you see, was that like wine, cheese and Stephen Fry, he would keep on improving with age. Much like another legendary rockstar, similarly advanced in years, whom I had the pleasure of seeing recently at Koko in Camden, one Wilko Johnson, formerly of Dr Feelgood.

Who is Wilko Johnson, I hear (some of) you cry? Well, don’t worry if you haven’t heard of him. I didn’t know a great deal about Wilko myself until a friend offered me a last-minute ticket to his gig, but I soon discovered I was being inducted into a very special circle. Wilko’s career has spanned five decades and been notable for chart hits, relentless touring and a legendary live act. In early 2013 he was diagnosed with untreatable pancreatic cancer and, refusing chemotherapy, has been given just months to live. This gig was due, in all likelihood, to be one of his last.

Stepping into Koko that night, you could quite easily have been at B&Q’s Summer Sale. The place was a sea of bald heads belonging to beer-bellied men in their fifties and sixties, and I suddenly felt very young and self-consciously skinny. This was rather refreshing because, now that I'm in my early thirties, I'm generally aware of being slightly above the average age at most gigs I go to. Prior to Wilko’s show, the most recent gig I had attended was at East London’s Queen Of Hoxton and was hosted by an edgy electro band of the sort that features more laptops than humans. I could quite easily have been twice the age of many of my fellow Hoxtonian punters, mere children who know little to nothing of Blur vs Oasis and consider living with anything less than fibre-optic broadband an abuse of their human rights.

And so, standing there among a crowd of men twice my age, I was concerned about feeling like an outsider - but instead I was welcomed into the fold with open arms. Wilko fans are a wonderfully inclusive club, bursting with joie de vivre and hopelessly devoted to their idol. One guy had seen Wilko two-hundred times and received personal thank-you letters from the man himself; another was so overwhelmed at this being the last gig that he was dewy-eyed before the show even began.

The set itself was astonishing. Wilko was mesmerising, an extraordinarily accomplished musician and one of the best guitarists I have ever seen. He hardly said a world all night; he just played, and played gloriously, for near-on two

unforgettable hours, not flagging for a single second. It was a master class in rock 'n' roll, made all the more extraordinary by his age and experience and I left Camden with one prevailing thought in mind. Wilko, Roger and the rest of you golden oldies, thank god you failed in your quest and actually did manage to get old. Because the world will be a far poorer place when you’re gone.

Chris is a freelance writer and musician with internationally-renowned rock band The Lightyears. Voted the UK's BEST POP/ROCK ACT at the Indy Awards, they’ve played Wembley Stadium, toured across four continents and released a record with Sting's producer. Chris has recently completed his first book, "Mockstars", based on The Lightyears' tour diaries. Find out more at www.MockstarsTheNovel.com.

"Wilko Johnson in action..."

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24 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Life Begins

An Actor’s Life at Last…? By Kate McLelland

When 76 year old actress Patricia Loveland appeared in Dustin Hoffman’s recent film ‘Quartet’, it was a remarkable achievement for this former midwife, who signed up for drama school at the age of 60.

For many older people Patricia’s success will be the spur to launch their own professional stage careers. Others may be encouraged to join an amateur theatre group.

Peter Bressington helps to run the Lindley Players, an amateur theatre society with 350 members based in Whitstable, Kent. He says that the group is always looking to recruit members of all ages, but he is aware that many people are put off by open auditions:

“If people are nervous about performing they can become involved in other ways, such as selling ice creams or painting scenery.”

In order to understand the level of commitment required, Pru Page, Club Secretary of Bocking Theatre Club in Essex, recommends that new members have their first experience of being on stage as part of the chorus of a pantomime or summer show:

“New members should be prepared to learn lines and take part in regular rehearsals but some are shocked by the amount of time they have to dedicate to the production.”

Pru says that learning a theatre role can be stressful for older people, whose memories may not be as effective as they once were, but she believes that the more her members become used to it, the easier it becomes. She also recommends the social aspects of joining a theatre group:

“I’ve met some of the best friends I’ve ever had through the club. Once you’ve shared a dressing room with someone – not to mention a few production disasters – you can’t help but become close.”

If amateur theatre doesn’t appeal, or if you already belong to an amateur group and want to go professional, then what’s the best advice?

A course at an accredited drama school (list available from www.dramauk.co.uk) is probably the best option if you want to go professional.

Many drama schools will take mature students for courses that last between one and three years. During that time you will work intensively on voice production, movement and acting. You’ll need an open mind and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone.

