Issue 059 - Reflect Magazine

18 Wedding Review
Animal Welfare 19
Cotswold Wedding Video & Photography:
Scoop Certificate of Recognition
As specialists at capturing the events of your wedding day,
Cotswold Wedding Video & Photography provide either
or both video and photographic services for weddings
across the Cotswolds. Their aim is to cover all the important
aspects of your dream day from the ceremony to the
reception and wedding breakfast, as well as any evening
celebration/entertainment.
With many years experience, gained by filming at most
locations in the Cotswolds and across Gloucestershire,
company director, Howard Williams, together with his
experienced crew, provides a lasting memory of your
wedding day.
With such a wealth of experience, as well as friendly and
approachable nature, Reflect have awarded Cotswold
Wedding Video & Photography a Certificate of Recognition
for Exclusive Weddings. On hearing the news, Howard
said: “Thank you Reflect. This is a great start to 2012; we’ve
won a handful of awards before, including from the Institute
of Videography. It
takes a lot of time
and effort to capture
the memories of
your special day,
or celebration,
perfectly, so you can
re-live them for years
to come.”
Reflect Editor,
Elaine Ellis, explained why she selected Cotswold Wedding
Video & Photography for this Recognition: “Many people
put photography ahead of videography at a wedding, but by
enlisting the services and expertise of Howard and Mike at
Cotswold Wedding Video & Photography, you can have the
best of both worlds for the most special day of your life.”
For wedding day photography, Cotswold Wedding Video
& Photography use professional digital equipment and
provide a selection of formal and informal shots of the
happy couple with relatives and friends, so that after the
fun and excitement of the day, the magic moments can be
re-lived over and over again. You should also remember
that the DVDs and photo albums produced will be
cherished not only by the bride and groom, but also by
those who cannot be there to share the day.
On your wedding day, Cotswold Wedding Video &
Photography usually use either twin camera coverage for
the whole day to capture all of the action or twin cameras
for the ceremony and single camera for highlights of the
photocall, reception and rest of day. However, the choice
is yours. Separate camera coverage can be provided of the
bride’s preparations, family and guest interviews, special
sequence of the bride and groom in a chosen location or
reportage of the day, to name a few suggestions.
In the past, Cotswold Wedding Video & Photography have
filmed a wide range of weddings, from low budget to
lavish dos, in every
type of venue from
Register Offices,
private marquees,
cathedrals and luxury
hotels. In addition,
they have undertaken
a great variety of
filming projects from
services attended
by Her Majesty the
Queen, theatre and
dance productions,
instructional and
marketing projects,
corporate events and
travelogues.
For more information, please call 01453 757980
or visit www.cotswoldweddingvideo.co.uk
Love For Our
Furry Friends
With a lifetime of music experience and a real love of
performing, pianist and church organist, Dudley Fowkes,
provides the perfect musical accompaniment to special
events. From weddings to blessings, christenings to
funerals, Dudley’s extensive repertoire and expertise
allow him to tackle any song with great enthusiasm and
confidence.
So, it’s not hard to see why he’s been chosen for a Reflect
Certificate of Recognition for Special Occasions Music.
Reflect Editor, Elaine Ellis chose Dudley for this accolade.
She says: “Music plays such an important role in our lives,
but most of the time we don’t notice it, it’s just there, in the
background. It can really set the mood and tone of your
event though, so it’s vital to choose an experienced and
passionate performer, which is why I recommend Dudley.
He’s been making, performing and enjoying music his
entire life and he’s still as passionate today as I imagine
he was as a child. I hope our Certificate of Recognition
encourages Reflect readers planning their wedding, or any
Another Accolade For
Dudley Fowkes...
other celebration, to call him directly and see what he can
bring to their event.”
From classical pieces to show tunes, Dudley loves any
opportunity to play his beloved piano. He’s performed at
numerous wedding services in stately homes throughout the
Midlands and really enjoys playing a special request of the
bride and groom: “I love doing requests, especially when
it’s a song the happy couple first heard when they fell in
love. I believe you’ve always got to give it 100% and that’s
what I aim to do.”
Dudley first discovered the joys of playing the piano as a
child: “I started learning the piano at the age of eight and
had lessons for about four years before I became interested
in other pursuits,” he explained. It wasn’t until his 20s that
Dudley first took to the church organist’s seat, he says:
“I had a go on the organ at my local church and really
enjoyed it. I decided I wanted to learn properly, so bought
a book and taught myself, but it took me over two years to
learn how to use my feet on the pedals correctly. I didn’t
have any formal training, but a friend who was an organist
helped me out when I needed advice.”
