Marlborough Living Jan - Feb 2022

Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

23 

Delicious 

A Culinary Journey through 

Northern Ireland recipes 

Welcome to the first edition 

of 2022. It’s well known that 

January is named after the 

Roman god Janus - a two 

headed god able to look into the 

future and the past. 

It’s a fitting thought for this time 

of year - when most of us will 

be making earnest resolutions 

for the year ahead, but also 

looking back at what has just 

passed. Perhaps naively, we 

assumed we’d be well-shot of 

all the COVID business by now - 

but amidst this new normal, our 

habits have changed and our 

priorities have reframed a little - I 

think for the better. 

Our competition 

page returns 

06 

In line with this, we have done 

away with the usual ‘New Year 

New You’ sentiments - let’s 

leave any judgement at the door 

- and instead we’ve looked at 

ways to feel healthier and steps 

toward a greener home. We 

can all make improvements in 

our home to better their energy 

efficiency and reduce their toxic 

loads, and our guide gives some 

practical steps. 

Interior Designer 

Julia Kendell 

35 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-Press Manager Kate Norris 

Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs 

Angela Cave and Pete Lawrence. Front cover courtesy of Julia Kendell 

Key Account Manager Angela Cave 

e angela.cave@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 984498 

twitter: @MarlboroughLive 

30 

Making your 

home greener 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton 

Trowbridge BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

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. 

We were thrilled to grab an 

interview with interior designer 

Julia Kendell - you will recognise 

her from her work on DIY SOS 

and 60 Minute Makeover. 

If you’re still missing a bit of that 

festive indulgence to see you 

through the gloomier months, 

we have some fabulous, and 

dare I say, somewhat celebratory 

recipes to make even the darkest 

of nights feel brighter. 

This is all alongside our usual 

advice on education, later life 

and lots of other great little 

reads peppered in! We will see 

you again in March! 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

TAILORED HOME 

INSURANCE RIGHT DOWN 

TO THE FINEST DETAIL 

For high-value properties and contents, including 

valuables, fine art and collections, choose 

NFU Mutual Bespoke home insurance. 

To discuss your high-value home insurance, 

contact Harry Pickford at NFU Mutual in 

Marlborough on 01672 519241 or email 

Harry_Pickford@nfumutual.co.uk. 

John H Hardman is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). 

Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the 

Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A 

member of the Association of British Insurers.


COMPETITION 

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. 

WIN 

A £500 GIFT 

VOUCHER TO 

SPEND ONLINE 

WITH 

DEFACTO 

DeFacto is the latest fashion brand to bring 

affordable, quality and stylish wardrobe 

choices to the online high street. Offering 

an expansive range of on trend fashion 

for women, men and children, DeFacto’s 

mission is to elevate and celebrate the 

everyday with styles that work for every 

occasion. 

One lucky winner will win a £500 gift voucher to 

spend online at DeFacto 

www.uk.defacto.com 

Closes 15/03/2022 - Competition keyword ‘DEFACTO’ 

WIN 

A LUXURY 

HANGING EGG 

CHAIR FROM 

PRIMROSE 

LIVING 

WIN 

A 12-MONTH 

FRAGRANCE 

SUBSCRIPTION 

WITH 

HOOHAA is a unisex monthly 

HOOHAA 

subscription service allowing 

customers to tap into a world of new and 

undiscovered niche fragrances from around 

the globe and in the comfort of their own home! 

You can choose from one of three edits known as Easy Does 

It (wearable and easy), Buckle Up or Take Me To Mars (on the 

more challenging side), new and independent fragrance brands 

are introduced each month to HOOHAA. Once signed up with 

your selected edit you pay a monthly fee of £14.95 and will 

receive a new 10ml unisex hand decanted fragrance (travel size 

friendly) at your door each month based on your chosen edit. 

We have 2 x 12-month subscriptions to give away. 

www.hoohaa.co.uk 

Closes 15/03/2022 - Competition keyword ‘HOOHAA’ 

For outdoor living in style 

and sophistication. Every 

piece within Primrose 

Living is designed to bring 

modern comfort to your 

garden, whether dining 

with nature or relaxing at 

dusk. It offers high-quality, 

dependable pieces that you 

can shape around your space, and 

enjoy for years to come. Win the perfect blend 

of style and comfort in this hanging egg 

chair, perfect for enjoying the 

peace and quiet of that sunny 

spot in your garden. 

One lucky reader will win a 

luxury rattan hanging egg chair courtesy 

of Primrose Living. 

www.primrose.co.uk 

Closes 15/03/2021 - Competition keyword ‘PRIMROSE’ 

WIN 

5X £50 

HOMEWARE 

VOUCHERS TO 

SPEND WITH 

HAUS 

Haus offers travel-inspired homewares to suit any 

interior. From textiles sourced from Mali to Indonesia 

and ceramics from Morocco to Portugal, you’ll find 

handcrafted pieces made with integrity and paying 

worked a fair price for their expertise. Recent 

collections include Modern Vintage, focusing on 

vintage fabrics from Sri Lanka and Thailand and 

beautiful, textural floor cushions from India. 

Haus are giving 5 lucky readers £50 vouchers to 

spend on their website. 

www.hauslife.co.uk 

Closes 15/03/2022 - Competition keyword ‘HAUS LIFESTYLE’ 

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

arnes coaches 

Start planning your 

next adventure! 

NEW 2022 Holiday Brochure 

out now! Exciting new UK & 

European tours for the new 

year. 

Order a FREE brochure 

today on 01793 821303 

or view online at 

www.barnescoaches.co.uk 

SNOWDROPS AT WELFORD PARK 

Nr Newbury RG20 8HU 

2nd February to 6th March 2022 

Grounds open Wednesday to Sunday 

11:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

Closed Monday & Tuesday 

Plan a day out with friends, family or a peaceful walk alone along 

the River Lambourn at Welford Park and enjoy the magnificent sight 

of the spectacular snowdrop carpet through the beach woods. 

For more details visit our website 

www.welfordpark.co.uk 

Tickets available online 


A 21st century education... 

In 2012 the founding PSB schools recognised an opportunity to 

do things a bit differently; a situation created by senior schools 

pre-testing and offering places earlier and earlier for 13+ entry. 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Initially, the PSB operated in many 

cases with the caveat of ‘subject to 

Common Entrance’, but as CE has moved 

inexorably away from being a qualifying 

examination to in most cases being 

simply for setting purposes, the PSB has 

gained increasing recognition as a broad 

and detailed record of progress and 

achievement, tailored to individual schools 

and pupils. The growth from the initial 4 

schools in 2012 to 34 today has given the 

PSB a unique position in a fast shifting 

educational landscape. 

This is all allied to the increasing range 

of entrance routes to senior schools – 

although it is the pre-test that rules the 

roost. Closely related to this has been 

the shift in ISI framework criteria, clearly 

identifying and emphasising the need 

for the development of skills alongside 

knowledge, in order for schools to be 

recognised as excellent when reflecting 

pupils’ academic and other achievements. 

In recent years more junior schools have 

stepped away from strictly adhering to 

ISEB syllabus content, dropping this, 

trimming that or simply stating that they 

are going to do their own thing. Where 

the PSB has a clear advantage, is in 

creating and monitoring a framework 

for study, within which schools operate 

independently. 