If student life is not for you, you can try approaching actors’ agents directly, but before you begin your search you will need a set of high-quality portrait shots. Be prepared for

rejection unless you have a unique ‘look’ that lends itself to character roles. Even then you may find yourself auditioning for TV ads rather than strutting the stage at the National Theatre.

Those who are lucky enough to be taken on by a reputable agent can expect to pay commission of around 10%-12% on each job. Actors usually have to pay their own travel expenses to attend auditions and purchase a subscription to online casting directory The Spotlight.

However, the performers' union Equity claims that at least two-thirds of actors are out of work at any time. With so much unemployment in the performing arts, the dream of taking up a professional stage career can often turn to dust, so it’s reassuring to know there’s always a local amateur company ready to give you the chance to tread the boards.

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26 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Camping on a Budget By Annie Lawson

If the luxury of an overseas holiday is just not going to be affordable for you this year, you probably don’t want to spend a fortune in this country either. However it doesn’t mean you have to go without a break completely because camping can be great fun and very affordable.

You can’t just put the TV on, there are no computer games for the children and your time is spent exploring forests and cooking outdoors. It makes for a wonderful family bonding experience completely unlike renting a holiday home, and is lots of fun if you can find a group of you to go.

There’s a huge retail market around camping, and an hour on one of the many equipment websites could have you thinking that the whole event is going to be far too expensive, especially if you aren’t sure if you’ll do it more than once. It doesn’t have to cost the earth though.

Firstly the tent. Take advantage of somebody else’s impulse buy by visiting secondhand sites to see what you can snap up - Ebay of course, but also Gumtree have plenty for sale.

Sleeping bags might be necessary if you are hiking across the mountains, but chances are you’ll be driving to your camping site so take your own duvets and pillows with some old covers and that will be perfectly adequate. A night’s sleep on the hard ground isn’t comfortable though so you’ll need to find something to lie on. Cushions from outdoor chairs or a beach lilo will be good enough for children, but you might want to invest in an inflatable mattress for the adults.

Other equipment such as a gas stove, water containers and plastic plates might be offered to you if you put a wanted advert on Gumtree or on Freecycle. And a polite plea to your friends could produce a surprising haul for you to borrow.

You might not be able to look your glamorous best while camping and really, why would you? It’s time to get back to nature. However, it doesn’t mean you won’t want to clean up every day and proper toilet facilities are a must. Fortunately, these days all but the most rural sites will have a shower and toilet block.

The internet will help you decide which site to go to. For example www.pitchup.com has 5000 UK and Ireland sites listed and it allows you to filter the features that are a ‘must’ for you and those that are a ‘nice to have’. For example you might want to visit a site that allows children and dogs (or doesn’t), has wifi access, or where there are cycling facilities nearby.

Still not convinced? If you think this sounds like more hassle than it’s worth, you might want to consider ‘glamping’. It’s still sleeping in an open area surrounded by trees, but the living accommodation is provided for you. Many sites offer tipis, yurts, wooden huts or even a gypsy caravan.

This is going to cost more of course but is still very affordable. For example a week in early July in a tipi in Mid Wales would cost £550 for two adults and two children. The bed and bedding for the adults is supplied as well as futons for the children. You are also given your own cooking and toilet facilities.

Remember, you won’t be the only one looking for a cheap summer break, so go online and book your pitch now.

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27 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

For your solution call Troy on 07523 366945 or email [email protected]

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28 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

What better way to celebrate the good weather than to go outside and burn things? Barbecue season is back, and as ever there are all kinds of gadgets promising to make cooking in the great outdoors even greater.

If you don’t already have a barbecue you’re spoilt for choice: you can spend as little as £20 on a charcoal kettle barbecue, or as much as £5,999 on a “Grill Centre” that’s bigger than most people’s kitchens. If space is at a premium, it’s worth considering a portable one, such as Weber’s clever little Smokey Joe barbecue (£59.99) or one of its many imitators.

Wherever men are showing off you’ll find firms offering gadgets to help them, and in outdoor cooking there are clever ideas such as the Grill Daddy Pro brush (about £14.99), which combines a typical grill brush with a steam cleaner to help shift tough burnt-on food and sterilise the grill racks. Alternatively, a quick scan of eBay uncovers plenty of motorised grill brushes for around £15 that promise to take the effort out of cleaning. If that isn’t manly enough, the terribly-named Looftlighter (£69.95) is a guaranteed hit, blasting hot air out of the nozzle at a terrifyingly hot 680 degrees to light barbecues, fires and anything else that happens to be nearby.

