Taunton and South Somerset Living Oct - Nov 2021

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Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

32 

Guest 

A Culinary Journey through 

Northern 

bedroom Ireland 

inspiration 

“There is something so special 

in the early leaves drifting 

from the trees–as if we are all 

to be allowed a chance to peel, 

to refresh, to start again.” 

– Ruth Ahmed 

There is something so special about 

this time of year - it has a grounding 

effect which forces us to consider 

the passage of time and the tangible 

changes around us. As the hues 

of the trees shape our landscape, 

we settle down into the embrace 

of those cooler, darker evenings 

- a sense of quietude before the 

inevitable Christmas rush begins. 

Our competition 

page returns 

06 

We hope this edition makes a good 

companion to a cosy evening or a 

peaceful morning with a cuppa. We 

couldn’t resist the opportunity to carb 

load here with an interview with west 

country expert baker (via France!) 

Richard Bertinet - sorry not sorry to 

have you reaching for that bread and 

butter... 

20 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Ultimate comfort 

food recipes 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-press Manager Kate Norris 

Contributors Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Front cover courtesy of Richard Bertinet 

Key Account Manager Claire Harris 

e claire@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984 494 

twitter: @TauntonLiving 

16 

Baker Richard 

Bertinet 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, Trowbridge 

BA14 6JB t 01225 984 550 

w www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an 

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers. 

This lovely chat falls alongside 

some delicious recipes and some 

inspiration for the home and 

garden - this issue we are focusing 

on getting the guest bedroom in ship 

shape ahead of welcoming visitors 

this Christmas - well, fingers and 

toes crossed we will have them this 

year - bet you never thought you’d 

think that! 

It wouldn’t be right to have an 

edition without one of our most 

popular pages - the competitions! 

You can enter all the ones listed on 

the page, plus some web-exclusives 

at minervamagazines.co.uk - you 

can also opt into being the first to 

hear about new giveaways when 

they are launched. 

We are looking forward to seeing 

you again in December, where we 

will be unapologetically thrusting 

you into the Christmas swing. Don’t 

say I didn’t warn you! Until then, 

take care and enjoy this issue. 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

COMPETITION 

Time 

WIN 

A a two-night stay 

for two people at 

Whittlebury Park 

WORTH 

£338 

To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at 

random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted. 

Whittlebury Park, a four-star countryside hotel in 

Northamptonshire, is nestled in hundreds of acres of tranquil 

ancient parkland, making it the perfect destination to get away 

from it all. It’s surrounded by a host of local attractions, from 

lakeside walks at Stowe Gardens to designer retail therapy 

at Bicester Village and thrilling history at the Silverstone 

Experience Museum. 

Terms and conditions: The prize is for a winner plus one guest. Prize 

winner and guest must be aged 18 and over. Only one winner will be 

drawn. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable, non-exchangeable 

and there are no cash alternatives. Cannot be used in conjunction with 

any other offer or promotion. The prize is available Friday – Sunday. 

Valid until 31 December 2021 excluding Good Friday, Easter Monday, 

Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and Bank Holiday Mondays. Full terms 

and conditions available on website. 

whittlebury.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition keyword ‘WHITTLEBURY’ 

WIN We are giving one 

lucky reader the 

The Ultimate chance to win 

baby Starter the Ultimate 

Pack! Starter Pack 

from Kit & Kin, 

the eco-friendly 

brand co-founded by 

Emma Bunton. Offering an 

unbeatable bundle of ethical 

baby essentials, the beautiful 

collection of products is 

bursting with everything a 

new parent needs, night and 

day, including the brand’s Eco Nappies, Biodegradable Wipes 

and Nappy Sacks. The standout set also contains the heroes from 

Kit & Kin’s range of 100% organic cotton babywear, including the 

adorable Bunny Hat and super soft Alphabet All-in-One, as well as 

a luxuriously snuggly Knitted Blanket and Sleeping Bag, to ensure 

everyone gets the best ZZZ’s, naturally! 

kitandkin.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition keyword ‘BABYWEAR’ 

Eliza Southwood 

practiced as an 

architect for ten years 

before deciding to 

take up a career as an 

artist and illustrator fulltime 

in 2010, although 

she has consistently 

drawn and painted throughout 

her life. Her first illustration 

commission was a Spanish children’s 

book, when she was aged 13. 

Eliza’s speciality is silk screen 

printing, but she also works in mixed 

media, watercolour and acrylic. As 

a keen cycling fan, she is known 

particularly for her cycling themed 

artwork, but she also produces work 

on a wide range of subjects such as 

cityscapes, dogs, sports and people. 

We have two prints worth £250 each 

to give away. 

www.elizasouthwood.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 

Competition keyword ‘ELIZA’ 

WIN 

A print 

worth 

£250 

Ramekins & Wine offer 

immersive dining 

experiences where 

the wine takes 

centre-stage, the 

food is designed to 

showcase its character 

and deliver a true taste 

sensation. We are giving readers 

the chance to win a Home 

Tasting Box for two people 

which includes six specially 

selected wines and perfectly 

matched ramekins of food. 

T’s and C’s: Three lucky winners 

will enjoy a Home Tasting Box 

for two people. 

ramekinsandwine.co.uk 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition 

keyword ‘WINE’ 

Leading flowers and 

gifts delivery service, 

Floward, is delighted 

to offer 8 lucky readers 

the chance to win an 

arrangement from its 

new letterbox collection. 

WIN 

A Home 

Tasting Box 

for two! 

WIN 

A letterbox 

floral 

arrangement 

from Floward 

Established in 2017 by CEO 

Abdulaziz B. al-Loughani, 

Floward is a full-fledged 

e-commerce solution that 

offers prime fresh-cut flowers 

sources from the best growers 

and farmers around the world 

which are arranged locally by an expert team of florists and 

designers. Following a successful launch into London at the 

start of the year, Floward is expanding its distribution across 

the country, to offer a next day delivery service which allows 

customers to place orders by 12pm and guarantees that their 

flower arrangements will arrive the next day. What’s more, as 

part of Floward’s worldwide CSR programme, 1% of all annual 

revenue generated by sales will be donated to the Mental Health 

Foundation. 

floward.com 

Closes 01/11/2021 - Competition keyword ‘FLOWARD’ 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, 

Bryony Clements, provides 

safe, natural, yet noticeable, 

non-surgical procedures, that 

compliment and enhance an 

individual’s facial features. 

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Classes And Workshops 

At Taunton Brewhouse 

This Autumn. 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Forget New Year, autumn means a fresh start 

for me, perhaps because it has still carries that 

association with the beginning of the school year. 

It feels like a good time to try something new, start 

a class or take up a hobby. 

If you feel the same way Taunton Brewhouse has lots to offer. For 

those of an artistic bent there is painting, jewellery making, or 

writing. If you learnt a new instrument in lockdown why not bring it 

along and join our concert orchestra? If exercise is more your thing 

there are flamenco and ballet lessons for every ability. As well as 

picking up a new skill it is a great opportunity to meet people. 

For a full list of classes go to 

www.thebrewhouse.net/listings/activities 

One and Two Day Workshops 

For those who like to get fully immersed in an activity Taunton 

Brewhouse has some special one and two day workshops on offer. 

Evoking The Coast 

16 Oct, 10am – 5pm, £65 Suitable for 18+ 

A semi-abstract painting and drawing workshop led by artist Sara 

Dudman RWA. Rooted in seascape traditions, participants will 

be encouraged to unlock their potential and create expressive 

painterly responses to the stunning British coastline. Using 

acrylic paints, Sara will guide you through tried and tested 

techniques for creating expressive paintings. 

Wild/Word/Craft 

23 - 24 Oct, 10.30am – 4pm, £60 Suitable for 18+ 

Writing workshops are always popular and this one will be no 

exception, a fabulous two-day nature writing workshop where 

participants, as well as writing, create their own handmade books. 

Guided by your writing tutor Helen Moore, you will observe nature 

and wildlife along the River Tone, and write your own nature 

inspired piece. Using recycled materials and collage techniques, 

you will then make a unique, handmade book to present your 

wild words to others. New writers are welcome - no previous 

experience is required. Raincoats advised as partly outside. 

Polymer Clay For Beginners 

7 Nov, 10am – 5pm, £35 

Learn how to create beads, necklaces, earrings, or even a small bowl 

using polymer clay, and take home your finished piece at the end of 

the day! Using a variety of tools, jeweller and artist Caroline Casswell 

will take you through each step to create your own objects of beauty. 

For further details on all activities or to book go to 

www.thebrewhouse.net/listings/activities 

or ring the Box Office on 01823 823244 @BrewhouseLive 

FESTIVE 

FAVOURITES 

An all new offering and a 

familiar favourite make 

Christmas 2021 one to 

remember on the West Somerset 

Railway... 

We’ll all remember last Christmas in one way or another, with tiers, 

tests and contact tracing, but for visitors to West Somerset there was 

much to enjoy. Santa Express services still went ahead in 2020 in a 

fully compliant environment that delivered joy to young and old and, 

perhaps more importantly, a safe way to celebrate Christmas. For 

2021, these family favourites, with refreshments and an on board visit 

from Santa himself, make a welcome return. But as darkness falls, an 

all new offering will also take place along the popular heritage railway. 

‘WSR presents: Winterlights’ will see a fully illuminated train depart 

Bishops Lydeard for the first time ever, taking visitors through winter 

woodlands and lineside displays to Crowcombe Heathfield and back. 

Both festive services are expected to be popular and with limited 

spaces, the message is clear... book now or miss out! 

Further details can be found online at 

www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk 



Christmas Market 

Friday 19th - Sunday 21st November 

£5 non-members | £3 members 

Includes free gardens admission

Living with Cerebral Palsy 

Ray's Story... 

Ray was only 7 months old when his grandad noticed that he wasn’t 

using his right arm. We became so frantic with worry that we ended 

up taking him to A&E where a sympathetic paediatrician informed 

us our beautiful little boy had Cerebral Palsy. It was a devastating 

diagnosis as we had no idea how it would affect Ray. 

We wanted to do something to help him. We read books and went 

online. There was so much information it was overwhelming. Our 

health visitor recommended taking Ray to bibic, so we booked him in 

for an assessment as soon as we could. 

Ray's Journey with bibic... 

When we arrived at bibic we instantly felt welcome and reassured. 

One of the therapists explained Ray had hemiplegia which means his 

brain is injured on one side, similar to a stroke. We were given physical 

exercises to do every day to give him the best chance to develop. 

Ray came on very quickly. Soon after our first visit Ray sat up and 

started bum shuffling around. He got up and walked before he was 

18 months old! I’ll never forget the reaction of the therapists when Ray 

walked into bibic by himself, it was wonderful. Each time we took Ray 

to bibic they would spend a day assessing his abilities and identifying 

areas where he was struggling and then giving us a plan to help 

improve those areas. 

Ray would love to show off his 

newly learned skills each time. 


Life for Ray Now... 

Ray is 10 years old now and 

is a very bright and active boy. 

He loves to read and write. He 

loves football, swimming and is brilliant at netball. As he’s grown up 

his brain injury has thrown new challenges at him and us. We still use 

the techniques we learnt at bibic to help Ray cope with everyday life. 

He loves the visual timetable that bibic showed us. He loves routine 

and knowing what will happen and what time each day, so the visual 

reminder really eases his anxiety. 

Ray can’t wait to come back into bibic again to show off how 

much he can do and how much he’s grown. He recently went on a 

two-night school residential trip where he took on all the physical 

challenges presented to him...he never ceases to amaze the adults 

who work with him. 

We can’t thank bibic enough for all the support they’ve given Ray 

and our family over the years. They really do help families like mine 

navigate through the most difficult times. 

- Ray’s mum 

Over time these issues changed from physical problems to other 

issues like speech, social skills, and learning. Each time we would 

see dramatic improvements. We were always given very clear written 

instructions to take away on how to help which were absolutely 

essential as there is so much to take in. Ray always loved his bibic 

visits, they made the sessions fun with lots of sensory play breaks. 

bibic is a national charity based in Langport, Somerset. It delivers 

therapeutic programmes to children and young adults aged 6 months 

to 25 years with developmental and neurological difficulties. bibic 

sees them with or without diagnosis and supports a wide range of 

neurological and genetic conditions. If you want to enquire about how 

we could help your child please visit www.bibic.org.uk 

Acorn Solicitors are a friendly, local, 

family run firm based in Taunton 

and Street. We are well known 

for our specialist knowledge and 

personal style of working. 

we are recruiting in your area... 