The active assessment of skills with pupils 

is unique; whilst this is initially driven by 

teachers in the lower school, by Year 

5 the emphasis is on self-assessment 

by pupils, with the support of a strong 

tutorial system. What the PSB doesn’t 

do is sell courses or demand the use of 

a prescribed syllabus. The expectation 

is that schools will follow a broad and 

balanced curriculum and that what they 

do will be reflected by strong ISI reports. 

So what makes us believe that the PSB 

approach is the right one? Put simply, 

the sheer weight of educational research 

that emphasises the crucial need for 

developing skills alongside knowledge. 

The Pearson Report Making Education 

Work emphasised that non-cognitive skills 

and attributes such as team working, 

emotional maturity, empathy and other 

interpersonal skills are important as 

proficiency in English or mathematics in 

ensuring young people’s employment 

prospects. 

The proof is in the pudding; the 

growth of schools in membership, and 

continuing interest from schools seeking 

membership, shows that the PSB is 

the right idea at the right time. With a 

philosophy that extends from Early Years, 

and the development of a whole school 

“Making Education Work emphasised that 

non-cognitive skills and attributes such as team 

working, emotional maturity, empathy and other 

interpersonal skills are important as proficiency 

in English or mathematics in ensuring young 

people’s employment prospects. ” 


approach to teaching and learning, the 

PSB is a powerful vehicle for excellence. 

As things stand over 50 senior schools 

welcome the PSB as a valid course of 

study and recognise the PSB certificate 

– reflecting assessment across subjects 

studied and the core skills - as proof of 

standards achieved across the curriculum. 

Most schools additionally accept pupils 

via their own entrance tests and some 

use core CE – with a growing number not 

requiring Languages. Crucially the greater 

flexibility of entrance requirements enables 

PSB schools to offer broad, exciting and 

educationally enriching courses. 

The PSB continues to evolve as its 

membership grows. The original skills 

matrix has been transformed by fresh 

input, a wellbeing grid is being trialled and 

the newly appointed Director of Education 

is providing a strong educational focus. 

The greatest strength of the PSB is the 

fact that change is driven by staff within 

schools, which gives it exceptionally 

powerful ownership, and overseen by a 

committee of PSB Heads and trustees 

from the wider education community. 

James Barnes is The Communications 

Director of the PSB. 


www.pinewoodschool.co.uk 

Pinewood Bourton Shrivenham 

Wiltshire SN6 8HZ 

01793 782205 

office@pinewoodschool.co.uk 

Co-educational day & boarding school for 3-13 year olds

THE POWER of BURSARIES 

Levelling up – the transformative power of bursaries and how we might level up rather 

than dumb down... 

If a random sample of British 

adults were to play a game of 

word association when the chosen 

words were ‘prep’, ‘independent’ or 

‘private school’, the results would 

be predictable. ‘Posh’, ‘exclusive’ 

and ‘expensive’ might make an 

appearance, although so might 

‘excellence’, ‘results’ and ‘success’. 

Placed against these pre-conceptions 

of independent education, it is easy to 

see why some politicians feel the days 

of independent schools’ charitable 

status to be numbered. 

Even as a Headmaster of an 

independent prep school, I sometimes 

struggle, morally, to reconcile the 

opportunities that we can create with 

the reality for many children across 

the country, despite the best efforts 

of so many fellow professionals in 

maintained schools. Having started my 

career in the state sector, I only made 

the switch because I felt I would have 

the freedom to design an education 

that worked in the fullest sense and 

the ability to create something unique 

and bespoke for every child is a 

joy. The moral tension comes from 

considering why this is only available 

for those who can afford it, although 

surely it can never be right to knock 

excellence and reduce everything to 

the lowest common denominator in 

the quest for equality. 

The charitable status of most 

independent schools hides, from 

some, our need to balance the books. 

This is particularly challenging in 

prep schools where the fees are 

lower and the margins tighter: the 

preconceptions of wealth held by 

many are simply incorrect in most 

cases. Competition between prep 

schools can be fierce and the need 

to demonstrate relative strength and 

quality over rival schools is essential. 

This need creates a tension between 

the school as a business and the 

school as a charity, and it would 

be easy for Heads and Bursars to 

prioritise the former at the expense 

of the latter. Not only would this be 

morally wrong, it is also a short-term 

and blinkered course of action and 

schools, even small prep schools, 

need to factor creating inclusivity into 

their business plans so that they are a 

charity in action as well as in name. 

I can’t describe the satisfaction to be 

gained from watching a child benefit 

from support from the school as a 

charity. It feels right, is transformative 

for those involved, and justifies the 

charitable status of the school. All 

involved benefit. Given appropriate 

levels of financial and strategic 

planning, it is possible, even for small 

independent schools, to provide 

their brand of education to a wider 

cross-section of society and this 

broadening of access to the best of 

British education is something to be 

celebrated. In senior schools, the level 

of bursary support is greater again, 

with many schools actively seeking to 

broaden access with bursaries of up to 

100% of the fees and some even work 

with prep schools to create a pathway 

from prep school entry through to the 

end of their secondary education. 

The provision of bursaries 

demonstratively levels up society in 

some small way but the scale of what 

is possible is, of course, not enough. 

There is no philosophical barrier to 

opening our doors to the whole of 

society. I know of no Head of an 

independent school who would not 

leap at the chance to open their doors 

and provide an education for free, and 

any blockage to this is caused by pure 

economics. 

What is the answer? Well, we can look 

to the rest of the world for examples 

of how state and private education 

co-exist far more equitably than 

they do in the UK. In this country, all 

taxpayers fund state education but 

only some are using it, the others 

choosing to pay extra for their children 

to be educated privately. In other 

countries, the money follows the child 

and parents may choose to top this 

sum up to have their child attend an 

independent school. This broadens 

access, meaning that there is no need 

for charitable status tax perks and the 

gap between private and state is much 

narrower. 

I can’t think of an argument against 

making this a reality, other than it may 

be politically inconvenient to do so. 

We need to find ways of providing 

the best possible education to all 

children in the UK and, whilst there 

is a moral imperative on schools to 

offer bursaries and broaden access, 

there must surely also be a duty for 

government to be more creative and 

forward thinking in finding ways to 

level up without dumbing down. 

Charlie Minogue, Headmaster, 

Moor Park, Ludlow, Shropshire 


St Mary’s Calne U16 Netball Team Crowned County Champions 

After a solid win at the Area Netball tournament, the St Mary’s U16 Netball Team competed in the 

County Tournament in November. 

There were seven other schools in attendance, qualifying from around the county. The St Mary’s team was 

in fine form; they played seven matches and won five, drew one and lost one. Due to their goal average at 

the end of the tournament, St Mary’s were declared the overall winners. 

The team now go forward to the Regional Round that will 

be held in Bournemouth. Congratulations to the girls - they 

played brilliantly and are now the proud owners of the title 

‘U16 County Champions’. 

www.stmaryscalne.org 

Open Days: 12 th February & 7 th May 2022 

Please contact Admissions: admissions@stmaryscalne.org 

ST MARY’S CALNE 

A Leading Independent Boarding & Day School For Girls Aged 11-18 

Contact admissions@stmaryscalne.org 01249 857200 stmaryscalne.org 

Senior Production: Betty Blue Eyes

Interweaving science and the arts 

Susan McFarlane, head of art at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst, 

explains how pupils can benefit from a holistic approach to 

teaching science and the arts. 