If you’d rather not spend nearly £70 on a glorified lighter - or if you already own a blowtorch - there are still plenty of tempting accessories from chimney starters to help you get things burning (£14.99) to griddle pans, woks, basting brushes, add-on tables, digital thermometers, hot dog rollers (£12) and hamburger presses (£12). You can even get a beer can chicken roaster, which holds a can of beer inside a chicken while you cook it (about £8). It sounds like a daft idea but it really does work - as does the digital thermometer fork (from £16), which can help you avoid poisoning all your friends by telling you whether the meat is cooked through or if it needs a bit longer. Alternatively, an oven-proof thermometer will do the job just fine for around £6, but make sure it’s rated for high temperatures: barbecues can be considerably hotter than the domestic ovens many thermometers are designed for.

Poisoning isn’t the only thing to watch out for: whether you go for an all-singing, all-dancing portable barbecue, a disposable aluminium one or a free-standing kettle model, remember that barbecues produce carbon monoxide, which

can be fatal - and they continue to produce it long after you’ve finished cooking. Never use a barbecue indoors or bring it inside when it’s still warm.

We’re not sure whether a Himalayan Salt Plate counts as a gadget - it’s a block of salt - but it’s an interesting add-on: instead of cooking directly on the rack you put the plates on the grill and the food on the plates, cooking and seasoning simultaneously. Expect to pay around £9 for a single one, which should last for lots of barbecues and which doubles as a nifty serving plate. Last but not least, there are plenty of LED-powered barbecue lights, such as the three-headed Best of BBQ LED Grill Light. As much as we love our barbecues, we can’t help thinking that if you’re buying £40 accessories to barbecue in your own garden in the dark, you might be taking outdoor cooking a little bit too seriously.

Burn, baby, burn The best tools for a great British barbecue

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Lumley Garden & Pet Supplies

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30 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Saturday is the family day at SherstonFest and like last year kids under 14 get in for free on Saturday (if accompanied by a ticket carrying adult), but this year we have really pushed the boat out. The highlight of the kids programme will be the Samba Party drumming workshop. Kids from 7 and up can sign up before the music programme starts and once they have some cool Latin rhythms down they will be pa-rading round the arena as an opening ceremony for the days festivities. Numbers will be strictly limited so you should reserve your slots at [email protected] But it doesn’t stop there!! During the day they will also be able to amuse them selves in the JunkFish make and play area

where they can make costumes, headdresses shakers and all manner of other stuff so that they can join in the second Samba procession round the arena at tea time. No age restrictions and you don’t need to pre book just turn up and play! Yet there’s more! Cher’s Funky Faces will also be offering henna tattoos, and Build-a-Pizza will be making a welcome return where the kids can make their own pizzas and see them cooked in a traditional pizza oven. So there you have it tickets are now on sale via www.sherstonfest.com

Sherston Festival 15th & 16th June 2013

OK so we haven't booked the Stones (wouldn't have them again, not after they way they behaved when we had them in the village hall) but it's kinda satisfying to think that our mates down at Glastonbury have been watching who we have on the SherstonFest line up and booking the same acts for their local festival too!!

The first act they copied from us was the epic Electric Swing Circus. Fair enough, I mean you would - one of the best electro swing outfits on the planet and the best thing to come out of Birmingham since the A38, good times guaran-teed...

But then they went and toadied up the Same Green and the Midnight Heist too. OK-OK Sam is a brilliant lap-slide gui-tarist, and yes the band play that kind of high octave blue-grass stuff that makes it impossible not to dance, but come on guys... did we go and nick The Arctic Monkeys?

So we were just calming down when b*gger me, they proudly announce that Troy Ellis and the Hail Jamaica Reggae Band will also be heading down Glasto way a couple of weeks after SherstonFest. I mean it's not surpris-ing that the son of Alton Ellis (the legendary "king of dance-

hall") might catch the eye - but its a bit rich to let us trail all the way over to Freetown to convince Troy to come to rural north wilts, only to find that they have enticed him down Somerset way to do his laid back thing?

But to put the cap on it they then go and book the Ten Pound Suit Band too! If I'm honest that's a step too far, the Suits are "our band" - we found them playing in some doggy boozer in Bristol, we made them what they are today. Ok I can see that any festival just *needs* a mad man on Banjo and a wild woman on trumpet with the best swinga-billy band in the south west to play "covers, but not as we know them Jim" - but c'mon guys, do you not have your own programming team?