Wills and Trusts 

Powers of Attorney 

Probate 

Executor/Trustee 

Conveyancing 

Notary Public 

Elderly Client Matters 

Commercial Property 

join our team! 

We have no hidden charges or costs - we 

tell you upfront clearly what you will pay. 

for more information, go to 

affinitytrust.org/jobs 

07584 528380 

50 Upper High St, Taunton TA1 3PY Tel: 01823 273010 

www.acornsolicitors.com 

lucywhite@affinitytrust.org 


COMING THIS CHRISTMAS 

TO SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY 

BOOK TICKETS TODAY AT 

SEESANTA.CO.UK 

Train equipment and event elements vary by location. Inquire at your local venue for full details. 

THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s21)

An enriching life like no other 

Which school should my child attend? 

Choosing the right educational 

environment for your child is one of 

the most important decisions you’ll 

ever have to make as a parent. But if 

you’re looking for a boarding school 

for your child, how do you choose 

the right one? Robin Fletcher, CEO 

of the Boarding Schools’ Association 

(BSA), explains. 

‘How do I choose the right boarding school 

for my child?’ That’s a question we’re asked 

more often than any other at BSA. And 

when you consider the UK boarding market 

is one of the largest in the world, with more 

than 450 schools of all sizes and types, in 

all sorts of different locations, there isn’t a 

straightforward answer. 

But having such a wide range of choice can 

really work to your advantage. If you know 

exactly what to look for in a prospective 

boarding school, your child will enjoy a 

first-class education and gain invaluable life 

skills, boost their confidence, become more 

independent, and have the best possible 

preparation for adult life. 

The first key piece of advice I would always 

offer when choosing a school is that it must 

be a joint decision between you and your 

child: they have to be happy with the final 

choice. 

As I’ve mentioned, one thing there isn’t a 

shortage of in the UK boarding sector is 

choice. You need to think about the best 

location for your child: will they be best 

suited to a large school attended by several 

hundred students, or a smaller school 

with fewer pupils? Would a school in the 

middle of a city be better for them, or would 

they prefer somewhere more rural? Would 

they be best suited to a single sex or coeducational 

school? Also, will full boarding 

be the best option for them? Schools can 

offer full, weekly or flexi-boarding, so you’ll 

need to decide which works best for you 

and your child. And is an academic school 

right for them, or one that focuses perhaps 

more on sport, music or more vocational 

subjects? 

Once you’ve considered all those factors 

and you’ve got a shortlist of schools you’re 

interested in, I’d always strongly encourage 

you to visit those schools in person. This 

is the best way to tell if it’s right for your 

child or not, as it will be clear very quickly 

whether they are comfortable there. 

Making that final choice of the right 

boarding school for your child can be a 

lengthy process, but taking the time to get 

your decision absolutely right is crucial. 

Boarding will not suit every child or family 

- but for the right child, in the right school, 

it can offer an enriching life experience like 

no other. 

For further information about the Boarding 

Schools’ Association, or to search for a 

boarding school, please visit www.boarding. 

org.uk. In 2020, BSA also teamed up with 

Bulldog Publishing to launch Schoolplaces. 

org, a dedicated live information resource 

for schools, parents and education agents. 

For more information, please visit www. 

schoolplaces.org. 

Image: Courtesy of Highfield and 

Brookham Schools 


“ 

A school for the 

21st century 

“ 

Scholarships at Taunton School 

We warmly invite day and boarding pupils from any school to apply for an award and discover the benefits of an 

inspiring Taunton School education. There’s still time to apply, the application deadlines are as follows: 

• 16+ Scholarships (Entry into Sixth Form): Friday 5th November 2021 

• 11+ Scholarships (Entry into Year 7): Friday 26th November 2021 

• 13+ Scholarships (Entry into Year 9): Monday 10th January 2022 

• International Baccalaureate Scholarship: Monday 24th January 2022 

To find out more call 01823 703703 or visit www.tauntonschool.co.uk 

Follow us @TauntonSchool

Millfield at the 

Tokyo Olympics 

This year, 13 Millfield School alumni headed to Tokyo 

to compete, which is the highest number of athletes they 

have ever had at the games. Nine athletes competed for 

Team GB, and four for Brunei, Kenya, Denmark and 

Hong Kong. 

James Guy had a shining performance in the pool, winning two 

gold medals and a silver for Team GB. Millfield’s Director of 

Swimming and former Olympian who also attended Millfield as a 

student, Euan Dale, joined Team GB as a coach in Tokyo. 

this summer 

will add to the 

school’s proud 

Olympic heritage. 


It is Millfield’s extensive and diverse facilities, unique timetable 

allowing for regular training along with the blend of specialist 

coaches and centralised sports programme that sets the school 

apart. 

Dr Scott Drawer, Director of Sport at Millfield, said: ‘Sport is 

synonymous with Millfield, and we are proud to place it on the 

pedestal it deserves in developing young people. Our vision at 

Millfield is to be the world leader for the development of children 

through sport and looking at the vast list of previous Olympians 

and success stories, we have been leading the way for some 

time. Many of our students reflect on these formative years and 

how it has impacted their future careers’. 

Millfieldians have competed at every Games since 1956, with 56 

athletes representing nine different countries and a total of 16 

medals won (5 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze). The athletes competing 

The unique 

elements that 

help our students 

reach the highest 

level include a 

flexible daily timetable that offers training during a two-hour lunch 

break, specialist coaches, the athletic development team and the 

balance of sport with academics. 

Old Millfieldian James Guy said, ‘I’ve been around Millfield for 

a long time and all of the staff here at Millfield really did help 

me massively and without them I wouldn’t be where I am today, 

World Champion and Olympic medalist, Millfield is where my 

dream began’. 

The school are set to watch more alumni head to the 2024 games 

in Paris. 

DISCOVER 

BRILLIANCE 

millfieldschool.com/open-days 

NEXT 

OPEN DAY 

SATURDAY 

9 OCTOBER 

2021 

#DISCOVER BRILLIANCE 

12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Millfield Pre-Prep_MendipLiving_Aug211_153x110_Flynn.indd 1 06/08/2021 14:34

The Greatest 

Magician 

The magician most famous for 

jamming the BBC’s switchboard 

after correctly predicting the lottery 

fronts The Greatest Magician – the 

most hotly anticipated magic show 

for 2021... 

Described by The Mirror as extraordinary and following a sell-out 

run in 2019, this enigmatic and critically acclaimed, intimate 

glance at the most engaging of art-forms transports you to a 

jaw-dropping world of light-hearted hilarity, wonderment, and 

mystery. Focusing on mind-bending feats of illusion, from making 

people forget their own names to transporting iPhones from the 

auditorium into blocks of ice - this dazzling show is showing 

exclusively for a limited run. 

Presented by host of BBC’s Trickster: Live and viral star - ‘the 

most anticipated magical performer in a generation’. Taught 

exclusively by Paul Daniels, friends with Penn & Teller and now a 

magician to A-lister stars, James Phelan is The Greatest Magician 

and he comes to Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre this December for a 

special performance. 

Chortle Magazine said, ‘there’s a moment you will remember for 

the rest of your life’ and Fringe Magazine praised the show saying 

it, ‘leaves even the most seasoned magic go-ers dumbfounded.’ 


But the final word should go to James Phelan’s uncle, the late, 

great Paul Daniels, who said, ‘you’re funny, you look good, all 

your tricks work, if you were anyone else I’d hate you!’ 

The Greatest Magician is at Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in 

Taunton on Saturday 4 December at 7:30pm. Tickets are £17, 

concessions £15 and can be booked online tacchi-morris.com 

or by calling 01823 414141. 

Transforming the one you have, to one you love 

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01935 250310 


CAN YOU 

LEND US A.. 

Tenor 

Ade Hill catches up 

with ‘The People’s 

Tenor’, Russell 

Watson, where he 

discusses getting 

back out on stage 

post pandemic, as 

well as something we 

can all relate to... 

the great lockdown 

clear-out! 

Images by Richard Haughton/Raymond Gubbay Ltd 

It sure has been a tough year for 

everyone, especially for the performing 

arts and theatres. How did you 

personally find lockdown? 

In some respects when it first kicked in 

I don’t think anybody in the industry, or 

the country for that matter, anticipated 

just how long the lockdown would last. 

So when we initially thought it was just 

going to be a few weeks I thought ‘Well 

this could be a good opportunity for me 

to rest my voice, rest the infrastructure’. 

I also wanted to settle down – I had 

been constantly touring for about ten or 

eleven years without much of a break. 

So it was kind of going to be just a long 

lay-off but it didn’t quite work out like 

that! I remember when it started to unfold 

it was evident that the lockdown was 

going to be much longer than we were 

anticipating and it was then that my wife 

presented me with this great big long list 

of jobs that I’d been promising to do for 

the last eleven years, culminating with the 

tidying of the proverbial garden shed. It’s 

only a simple 8x6 garden shed, but once 

I’d opened the door to it I realised that it 

probably had a similar capacity to that 

of Dr Who’s Tardis! There was so much 

junk in there, I wasn’t able to actually 

get through the door. So the first point 

was to clear the doorway by emptying 

the immediate contents onto the garden 

lawn. The first thing I noticed was that 

there were about five or six kites in there 

that remained unopened. But the most 

interesting thing I found was at the back 

of the shed lurking were three bikes that I 

didn’t even know I owned! 

That’s quite a find! Now I hear that 

in your lockdown sort-out you found 

boxes of old stage gear, including a 

suit that you wore to meet the Queen? 

Yes, and this was all in my shed! It was 

all piled up in these plastic containers. 

I pulled a lot of it out thinking ‘I thought 

this had gone years ago?!’. This beautiful 

silk white suit that I had worn when I 

received my first Brit Award. All manner 

of stuff was in there. It was like Aladdin’s 

cave. It’s funny because a lot of the stuff 

doesn’t fit anymore, as it is twenty years 

on. It is designer stuff, there’s Dolce & 

Gabbana and Armani and all that. So we 

bagged it all up and took it to the local 

homeless facility. It was funny because 

the guy rang me up a few days later 

and said “Russell we’re so grateful for 

the clothes, we shouldn’t laugh but all 

the guys here are now walking around 

in Dolce & Gabbana and Armani, it’s 

brilliant!” 

That’s really brilliant! It is great to 

donate. 

We’ve attempted to do a lot for homeless 

people over the years. I’ve recently been 

involved with a big project with The 

Big Issue, to try to raise for homeless 

people who at the moment are suffering 

more than ever. With people not leaving 

home because of the pandemic it’s been 

incredibly difficult for a lot of homeless 

people. I am a huge advocate for 

supporting the homeless. 

Tell us more about your 20th 

Anniversary tour. How does it feel to 

finally be able to go back to what you 

do best? 

Well it was the tour that was meant to 

happen at the beginning of 2020. Then 

it was moved to the middle of 2020. 

Then it was moved to the end of 2020. 

Now it has ended up in Autumn 2021. 

It’s difficult to know what to put on the 

tour poster. ‘The tour that nearly was, 

then wasn’t. But then nearly was again, 

but wasn’t. But might be, but wasn’t. 

But probably could be but we just don’t 

know’ tour. December 2019 was my last 

concert in front of an audience, and so 

this Friday (20th July) was my first show 

for the best part of eighteen months. It 

was an outdoor festival in Hale Barns 

and it was just wonderful to get back on 

stage with all my musician friends and 

deliver a show to an audience that, you 

could just tell, were long overdue some 

live entertainment. It was such a great, 

great night. 


” 

On his 20th 

Anniversary tour: 

I’m very proud of 

the fact that I’ve 

been able to remain 

in the industry for 

such a long period of 

time, and it really is, 

from my perspective, 

something to 

celebrate. 

” 

I can imagine. Just to get out and 

see you and also see friends again. 

Because we’ve all had to give up a lot 

of our life! What can we expect from 

the tour? 

It’s a collection of material from the last 

twenty-one years of my recordings. It’s 

the repertoire that I think the fan base 

would expect first and foremost and 

then similarly a few surprises in there. I 

think it’s all the material and repertoire 

that underpins the last twenty-one years 

of my recording career. I’m very proud 

of the fact that I’ve been able to remain 

in the industry for such a long period of 

time, and it really is, from my perspective, 

something to celebrate. 

Does it feel like it’s been twenty-one 

years since you recorded your first 

album? 