When The Times reported that researchers were recommending 

that the arts and sciences should be taught together, around real 

problems rooted in pupils’ experiences, I found myself nodding 

in agreement. But it was when one of the academics involved, 

Professor Pam Burnard of the University of Cambridge invoked 

the designs of Leonardo da Vinci as an example of how different 

disciplines can be usefully interwoven that I really started to pay 

attention. 

The recent educational mood music from Whitehall has been that 

STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) 

are the horses to back in terms of skills for employment in the 

global race. However, at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst, we believe that 

the modern world requires versatile, imaginative and creative 

people, and so we encourage our pupils to develop a facility for 

understanding their subjects from as many different perspectives 

as possible. Rather than STEM, we favour STEAM – with the A 

stressing the value of the arts and humanities to the understanding 

of science, technology, and in fact pretty much everything. 

To this end, in 2019 Dunhurst’s art and design department staged 

a week-long celebration of Leonardo da Vinci. We recreated his 

studio, with break times devoted to activities including re-telling 

the tale The Genius of Leonardo by Guido Visconti (writer) and 

Bimba Landmann (illustrator), and masterpieces inspired by 

Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. In the spirit of Leonardo’s polymath 

leanings, pupils explored his life and work through the disciplines 

of history, geography and language. This involved consideration 

of his love of botany, anatomical and wildlife-inspired 

observational drawing; designing and making aeroplanes, 

bridges, buildings and parachutes; and learning about the human 

body. Discussing Leonardo’s open-mindedness and love of 

learning encouraged our pupils to be observant and curious, to 

understand more about themselves and the world. 

STEAM Week then saw artist Roz Hall encourage pupils to make 

connections between art and science and, serendipitously, 

reference the Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo. Stressing 

how technology has always influenced new artistic developments, 

Roz drew on work we had done in art on the scientific discoveries 

around light and colour that inspired the Impressionists. His iPad 

work with pupils not only underlined his technological point, but 

led to us all learning how to use Autodesk SketchBook. 

This was to be one of the last things we were to do together 

at Dunhurst before schools were closed in response to the 

coronavirus pandemic, and it turned out to be prescient. Through 

remote learning, we were able to use Autodesk to draw and 

make animations on iPads, inspired in part by the call of a great 

modern innovator, David Hockney, to document the arrival of 

spring – a perfect example of art and technology combining in 

a way we believe Leonardo da Vinci would have enjoyed, in the 

midst of the most pressing 

of ‘real world’ problems. 

www.isc.co.uk 

Mildenhall 

T: 01672 515763 

Savernake 

01672 870790 

Aldbourne 

01672 541730 

COMICS AND GAMES 

COMICS • GRAPHIC NOVELS • TOYS • D&D 

BOARDGAMES • WARHAMMER • YU-GI-OH 

MTG • POKEMON • FNAF • FUNKO POP! 

ACTION FIGURES • AND MORE 

Where happy children learn through play 

We run forest school sessions 

and offer before/after school 

and holiday clubs for children 

from reception to Yr6. 

E: info@avenue-nursery.co.uk 

W: avenue-nursery.co.uk 

5 BATH PLACE, TAUNTON, TA1 4ER 

krackerstaunton@live.co.uk 

Tel: 01823 335057 

www.krackers.com 

f 


OPEN 

MORNING 

17 th March 2022 

Realising Potential 

Independent co-ed day school for 3-11 years in the heart of Wiltshire 

www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk

5 things 

I wish I knew 

when planning my wedding... 

Kate & Sam’s Wedding Day 

A new year is here, and for many couples, it’s the one in which they finally 

manage to tie the knot! Our own Pre-Press Manager Kate Norris recalls the 

trials of planning her wedding mid-lockdown in 2021, as well as divulging some 

important tips that she wishes she knew back at the start of the planning process... 

Like many others, I was unlucky enough 

to be left stuck planning our wedding 

in the midst of a global pandemic. 

It was not something that I would 

recommend, and all being well, as time 

has progressed, it is something that no 

couple will have to endure. I have to say, 

I had moments when I wondered if we 

were cursed. We had been together for 

over a decade before we FINALLY got 

engaged, and it was a good few years 

before we put our thinking caps on and 

started planning the big day. We were all 

booked in for July 2020 but of course as 

fate would have it, covid arrived and we 

were plunged into lockdown. 

Very long story short, we ended up 

getting married on the 4th attempt, a 

full year later in July 2021 and while it 

was a very different day to the one we 

had planned back in 2020, the fact that 

we had been forced to scale the big 

day back meant that, in some ways, we 

got the day we didn’t know we actually 

wanted all along. 

Weddings may not go completely back 

to normal for some time but hopefully 

couples currently planning their big 

day won’t have to endure such intense 

pressures, so to lend a hand I have 

put together a quick ‘what I wish I had 

known’ list when it comes to planning 

your wedding day. 

Set a budget 

Now this is an obvious one, and I know 

everybody says the same, but seriously. 

Do it. It’s remarkable how quickly 

planning can deteriorate when you don’t 

have the basics determined. According 

to nimblefins.co.uk, the average cost of 

a UK wedding stands at £30,000. But 

don’t panic - there are ways to cut back. 

Be sensible, put pen to paper, get that 

calculator out and work out what you can 

both afford. 

Buy a wedding diary/planner 

Back in 2019, my sister-in-law-to-be 

bought me one of these, but being the 

disorganised mess that I am, I didn’t 

make use of it and as such, as the big 

day loomed, I was constantly realising 

little bits and pieces that we hadn’t 

purchased/organised. Most wedding 

planners have check-lists and timelines, 

so the planning is broken down into 

bite-size chunks. If you do invest in one, 

they will make everything feel a lot less 

overwhelming, manageable, and dare I 

say it, potentially enjoyable. 

Identify your priorities 

This comes a lot more naturally to some, 

but it is invaluable advice. Ask yourself; 

what are some things that you are 

absolutely not willing to compromise on? 

Is it a dream venue? A colour theme? A 

dress? Whatever it is, this will give you a 

starting point to begin moulding the other 

details around. This is massively helpful, 

because if you are anything like me, you’ll 

find yourself dithering for months and 

months all due to the fact that you don’t 

know where to begin! On that note... 

Choose your venue 

There isn’t a whole lot of planning you 

can get stuck into until you decide on 

your venue. This determines your date, 

style, location and capacity of your 

wedding so...it’s pretty vital! And spoiler 

alert: it’s going to be where the largest 

chunk of your wedding fund goes. But 

again, remember your budget. Only view 

what you can afford as you’ll end up 

falling in love with something that’s going 

to bankrupt you. For our ‘4th attempt 

wedding’, we held the reception in our 

local pub...and it was fab! Your day is 

what you make it. 

DELEGATE 

This is one area where I really failed - all 

my friends and family will corroborate. 

And if I had to do it again *shudder*, I 

would of spoken up and asked them for 

help. If you are like me, it doesn’t come 

naturally to ask people for favours. But 

it’s a wedding, and your loved ones will 

expect it. Choose your helpers wisely and 

get delegating! Remember, you can thank 

them in the speeches, and when their 

time comes you can return the favour. 