Over the years, Dudley has played concerts and special
events for all kinds of different audiences, with some of
his proudest moments being performing for the Queen,
Princess Diana and Princess Margaret. Dudley says:
“Playing for Princess Diana was one of the highlights of my
career. The event was held in St James’, London, where
I performed as part of a trio and for most of the day we
played background music. For the two hours that they
ate, I sat just 10 feet away from her and I have to say how
beautiful she was.”
Hire Dudley for your
special event by calling
01527 545211
Make A Life-Long Commitment
Aiming to bust the myths surrounding bulldogs, bull terriers and other bull breeds,
Bullies In Need have been working tirelessly to re-home unwanted dogs since 2002. The
organisation currently has 60 dogs looking for loving new homes and are keen to make
the public aware that these dogs are as lovable, friendly and loyal as any other breed.
The Lincolnshire-based organisation was founded by dog-lover, Ann Warrick, after
setting up an online forum for other fans of bull-type breeds, as she explains: “It started
in a very small way, with people asking for help with their
dogs. Eventually they began asking me to find new homes
and it just snowballed from there – now we never turn a
dog away.”
Bullseye an American bulldog
looking for a home
Ann and her volunteer team are increasingly saddened by
negative media portrayals of bull breeds and their use as
‘status’ dogs, she says: “The dogs aren’t at fault, the owners
are; in recent years they’ve become an accessory for people
who want to look tough, but they’re little softies and that’s
the message we really need to get across.”
If you would like to help Bullies In Need, monetary
donations are desperately needed, as are new homes.
Ann says: “Unfortunately, irresponsible owners have over
bred bullies, so we have more dogs than we can find homes
for – the phone rings non-stop and we feel we’re fighting a
losing battle. We need to find people who really want a dog
and who will treat it as part of the family. Owning a dog
involves a lot of time and sometimes a lot of money; I just
want to urge people to be more responsible.”
With 2012 marking the tenth anniversary of the
beginning of Ann’s mission, Reflect want to celebrate
her selfless hard work and Bullies In Need’s successes by
awarding them our Certificate of Recognition for Services
to the Breed.
Tel: 07780 541143
Web: www.bulliesinneed.info
Email: admin@bulliesinneed.info
Unfortunately, our domestic pets are the latest victims of the current economic instability
following the 2008 recession. National animal welfare organisation, Blue Cross, recently
announced a dramatic leap in their rescue figures, which are thought to be as a result
of families struggling to find the cash to care for their pets. The number of stray or
abandoned pets taken in by Blue Cross in 2011 stands at 1,530, an increase of almost 50%
compared to 2010’s figure of 1,027.
The benefits of owning a pet are enormous and well documented, as they can help
to keep you happy and healthy. In fact, research has shown that pet owners are much
healthier than those who choose not to care for an animal. According to the Pet Health
Council, studies have shown that those who own a pet have lower levels of cholesterol
and lower blood pressure (http://www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk/About-Us/People-and-
Pets-Stress-Busting.html). However, owning a pet isn’t just good for your physical health,
animals are also said to help combat stress, so there are plenty of reasons to introduce a
four-legged friend into your family.
So, before you take the financial and emotional plunge of buying a pet, Reflect would like
to suggest doing your homework.
Whatever type of animal you would like to share your home with you need to consider
how much it will cost you each month for food, bedding and insurance, so that you will
be better prepared and well aware of how much a pet is going to cost in the long run.
Choosing a new pet based on how much you can afford to spend each month is better
than buying an animal you may be forced to give up.
Your choice of pet should also reflect how much time and care you can give. Cats make
ideal pets for those who want a more independent companion, as they require no
walking or grooming, whilst dogs are one of the most time consuming pets. Taking on
the responsibility of a dog is a huge commitment, so it’s important you know how long
they are expected to live for. The average life expectancy for dogs, according to the British
Veterinary Association’s publication The Veterinary Record, is 11 years. However, the breed
of the dog and the care it receives can obviously affect its life span.
It can be difficult to know where to look for the perfect pet, but buying from a reputable
breeder can ensure your animal will be healthier. However, with so many pets filling up
the country’s rescue centres, Reflect would like to encourage you to adopt a rescued
animal. Sadly, the country’s rescue centres always have plenty of pets for you to choose
from, so help an animal in need by giving an abandoned or unwanted animal a loving
home.