You know what, when I think about 

all the things that have happened to 

me over twenty-one years it feels like 

two lifetimes! But when I actually look 

back in retrospect to, say for instance, 

when I first went into the studio with my 

producer Nick Patrick in 1999, it literally 

feels like the blink of an eye. It feels 

like it was last week! It’s such a strange 

feeling, but life is like that isn’t it? I think 

all those moments that we feel underpin 

who we are, the successes in our lives, 

the failures, the difficult times, they’re the 

moments that we single out and they are 

they key elements in our lives. They are 

part of a big jigsaw, and when you look 

back on them it doesn’t feel like they 

were that long ago but when you think 

about all the water that’s gone under the 

bridge in between it feels like I’ve done so 

much, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate 

in my career as well. 

It’s like looking at old pictures of 

yourself back in the 80s. Did I really 

have a mullet? I did. 

I know what you mean. I look at pictures 

from that period, particularly with 

reference to my teenage years and even 

though, stylistically, some of the stuff I 

was wearing was odd, I just look back on 

it and think ‘Oh my god, that was such an 

uncomplicated period of my life’. It just 

seemed like it was sunshine every day 

of the Summer, and snow in the Winter 

and everything just seemed so massively 

uncomplicated. 

So you’ve been busy with a new 

album? 

No, there’s no new album this year. I’ve 

decided to take a year off from recording. 

But last year at the beginning of 2020 

I went into the studio to make to 20th 

anniversary recording which was released 

last Christmas. So they’ll be nothing this 

year. I just sort of feel like I want to let 

the dust settle on 2021 and then maybe 

next year, if everything is fully operational 

again and we have some sort of 

semblance of normality, then maybe we 

can look at another four quarter release 

for 2022. 

During your career you have played 

at some amazing venues around the 

world. Does it still make the hairs on 

the back of your neck stand up when 

you walk on stage? 

That can happen for different reasons. 

It’s not necessarily with regards to the 

location I’m performing in. But it can 

happen if I get a moment in a song where 

there’s maybe a memory of a certain 

moment or somebody that maybe I’ve 

lost in my life and a memory comes 

in. But with regards to being in venues 

where I would most definitely look out 

and think: “My God how did I end up 

here? This is awe-inspiring.” I mean the 

Vatican is one of those moments that I 

can single out. It was just tremendous, 

not least of all because the Pope was 

there as well. 

No pressure there then! 

You know what? I’ve never really felt 

pressure. It’s funny, it’s something that 

was born into me and it’s not something 

I ever really think about. I just go on there 

and I do what I do. It doesn’t matter 

whether I’m singing to ten people or ten 

thousand people. I go on and I do what I 

do, and I do it with the same enthusiasm 

and technique as I would do it anywhere. 

I remember doing the opening ceremony 

for the Commonwealth Games, and there 

was one of the yellow bibbed stewards 

stood at the side of the stage. I was 

waiting to go on and he said to me: “You 

alright there Russell mate?” I said: “Yeah 

I’m good thank you.” He said: “You’re 

not nervous are you?” I said: “No, I’m 

fine.” He says: “There’s a lot of people 

out there, about forty-thousand people in 

the stadium I’ve heard.” I said: “Really? 

Great!” He continued, saying: “All the 

athletes from all the nations, all with their 

banners. They’re all out there.” I said: 

“Lovely.” He then says: “Her majesty 

the Queen is out there, yeah she’s out 

there too. And I’ve heard there’s about a 

billion people watching live on TV.” I said: 

“Right, please be quiet now because you 

are making me nervous!.” 

Who would you say are you musical 

influences? 

Believe it or not, my biggest musical 

influence as a child would have been 

my Gran! Whenever I would go round 

my Gran’s house, she was a massive 

classical music fan. I’ve been listening 

to everything from Chopin, Schubert, 

Schumann…all those greats. Mario Lanza 

was a constant fixture in the house so I 

was very familiar with a lot of those big 

classical artists from an early age. So 

she was a big influence. But in regards 

to artists, Luciano Pavarotti was a big 

favourite of mine. But as a kid it was all 

about Paul Weller and The Jam and The 

Beatles to a degree. I mean The Beatles 

were slightly before my time, but still I 

had my old semi-acoustic guitar and I 

used to bash out tunes with my old pals, 

sit up in our bedrooms or whoever’s 

garage we could use and jam away to the 

old Beatles bumper book of 101 songs. 

Great memories, they were probably my 

biggest influences. 

How can we find out more information 

on the tour? 

You can find all the information you need 

on the website including the dates that 

we are doing. It’s russellwatson.com, 

so you’ll find all my new dates on there, 

plus you are able to book through it too 

so that’s great. 


HIS 

SUSTAINABLE 

BREAD 

HOUSING 

DEVELOPMENT IN 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE REACHES 

KEY MILESTONE 

& BUTTER 

Richard Bertinet is well-loved and well-known for being the 

UK’s baking ‘godfather’. His books about baking and his breadmaking 

courses alike have delighted audiences for many years. 

Sally Thomson talks to Richard to discuss books, baking and 

BBC Maestro, where you can catch him offering the ultimate 

online bread-making course... 

HOW ARE YOU ON THIS GLORIOUS 

DAY? 

Making croissants with this weather! It’s 

a bit hot in the kitchen but it’s nice to be 

open again so all is good. 

YOU ARE DOING WONDERFULLY 

WELL AT THE MOMENT APART 

FROM THE FACT WE HAVE ALL 

BEEN THROUGH THIS RATHER 

INTERESTING YEAR THINGS SEEM TO 

BE GOOD WITH YOU. 

We opened in April and we have just tried 

to push everything we could this year and 

last year. It’s very busy. 

SO, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME TO 

YOUR CLASS NOW? 

Yes, we reopened in April. 

SO, THESE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS 

HAVEN’T CHANGED YOUR PLANS? 

No, we are Covid compliant and can still 

have the same number of people. 

In Bath 40% of the customers come 

from the rest of the World so Japan, The 

States and Australia. Obviously, they 

cannot come to Bath at the moment so 

we have a massive backlog of people 

wanting to come when they can 

travel*. 

YOU NEED TO BE CLONED SO THAT 

THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OF YOU 

AND YOU CAN KEEP UP! 

That’s true but there is only one of me 

I’m afraid. 

WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO BATH 

IN 2005 DID YOU EXPECT YOUR 

CAREER TO TAKE OFF AS IT DID? 

I knew the concept we had was good and 

if it worked out, we would have success. 

When I first moved to Bath a lot of local 

businesses gave us 6 months to survive 

but that made me more determined to 

make it.

www.burnsthebread.co.uk

On his baking classes 

for children: “It’s good 

fun and nice to see 

them smile when they 

try something that they 

haven’t done before. I 

think it’s a shame that 

so many schools don’t 

use cooking and baking 

anymore.” 

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR 

COOKERY SCHOOL - IT’S GOING 

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH BY 

THE SOUNDS OF IT? 

Well, the school has been going since 

2005 and since then we have won a lot 

of awards, we then sold the bakery and a 

lot of things have happened in 15 years. 

The school is so busy it’s a worldwide 

attraction which means we bring a lot of 

people to Bath. We won the South West 

Tourism Award two years ago due to the 

number of people that we attract to Bath. 

We have a few guest chefs coming in as 

well, but the core classes are with me 

learning about bread making, as well as 

what I write about in my books. 

YOU HAVE SO MANY ACCOLADES 

AND EVERYBODY ENJOYS WHAT YOU 

HAVE BEEN DOING. 

We pride ourselves on the services we 

give our customers and also the way I 

teach is quite unique - I’m very hands on. 

Our school is quite small so it means that 

I can spend time with everybody. 

I SEE THAT YOU OFFER CLASSES FOR 

CHILDREN, HOW DO YOU FIND THAT? 

Teaching children was always very 

important to us and we also work with a 

lot of local schools in the area and teach 

some classes plus talk to the children. 

It’s good fun and nice to see them smile 

when they try something that they haven’t 

done before. I think it’s a shame that so 

many schools don’t use cooking and 

baking anymore. 

I SEE THAT YOU ALSO WORK WITH 

PING COOMBES. 

Yes, Ping does classes for me. She 

teaches Malaysian cooking plus stuff 

from my book. 

YOU HAVE PRODUCED 6 BOOKS SO 

FAR. HAVE YOU GOT ANYMORE IN 

THE PIPELINE OR DO YOU NOT HAVE 

ENOUGH TIME? 

I’ve got a couple of ideas but it’s getting 

the time to do it and I like to write a book 

for the right purpose not just for the sake 

of it so I need to get the time and wait 

until things get back to normal. 

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE 

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL? 

Until we get all our backlog of people 

who couldn’t attend last year’s classes 

hopefully then we will be back on an 

even keel but not yet I’m afraid. We are 

open and running and there are some 

businesses that can’t do that so in a way 

we are one of the lucky ones. 

I HEAR THAT YOU WILL BE GETTING 

INVOLVED WITH BBC MAESTRO. 

Yes, it’s been amazing. We have just 

finished editing. I absolutely loved it! It’s 

a challenge to do live broadcasts, it’s 

recipe lead and different from how I teach 

in my classes, but it was well done. The 

team were amazing. 

YOU HAVE BEEN ON OTHER 

COOKERY SHOWS SO DID YOU FIND 

THAT THIS WAS A STEP UP? 

Yes, I’ve been on Saturday Kitchen and 

on James Martin’s show so it’s a different 

buzz being filmed live and you have to be 

mindful of what you do and say. 

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WILL BE 

SPECIALISING IN? 

It’s specifically about bread and things I 

like to do at home. It goes from making 

brioche, sourdough to bagels, all that 

kind of stuff and things to give people 

the confidence to bake at home and feel 

that they learn something. It’s going to be 

good. The production team was amazing, 

and I can’t wait for it to launch. 

YOU ARE FROM BRITTANY HAVE 

YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO GO BACK 

RECENTLY? 

We went to France last year, Provence. 

We have a house down there and 

managed to visit just before lockdown. 

*At the time of the interview there was 

uncertainty regarding travel to the city 

of Bath. 

BBC Maestro with Richard Bertinet 

is available now at bbcmaestro.com. 

The course costs £80 for 23 episodes 

including written class notes for 

each one. An additional bonus festive 

episode is expected to launch later in 

the year exclusively to subscribers. 

thebertinetkitchen.com 


CHOCOLATE, ORANGE 

& PISTACHIO LOAF 

INGREDIENTS 

150g good quality dark chocolate chips 

75g roughly chopped pistachios 

Zest of 2 oranges 

50g mixed peel 

1 tablespoon Cointreau (optional) 

125g unsalted butter straight from the 

fridge 

125g full fat milk 

3 medium eggs 

500g strong white bread flour (plus extra 

for dusting) 

15g fresh yeast 

45g caster sugar 

10g fine sea salt 

FOR THE GLAZE 

2 eggs 

Pinch fine sea salt 

METHOD 

Mix the chocolate chips, nuts zest 

and mixed peel in a bowl and stir in 

the Cointreau if you are using it. Place 

the cold butter between 2 sheets of 

greaseproof and bash it with a rolling pin 

to soften it and break it up into smaller 

pieces (without warming it up). 

Put the milk and eggs into the bowl of a 

food mixer and then add the flour. Break 

up the yeast and add to one side of the 

bowl. Add the sugar and salt on the 

other side of the bowl. 

Mix on a slow speed for 4 minutes. 

Increase the speed to medium for another 

2 minutes then add the butter piece by 

piece until it is all incorporated. Continue 

mixing on medium speed for 10-12 

minutes until the dough comes away from 

the sides of the bowl. 

Stop the mixer. Add the chocolate and 

pistachio mixture to the bowl and mix 

for no longer than 30-40 seconds on 

the slowest speed – you don’t want the 

chocolate and nuts to become mushy. 

Lightly flour your worksurface and turn 

the dough out onto the work surface. 

Form the dough into a ball and then place 

into a lightly floured bowl. Cover and 

rest for about 45 minutes until just under 

double in size. 

Lightly flour the surface again, turn out 

the dough and divide into 10 equal pieces 

of about 110g each. Form each piece 

into a ball and then press gently into 

cake or loaf tins until they are full. In the 

picture I have used tiny tins that only take 

one ball but if you use a larger one you 

will have a finished loaf or two that will be 

perfect to tear and share. Whether you 

have one or two will depend on the size 

of your tins. Cover and leave to prove 

for about 1 hour until just under double 

in size. 