Stardust Official 

Lollys Laundry 

Onjenu 

Pom Amsterdam 

Mos Mosh 

Vilagallo 

Yerse 

indi & cold 

Culture 

Aspiga 

Second Female 

Dream 

Ladies & Gents jewellery 

Wedding Rings 

Vintage | Bespoke 

Repairs | Valuations 

Your local jeweller for your special day 

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm 

3 High Street, Devizes SN10 1AT 

www.spiritfashion.co.uk | @spirit_devizes 

H.J.Johnson Jewellers | 01380 723709 

www.hjjohnsonjewellers.co.uk 

1 Maryport Street | Devizes | SN10 1AH 



A day full of memories... 

At Marlborough Golf Club we have the 

facilities to make your “Special Day” 

one that you will always remember... 

Our long experience of arranging and 

hosting weddings will mean that you 

can relax - confident that everything 

will go well on the day and the quality 

and friendliness of our staff will ensure 

that you and your guests will sense the 

warm welcome that is so crucial to your 

wedding’s success. 

Whether you want a simple buffet, disco 

or a dinner dance, contact us to discuss 

your requirements. We know that every 

couple will have their own choices and 

wishes, which we will endeavour to meet. 

We also know that weddings can be an 

expensive time and we will provide value 

for money that is unparalleled in the area. 

Overlooking the 18th green and the 

Marlborough Downs beyond, our firstfloor 

restaurant will provide the perfect 

backdrop for a memorable day. 

Nothing is ever too much trouble for our 

guests. Our recently refurbished dining 

room caters for up to 100 guests for a 

reception, with a maximum of 150 guests 

for your evening party. Come and be 

seduced by our sumptuous menus which 

are designed using the freshest, finest 

local ingredients. From simple buffet to 

gourmet dining, we are confident we can 

cater for your every need. Our bespoke 

packages put you in control of your 

budget and flexibility is our motto. 

Our prices are sensibly set and offer 

tremendous value for money and we have 

the most wonderful views – come and 

see for yourself. 

Wedding Packages available on request – 

do get in touch, we would be delighted to 

discuss your requirements. 

Please contact our office 

admin@marlboroughgolfclub.co.uk 

or 01672 512147 Opt 3

The Flying 

Pig Cake 

Emporium is a 

Calne based cake design 

studio specialising in creating 

bespoke wedding and 

celebration cakes 

Our 2022 diary is already filling with 

wedding bookings, please call or 

email to book your one to one free 

design consultation. 

07714 234749 

info@flyingpigcakeemporium.co.uk 

www.flyingpigcakeemporium.com

BRAESIDE HOUSE 

BESPOKE WEDDING ESPECIALLY FOR YOU 

Beautiful Edwardian style venue 

3 reception rooms 

Accommodation for up to 60 guests 

Stunning surroundings 

Perfect for big family gatherings as well as 

intimate celebrations 

Personal assistance throughout the 

planning process 

Contact us today 

MAIN OFFICE: 01380 722637 

EMAIL: info@braeside-eduction.co.uk 

www.braeside-education.co.uk 

BRAESIDE HOUSE 

BATH ROAD, DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE SN10 2AP 

PARROTS 

AND 

PEONIES 

Pashminas, scarves & shawls 

in silk, wool and cashmere 

JOAN PRESSLEY HATS, DEVIZES 

A wide range of designs and colours to make the 

perfect accessory for your wedding outfit 

We can dye to order for the perfect match and 

have a collection of beautiful pieces to make your 

special day just that bit more special. 

Visit us today! 

The Parrot Cage, The Shambles, Devizes 

07305 094535 | cavea23@gmail.com 

www.angelacave.com 

I:L 

Hats for a 

Special Occasion... 

Exclusive hats to hire or buy. 

Choose from our extensive range of over a 

thousand hats many of which can be 

re-trimmed to match your outfit as required. 

Contact us... 

T: 01380 722906 E: devizeshats@live.com 

2/3 St Johns Alley, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1BG 

www.joanpressleyhats.com 


LE COUVENT 

MAISON 

Highly concentrated and longlasting, 

the alluring Palmarola 

eau de parfum is made using 

natural botanical essences 

steeped in the tradition of 

French Haute Parfumerie. 

Opening with zesty notes 

of Calabrian Bergamot and 

Italian Lemon interwoven with 

floral pops of Jasmine, the 

intoxicating fragrance blends 

expertly into a resinous base of 

Gaïac Wood, rounding off the 

EDP with depth and elegance. 

£65, lookfantastic.com 

BEAUTY 

hot picks 

MEDIK8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3 

Formulated with stabilised retinal, a 

powerful derivative of vitamin A with 

next-generation anti-ageing results. The 

ground-breaking overnight serum visibly 

minimises fine lines and wrinkles; firming 

and plumping the complexion to resurface 

skin texture and 

soften the face. £45, 

medik8.com 

OLVERUM BATH OIL 

A unique and luxurious 

aromatic blend of essential 

oils which combine to help 

ease stress and relax tension 

in both mind and body, 

bringing you back to your 

complete and natural self. 

A few drops will infuse your 

bath with amazing scent. 

125ml, £36.50, olverum.com 

DIEGO 

DELLA PALMA 

TOY BOY 

MASCARA 

Distributing a sultry, jetblack 

hue, this volumising 

mascara enhances every 

lash with its amplifying and 

lengthening formula. The 

brand’s unique 2% Superlash 

SPX boasts a combination 

of two active ingredients that 

promote natural eyelash growth in just 

30 days. £24, lookfantastic.com 

ODILE LECOIN 

The powerfully effective 2-in-1 cleansing 

balm transforms into a beautiful milky 

texture to wash 

away impurities 

and reveal a silky 

soft and glowing 

complexion. 

OR, éclatant - 

Purify and Glow 

Cleansing Balm, 

£45, odile.co.uk 

A wide variety of Vegan products available 

For expert advice and the perfect products visit Megan and 

the team at Beauty Full Time for: 

Skin consultations 

Fragrance Matching 

Personalised Foundation and Makeup Colour Matching 

36 High St, Marlborough SN8 1LW 

01672 514114 

www.beautyfulltime.co.uk 

I @beautyfulltimemarlborough F @beautyfulltimemarlborough X 

Beauty Full Time 


This much is 

TRUE 

ADE HILL CAUGHT UP WITH 80’S 

POP STAR AND ACTOR MARTIN KEMP 

WHO DISCUSSES GETTING BACK 

ON STAGE, LIVE AID AND MUSICAL 

INFLUENCES! 

Image credit: 

Chris Bailey Photography 

WELCOME TO FROME AND OF 

COURSE OUR BELOVED CHEESE 

AND GRAIN. TELL US MORE ABOUT 

TONIGHT’S 80’S EXTRAVAGANZA DJ 

SET? 

Tonight, is something I’ve been doing 

for the last few years. We’ve been doing 

in the region of about 135 DJ sets up 

and down the country. Of course, we 

had to stop due to the pandemic. This 

is probably the most euphoric thing I’ve 

ever done. 

You’ll see tonight people who want to 

be transported back to being 17 years 

old again and they absolutely play the 

part. I’ve never seen people sing to every 

single song I play. You know it’s very 

different to listening to 80’s music on 

the radio and listening to it through giant 

speakers. 

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK ON 

THE ROAD AND PLAYING TO PACKED 

AUDIENCES ONCE AGAIN? 

You know I remember during the 

pandemic the one thing I missed was 

doing this. Getting that adrenaline and 

that buzz. You know what I like about it 

most? I’m not up there separate from the 

audience. The audience and me are just 

one and we are all having a great time. 