Anyway we are not bitter - so if you want to drop 200+ quid to see these fine artists from about 2 miles away on the other side of the valley, then knock your self out, off to Glastonbury you go my friend. On the other hand you could part with a paltry 24 quid for the whole weekend and see them up close and personal at SherstonFest on 14th & 15th of June!!

For more info check out www.sherstonfest.com

Glastonbury coming to a field near you!

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English strawberries are in season and these beauti-ful cupcakes are a fantastic way to celebrate this. The soft-set strawberry jam is well worth making as it is so easy and delicious. You will probably have some left over so it will keep covered in the fridge for a week or two and is fabulous on scones!

Ingredients For the Soft-Set Strawberry Jam

400g Strawberries 100g Granulated Sugar

For the Cakes 200g Caster Sugar

200g Soft Butter 3 Large Eggs

225g Self-Raising Flour 1 teaspoon Baking Powder 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

For the Vanilla (Chantilly) Cream 500ml Double Cream

1 Vanilla Pod (or 1 teaspoon Vanilla Ex-tract)

3 tablespoons Icing Sugar 6-8 Strawberries for the top

Makes 18 cup cakes

To make the strawberry jam, hull the strawberries, cut them into quarters and tip them into a small pan. Add the sugar and put on a medium heat, there is no need to add any wa-ter. When the strawberries start to sizzle gently shake the pan to mix the sugar in with the juices. With the heat on low-medium let the now syrupy strawberries bubble away for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the syrup has thickened and you have a glossy, deep-red gloop. Transfer it to a bowl to cool.

For the cakes, preheat the oven to 175⁰C (fan).

Whisk the butter, the caster sugar and the vanilla extract together until pale and fluffy. Gradually whisk in the eggs and the flour alternatively with the baking powder until all combined. Spoon into cake cases and bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. Set aside to cool. For the vanilla cream, pour the double cream into a bowl then add the scraped out seeds of the vanilla pod and the icing sugar. Whisk until thick and holding peaks. Take each cooled cake and cut a round piece out of the top, cut a bit of cake from the bottom of each piece then fill the hole with half a teaspoon of strawberry compote and put the top back on. Do this with all of the cakes. Pipe or spoon the vanilla cream onto the top of the cakes then decorate with pieces of fresh strawberry. Serve and ideally eat on the same day.

Recipe: Cupcakes!

Photographer : Neil Bryars

Kindly supplied by Helen O’Brien www.bekitchenhappy.co.uk

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•Small and medium sized

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34 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Cotwold Flyball strike Gold!

Cotswold Flyball Club, a small club based on the Wiltshire, Gloucestershire border sent 5 teams to Cantley Park Working-ham.. The performance sent shockwaves through the Flyball world as the club notched up 4 divisional wins and 1 second place to dominate the tournament eclipsing several larger clubs. This is the first time in the club's history that 3 Open teams have made a clean sweep of gold medals and also had a total of 4 divisional wins. The Cyclones ran the second fastest time in Cotswold history smashing through the 19s barrier twice in their opening match. The time of 18.69s actually proved to be the fastest of the day, not just in their Div 3 but also Div 2. This time will ensure the team's promotion to the top 2 leagues of this fast growing sport. After a slight wobble they went on to dominate the division and pick up gold, a fabulous effort from Rocky, Flynn, Poppi and Tammi. The Typhoons went in to division 4 as 3rd seeds but soon set about the opposition and won all their matches to snatch gold. Dexter making his full open debut gave an impressive performance backed up by teammates Ceris, Moss, Woody and sub Lexie. The Zephyrs giving a full open debut to Rhona and deploying the 2 "Jack Russell" tactic again with the Dizzy/Jack combi-nation and with veteran Kelli opening, took their division to a final match shoot out in division 5 that they won to take Gold. The Breeeze starter team of Evie, Boo, Mist and Mop took their division to a 3 way tie that they deservedly won on count-back by posting the fastest time, also bringing home gold. The Mistral starter team of Fergus, Milo, Reuben and Smarty put up a tremendous show taking the silver medal in their division, this was a first outing for most of these dogs. Flyball is the fastest growing dog sport in the UK.

Cotswold Flyball club train on Thursday evenings 7 pm at Dairy Farm, Long Newn-ton Airfield, Near Tetbury. Web-site:www.http://cotswoldflyballclub.webs.com/

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Don’t be the last to discover the

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36 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

BRING HOME THE HARVEST FOR BRITISH FOOD

FORTNIGHT 2013 A modern day Harvest Festival and you are all invited!