While the dough is proving, pre-heat the 

oven to 190°C and beat the eggs and 

pinch of salt for the glaze. Brush the top 

of each loaf with the egg glaze and use a 

pair of scissors to snip into the dough for 

decoration. 

Place the tins on a baking tray and 

put into the pre-heated oven. Turn the 

temperature down to 180°C and bake for 

15-20 minutes until golden. 


COMFORT 

When the darker nights set in, you 

just want some go-to comfort food 

recipes - and here, Waitrose has 

delivered! Find more recipes at 

www.waitrose.com 

Calling 

CHICKEN SHAWARMA 

FLATBREADS WITH 

YOGURT 

Prep time: 20 minutes + marinating 

Cooking time: 20 minutes 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

8 British chicken thigh fillets 

3 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Shawarma 

Paste 

½ red onion, finely sliced 

2 lemons, juice of 1, 1 cut into wedges 

1½ tsp Cooks’ Ingredients Sumac 

½ large cucumber 

250g Yeo Valley Organic Greek Style 

Natural Yogurt 

1 small clove garlic, finely grated 

15 mint leaves, finely shredded, plus extra 

to garnish 

4 Waitrose & Partners Hand-Stretched 

Flatbreads 

50g pomegranate seeds 

1-2 handfuls wild rocket 

METHOD 

Slash each chicken thigh a few times, 

concentrating on the thicker parts of the 

fillet. Season, then rub all over with the 

shawarma paste. Cover and chill for 20 

minutes (up to 2 hours). Meanwhile, mix 

the onion, lemon juice and sumac with a 

good pinch of salt. Set aside until ready 

to serve. 

To make the sauce, coarsely grate the 

cucumber and put in a sieve. Toss with a 

pinch of salt and leave over a bowl for 10 

minutes to drain, then gently press with a 

wooden spoon to extract as much liquid 

as possible. Tip into a bowl and stir in the 

yogurt, garlic and mint. 

Heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Cook 

the chicken for 5-8 minutes on each side 

(depending on the fillets’ size) until the 

juices run clear and there is no pink meat, 

then set aside for 2 minutes. Clean the 

pan then use it to griddle the flatbreads 

for 30 seconds on each side. Arrange 

them on plates and top with the chicken, 

pickled onion, pomegranate, rocket and 

the cucumber and yogurt sauce, finishing 

with the extra mint leaves and lemon 

wedges for squeezing over. 

COOK’S TIP 

This recipe also works well with lamb or 

pork steaks instead of chicken (adjust 

cooking times accordingly). 

COTTAGE PIE WITH 

SWEET POTATO 

Prep time: 20 minutes plus standing 

Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

1 tbsp olive oil 

500g British beef mince 

1 onion, diced 

1 stalk celery, diced 

1 carrot, peeled and diced 

1 Oxo Beef stock cube 

1 tbsp tomato purée 

1½ tbsp plain flour 

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 

3 thyme sprigs 

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled 

1 tbsp unsalted butter 

METHOD 

Heat ½ tbsp oil in a large sauté pan or 

casserole dish over a high heat. Add 

the beef and fry, breaking it up, for 4-5 

minutes, until browned. Remove from the 

pan, add the remaining 1⁄2 tbsp oil, lower 

the heat to medium and fry the onion, 

celery and carrot with a pinch of salt for 

10 minutes, until softened. Meanwhile, 

dissolve the beef stock cube in 500ml 

just-boiled water. 

Return the beef to the pan, add the 

tomato purée and cook for 1 minute, then 

stir in the flour and fry for 1 minute more. 

Add the stock, Worcestershire sauce and 

2 thyme sprigs and simmer for 25-30 

minutes, until the beef is coated in a thick 

gravy. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes 

as thinly as you can and put in a bowl. 

Cover with just-boiled water from the 

kettle; set aside for 10 minutes. Drain and 

use kitchen paper to pat dry thoroughly, 

then lay out on more kitchen paper to 

finish drying. 

Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. 

Melt the butter. Tip the beef and gravy 

into a medium ovenproof dish. Toss the

potatoes with the butter and leaves from 

the remaining thyme sprig. Season and 

arrange in circles over the beef. Bake for 

30 minutes until bubbling hot and the 

potatoes are cooked through. Stand for 

10 minutes before serving. 

COOK’S TIP 

Scatter grated cheddar over the potatoes 

halfway through baking to give the pie a 

nice cheesy crust. 

CHEWY BROWN SUGAR 

COOKIES 

Prep time: 15 minutes plus chilling 


Makes: 12 - 14 

INGREDIENTS 

200g unsalted butter, roughly chopped 

300g Billington’s Dark Brown Soft Natural 

Unrefined Cane Sugar 

300g plain flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 

½ tsp ground cinnamon 

½ tsp fine salt 

1 large British Blacktail Free Range Egg 

1 tsp vanilla bean paste 

METHOD 

Put the butter and sugar in a large 

saucepan and set over a medium heat. 

Heat gently, stirring occasionally, until 

the butter has melted and the sugar has 

dissolved. Set aside off the heat for 5 

minutes to cool. Meanwhile, mix the flour, 

baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, 

cinnamon and salt in a bowl. 

With a wooden spoon, beat the egg 

and vanilla into the butter-sugar mix, 

then beat in the dry ingredients until 

completely combined. Transfer to a bowl, 

cover with a plate and chill for at least 2 

hours (up to 24 hours). 

Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4; 

line 2 large baking trays with parchment. 

Leave the cookie dough out of the fridge 

for 15 minutes to warm up a little. Roll 

into 12-14 balls (about 65-70g each) 

and space out well on the baking trays 

(the cookies spread quite a lot during 

cooking, so bake in more than 2 batches 

if needed). Bake for about 15 minutes, 

turning the trays halfway if needed, until 

deep golden and cracked on top. Cool 

for 5 minutes on the trays, then transfer 

to a wire rack to cool completely. 

COOK’S TIP 

Ovens can vary in temperature, so after 

about 12 minutes, keep an eye on your 

cookies. Once they look set and golden 

at the edges and start to crack on top, 

they’re ready. 

CHERRY & ALMOND 

BRIOCHE FRENCH 

TOAST 

Prep time: 15 minutes 


Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

425g can black cherries in light syrup 

3 tsp Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Cane Icing 

Sugar, plus extra for dusting 

1 medium British Blacktail Free Range 

Egg 

250ml whole milk 

½ tsp almond extract 

8 slices sliced brioche loaf 

2 tbsp unsalted butter 

150g pot vanilla yogurt 

1 tbsp toasted flaked almonds 

METHOD 

Put a sieve over a small saucepan and 

drain the cherries. Set the cherries aside 

and simmer the juices for 5 minutes until 

reduced. Add 1 tsp icing sugar and the 

drained cherries to the saucepan and 

simmer for another 5 minutes, until the 

cherries are coated in a glossy syrup. 

Meanwhile, set your largest frying pan 

over a medium-highheat. In a large, 

shallow dish, whisk the egg, milk, 

almondextract and remaining 2 tsp 

icing sugar. Add 4 brioche slices to the 

mixture, soaking on each side for about 

45 seconds until they’ve absorbed plenty 

of the mixture but aren’t too soggy. Add 

1 tbsp butter to the frying pan and, when 

foaming, fry the brioche for 4 minutes 

on each side until golden and puffed up. 

Arrange on plates while you prepare the 

remaining slices in the same way, frying in 

the remaining 1 tbsp butter. 

Serve 2 slices of brioche per person. Top 

with a spoonful of vanilla yogurt and the 

warm cherries and syrup (reheat briefly 

if necessary). Scatter with the toasted 

almonds and dust with a little icing sugar 

to serve. 



INCREDIBLE edibles 

When it comes to making cuisine look chic on 

Instagram these days, edible flowers are the 

undoubted go-to. Striking the perfect balance between 

food and flora on a plate can often prove a tad 

troublesome, though. But it needn’t be. They can work 

in perfect harmony, as Miranda Shearer discovers... 

Edible flowers are beautiful, colourful 

crowd-pleasers. They have fallen in and 

out of fashion for centuries. Mallows, 

violets and roses were added to feasts 

devoted to military victories by the 

Romans. Flower petals were most 

commonly eaten in salads back then, and 

that is perhaps how the majority should 

be enjoyed. 

Modern-day restaurants spend 

thousands on this decorative foliage but 

these fabulous fronds and petals are 

deserving of much more than an afterthought. 

Incredible Edible Flowers owner Sian 

Davies is one of many British growers 

championing the nutritional value and 

substance of these floral delights. Sian 

is passionate about educating chefs 

and food lovers on marrying these 

flavoursome florals and food properly. 

“I am a complete foodie at heart. I love 

to eat,” she says. “I find it fascinating 

talking to chefs and helping them match 

herbs and flowers they have often never 

heard of, which are not only original 

but elevate a dish beyond comparison. 

Sometimes you only need the tiniest bit 

to compliment the food, it is often very 

subtle and clever.” 

Sian wasn’t always snipping, digging, 

weeding and sowing her flower farm in 

Somerset. She forged a career in the 

music industry in London working for 

Warner Music. She chuckled as she said 

her insatiable desire to grow meant she 

always had to find flats with window 

boxes and outdoor spaces to grow her 

runner beans. 

“Both my parents were really keen 

gardeners. Growing up between the 

Midlands and Wales, I was just used to 

going out into their garden and picking 

anything at any time of year. When I 

moved to London I always needed to find 

somewhere with a bit of outdoor space. 

The estate agents thought I was mad 

declining a second bedroom for it. In my 

first flat in West Hampstead, I dug up the 

concrete ‘garden’ and put out loads of 

little pots of runner beans, lettuces and 

tomatoes. It was worth it, for the sheer joy 

of picking a tomato.” 

Sian later moved to West London, had 

her children, left Warner Music, and got 

an allotment. “Once I had my first son, 

the time difference when working for 

Atlantic Records just didn’t work. It really 

made me re-think things. I left the music 

industry and managed to get my hands 

on this totally overgrown and unloved 

allotment. It was a magical space with 

lots of potential and I realised that I 

wanted to do this as a job.” 

She retrained with the Royal Horticultural 

Society for two years and got a job at 

a specialist nursery in Ham just outside 

Richmond. This was the springboard to 

Somerset. “Moving out of London was 

totally on the cards by this point. We 

stuck a pin in a map near to where my 

husband grew up and started the hunt for 

the perfect growing space. I suppose the 

house wasn’t even the priority. The top 

of the list was to have an allotment at my 

back door.” 

After much foraging for the perfect 

spot, they found a two-acre plot and 

dilapidated farmhouse near Axminster. 

Sian set to work transforming the land 

and setting up her edible flower business. 

“It has been a steep learning curve. The 

two acres were paddocks, so really good 

land. It was the perfect blank canvas. I 

planted the first crop in 2017, and the 

wind blew it all away. I realised I had to 

plant some trees to shelter my flowers. 

Then in 2018, my first year of proper 

growing, we had snow twice in March 

and then we had the hottest weather we 

have ever experienced, hose-pipe bans 

and a drought. 

Photo credit 

© Tom Waller Food Envy Photography 

“It was pretty challenging. I have learned 

that, as a grower, one has to fully accept 

what is thrown at you by nature, including 

pests, bugs – and a pandemic.” 

Luckily this savvy woman has her head 

screwed on and her Welsh warrior blood 

mixed with sheer grit and determination 

to succeed has paid dividends. 

And following last year’s ‘write-off’, Sian’s 

customers now include Trinity in Clapham 

(Head Chef Adam Byatt,) Frog in Covent 

Garden and The Ugly Butterfly in St Ives 

(two of Adam Handlings’ restaurants, 

one of which played a large part in the 

G8). She is also about to team up with a 

Somerset Gin maker who is interested in 

all her botanicals. 

It is clear Sian is slowly leaving her mark 

on both Chefs and their menus from her 

little patch of heaven in Somerset. 

And when it comes to her edible flower 

fascination, Sian concludes: “Each one 

of them is full of vitamins, minerals and 

antioxidants. Society garlic flowers are 

beautiful, pink and star shaped. They 

are great with meat. Begonia flowers are 

wonderfully citrus and perfect for fish. 

For vegetables I would use loads of herb 

flowers like fennel, coriander, tiny thyme 

flowers or anise hyssop. 

“The more I learn, the more amazing they 

are, and the more I want to grow and 

educate people in using them with food. 

“The coriander flower has to be one 

of my favourites at the moment. Not 

only does it have beautiful flowers, but 

it is also full of vitamin K, which most 

wouldn’t know.” 