YOU’VE VISITED FROME ON SEVERAL 

OCCASIONS, RIGHT? 

Yeah. It’s a lovely little town and you 

know I absolutely love coming back. 

Frome is quite the place to be. 

I’VE GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE 

CONCERT OF THAT DECADE AND 

36 YEARS AGO. OF COURSE, I’M 

TALKING ABOUT LIVE AID! WHAT 

WAS THAT DAY LIKE FOR YOU AND 

YOUR BAND SPANDAU BALLET? 

It was an amazing thing. You know like 

when something becomes historical in 

retrospect when you look back at it. We 

knew Live Aid was going to be historic on 

the day. There was like two billion people 

watching it that day around the world, so 

you knew how big is was going to be. It 

was a different day to anything we’d ever 

done. 

The special moment about Live Aid for 

me, wasn’t about doing our thing that 


day. It was of course watching Freddie 

Mercury and Queen. That was probably 

the best moment I have ever seen on 

stage in Rock & Roll in my life. 

HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW MANY 

PARENTS WHO GREW UP THE 

1980’S ARE NOW BRINGING THERE 

TEENAGERS TO YOUR SHOWS AND 

DISCOVERING CLASSIC 80’S POP? 

Oh absolutely. You know it it’s a 

generation thing. I used to do the same 

thing with my mum and dad who were 

really into the sounds of the 1960’s and 

they spoke about it as the best time ever. 

Now everybody looks back at the 1980’s 

and thinks what a great time that was. 

You know in a few years’ time I promise 

you everybody will be saying the same 

thing about the the 90’s and the 2000 

years. 

THE 1980S WAS SUCH A 

GROUNDBREAKING TIME FOR NEW 

SOUNDS AND MUSIC. WHO DID YOU 

ADMIRE BACK THEN? 

You know I was into all sorts really. I was 

into Glam rock, Punk rock, Prog rock, 

Electric rock like Kraftwerk, Gary Numan 

and early stuff from the Human League 

so I’ve been through the whole lot you 

know. I suppose the bands that were 

really groundbreaking were Spandau 

Ballet and Duran Duran. We were the 

ones opening the doors for everybody 

else. We were making it happen in 

London and Duran Duran were making it 

happen in Birmingham. 

WHEN SPANDAU BALLET FIRST 

STARTED, WHO WERE YOU AND 

YOUR BOTHER GARY INFLUENCED 

BY? 

Without shadow of a doubt for us it 

was Early Kraftwerk, you know when 

sympathizers came out and took over 

from guitars. Instead of having a guitar 

solo you had a Sympathizers solo. It 

wasn’t really about what bands were 

doing in the 80’s it was more about what 

instruments were doing it because the 

sounds of keyboards changed everything 

and had come a long way. You suddenly 

had producers like Trevor Horn who was 

producing ABC, Grace Jones and Frankie 

goes to Hollywood. They were coming 

out with the most incredible sounds 

and that was more groundbreaking than 

opening doors for any band. I guess it 

was a bit of everything really. 

“ON HIS FIRST DATE 

WITH HIS NOW 

WIFE: GEORGE 

MICHAEL CAME ON 

OUR FIRST DATE. I 

SPENT ALL NIGHT 

TRYING TO GET RID 

OF HIM. 

WHAT OR WHO IS THE GREATEST 

LOVE OF YOUR LIFE? 

My wife. We’ve been married 30 years 

and our relationship gets stronger every 

day – well, it does for me; I haven’t asked 

her. George Michael came on our first 

date. I spent all night trying to get rid of 

him. 

MARTIN THANK YOU AND BY THE 

SOUNDS OF IT THE AUDIENCE IN 

FROME TONIGHT ARE READY TO 

PARTY 1980’S STYLE! 

Oh, absolutely I love it here. Thank 

youand I can’t wait. 

For further details and forthcoming tour 

dates go to www.martinkempdj.com 


BESTChef 

YOUNG NATIONAL CHEF OF THE YEAR 

SURPASSES ALL OTHER YOUNG CHEF 

CONTESTS, BRINGING TOGETHER THOSE 

IDENTIFIED AS THE BEST YOUNG CHEFS 

IN THE INDUSTRY AND GIVES THEM A 

PLATFORM ON WHICH TO BUILD THEIR 

FUTURE CAREERS. WINNING YNCOTY FIRMLY 

ESTABLISHES A CHEF AS A RISING STAR OF 

THE CULINARY WORLD BOTH IN THE UK AND 

BEYOND. 

HERE WE TALK TO DAN CORNISH, SENIOR 

CHEF DE PARTIE AT LE MANOIR AUX 

QUAT’SAISONS, OXFORD ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE 

HAVING TAKEN PART IN THE COMPETITION... 

SO, TO BEGIN WITH, WHEN DID YOU 

FIRST START COOKING? 

I started cooking with mum and grandma 

when I was about four or five. I remember 

being stood on a stool, baking cakes and 

baking bread in the kitchen and then I 

grew up and spent eight years in Africa. 

Me and my brother went to school out 

there and my parents helped set up a 

school out there and helped in hospitals 

and things like that. 

FROM WHAT AGE WAS THAT? 

I was five when I moved to Tanzania, and 

then we were out in Kenya for four years 

when I was ten. I haven’t been back since 

but I would love to return one day. 

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOUR 

PARENTS DECIDED TO MOVE AWAY 

FROM THAT? 

They came back to the UK and I did 

my GCSE in Oxfordshire. I studied 

GCSE catering which I really enjoyed 

and confirmed that I wanted to be a 

chef. I loved it, and so after that I went to 

Bournemouth and Poole College to study 

the Specialised Chefs’ Scholarship. 

WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES 

FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD? 

Fondest memory… I think it is having 

friends and family gathered around the 

table, and just being together. 

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB WHEN 

YOU DECIDED TO PUT YOUR WHITES 

ON AND GET INTO THE KITCHEN? 

My first job was at Chewton Glen Hotel 

and Spa. I started when I was 16 but 

it was part of the college scholarship 

course at the time. I was there for a year 

and then I would go back to college for 

three months, then back to the hotel for 

another year because that was how the 

course worked. 

OH BRILLIANT. SO YOU REALLY GOT 

THE CORPORATE BIT BETWEEN 

YOUR TEETH AS THEY SAY! 

I loved it. I really enjoyed it. 

YOU ARE AT LE MANOIR NOW, WHAT 

WAS THE TRANSITION BETWEEN 

THERE AND WHERE YOU ARE NOW? 

I had actually done three weeks work 

experience at Le Manoir prior to doing 

the specialised Chefs course so I had 

had a glimpse it . At the end of 2016 I 

went for a trial at Le Manoir and then I 

started in January 2017. I am now the 

Senior 

Chef du Partie 

TO BE AWARDED YOUNG NATIONAL 

CHEF OF THE YEAR ISN’T TOO BAD 

IS IT? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE 

YOUR STYLE OF COOKING? DO YOU 

THINK YOU ARE STILL FIGURING IT 

OUT? 

I think I’m still figuring it out. I like to keep 

with the seasons and so use what’s in 

season, but I think one of the biggest 

challenges is trying to make your food 

more sustainable. I think we’re only 

just realising what affect it has and we 

need to sort of rethink what we what 

we actually eat and how we how we do 

it. I think that’s only going to get more 

important really. 