21st September to 6

th October 2013

Love British Food is the biggest showcase of food on the national calendar and celebrates its twelfth year with more activi-ties than ever before for people to get involved, with a particular emphasis on schools, communities and young people.

What’s Happening? A Harvest Lottery for schools; a challenge to find the community organising the most imaginative and inclusive harvest celebration; a call to the young to create a new harvest anthem; and culminating in a huge British Food Fortnight Harvest celebration at Westminster Abbey. Plus the event’s annual drive to encourage shops, pubs and restau-rants to run British food promotions during the Fortnight. Here is a taster of how everyone can get involved; further details and entry forms are on www.lovebritishfood.co.uk :

Bring Home the Harvest in your Community: In association with The Telegraph we are searching the British Isles to find the farmer, business or community that organises the most innovative, inclusive and imaginative harvest celebration during British Food Fortnight. The winners will be selected by a panel of judges from the world of food and farming including: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Raymond Blanc, Alan Titchmarsh and Philip Clarke, chief executive of Tesco. The winners will be featured in The Telegraph and will be presented with The Telegraph & Love British Food Best Harvest Celebration 2013 trophy by The Secretary of State.

Britain’s first digital harvest celebration! Calling Britain’s young to create a new anthem for a modern day harvest celebration, have fun and have a chance at making history! In association with the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and working with the Scouts and The Girls Brigade, we are asking young people everywhere to get rapping, writing and singing and create a harvest anthem for today: a new ‘We plough the fields and scatter’, a new harvest number one to inspire a new generation. The piece will become the anthem for this year’s British Food Fortnight and will be judged by experts from the music industry and leaders from national youth organisations.

Harvest Lottery for schools: All schools in the UK are being invited to enter a Harvest Lottery to win their place in West-minster Abbey at a spectacular British Food Fortnight harvest service that is being held especially for children in October. To enter the lottery, schools are being asked to create a harvest box that celebrates the food produced in their part of the country. Each harvest box will need to contain three elements: fruit and vegetables the chil-dren have grown themselves; food they have cooked in class; and a selection of food from local producers in their part of the country. 800 children will be selected by lottery to join VIPs and celebrities in Westminster Abbey where their harvest boxes will be presented and distributed to members of the community afterwards.

WHY IS NOW THE TIME TO REINVIGORATE THE HAR-VEST? Commenting on the event’s harvest celebra-tions, organiser Alexia Robinson says: “The horse meat scandal has shocked consumers into reconsider-ing where their food comes from and buying British has risen substantially on their agenda.” She contin-ues: “We want to bring Harvest Festival into the 21st century and make it relevant and fun in the modern day. This year’s British Food Fortnight is all about showing that everyone can get involved in celebrating the harvest: at home or at work, in your local pub, on your street, out shopping, in your children's school or online. After all, we’re all but a few generations re-moved from the land.”

WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE? To find out how you can take part, download promotional material, sign up for monthly updates on the latest British food news and for details of what is happening near you, see www.lovebritishfood.co.uk or email [email protected] .

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37 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

• CACI ultimate non surgical facials

• Aromatherapy, Reflexology

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38 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Is your child about to move

from Year 2 into Year 3?

The transition from the end of Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 (when your child has turned 7) is an increasingly popular time for parents to consider moving from maintained primary schools into the independent sector. Neil Shaw, Headmaster of Rose Hill Westonbirt School (RHW) comments that “parents are becoming more concerned about large class sizes which often see a steep increase between Year 2 and Year 3. Every year we welcome new families to RHW into Year 3 where the curriculum really steps up a gear”. Rose Hill Westonbirt School is an independent day school and nursery for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It is located in the heart of Westonbirt School’s campus directly opposite Westonbirt Arboretum, just outside Tetbury. It offers class sizes of less than 18, with no mixed year group classes. It has a contemporary and innovative teaching programme which is fully themed to enhance cross-curricular links. As well as academic lessons, the children also benefit from the Forest School, with lessons in their own woodland outdoor classroom and competitive boys and girls sports with regular team fixtures for all. Art and Music are taught by specialist teachers, encouraging children to develop and learn new skills. Neil Shaw continues “the great advantage of Rose Hill Westonbirt is that it successfully combines the intimate size of a village primary school (130 pupils from 3 to 11) with the grounds and facilities of a school that is three or four times the size”. This is due to RHW’s big sister school Westonbirt, which has first class facilities including a £3m sports centre with an indoor swimming pool, a brand new music technology centre and over 200 hundred acres of landscaped grounds and gardens. Children in Years 3 to 6 have the opportunity to learn in dedicated teaching spaces including fully equipped science laboratories, an inspirational art studio and technology workshop and state-of-the-art computer rooms. For further details about Rose Hill Westonbirt, to arrange a visit or attend their forthcoming Open Morning on Saturday 18 May, please contact the Registrar, Ann Slark on 01666 881375 or email: [email protected].