Sian Davies, Incredible Edible Flowers 

Incredible-edibleflowers.co.uk 



Best of the 

West Country... 

The phrase from orchard to glass 

has never been so timely as the West 

Country enters its annual apple harvest. 

Three generations of the 

Thatcher family 

As they do every year, Thatchers Cider is 

celebrating the growers and cider makers 

that create the British tradition that is 

cider, from pip to pint. 

Thatchers, based in Sandford, is a West 

Country cider maker, a family company 

through and through. Thatchers still 

crafts all its ciders at Myrtle Farm – the 

very same farm where founder, William 

Thatcher, first started making cider back 

in 1904. William and his son Stan, were 

indeed the original craft cider makers, 

honing the skills that have now been 

passed down through four generations, 

with the fifth generation of the Thatcher 

family beginning to make their mark too. 

For fourth generation Martin Thatcher, 

remaining a family firm is central to the 

very being of the company and allows 

them to focus firmly on investing for 

quality. “The business has passed 

down from my Great Grandfather, to my 

Grandfather, my Father to myself. And 

now my two children, Eleanor and Peter, 

are learning the ropes. Being a family 

company has so many advantages, and 

has without a doubt helped us get to 

where we are today. We’re able to focus 

on doing the things we believe in. 

“Many people are pleasantly surprised 

when they realise we really are still 

making cider in the very same place my 

Great Grandfather did at the turn of the 

20th century. And that we’re still a family 

owned, independent and British business. 

This is the reality we are so very proud of.” 

From its work through the Thatchers 

Foundation, to its Young Talent 

Apprenticeship Programme, Thatchers is 

a committed contributor to the Somerset 

community. From its partnership with 

Somerset County Cricket Club, to 

Somerset Day and the Eat:Festivals family, 

Thatchers is a well-known face in the 

county. 

As are its orchards, and those of its apple 

growers. Throughout September, October 

and into November, apples are a familiar 

sight being delivered from throughout the 

West Country to the mill at Myrtle Farm for 

the annual harvest. 

“It’s such an important time of year to 

shine a spotlight on the dedication to 

quality and hard work that that all our 

apple growers proudly demonstrate, day 

in, day out through the hard work and 

pride they put into growing the very best 

quality apples,” says Martin. “And this 

passion for quality allows our cider makers 

in turn to craft the very best tasting ciders 

here at Myrtle Farm. 

“We have apple growers throughout 

the West Country, some of whom have 

worked with us for many years, others are 

much newer, but they all have one thing in 

common, and that’s taking great care of 

their apples and meeting our expectations 

of quality. Their commitment plays a huge 

part in Thatchers’ journey of creating 

innovative, high quality ciders for today’s 

rapidly changing consumer tastes and 

demands.” 

Thatchers has 500 acres of its own 

orchards in Somerset. Here they grow 

traditional West Country varieties such as 

Somerset Redstreak, and more modern 

varieties like Gilly and Three Counties. 

For many years Thatchers has been 

researching and trialling new methods of 

orcharding with traditional and modern 

apple varieties. As the cider market 

evolves, and tastes change, new styles 

of cider become popular, and as a cider 

maker it’s important for Thatchers to look 

ahead and plant the varieties of apple that 

create contemporary style ciders. Apple 

trees take up to 7 years after planting to 

crop effectively, so it’s clear to see why 

they take the long-term approach. 

The individual varieties of apple used 

allows Thatchers cider makers to create 

beautiful ciders that are bursting with 

flavour - smooth and golden Thatchers 

Gold with juicy apple flavours, naturally 

hazy Thatchers Haze that brims with 

fruitiness, sweet and vibrant Thatchers 

Rosé made from rosy-red eating apples. 

New to the family are zesty Cloudy 

Lemon, crisp and sweet with a zing from 

the juice of real lemons, and its alcoholfree 

Thatchers Zero. 

You can enjoy the fruits of the Thatchers 

orchards by visiting its Cider Shop at 

Myrtle Farm in Sandford where a warm 

welcome awaits you. You’ll find all its 

famous ciders, limited editions, gifts and 

other product from the local area. 

You could combine your trip with a visit 

to The Railway Inn next door, Thatchers’ 

picturesque pub in the heart of Sandford. 

Or if you’re keen to find out more about 

life behind the scenes, tours of Myrtle 

Farm are once again available for booking 

at www.thatcherscider.co.uk 


The Best of the 

SOUTH 

WEST 

THE SOUTH WEST IS HOME TO 

SOME INSPIRING BUSINESSES 

WHO REALLY KNOW HOW TO 

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD. 

WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF 

THE FINEST ON OFFER... 

TEALS 

Teals is a brand new 

food market, restaurant 

& gift shop on the A303 

in Somerset with fresh 

produce, responsibly 

grown meat, a bakery 

& deli. Stop for lunch, 

a coffee break and to 

stretch the legs, or to 

stock up on fresh and 

tasty groceries. 

Discover fresh meats 

from nearby hills and 

locally churned cheeses, 

delicately flavoured gelato 

and locally ground coffee. 

A bakery and bottle store sell wine and local cider, while the 

healthy kitchen serves up tasty and nutritious plates from across 

the region. There’s also a fenced field where you can walk your 

dog next to the store called the “dog jog” (before you pop in to 

do your shopping) and a gift store. 

With a strong sustainability ethos and powered by renewable 

energy, TEALS is an agricultural build on a greenfield site. It uses 

reclaimed timber, minimises waste and trees were planted to 

help offset the build - it is also pending B Corp status. 

It’s the mission of local co-founders Ash and Nick Sinfield 

to make a positive contribution to the region, connecting 

communities to producers, as well as travellers to the area. 

www.teals.co.uk 

1 Orchard Lane, South Cadbury, Yeovil BA22 7FS 

SOMERSET 

GRILL CO 

If you like playing with fire, 

the ‘Glastonbury Asado 

Grill’ is the one for you, 

providing you with the 

perfect live-fire cooking 

experience. From 

grilling dry-aged, 

thick-cut rib-eyes 

to the simplest of chicken 

wings, the added flavour 

and theatre of cooking 

over the red-hot hardwood 

embers, will have your 

friends and family hooked 

from day one. 

The ability to raise and lower the cooking surface is one of the 

key features of the ‘Glastonbury Asado Grill’, giving you full 

control of the cooking temperature and allowing easy access 

for the positioning of the endless supply of red-hot embers 

from its full-width Brazero (ember maker). The Glastonbury 

Asado Grill fits perfectly alongside Kamado style BBQ’s and 

pizza ovens providing you with the perfect outdoor kitchen 

setup. 

The best review to date: ‘I’m 50 yrs old, it feels like Xmas day 

as a kid’ 

Live Fire, Amazing Food, What’s Not to Like! 

07376362283 

www.somersetgrill.com 

STEPHENS SCOWN LLP 

Stephens Scown is a leading regional full service law firm that 

is not afraid to do things differently. The first large UK law firm 

to become employee owned, they are committed to putting 

clients’ needs first, listening and adapting to deliver a personal 

and professional service tailored to the individual’s or business’ 

needs. More than lawyers for its clients, the firm aspires to 

become trusted advisors, building long-lasting relationships 

and offering empathy and understanding. Their legal advisors 

are experts in their respective areas of the law, such as family, 

private client and corporate law, as well as offering extensive 

experience across a diverse range of sectors, from food and 

drink to renewable energy. 

A purposeful business that seeks to benefit all key stakeholders: 

employees, clients, wider society, the environment, and more, 

Stephens Scown has committed to being a greener business, 

which includes setting an ambitious target of becoming Net Zero 

by 2025. Helping clients solve problems and seize opportunities. 

01392 210700 

www.stephens-scown.co.uk 


FILBERT’S FINE FOODS 

Established in 2010 by a trio of enthusiastic foodies, Filbert’s 

Fine Foods was launched in a quest to create a new, interesting, 

delicious and healthier range of gourmet snacks. 

From our farm factory kitchen in the heart of Somerset we hand 

craft multi award winning Mr Filbert’s snacks using only fresh, 

natural ingredients to produce snacks that are gluten free, dairy 

free and have no artificial flavours or additives, so you’re getting 

only what nature intended. 

GRANTS OF SOMERSET 

Grants of Somerset is a boutique-style shop with a big 

reputation. As South Petherton’s premier destination for home 

decor and gifts, we’ve built a loyal customer-base in Somerset 

and beyond. Filled with everything from gorgeous lamps and 

vases, luxurious cushions and candles, right through to fine 

glassware and sustainable greetings cards, there really is 

something for everyone. 

Our ranges include oven roasted nut mixes, moreish Greek 

olives, crunchy corn kernels and cured meat snacks of 

Salami and Biltong. Available in fine food retailers across the 

south west as well as online. 

“For nuts you won’t find better than Mr Filbert’s” - Tony Turnbull, 

The Times. 

01458 833744 

www.mrfilberts.com 

So, whether you’re looking to refresh your home, or want to 

put a smile on someone else’s face with a fantastic gift, make 

sure you drop into Grants of Somerset on Market Square. We’re 

in the beautiful Somerset village of South Petherton where 

there’s plenty to see and do. If you can’t make it to the shop, 

we’re always open online and offer free national delivery on all 

orders over £15. Want to treat someone? No problem. If you’ve 

got a special request such as gift-wrapping or a personalised 

message, just let us know – we’re always happy to help. 

www.grantsofsomerset.co.uk 

8 Market Square, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 58T 

KEEPERS KITCHEN & BAR–BRIDGWATER 

Keepers Kitchen and Bar, Bridgwater’s newest chic restaurant! 

Situated within the ibis Bridgwater Hotel, Keepers is open to all, 

providing a sanctuary in a hive of activity. 

Local Provenance and supporting suppliers in the area is a 

passion for all at Keepers. This ethos runs through the heart 

of the menu, from the butchers to the various cheeses we’ve 

sourced, all the way to the ice cream – and of course the 

fabulous honey that features throughout!! 

Keepers champion local talent through #ibismusic with 

monthly music evenings offering guests and local residents the 

opportunity to listen whilst they dine or simply enjoy a Zeal and 

Tonic; the signature Gin produced by E18TEEN Gin. 

We are soon to launch a Keepers Loyalty scheme, where regular 

and local diners will be rewarded with discounts and special 

offers, unique to them! 

I 

@keepers.kitchen.bridgwater 

www.thefork.co.uk/restaurant/keepers-kitchen-bar-r684649 

E18TEEN GIN 

Somerset gin maker Leigh Kearle founded E18hteen in 2016 

and, after successfully launching his classic London dry gin, has 

now expanded the distillery’s repertoire to include a range of 

fascinating new flavours gin and more recently a range of rums 

which are already collecting awards and being noticed. 

Our E18hteen Gin is expertly crafted from sugar beat vodka 

produced by master distillers. This enables us to give you the 

very best yield and makes our artisan gin flavoursome, fragrant 

and smooth. We are among a minority of distilleries that opt 

to create their gin this way, meaning our gin delivers unrivalled 

freshness, taste and the perfect finish to the palate. 

We are proud to source local produce for the making of our 

premium vodka, including sugar beet, for an outstandingly bold, 

smooth and aromatic blend. After creating our distinct vodka, we 

re-distil it. This enables us to give you the very best taste yield 

that makes our artisan gin so flavoursome, fragrant and smooth. 

I 

e18hteengin 

www.18gin.co.uk 


HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PET 

Here Martin James gives some valuable advice 

Though the UK has changed dramatically 

in recent years, we still have national 

obsessions that are quintessentially 

British. A big chunk of the population 

feel the pull of the open road, jumping 

in a caravan or motorhome at every 

opportunity. Others spend small fortunes 

down at the garden centre or heading out 

to hike in somewhere that’s green. But 

above all else, as a nation we’re obsessed 

with our pets. 

Over lockdown, an astonishing 3.2 million 

households purchased or adopted a pet 

- and a huge and evolving industry has 

grown up around them, from daycare to 

specialist food providers. According to 

the latest research that brings us up to 34 

million pets in the UK, including 12 million 

dogs, 12 million cats, 1 million rabbits and 

600,000 hamsters! 

This demand has led to spiralling prices 

and a worry trend of pet theft - to such a 

degree that the Government is considering 

much tougher penalties for pet thieves. 

And from the complaints I see, cost is 

clearly a worry for many pet owners. 