WHEN YOU’RE WORKING WITH 

RAYMOND BLANC, DO YOU HAVE 

THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE YOUR 

OWN MENU? DO YOU HAVE ANY SAY 

IN WHAT’S BEING PLATED UP? 

At Le Manoir you’re more than welcome 

to bring your own ideas, visuals, and your 

own way of working or even a recipe, 

and what we will do is all gather round 

and work together to try and improve. 

Anyone from any position can bring 

forward an idea. They are really open to 

that and Raymond Blanc and Gary Jones 

are always striving to be better, whether 

that’s the food or whether it’s how they 


interact. Any way that they can improve, 

they want to know as they always have 

this drive to be better than the day 

before. 

HAVE YOU GOT A SPECIAL DISH 

THAT YOU’RE PROUD OF THAT YOU 

PUT OUT FOR THE DINERS? 

I have, I have a couple of dishes that 

have been on the menu which has been 

really special, but I haven’t had too many 

lately as I have been practising for their 

competition! 

OF COURSE, THAT MUST BE QUITE 

TIME CONSUMING! 

But yeah, I have a lot of pride when 

you make something and it goes on the 

menu. 

IT MUST BE VERY REWARDING. 

It is, and sometimes it takes a long time 

to get it right but when you get there, it’s 

really satisfying. It is worth the journey 

WHAT IS AN INGREDIENT THAT YOU 

PARTICULARLY ENJOY THIS TIME OF 

YEAR? 

I really enjoy the different kinds of 

mushrooms and what you can do in each 

one of them. I also I really like celeriac. 

I SEE LOTS OF STUFF BEING 

PROMOTED FOR GAME IN 

PARTICULAR AT THE MOMENT, 

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU 

PARTICULARLY LIKE? 

I really enjoy cooking game. I think it’s 

a fantastic thing to cook but looking 

forward into the future we need to 

make sure that we aren’t just cooking it 

because we like it, we need to make sure 

that it is sustainable. 

WHAT KITCHEN EQUIPMENT COULD 

YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? IS THERE 

ONE PARTICULAR PIECE? 

I think I would probably say a blender is 

something I couldn’t do without. 

WHERE YOU ARE BASED, DO YOU 

TEND TO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT? 

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL PLACES 

THAT YOU LIKE? 

Just recently I went out to Davies and 

Brooke in Clarendon and that was a 

lovely meal, really lovely. So I do try to eat 

out when I can. 

YES BECAUSE IT MUST GIVE YOU 

A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT ON WHAT 

YOU DO AND YOU SEE A DIFFERENT 

SIDE OF THE BUSINESS. 

Yes, and it’s nice to experience the other 

restaurants and see what they are doing. 

I find it really interesting. I think you can 

go to somewhere like Le Manoir or your 

local pub and take something away from 

both. You can learn from anything really. 

GROWING UP YOU SAID THAT YOU 

WERE AT YOUR MOTHER’S AND 

GRANDMOTHER’S SIDE. DID YOU 

HAVE COOKERY BOOKS? DID YOU 

LOOK THROUGH THEM WHEN YOU 

WERE VERY LITTLE? 

Yes! Actually, there’s quite a funny story 

there. I don’t remember how old I was, 

but we lived near Loughborough. I 

remember we went out to the market. 

And I remember I was in a bookshop, 

looking through cookery books and my 

family actually left and carried on and 

went somewhere else! 

WHO WOULD YOUI SAY ARE YOUR 

FOODIE HEROES? 

Oh I’ve got so many, well Raymond Blanc 

is definitely one. It is a dream to work 

for him now. Gary Jones is another one, 

and also people like Thomas Keller, and 

Marco Pierre White. 

www.belmond.com 


VEGETARIAN 

WELLINGTON 

WITH 

BEETROOT, 

BUTTERNUT 

SQUASH, 

LENTILS AND 

CHESTNUTS 


This vegetarian wellington 

recipe is a fantastic centrepiece 

for a vegetarian. It includes 

beetroot, butternut squash, lentils 

and chestnuts all wrapped in 

wonderfully crisp pastry – no one 

will miss the meat. 

Serves: 6 – 8 people 

Prep time: 1 hour, plus cooling time 

Cook time: 45 minutes 

INGREDIENTS: 

300g butternut squash, chopped into 

1cm cubes 

2 tbsp olive oil 

1 onion, diced 

2 garlic cloves, crushed 

250g chestnut mushrooms, chopped 

10g sage, finely chopped 

10g thyme, leaves picked 

130g cooked puy lentils 

100ml double cream 

75g cooked chestnuts, crumbled 

1 tsp Maldon salt 

Cracked black pepper 

500g puff pastry 

5-6 cooked beetroot 

1 egg, beaten 

METHOD: 

Preheat oven to 180C°. 

Begin with the butternut squash. Place 

the diced squash onto a baking tray and 

drizzle with some oil, Maldon salt and 

cracked black pepper. Place into the 

oven and roast for 20 minutes until soft 

and cooked through. 

Meanwhile, in a large frying pan heat 

1 tbsp oil. Once the oil is hot, add the 

diced onion and fry gently for 5 minutes 

until softened. To the softened onions, 

add the crushed garlic and cook for a 

further 2 minutes. Next add the chopped 

chestnut mushrooms and continue to 

cook these for 5 – 8 minutes until the 

mushrooms have softened and beginning 

to caramelize. 

Once the mushrooms are cooked, add 

the chopped sage and thyme leaves, 

followed by the cooked puy lentils and 

double cream. Allow this to fry and cook 

for 3 minutes, mixing well so everything 

is well combined. Remove from the heat 

and add the crumbled cooked chestnuts, 

Maldon salt, cracked black pepper and 

the cooked butternut squash. Set aside 

and allow to cool. 

Once the mixture has cooled, you are 

ready to assemble. 

On a lightly floured surface roll out the 

puff pastry block until it is a roughly 

30 x 40cm rectangle and 1cm thick. At 

this stage you want to carefully lift the 

rolled pastry onto a baking sheet lined 

with parchment paper. Next spoon on 

the cooled filling and spread out evenly, 

leaving a 1-inch boarder along the top 

and 1cm board round all the rest of the 

edges. Next take the cooked beetroot 

and make sure they are dry of any excess 

liquid. Choose beetroot that are similar 

in size and place them in a row down the 

middle. 

Take one of the long sides and lift it up 

and over the beetroot to enclose them. 

Pinch the pastry together at the seams 

and rest the whole wellington seam side 

down. Pinch the pastry at either end 

of the wellington also, and trim off any 

excess. 

Use the excess pastry to create long 

strips and decorate the top of the 

wellington with a lattice pattern (optional). 

And brush the entire thing with the 

beaten egg. 

Place the wellington into the fridge for a 

minimum of 30 minutes (but the longer, 

the better) to cool. 

When ready to bake, take your chilled 

wellington from the fridge and place into 

the preheated oven. Bake for 40 – 45 

minutes until the pastry is golden and 

crisp all over. Remove from the oven and 

allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing 

and serving. 


Famous for seafood, 

delivered daily 

from Cornwall. 

Are you a foodie that loves seafood & a bit of luxury? Then look no further 

for your intimate wedding up to 30 people here at The George & Dragon. 