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39 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

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40 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Pygmalion

George Bernard Shaw

Long before Julie Andrews was beaten to the film role by

Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady began life as Bernard Shaw’s

triumphant comic play Pygmalion. The deliciously arrogant

Professor Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can turn

‘guttersnipe’ Eliza Doolittle into a lady but she is far from

being the downtrodden flower girl he believes her to be. It’s

one of Shaw’s greatest critiques of the English class system

and it’s abso-bloomin’-lutely hilarious to boot.

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

T.S. Eliot

When Cats were merely kittens in Lloyd Webber’s eyes,

readers were curling up in a sunny corner with T.S. Eliot’s

Practical Cats. Writing under the name ‘Old Possum’ in

letters to his godchildren, Eliot’s poems included tales of

Macavity, Mr. Mistoffelees and Bustopher Jones. The

charming collection is much-loved the world over for its

unique take on cat psychology.

Les Miserables

Victor Hugo

Jean Valjean is a man who’s desperate to escape his past,

but with a policeman like Javert on his tail, this escaped

convict is going to have a battle on his hands. Les Mis has

everything: mistaken identity, injustice and love, all set

against the backdrop of the French Revolution. It’s the

world’s longest running musical, and most recently gave us

the cinematic opportunity to see Hugh Jackman without a

shirt on.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ian Fleming

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Musical Car was written by Ian

Fleming of James Bond fame, who penned the original three-

part series for his son. The idea has to be every child’s

dream: a flying car. Inventor Caratacus Potts restores a

second-hand vehicle and he and his children name it after

the sound of a backfiring engine. It soon becomes clear that

Chitty isn’t your average automobile and the family embarks

on an adventure that involves kidnap and gangsters, cross-

channel flying and some bizarre characters. When Chitty

made it to the West End, audiences poured in to see the

flying car in all its glory.

Oliver Twist

Charles Dickens

Fagin told his boys they ‘gotta pick a pocket or two’ and

composer Lionel Bart picked more than an idea or two from

Dickens, transposing the Victorian London of Oliver Twist to

the stage, along with the wonderful characters of Twist

himself, lovable rogue The Artful Dodger and simply terrifying

thug, Bill Sykes. Dickens’ novel opens with Twist enduring

life in the workhouse before being taken on by an undertaker.

He escapes, only to fall in with Fagin’s gang of pickpockets.

The book’s a lot darker than the musical with the brutality of

the streets along with the poverty and drudgery of many of

London’s lower classes portrayed vividly.

The West End will soon be heaving again as tourists flock to see the hottest musicals. Many of them started life as novels, plays and poetry, and the authors’ words were adapted into catchy show-tunes and moving ballads. Here’s our pick of the best-loved tales to get the toe-tapping treatment.

Making a Song and Dance of It

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

Sina Ohms MCFHP MAFHP

Foot Health Practitioner

Corns-Nail Trimming-Verrucae-Hard Skin-

Athlete’s Foot-Ingrown Toenails-Nail Infections-

Cracked Heels (Fissures)-Nail Cutting

The Chippenham Natural Therapy Centre T:01249 443390

The Oxford Practice, Malmesbury

T:01666 824 560 Corsham Chiropractic Clinic T: 01249 716683

Home Visits T: 01666 838683 M:07593324128

Need an electrician?

Domestic & Commercial Electrical Service Fully Insured, Free Estimates

Faults and repairs, electrical installations, lights

and sockets, rewires and fuse box changes.

Tony Parfrey

01666 837580 07815932197 www.dreamscape-electrical.co.uk

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41 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

Piano tuner/

technician

Mike Felton MPTA

01454 232971 or 07747 317844

Tel: 01454 218 263 The Major’s Retreat

THE BEST VALUE COUNTRY PUB IN THE AREA

*We like our customers so much we try to spoil them!*

Pure and simple

proper old fashioned pub!

Tormarton

Tuesday is Quiz Night- starts 9pm with free nibbles

Sunday Roast Lunches & full menu available 12 -2.30pm

A great rendevouz point

by J18 M4

The one & only Major’s Retreat Google us and you will find us on top!

www.majorsretreat.co.uk

Trip Advisor certificate of Excellence 2012! “The owner a real character who adds

to the pub’s ambiance” “... A real country pub welcome...”