As people start to go back to the office, 

there’s a huge demand for dog walkers 

and pet daycare. Many people are starting 

to report anxiety in their pets after the 

months of unadulterated attention they’ve 

experienced suddenly ending. Bet therapy 

classes are apparently booming. 

Which brings us to the most important 

pet expenses you’ll encounter - pet 

insurance and vet’s bills. Though many 

more policies have come on to the market 

in recent years, lots of people are put off 

by high prices or confusing contracts. 

Pet insurance varies considerably like all 

insurance products but it makes sense to 

buy the best one you can afford - but that 

doesn’t always mean the most expensive. 

The best policy you can buy is a ‘lifetime’ 

policy, which covers your pet for treatment 

for life, though only for a set amount each 

year. These are the priciest policies but 

make the most sense for pet lovers. You 

can also buy ‘maximum benefit’ policies 

that will pay up to a set ‘cap’ for each 

illness. Finally, there are ‘time limited’ 

policies which only cover your pet for a 

set period (your standard 12 month policy) 

and ‘accident only’ policies. 

If you’re on a budget, an accident only 

policy is worth considering. As the name 

suggests, the policies will only cover you 

for genuine accidents not illnesses. But 

if money is tight, they can really help out 

if your pet is injured. Take time to read 

the policy though so understand what is 

being defined as an accident – and get the 

insurer to explain anything that isn’t clear. 

Pet theft cover is a new type of insurance 

and usually you have to purchase it 

separately. 

A lot of the people I speak to don’t want 

to think about their pet getting ill, so 

leaving aside some basic injections and 

treatments, many people avoid speaking 

to a vet until something bad happens. I’d 

really encourage anyone with a pet to get 

to know their vet. The security of knowing 

that the surgery is there, its opening hours 

and where to go if you need emergency 

treatment is priceless – though I hope you 

never need to use it. 

Speak to your vet before signing up to 

see if their fees are likely to be covered. 

There’s quite a lot of variation with vet’s 

fees - and if yours is pricey, check with 

the insurer how much they’d be willing to 

cover. 

And finally, if you need to make a claim, 

speak to the insurer and tell them 

about the costs asap. Some vets may 

recommend ‘experimental’ treatments 

that aren’t recognised and might not 

be covered. I’ve seen dogs sent for 

hydrotherapy treatments that turned out to 

be frolicking in a paddling pool in a shed – 

for hundreds of pounds. So make sure you 

look into what every treatment involves 

and how it helps the underlying medical 

condition. 

Martin is head of Media at Resolver 

Resolver can help you sort out complaints 

including pets, vets and every pet service 

you can imagine. Check out www.resolver. 

co.uk 


FIREWORKS 

Keeping your dog safe, calm and happy 

Seasonal fireworks celebrations 

can be a stressful time for many of 

our four-legged friends, with loud 

noises and bright lights causing 

fear, anxiety and unexpected 

behaviour. 

To help owners and dogs enjoy this 

fireworks season more comfortably, The 

Kennel Club has rounded up tips on 

how to help dogs feel safe during the 

celebrations this autumn. 

Preparation is key 

A major reason why fireworks scare dogs 

is the loud and unexpected noise. You can 

help prepare your dog by playing them 

fireworks sounds in the weeks leading up 

to fireworks night. This will help your dog 

get used to the disturbing noise in the 

safety of their home. 

To help your dog feel secure and 

comfortable, make sure they have a safe 

den which they can retreat to if they feel 

scared, and fill it up with their favourite 

toys, blankets, an item of unwashed 

clothing, and other items that make them 

feel safe and calm. 

Make sure that you walk and feed your 

dog ahead of any evening displays. It 

could be a while before it is safe to venture 

outside again for a bathroom break and 

they might not be able to eat later if they 

are feeling very anxious. 

To keep your dog safe, make sure you 

shut all the doors and windows in your 

home and draw the curtains. This can help 

reduce some of the noise and block out 

any scary flashes of light. Make sure that 

your garden is escape proof and don’t 

forget to block off any cat flaps. 

Keep calm and cuddle up 

To help your dog relax while fireworks 

take place, try to behave as normally as 

possible and remain calm and happy, 

sending positive signals to your dog. You 

can also try distracting your dog from the 

fireworks noise by having the TV or radio 

switched on. 

Reward their calm behaviour with treats 

or playing, and don’t tell them off - it is 

natural for dogs to be scared of loud 

noises and unfamiliar sights. Dogs might 

choose to hide under the bed or behind 

furniture, so make sure you are aware of 

their whereabouts. If your dog comes to 

you for comfort make sure to give it to 

them and never try to force your dog to 

face their fears. 

Lost and found 

The confusion and stress that fireworks 

can cause to dogs mean more tend to 

sadly go missing during the fireworks 

season. It’s important to be extra cautious 

and ensure your dog doesn’t escape or 

run away during fireworks displays by 

following the steps above and shutting 

all windows, doors and other potential 

escape routes ahead of time. 

Early October is a particularly good time 

of the year to make sure that your dog’s 

microchip details are up to date and that 

they are wearing a collar and ID tag - 

although this is important all year around. 

Correct and up to date contact details 

make it easier to locate and reunite lost 

dogs with their owners. 

More tips on how to keep your dog safe 

and sound during the fireworks season are 

available at The Kennel Club’s website. 

www.thekennelclub.org.uk 


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www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 29 

Taunton_Somerset.indd 1 14/09/2021 11:30:04

ALL-ELECTRIC 

FORD MUSTANG 

ALL-ELECTRIC 

MACH-E 

FORD MUSTANG 

MACH-E 

Interested to know more? 

Text: VOSPERS to 80011 

WITH UP TO 379 MILE RANGE* 

WITH UP TO 379 MILE RANGE* 

Vospers 

VISIT US AT VOSPERS - PLYMOUTH 

Longbridge Road 

Plymouth, PL6 8AY 

Tel. 01752 Vospers 636363 

www.vospers.com 

Matford Longbridge Way, RoadExeter, EX2 8FN Tel: 01392 285546 

Plymouth, PL6 8AY 

Marsh Tel. 01752 Mills, 636363 Plymouth, PL6 8AY Tel: 01752 636502 

Model shown is a Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD. Fuel economy mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO 2 emissions while driving: 0g/km. Electric Range for Extended Range AWD model: 335 

miles*. Electric Treliske, www.vospers.com 

Range for Extended Truro, Range TR1 RWD 3LN model: 379 miles*. 

Tel: 01872 309234 

These figures were obtained after the batter had been fully charged. The Mustang Mach-E is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. There is a new test for fuel consumption, Co2 and electric range figures. The electric range 

shown was Model achieved shown using is the a new Mustang test procedure. Mach-E Figures Extended shown Range are for AWD. comparability Fuel economy purposes. mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO 2 emissions while driving: 0g/km. Electric Range for Extended Range AWD model: 335 

Only compare miles*. fuel consumption, Electric Range CO 2 for and Extended electric range Range figures RWD with model: other cars 379 tested miles*. to the same technical procedures. 

*These figures These may figures not were reflect obtained real driving after the results, batter which had been will fully depend charged. upon The a Mustang number Mach-E of factors is a including battery electric the starting vehicle requiring charge of mains the battery, electricity accessories for charging. fitted, There variations is a new test in for weather, fuel consumption, driving styles Co2 and electric vehicle range load. figures. The electric range 

shown was achieved using the new test procedure. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. 

Only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. 

*These figures may not reflect real driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted, variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

Ford Mustang 

Mach - E 

The pony has gone electric! Motoring Journalist Sue Cooke test 

drives the all-new electric Ford Mustang Mach-E... 

Having spent a week driving Ford’s new 

all electric SUV I feel qualified enough 

to say it really does live up to its iconic 

Mustang name. For the first time in 55 

years, Ford is expanding the Mustang 

family, bringing the famous Pony into the 

electric age. The American automobile 

was originally produced by Ford in 1964 

and is the fifth best selling Ford car 

nameplate. 

The iconic design is one which car 

enthusiasts have drooled over for 

generations. And now that stylish design 

and famous sportscar name is being 

brought to Ford’s performance Battery 

Electric Vehicle. 

The 2021 Mustang Mach-E is equipped 

with extended-range battery and 

all wheel drive will deliver 0-62mph 

acceleration in 6.3 seconds and has a 

WLTP pure electric driving range of up to 

335 miles. The rear-wheel drive Mustang 

Mach-E has a 379-miles WLTP range. 

You can forget range anxiety as 

this Mustang uses intelligent range 

calculations to draw on live data to 

produce as accurate an available range 

display as possible, taking into account 

weather conditions on route affecting 

capability and information from other 

Mustang Mach-Es. 

Earlier this year, Ford increased its 

charging network threefold. Ford’s 

UK network moved from almost 3,000 

charge points to around 9,500 achieved 

in partnership with bp. Mustang Mach-E 

owners will enjoy one year’s free bp pulse 

access, with a rapidly growing number of 

high-power 150kW DC chargers, 50kW 

DC chargers and almost 6,000 7kW AC 

points. 

Ford also offers customers its Ford 

Connected Wallbox for at home charging 

for all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, 

delivering up to five times the charging 

power of a typical domestic socket. 

For Mustang enthusiasts, the Mach-E 

includes features such as customdesigned 

vehicle responsiveness with 

sportier steering controls, ambient 

lighting, sounds tuned for an authentic 

all-electric experience, and dynamic 

cluster animations that are tied to driving 

behaviour. 

As a car for all seasons the new Mach-E 

has an all-wheel drive system which 

applies torque independently to the 

front and rear axles to deliver impressive 

acceleration and improved handling over 

the rear-wheel drive model. Ford tuned 

this system to provide excellent traction 

on the road, rigorously testing the vehicle 

in wet and snowy terrain to help control in 

slippery conditions. 

Making its debut is the nextgeneration 

SYNC® communications 

and entertainment system, that uses 

machine learning to quickly pick up 

drivers’ preferences which gets even 

better over time, thanks to advanced 

over-the-air updates. The huge 15.5-inch 

screen and simple interface has no 

complicated menus and features are 

accessed with touch, swipe and pinch 

controls that every smartphone owner 

will be comfortable using. What took me 

by surprise was when I was asked if I 

wanted to call home. The intuitive digital 

assistant had worked out that that was 

what I did every day after work! 

The SUV design provides plenty of space 

for five passengers and handles 402 

litres of luggage in the boot. There is an 

additional 100 litres of storage space 

under the bonnet. 

From launch of the Mustang Mach-E, 

Ford’s progress towards electrified 

engines will accelerate to more than half 

of its car sales by the end of 2022. 

Facts at a Glance 

Model: Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD 

standard range 

Price: £46,650 otr 

Power: All electric 

Driving Range: Up to 335 miles 

Performance: 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds 

and on to a top speed of 112 mph 

CO2 emissions: None 


www.norsu.com.au 

www.anboise.com 

GUEST BEDROOM 

perfection 

DON’T: WORRY IF YOU 

DON’T HAVE LOADS OF 

SPACE 

Ultimately you have to work with what 

you’ve got - in the last 18 months, 

many of us have seen our guest rooms 

overhauled into home offices. If you’ve 

ditched the bed don’t worry - how about 

adding an attractive sofa bed that you 

can actually use the rest of the time as a 

break out area from your desk. 

DO: PROVIDE BASIC 

AMENITIES 

The more things you can put in the room 

to make their stay easier, without having 

to ask you for everything, the more 

relaxed everyone will feel. A mirror is 

important, as are fresh towels, tissues, 

and perhaps even a hair dryer. A bedside 

carafe and some glasses means they can 

help themselves to water too. 

DO: INVEST IN GOOD 

WINDOW TREATMENTS 

As you might have never slept in this 

space, you might not know how light 

behaves or how effective the current 

window treatments are for blocking out 

light. For a really luxurious look, pair 

blackout blinds or shutters with thick, 

decorative drapery. 

DON’T: SETTLE FOR A 

LUMPY MATTRESS 

The same goes for the mattress as the 

window treatments - spend a night in the 

room and see if the bed is up to scratch. 

DO: PROVIDE GOOD 

LIGHTING 

Multi-level lighting is key for making a 

space feel cosy - make sure there are 

two bedside lamps and then another 

light source in the space, such as a 

standing lamp in the corner or a lamp on 

a dressing table 

DON’T: SKIMP ON THE 

BED LINENS 

Good bed linen really is worth the money 

- and it tends to wash better too. Provide 

a good quality duvet and pillows, linens 

and some additional blankets if your 

guests feel the cold. 