Choose the Alfesco Terrace in the pretty English garden or inside the 

characterful pub itself - we have 5 luxury bedrooms as well. 

High Street, Rowde, Devizes SNl0 2PN 

Telephone: 01380 723053 • thegeorgeanddragonrowde.co.uk • 0 i

BBQ PRAWNS, 

LOBSTER AND 

CRAYFISH WITH 

HERB BUTTER 

AND SIRACHA 

MAYONNAISE 

Lobster, prawns and crayfish are often considered 

delicacies for a special occasion, so this BBQ recipe with 

smoky siracha mayonnaise and herbed butter is simply 

heavenly... 

Loved by professional chefs and home cooks the world over, 

Maldon Salt has been hand harvested by the same family since 

1882. It’s unique pyramid flakes and tactile texture continues 

to inspire chefs and cooks to this day. The choice of the 

passionate and the adventurous to elevate flavours and create the 

extraordinary! 

Serves: 6 people 

Prep time: 10 minutes 

Cook time: 15 minutes 

INGREDIENTS: 

2 lobster, sliced in half lengthways 

450g king prawns 

300g crayfish 

150g unsalted butter, softened 

1 tsp Maldon salt 

Cracked black pepper 

10g parsley, finely chopped 

10g coriander, finely chopped 

2 lemons, halves 

100g mayonnaise 

1 tbsp siracha 

METHOD: 

Begin by mixing together the herb butter for your seafood. In a 

small bowl mix together the softened butter with Maldon salt, 

cracked black pepper, the chopped parsley and coriander. Set 

aside. 

The perfect way to cook your seafood is on a hot BBQ, however 

if you don’t have one then a griddle pan will work too. Make sure 

it has reached a medium to high temperate, and start by grilling 

your lobster halves. Cook flesh side down on the griddle until 

the meat has turned pink and has some lovely charring on it. 

The shells will turn orangey pink too, and this is when you know 

your lobster are cooked. Do the same with the king prawns and 

crayfish, although these will take less time to cook. 

While your seafood is cooking, it is also nice to griddle some 

lemon to serve alongside. Simply add your lemon halves cut 

side down onto the grill and allow them to cook and char for 3 

minutes. 

Once your seafood is all cooked, pile onto a large serving platter 

and using a pastry brush, brush all across the flesh with your 

delicious herb butter – letting it melt in. Place your griddled lemon 

onto the serving platter too. 

In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise and siracha. Serve 

this alongside the platter of BBQ seafood and allow everyone to 

tuck in! 


Everyday 

Kitchen 

Essentials 

112 High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1LT 

www.valentiner.co.uk | shop@valentiner.co.uk

FROM PLOUGH 

TO PINT 

Ramsbury Estates is made up of 19,000 acres of 

North East Wiltshire, West Berkshire and North 

Hampshire with the Home Farms nestled around 

the village of Ramsbury and with a portfolio of 

farming, brewing and distilling, property and 

education, the subject of sustainability and the 

need to work in an environmentally aware way 

must be a large and diverse portfolio – we spoke 

to Alistair Ewing, the Group Manager, about how 

the estate is meeting these challenges... 


WHAT ARE THE MAIN ITEMS ON YOUR TICK LIST TO 

ACHIEVE IN 2022? 

Hopefully the Gin School will be up and operating, whereby 

people can come to the distillery and learn to distil their own 

gin using a variety of botanicals - and go home with their own 

bottle. 

Also, the milling and storage building which was destroyed in a 

fire last March will be re-built and fully operational. 

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO THE ESTATE TO ENGAGE WITH 

THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND INVOLVE YOUR STAFF IN 

YOUR PROGRAMMES? 

Not only do we have a duty to protect and enhance the natural 

environment, flora, fauna, both domestic and wild but also a 

social responsibility to the surrounding area, which includes 

villagers and local people. Many of our operations affect these 

people during harvesting, tree works with noise and dust, and 

we are aware of that. 

The larger you are, the more responsibility you have, so local 

engagement is paramount, and I would hope we go some way 

to achieving this. We are proud of our staff who are actively 

involved in local programmes, sports and education projects 

which we actively encourage. 

AND FINALLY, CAN YOU SUM UP THE RAMSBURY ETHOS 

IN A SENTENCE? 

Work with nature…. never against. It is this land and earth which 

gives us absolutely everything…remember that and don’t 

abuse it.

NEW YEAR 

Greener Home 

Looking to make some 

sustainable changes in the 

home this year? Read on... 

CHANGE YOUR 

HEATING 

As boilers can be fuelled generally by four 

different fuels, homeowners can decide 

what would be best for their house. 

The possibilities range from gas boilers, 

oil, electric boilers, and biomass boilers. 

Ground-source heat pumps use buried 

pipes to extract heat from the earth 

for your home’s heating and hot water 

circuits. You won’t usually need planning 

permission, but you’ll need to be 

prepared for the disruption of digging up 

your garden. 

Air-source systems use a similar 

principle, but extract heat from the air. 

They can be fitted to an external wall or 

sometimes in roof space, making them 

ideal for retrofits. Air source heat pumps 

cost from around £2,000. 

Wood-fuelled heating systems burn 

pellets or logs to power central heating 

or warm a single room. A biomass boiler 

(from £9,000 including installation) feeds 

your central heating and hot water. It 

should provide for all your heating needs, 

but requires plenty of space; a spacious 

utility room should suffice. A standalone 

stove (around £3,000) heats one room 

and can be fitted with a back boiler to 

provide water heating. 

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert 

sunlight into electricity. They don’t need 

direct sunlight to work – so you can 

generate on a cloudy day – but you’ll 

need to attach them to a roof or wall that 

faces within 90 degrees of south. Costs 

vary between £8,000 and £14,000. 

INSULATE 

Attaching renewables to your home is 

pointless if it’s so poorly insulated that 

heat flows straight out. Insulation is 

essential for any eco-renovation, 

because as much as 40 per cent of a 

home’s heat loss is down to a lack of it. 

Insulating loft or cavity walls is relatively 

simple. You can be do this with a range 

of materials, from sheep’s wool to 

expanding foam. Insulating either will 

cost from £250 and could save more 

than £150 a year in energy bills. 

IMPROVE GLAZING 

Over 10 per cent of a home’s energy 

can be lost through the windows, so 

it’s essential that yours perform well. 

Replacing single-glazed windows with 

double- or even triple-glazed versions will 

slow heat transfer. To reduce this further, 

consider a product filled with a lowconductivity 

gas, such as argon. 

You can even get hold of low-emissivity 

(low-e) glass, which has a special coating 

to reflect heat back into the room. 

CHEMICAL-FREE 

CLEANING 

A lot of mainstream cleaning products 

contain various ingredients that 

are harmful to the environment. In 

fact, a lot of chemicals used to clean 

our clothes, dishes, and house end 

up causing damage to our planet 

and its biodiversity. Chemicals such 

as detergents, preservatives, or foaming 

agents are the ones that cause the most 

harm to nature. Switching to products 

that contain sustainably grown or raised 

ingredients that do not deplete the 

ecosystem, nor harm it when expelled 

back out. 

DECREASE THE 

TOXIC LOAD 

We are becoming increasingly aware of 

the volume of chemicals in the building 

products used in our homes - but by 

choosing products consciously, we can 

reduce these elements. Most eco-paints 

are water-soluble and use plant oils and 

resins to form the solution, with pigments 

coming from minerals or plant dyes. 