“... it doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t...” “....real ale—scrumptious food...”

Come and see for yourself!

A great rendezvous point

by J18 M4

Page 42: Malmesbury 2013 june web

42 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Across

1 Seats (6)

4 Burst (6)

9 Reduce in length (7)

10 Moves rapidly (5)

11 After sunset (5)

12 Before (7)

13 Marvellously (11)

18 Cultivate (7)

20 Hurry (5)

22 Arrogant (5)

23 Terminates (7)

24 Sibling (6)

25 A sign (6)

Down

1 Place for gambling (6)

2 In the midst of (5)

3 Turned (7)

QUICK CROSSWORD

5 Senior (5)

6 Incomplete (7)

7 Large arid area (6)

8 Halted (11)

14 Apparent (7)

15 Sad (7)

16 Adjusts (6)

17 Container (6)

19 Narrow shelf (5)

21 Rub hard (5)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12

13 14 15

16 17

18 19 20 21

22 23

24 25

Red Priest, a most extraordinary baroque

quartet, are coming to Malmesbury Abbey …

Malmesbury Abbey Music Society is very excited to be welcoming Red Priest to Malmesbury Abbey for the first time on Saturday 29th June at 7:30 pm. Red Priest is like no other early instrumental ensemble you have ever heard! These four musicians have redefined the art of period performance, creating a virtual orchestra through their creative arrangments. Piers Adams Recorder Julia Bishop Violin, Angela East Cello and David Wright Harpsichord will give us an evening to remember with The Carnival of the Seasons – Vivaldi with a Difference. As David Mellor said on Classic FM, ‘ Red Priest have been bringing glee to the concert scene for a decade or more … transferring Baroque clichés into vivid drama, often at terrific speed and with practised co-ordination with a bedrock of tremendous skill and timing.’ Workshop at 2 pm on the afternoon Piers Adams, world renowned leader of the ensemble, is giving a 1 hour Recorder of the concert. For more details of the workshop, please contact Anne Cox on 07546 588715 or [email protected] Tickets for the concert are priced at £12 / £5 (students), can be obtained from the Abbey Bookshop, or the MAMS Ticket Secretary, David Barton, on 01666 824924, email [email protected]. Alternatively, they can be bought online through the Malmesbury website www.malmesbury.com/mams.

However it is not too late to become a member. For £55 you get a season ticket that covers all the season’s concerts, while £10 membership gets you discounted tickets. The society also organises trips to musical events, the annual highlight being our trip to the BBC Proms at the Albert Hall. Contact David Barton for further details.

Crossword Answers- Across: 1 Chairs, 4 Popped, 9 Shorten, 10 Darts, 11 Night, 12 Earlier, 13 Wonderfully, 18 Develop, 20 Haste, 22

Proud, 23 Expires, 24 Sister, 25 Symbol. Down: 1 Casino, 2 Among, 3 Rotated, 5 Older, 6 Partial, 7 Desert, 8 Interrupted, 14 Obvious, 15

Unhappy, 16 Adapts, 17 Vessel, 19 Ledge, 21 Scrub.

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43 Please mention Malmesbury Connections when responding to adverts

as. £1.80 to £5 Raffle £1 per strip Themed prizes - house-hold goods. groceries and seasonal specials. Thursdays 20th June and 18th July. Contact Maragret 01666 825617. Tots Of Fun On Fridays! New drop in and stay soft play sessions every Friday morning during term time at the Scout Hut, Green Lane, Sherston. 10am – 12pm Ages from 1-4 years £3.50 per child, £1.50 for each additional sibling. Insured and CRB checked. 01666 841525 totsoffun.co.uk

Sunday 9th JuneFoxley Trail & Open Gardens, , 1.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. £5, under 16s free Walk to the Foxley & Norton Diamond Jubilee dry-stone egg, then continue through private land to Bremilham Church, the smallest operational church in England. There will be stalls at various gardens in the village with plants, cakes, tombola, ice cream, soft drinks and cream teas. The art exhibition in the church will show work of local artists, photographers & sculptors and a display by the children of the village Weekend 22nd and 23rd June Sherston Open Gardens finishing with tea and cake in the Church ( included in the price of your ticket £5 per person) Tickets are available on the day, outside the Post Office in the High Street, from 10 a.m to 1 pm on Saturday and from the Lych gate from 1 p.m on Saturday and Sunday. Gardens are open 1 to 5 pm on Saturday and 2 to 5 on Sunday. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Church. For information contact Heather Martin 01666 840375 Sunday 30th June. Corston Open Gardens. Six gardens opening in aid of the village hall. Teas will be served in one of the gardens. £5 per Adult, Children free. Please park in designated car park as there is no parking at the gardens. 01666 824999 for further information. Wednesday 3 July, 7:00pm Westonbirt School outdoor performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by The Festival Players Theatre Company. For tickets please contact 01666 880333