DO: CREATE 

SOMEWHERE THEY CAN 

UNPACK 

We all know it’s a bit stressful trying to 

live out of a suitcase - allowing for some 

hanging space and a few drawers to 

unpack into, can really help guests keep 

on top of things whilst they’re with you. 

DO: MAKE IT SMELL 

LOVELY 

Kit the room out with either fresh flowers, 

a reed diffuser, or room sprays. 

DON’T: BE A 

PERFECTIONIST 

If your guests were hoping for hotel 

standards, then that’s where they should 

have stayed. Just aim to make sure 

the space is clean, comfortable and 

functional, then relax - there’s enough to 

be worrying about in the festive season 

without adding high expectations on top 

of that. 

If you’re looking for a total decorative 

overhaul, check out our moodboards! 

www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 


New Display Models out including: 

New lines added to our naturals range of wool, silk, cashmere and cotton 

mattresses. Electric beds made in the UK, that are easy to use, supports up to 25 

stone and come with a 5 year Guarantee. Artisan Bed Frames and Headboards. 

Beds • Mattresses • Kids Beds • Themed Beds • Lamps 

• Bedroom Furniture • Sofa Beds • Day Beds • Liquid Art Pictures 

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New Stockists for Relyon 

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01278 411180 

151 Taunton Road, Bridgwater TA6 6BD 

www.thebedhouse.co.uk

Bromley Chest, £399, 

Made.com 

Black Branches Print, from £6.99, 

www.juniqe.co.uk 

Jute Effect Daylight Roller 

Blind, from £22, John Lewis 

Bedroom by Pure Salt Interiors 

BRIGHT 

& CRISP 

Off-White Linen Bed Set. 

£170.99, www.truelinen.co.uk 

Limestone Wood Paint, £18 

750ml, thorndown.co.uk 

Dar Lighting 

NUS422, from £82, 

wtlighting.co.uk 

Furn Contra Olive Cushion, 

£25, www.persora.com 

London Bench, from £499, 

www.boconcept.com 

Mala Pile Rug, 

200x290cm, £299, 

Made.com 

Reims, Iron/Metal Four Poster Bed Frame, from 

£649, www.obc-uk.net 

Black Bud Vase, £29, 

room356.co.uk 

Achieve this look by 

layering different 

neutral textures, and 

adding structural 

touches of black and a 

few strong accent colours 

Juna Striped 

Cushion, £34, 

hauslife.co.uk 


WE ARE BACK OPEN ON THE 12 TH APRIL 

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We are proud suppliers of Thomas Kent Clocks & Yankee Candles 


We’d like to thank all of our customers for their continued support. 

01305 251543 | www.fusion-lighting.co.uk | sales@fusion-lighting.co.uk 


Sterling Preservation Limited 

www.sterlingpreservation.co.uk | info@sterlingpreservation.co.uk 

DON'T LET BEETLES PLAY IN YOUR LOFT! 

Spring heralds the beginning of 'woodworm season' when the common furniture beetle begins to 

emerge from the centre of timbers where it's been eating during the winter. Their presence is detected 

by little round holes, often coupled with deposits like sawdust (frass). 

F U S I O N L I G H T I N G 

Given the right conditions, beetles can infest a wide variety of timber, both soft and hardwoods 

1 8 a H i g h W e s t S t r e e t | D o r c h e s t e r | D o r s e t | D T 1 1 U W 

including structural building timbers, internal joinery and furniture. 

Left unchecked, infestations can lead to severe structural weakening and eventually total collapse. If 

treated early with an effective woodworm insecticide, common furniture beetles won't pose a major 

We’d like to thank all of our customers for their continued support. 

risk to structural durability. Have your timbers treated without delay, ensuring 10 years' peace of mind. 


-WE WILL CARE FOR YOUR PROPERTY AND YOUR PEACE OF MIND- 

For a quotation and prompt treatment 

SOMERSET: 01823 480200 | DEVON: 01884 881200 | DORSET 01308 458898 | Mobile 07771 666938 (24/7 text messages) 


Pembridge Pendant 

Size 3, £1319, 

www.originalbtc.com 

B O H O 

COASTAL 

Dulux Paint in ‘Paper Chain’ 

Natural Ceramic Table Lamp, 

£99,barkerandstonehouse.co.uk 

Kilby Bedside 

Table, £229, 

made.com 

Design by Studio McGee 

Fingal 3 Seat 

Sofa, £1210, 

sofa.com 

Navy Seigaiha Wave Cushions £32 and Kayla Woven Cushion £31, hauslife. 

co.uk, Weeping Palm Tree Velvet Cushion Cover, £32.95, audenza.com 

Malibu Print, from £6.99, www.juniqe.co.uk 

Tulana Double Bed, 

£599, made.com 

Elowen Throw, 

£75, hauslife.co.uk 


Century 1 Light 

Chandelier in Rich 

Auerelia Gold with Clear 

Heritage Crystal, £906.12, 

weybridgelights.co.uk 

Design by Turner Pocock 

Clemence Mirror, £174, 

sweetpeaandwillow.com 

So’Home Lamp, 

£139, laredoute.co.uk 

Rustic Apricot Blossom 

Wallpaper, £44 for 10m 

roll, litfad.com 

MODERN 

REGENCY 

Porthallow Footstool, from 

£746, sofasandstuff.com 

Botticelli Demi Lune 

Console Table, £495, 

perchandparrow.com 

Country Living Linen 

Pom Pom Cushion, £20, 

homebase.co.uk 

Estella Headboard from £545, 

headboardsbydesignonline.co.uk 

400cm Core-Edo 

Coordonne mural, £470, 

thebestwallpaperplace.com 


DIY PROJECT: 

UPCYCLE 

We all know the importance of reusing 

and recycling, and this ethos extends to 

our furniture. We’ve all been knee-deep 

in a flat pack assembly project, when in 

reality, we could be looking at updating 

furniture we already have, with a few 

simple steps. 

If you’ve ever felt daunted by a project 

like this, don’t! It’s one of the simplest 

DIYs and you can feel happy in the 

knowledge that you’ve saved something 

from landfill and created a beautiful piece 

for your home. Here’s how to get started. 

1. CHOOSE YOUR PAINT. In this 

project, Annie Sloan’s Athenian 

Black Chalk Paint was used. The 

beauty of paints like this is they 

don’t require much prep - no need 

to sand, just give your piece a good 

clean with sugar soap. If you opt 

for a different paint, just check the 

instructions on the label - some 

might require a priming coat. 

2. REMOVE OLD HARDWARE/ 

KNOBS. Unscrew existing knobs - 

you can either paint or spray paint 

these or replace with new ones. 

We chose these incredible Rococo 

Drawer Handles from Dowsing & 

Reynolds in a raw brass finish. Their 

concave shape and fabulous 

texture made this piece feel 

modern again. If your knew 

handles have different fixings 

to the old ones, you may need 

to use wood filler to patch the hole, 

allow to dry and then sand before 

painting. 

3. BEGIN TO PAINT. Remove the 

drawers and paint each section, 

making sure to coat the edges of 

drawers as these will be seen. This 

piece only needed one coat as the 

paint was so thick. 

4. FINISH. We finished by buffing 

clear Annie Sloan wax into the dry 

piece for extra longevity. Wax gives 

a dull lustre, but you might prefer a 

clear varnish. 

5. FIX NEW HARDWARE. Once dry, 

attach your knobs or pulls. 

The beauty of projects like this are that 

you can repaint as soon as you need to 

give your space a refresh, or add new 

hardware to suit the room. 

You can give a room a 

whole new look, without an 

Allen Key in sight! 

Paint: anniesloan.com 

Handles: 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

A T H E N I A N 

BLACK BY 

ANNIE SLOAN 

THESE 

HANDLES ARE SO 

BEAUTIFULLY MADE 

AND REALLY ELEVATE 

THE PIECE. THEY WOULD 

BE A STYLISH ADDITION 

TO KITCHEN OR 

BATHROOM 

CABINETRY 

TOO 

UPCYCLE TIPS: 

• If you don’t have furniture like this already, you can always look out 

for pieces in charity shops, Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. 

• Adding new hardware to existing furniture creates an amazing 

instant update - you can use filler for old holes if your new knobs 

or pulls are a different shape to the previous ones. 

• If you have drawers which are stubborn to open, try rubbing the 

tracking and the underside of the drawer with the edge of a tea 

light - this should help to reduce the friction. 


Notes from the garden 

Matt Biggs gives us some ideas for next year 

Matthew Biggs, is a radio personality in the UK, best known for 

his appearances on the long running BBC Radio 4 programme 

Gardeners’ Question Time. He has been a professional 

gardener for over 25 years, since studying at Pershore College 

of Horticulture and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Over the 

past twenty five years, he has visited lots of gardens throughout 

Britain, from small suburban plots and inner city allotments to roof 

gardens and large country estates and written a number of books 

including RHS Lessons from Great Gardeners: Forty Gardening 

Icons and What They Teach Us, Matthew Biggs’s Complete book 

of Vegetables and Gardening at Eden: And how to do it at home. 

Matt’s tips for the 

forthcoming springtime. 

Summer saw some 

extremes of weather - hail, 

thunder, and torrential rain 

interspersed with bouts of 

very hot weather - and, just 

occasionally, the weather 

we would expect during the summer too! 

Whatever the reason the way we use our gardens needs to reflect 

how we want to use it - if we want wildlife, then there are big and 

small changes we can make, from not concreting over the front 

garden for parking to putting up an insect hotel, big and small 

changes add up and make a difference so let’s get going on 

those - an early New Year’s resolution maybe? 

If you have a space that is challenging, oddly shaped, sloping, 

very overgrown or you just don’t have any inspiration, it is time 

to call in the experts - from a complete landscape makeover 

to some planting ideas, there are local firms who will provide 

the expertise to make sure that your garden works for you. 

After all, when you bought the house and garden it was a major 

investment, so it seems like a great idea to benefit from every 

inch of that investment - and nature can join in too! 

If you don’t have a garden, you can still grow plants. Indoor plants 

add greatly to the feel of the home, you can give one to a child 

so that they learn to care for it, you can have a herb filled window 

box, you can grow stuff on a windowsill, there are so many ways 

to get involved - and have fun! 

haus 

HOME | LIFESTYLE 

ARTISANAL SOFT 

FURNISHINGS 

FOR THE MODERN 

HOME 

USE CODE 

LIVE15 FOR 

15% OFF 

YOUR FIRST 

ORDER 

NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH AND KILIM 

PILLOWS AND LEATHER POUFFES COMING SOON - 

AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW 

FREE UK P&P ON ALL ORDERS 

www.hauslife.co.uk 


BESPOKE GARDEN ROOM BUILDS 

Designing and Building Bespoke, 

Insulated & Modern Garden Rooms and Offices 

to your requirements. 

Also offering all aspects of landscaping! 

(Finance options now available) 

Call us directly on 01823 297038 

today and get your free consultation.

WHEN YOU THINK MOBILITY, 

think MLE 

Making Life Easier is on a mission to empower 

people who have mobility issues to access the best 

products and services to make their lives easier... 

Making Life Easier, has its own car park at 50 The Mount, close to 

the town centre in Taunton. Inside the showroom there is plenty of 

space to display wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters and rise and 

recline chairs for people to ‘try before you buy’. There is also ample 

space for the on-site workshop to offer repairs and servicing. 

In October 2020 Lizzie Biggs, a local businesswoman bought 

Making Life Easier. Lizzie is determined to build on the already 

excellent reputation the business has. 

Lizzie says “From personal experience, I know that we often start 

talking about needing help, well past the point when help was first 

needed. When we need assistance with day-to-day activities, due to 

a physical impairment, we find there are so many “workarounds”. 

Take my much loved, late father as an example. His legs would 

swell at night. He really needed a profiling bed. What he used, 

was a few old pillows (which would fall off the bed when he turned 

over). What about my gorgeous great Aunt? She would sleep in her 

chair downstairs, but what she needed was a stair lift. How about 

my very much alive and kicking mum? She needed an electric can 

opener. What she did, was change brand of soup!” Lizzie went on 

to explain “I wish I had known about mobility scooters, when my 

darling Mother-in-law found walking any distance, too difficult. I 

wish I had bought my dad a profiling bed and a bath lift. I wish I had 

researched stair lifts for my Aunt instead of accepting she could just 

sleep downstairs. I know about them now and I want you to know 

about them too.” 


SO, WHAT ARE WE ALL ABOUT? It’s simple! MLE has a vision to 

start a revolution. We want to talk about mobility products and to 

brighten them up. We would love to see more colour and personality 

added to the products we sell. To that end, we are always 

researching the mobility and disability industry, so that we can bring 

new and innovative products into our showroom, for our lovely 

customers to try. Our mission is to help our customers live their lives 

with confidence. We can do this, because we have experienced and 

knowledgeable staff, who provide honest and practical advice. Pop 

into the showroom or make an appointment to talk to us about your 

needs and ask us as many questions as you have. 

BEFORE YOU BUY - Our fully trained and experienced staff will 

offer advice and guidance on what you may need. They will be 

mindful of you as an individual and your personal needs. We have 

even been known to talk you out of that expensive scooter as you 

may not need it yet! 

DELIVERY - We provide free local delivery on larger items. Upon 

delivery, we make sure your purchase is put together properly and in 

full working order before we leave. Need another training session? 

No problem, we can do that while we’re on site too! For details on 

other delivery options, please just ask. 

AFTER SALES SERVICE - Unlike the Internet or buying from a 

magazine, we are local to you. You can visit us, call us or email us. 

We will be able to sort everything locally. We also offer a follow up 

and regular maintenance service for your purchases. 

Try our products in our showroom in Taunton! 50 The Mount, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3NR 


MOBILITY MATTERS 

Mobility aids can make a huge difference to someone who is older or living 

with a disability, by giving them the opportunity to remain independent both 

at home and out and about 

If you’re living with limited mobility there 

are a number of mobility aids available 

which can make it easier for you get 

around - whether you’re inside or outside. 

From help getting to and from your car, 

to effective mobility equipment which can 

aid you climbing the stairs, investing your 

time in investigating your care and mobility 

aid options can assist you in making daily 

activities simpler and more enjoyable. 

As we age, our balance can often 

become compromised, leading to slips, 

trips and falls. While inconvenient and 

painful at any age, a fall for someone 

of advancing years can have dramatic 

consequences – ageing bones are more 

liable to breaks than younger ones, and 

take considerably longer to mend, rarely 

restoring complete function. 

WALKING STICK 

A walking stick is a simple and effective 

method of providing extra support for 

anyone who experiences problems with 

balance or walking. Easily available, they 

come in a range of sizes and designs, 

making it easy to find one that suits your 

loved one’s circumstances. 

4-WHEELED ROLLATORS 

4-wheeled rollators are a great option if 

you need more support when walking. 

They come in a variety of different styles, 

including one with seats so you can rest 

when you need to or bags so you can 

carry your shopping without having to 

struggle with carrying extra bags. 


WHEELCHAIRS 

If your loved one’s doctor thinks that a 

wheelchair would be appropriate, they 

will be offered an appointment with their 

nearest NHS Wheelchair Service centre. 

In these instances, the wheelchair will 

be completely free of charge and will be 

maintained by the NHS. 

If your loved one would prefer to organise 

their own wheelchair, they will be offered 

a voucher to set against some, or all, of 

the cost. 

Where the NHS does not consider a 

wheelchair to be necessary, it is still 

possible to source one through a range 

of providers, with some models folding 

down for ease of transportation. 

MOBILITY SCOOTERS 

Mobility scooters are a reliable way to 

help you get around if you find walking 

distances difficult and need extra 

support. When choosing a scooter, bear 

in mind: 

• How often you need to use it 

• what you need it for (roads or 

pavements) 

• Whether it needs to go in a car 

• Where you’ll store your scooter and 

how you will charge it 

• How much it costs to maintain and 

repair 

• Whether you’ll be able to steer it 

(some have special levers to steer 

them if you have arthritis in your 

hands) 

STAIRLIFTS 

With more elderly people choosing to 

remain in their own homes, rather than 

moving into residential care, elderly care 

at home is becoming a popular option. 

High quality live-in care agencies will 

closely match a carer with your loved one 

to ensure their needs are met fully. 

Where stairs are an issue, a stairlift can 

offer real benefits, allowing your loved 

one to move about their own home in 

complete safety. Stairlifts come in a 

variety of styles and designs and can be 

fitted to most stairways, even where they 

have many twists and turns. 

HOME MOBILITY AIDS 

There are a variety of products available 

to help your mobility around the home. 

These include, but are not limited to: 

• Grab rails/handrails, to help prevent 

falls around the home 

• Grab rails for the bed or a chair to 

help you to stand 

• Raised toilet seats or commode 

chairs, toilets with button flushes 

• Walk in baths or showers with a 

seat 

• Easy to turn taps in the kitchen and 

bathroom 

• A kettle with a holder to make it 

easier to pour, alongside easy to 

grip utensils 

• Gadgets to help pull shoes and 

socks on 

• A contact care button to help in the 

event of a fall

Wednesday 27th October 2021 

The Sports Hall 

University Centre Somerset 

SCAT 

Taunton 

TA1 5AX 

11am - 4pm 

For the general public and health professionals! 

Come along and see an array of brand new innovative mobility equipment on display with live 

demonstrations and presentations from the UK’s leading suppliers of mobility products, scooters, 

wheelchairs, powerchairs, beds and hoists etc. 

Manufacturers’ representatives are on hand to talk you through the latest exciting 

products to come to the UK market! 

FREE 5 point mobility check by our engineers. (*subject to availability) 

Exclusive show deals across the entire range on the day! 

Great savings only at the show! 

Car parking - £1 all day 

Refreshments available 

*FREE 5 point mobility equipment 

check on your wheelchair, 

powerchair or scooter at the show 

01823 328555 

Castle Street 

Tangier 

Taunton 

TA1 4AU 

health@hickleys.com 

www.hickleyshealthcare.com

after a diagnosis of dementia 

What are the next steps? 

A diagnosis of dementia can be a big shock 

- for the person with the condition, and their 

family. It can be difficult to know what to 

do, what decisions need to be made, who 

to tell, what support is available and what 

happens next. 

There can either be a lot of information 

given to you at the time of diagnosis, or not 

very much at all. Either way, whatever is 

said to you at the time of diagnosis can be 

forgotten in this emotional and challenging 

time. 

Dementia UK provides specialist dementia 

support for families through the Admiral 

Nurse service. Admiral Nurses give families 

the compassionate one-to-one support, 

expert guidance and practical solutions 

they need to face dementia with more 

confidence. 

The families they work with want a simple 

checklist of what to ask, what to do and 

who to approach - so the important next 

steps are clearly outlined in one place, 

with links to more detailed information to 

consider later, when it’s needed. 

The Dementia UK next steps checklist:- 

This checklist has been written by dementia 

specialist Admiral Nurses, to help in the 

early days after you or your family member 

has received a diagnosis of dementia. 

For each item on the checklist, there is a 

further link to additional information, as 

and when you need it. If you don’t have 

access to the internet, you can contact the 

Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline for more 

information and support 

Ask whether there will be a follow up 

appointment after the diagnosis. 


If yes, who will you see? How often? Who 

makes this appointment? 

Who will be your main point of contact? 

Who will be responsible for coordinating 

subsequent care and support? 

Please record these details and your notes 

in the Dementia UK Practical guide to 

get the best out of GP and other health 

appointments. 

Arrange a Lasting Power of Attorney for:- 

Health and welfare. 

Property and financial affairs. 

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a 

legal document, nominating a person to 

make decisions on behalf of a person with 

dementia, if and when the time comes 

that they no longer have the capacity to 

make these decisions themselves. It is 

very important to fill in and register an LPA 

for both health and welfare, and property 

and financial affairs, while the person with 

dementia still has the capacity to do so. 

Discuss plans and wishes for the future 

with your family, including:- 

Your wishes regarding your future care. 

Your wishes regarding your future medical 

treatment. 

Your hopes about your involvement with 

activities. 

An Advance Care Plan is a document that 

outlines a person’s future wishes for their 

care and medical treatment. 

Apply for a Carers’ Assessment 

Anyone with caring responsibilities for a 

person with dementia is entitled to a Carers’ 

Assessment, to be carried out by their 

Local Authority. The Assessment will look 

at the impact that caring for a person with 

dementia is having, and will then identify 

the type and level of support that is needed. 

This could include some care for the person 

with dementia, some training or some help 

coming in to the home. You will need to 

request the Assessment from your Local 

Authority. 

Apply for all of the relevant financial 

support you are entitled to:- 

People with dementia and their family 

carers are entitled to various benefits, 

tax discounts or financial support. It is 

important to make sure you are receiving all 

of the financial help you are entitled to. 

Organise your home so it helps you live 

safely and independently 

There are lots of simple, practical steps 

that can be taken to help a person with 

dementia to be safe and comfortable in 

their home. 

Inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing 

Agency (DVLA) and your vehicle 

insurance company your diagnosis 

People with a diagnosis of dementia do not 

automatically have to give up their driving 

licence – but you do need to take certain 

steps to make sure you are insured and 

abiding by the law. 

Inform your employer about the 

diagnosis 

If you are diagnosed with dementia and still 

working, it is very important that you tell 

your employer, so that steps can be taken 

to support you in your job, if possible. 

Similarly, if you are caring for someone with 

dementia, telling your employer about your 

changing responsibilities will help you plan 

together, so that you can continue working 

and caring as effectively as possible. 

For more information call 0800 888 6678 or 

visit www.dementiauk.org.

A choice that’s 

so close to home. 

Home is where the heart is, and getting the support 

you need to live the life you choose shouldn’t mean 

having to leave the community that you love. 

Make the move to Somerset Care and discover 

a home from home on your doorstep. 

At Stockmoor Lodge, we provide high-quality, 

person-centred residential, dementia and nursing 

care, as well as a range of support services tailored 

to your individual needs. Our home is furnished 

to a high standard and equipped with spacious 

bedrooms and wet rooms, comfortable communal 

areas and beautiful gardens. 

If you are looking to find the perfect place to 

call home, either for yourself or a loved one, 

Search online for: Stockmoor Lodge 

www.somersetcare.co.uk 

0800 817 4990 

FRIENDSHIP • SUPPORT • UNRIVALLED CARE • FAMILY • COMMUNITY • HOME 

EXPERT ADVICE. 

WHEREVER YOU ARE, 

WHEREVER YOU’RE HEADING. 

Our advisers work with you to build a complete 

picture of your aspirations alongside the 

realities of your financial situation and the 

possibilities for the future. 

albertgoodman.co.uk 

Albert Goodman Chartered Financial Planners is a trading style of Albert Goodman Financial 

Planning Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). 


Independent Living in a Supported Environment 

ABBEYFIELD TAUNTON DEFENDAMUS SOCIETY 

High quality accommodation - single and double bedroom flats 

Attractive communal areas 

Delightful, well maintained garden 

Delicious home cooked meals provided daily 

Supportive & dedicated team of staff 

Organised events and activities on offer 

Help with cleaning & laundry 

24/7 emergency helpline 

01823 257819 

40 Northfield Court, Pollards Way, 

Taunton, TA1 1AD 

abbeyfield-taunton@abbeyfield.com 

www.abbeyfield.com 

Registered Charity No: 253429 

The West Country welcomes you to its 

newest, most exclusive development. 

Located on the edge of the beautiful market town of Bridgwater, 

17TH-18TH AUGUST 2019 

9AM-4PM 

Somerset and within easy reach of the picturesque Quantock Hills 

and the vivid landscapes of Exmoor. Enjoy a relaxing round of golf 

at some of the region’s challenging courses or a visit to Chilton 

Lakes for fishing, a stroll along the beaches of nearby Burnham-on- 

Sea or Minehead, all within easy reach of Chilton Park. Across of the 

road will take you to the brand new leisure centre, featuring a gym, 

exercise classes, 4 court sports hall, swimming pool and more! 

Chilton Park, Chilton Trinity, Somerset TA6 3JW | www.chiltonpark.co.uk | 01278 426005 or 07858 404593 


A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AWAITS YOU 

Visit our extensive showroom with over 25 displays, to view at your leisure. 

Call the team on 01823 665 663 or email enquiries@mayflowerbathrooms.co.uk 

to speak to one of our expert bathroom designers. 

Showroom open by appointment only basis 

5c Castle Road, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JQ 

www.mayflowerbathrooms.co.uk 

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm 

by pre-arranged appointment only. 

Weekends available upon request

discover our world 

michaelspiers.co.uk 

M_Spiers_Taunton Living-Ad-AUG2021.indd 1 26/08/2021 10:48

Taunton and South Somerset Living Oct - Nov 2021

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