WHAT’S ON ? Every Sunday from April 14th until September 15th, 2 to 5pm Sevington Victorian School is open . Free admission and children's activities. Delicious home made teas and a chance to tour the schoolroom, schoolhouse and pretty Victorian garden. Every Sunday (7.30pm) and Thursday (2.30pm) Crudwell Short Mat Bowls - bring flat shoes and we have the woods - at Crudwell Village Hall

Every Monday 1.00 - 3.30pm Malmesbury Physically Handicapped Club. The club is run for the benefit of physi-cally handicapped, and elderly, residents of Malmesbury. Transport can be arranged in the immediate Malmesbury area. For further info please contact 01666 824351

Every Monday—Malmesbury Arts Society meet at St Mary’s Hall at 7.30pm to paint and draw. All ages welcome.

Every Monday Fortnight 1.30-3pm at the Town Hall Malmesbury. Singing for the Brain for carers and people with dementia. Please call the Alzheimer's Society on 01249 443469 for further information.

Every Monday Malmesbury Singers rehearse every Mon-

day Evening from 7:30-9:15, in Malmesbury Abbey between

September and Easter, giving 2 concerts in the Abbey, at

Christmas and Easter. Another concert in July in the Town

Hall, rehearsing there on Mon April/July 7:30-9:15.New

members welcome contact www.malmesburysingers.co.uk

‘Every Monday & Thursday – Malmesbury Bridge Club meets for friendly duplicate bridge at Athelstan House, Burton Hill Primary Care Centre complex, at 7 p.m. For details or if you need a partner, contact 01453 860512

Every 2nd Tuesday-7.30pm Lea WI meet at Village Hall

Every Tuesday and Thursday- Athelstan Players, a local drama group meet in our Club Room (behind the Co-op) (adults only) 7.30 - 10 pm. If you can sing, dance, act or help back stage, new members welcome. 01666 822691

Most Tuesdays in The Activity Zone from 12.30 to15.30. Malmesbury Tuesday Club -A sandwich lunch (£3) is fol-lowed by board games, a quiz or puzzle or a talk from a visiting speaker. From time to time we travel to enjoy a meal out or to visit a local point of interest. Transport to and from the club can usually be arranged. For further details ring Rhiannon Parry on 01666 823339

Every Wednesday—Members (aged 60 and over) meet at noon in the Wesleyan Room of the Town Hall to see friends and enjoy a 2 course lunch. Details from Helen Churchill 01666 840080

Every Wednesday– Malmesbury Arts Society meet at Malmesbury Town Hall 2-4pm to paint and draw. All Wel-come. Please bring a table covering. Cost £1.

Every 4th Wednesday of month—Wiltshire Family History Society meet at La Flambe, Birdcage Walk. All welcome, no Wiltshire ancestry necessary! Free. Contact 01666823507

THURSDAY EVENING MONTHLY BINGO SESSIONS in Malmesbury Upper School Restaurant 7:30pm -9pm. Hosted by Malmesbury Parents and Teachers Association to help fund additional items. Play all night for as little

Local Information and Useful Num-bers

BT Fault line 0800 800 151 Gas 0800 111999 Malmesbury Town Council 01666 822 143 Malmesbury Youth Centre 01666 823747 Malmesbury Activity Zone 01666 822533 Library 01666 823611 Emergency 999 Police 101

DOCTORS SURGERIES Malmesbury PCC 01666 825825

Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01666 818 143 or 07919 288 977 Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage colour variation or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permis-sion has been given for use in the publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accu-rate. Malmesbury Connections does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form—electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise—without the prior consent of the publisher. Publisher: Malmesbury Connections Printer: NewmanThomson

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44 To advertise call 07919288977 or 01666 818143 or email [email protected]

Extensions Loft Conversions Barn Conversions Listed Building Refurbishment Groundworks and Landscaping

Roofing Fascias & Guttering Kitchens & Bathrooms Carpentry Property Maintenance

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