Environmentally-friendly wood varnishes 

and waxes are also available, as are 

green options to clean and prepare walls. 

Sustainable wallpapers include natural 

coverings made from materials such as 

hessian, cotton and wool. 

There are many natural flooring products, 

with wood being the most popular. Make 

sure it is derived from a sustainable 

source (the FSC logo is a good indicator). 

If wood’s not your thing, consider cork, 

marmoleum or even rubber, which can 

all be 100 per cent natural – but always 

check the supply chain. 

LAY UNDERFLOOR 

HEATING 

If you’ve always used radiators, maybe 

it’s time for a change. Underfloor 

heating (UFH) is a great alternative, 

and should be easy to install if you’re 

pulling up floors as part of the renovation 

process. It operates at a temperature just 

a few degrees warmer than the room air 

temperature by circulating warm water 

through a network of cross-linked pipes 

installed under your flooring. The low 

operating temperature means it’s easily 

linked with alternative heating sources 

with similar low temperature outputs – 

such as solar thermal or heat pumps. 

RECYCLE WATER 

Thousands of litres of rainwater fall on 

your roof each year – so why not collect 

it? This water can function to flush 

toilets, fill washing machines and water 

gardens. Consider a rainwater harvesting 

system that collects rainfall via a 

drainpipe, filters out leaves and debris, 

and then stores the useable water in a 

tank. Also think about changing your 

toilets and showers. A low-flush toilet 

uses less than four litres per flush and a 

low-flow showerhead less than 10 litres 

per minute. 

“We are becoming increasingly aware of 

the volume of chemicals in the building 

products used in our homes - but by 

choosing products consciously, we can 

reduce these elements.” 


KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | RENOVATIONS | GARDEN ROOMS | HOME OFFICES 

01380 871746 | stephengraver.com 

Elmsgate, Edington Road, Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, BA14 6HP

F R E E M E A S U R I N G 

F O R 

C U R T A I N S & B L I N D S 

C A R P E T S & F L O O R I N G 

1 4 - 1 8 T H E P A R A D E , M A R L B O R O U G H 

0 1 6 7 2 5 1 3 4 9 1 

W W W . D A N D R F U R N I S H E R S . C O . U K


THE POWER Of 

solar 

There can be no better time than a new 

year to consider our carbon footprint, 

and how we can reduce it - but with so 

much information to sift through we 

thought a little expert help would be a 

great idea – so we turned to Iddea! We 

spoke to Ian Dunstone of Iddea about 

the options and the benefits of adding 

solar to the mix... 

THERE IS A LOT IN THE MEDIA 

ABOUT HEAT PUMPS, BUT THE 

RUNNING COSTS SEEM HIGH, HOW 

CAN WE MITIGATE THIS AND GAIN 

THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FOR THE 

MINIMUM COST? 

As with any heating system it is important 

to first insulate each property as much as 

possible, this will reduce the amount of 

heat required, in turn meaning a smaller 

heat pump can be installed which will 

cost less to implement and to run. You 

can also generate your own fuel for the 

heat pump by having Solar PV panels 

and smart battery system. 

SOLAR PANELS HAVE BEEN AROUND 

FOR A WHILE – WHAT IS THE 

APPROXIMATE COST TO INSTALL 

THEM, AND HOW SOON DO THEY PAY 

FOR THEMSELVES? 

Installation costs for solar PV panels have 

really dropped in the last 5 years, we can 

now install 12 panel systems for between 

£4,500 and £6,000 depending on roof 

types and locations. 

The payback period will vary but higher 

users of electricity will see greater 

benefits. With the recent increases in the 

cost of electricity we can expect to see 

paybacks within 7- 10 years. 

HOW DO I MAKE THE MOST OF MY 

SOLAR ENERGY OPTIONS? 

Using as much of the generated 

electricity is really important in making 

the most of your PV installation. This can 

be managed in several low-cost ways, 

using smart switches to control certain 

appliances or using a slow cooker to use 

electricity during the day for example. 

Other higher cost measures include using 

equipment to automatically heat the hot 

water via the immersion element ad smart 

battery technology. 

FINALLY, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE 

TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS AND 

HOW DISRUPTIVE IS IT? 

Most installations can be done in a single 

day. The scaffolding can cause a little 

disruption but generally the experience is 

a good one for our customers. 

Iddea Renewable Energy Systems Ltd 

01380 726999 

info@iddea.co.uk 

www.iddea.co.uk

APT Group Services Ltd 

aptgroupservicesltd.co.uk 

01380 711781 


KITCHEN 

DESIGN 

ADVICE 

FROM AN 

EXPERT 

We speak to Julia 

Kendell, interiors 

and decorating 

expert from ITV’s ’60 

Minute Makeover’ and 

‘Rebuild Our Home’ 

and spokesperson 

for The National 

Homebuilding & 

Renovating Show... 

THE KITCHEN IS THE UNDISPUTED 

HEART OF THE HOME - AS WELL 

AS FEEDING EVERYONE, IT’S 

BECOME THE SOCIAL HUB, HOME- 

SCHOOLING AREA AND MUCH 

MORE – HOW DO YOU START YOUR 

DESIGN PROCESS WITH CLIENTS? 

Yes absolutely, the kitchen has had 

to really take the strain in the past 18 

months and now more than ever my 

clients are eager to find ways to ensure 

their new kitchen spaces are flexible 

enough to cope with whatever might be 

round the corner. 

The design process starts with 

understanding my client’s functional 

needs for the room, both now and as far 

into the future as we can determine (after 

all, a good quality kitchen should last 

20-30 years). My design principles centre 

on wellbeing in the home and creating 

spaces that fully support the family to 

ensure everyone can be organised and in 

harmony with one another. This involves 

spending time working out the each 

individual’s daily movements around 

the kitchen, their needs and what they 

enjoy doing. If there’s a keen baker in 

the household, I will suggest a dedicated 

‘baking cabinet’ where everything 

you need is in one place, stand-mixer 

plugged in ready for use and no excuses 

not to achieve ‘Star Baker!’ I believe 

good design ensures we can be the best 

versions of ourselves and take obstacles 

out of the way of our daily successes. 

MANY OF US ARE LOOKING TO 

SAVE THE COST OF MOVING AND 

INSTEAD IMPROVE OUR HOMES – 

ARE THERE SIMPLE CHANGES WE 

COULD MAKE TO IMPROVE THE 

LOOK AND FLOW OF OUR HOMES? 

It sounds obvious, but a total de-clutter, 

removing as much as possible from a 

room to be able to view the room with 

‘fresh-eyes’ is a great start to make 

meaningful changes. One of the simplest 

yet most effective improvements is 

to increase the levels of daylight into 

the home. Texture, whether fabrics or 

carpeting absorbs a huge amount of 

daylight and it can be transformational to 

swap out curtains for shutters/ blinds and 

hard flooring such as engineered wood 

to replace carpet. Instantly the rooms will 

feel larger and brighter and any increase 

in daylight in the home can only improve 

your mood and wellbeing. 

WHEN DESIGNING A KITCHEN, 

WHERE SHOULD YOU SPLURGE 

AND WHERE SHOULD YOU SAVE? 

Areas that receive the most use should 

be prioritised in the overall budget. Most 

kitchen units are well constructed these 

days so choosing an affordable unit with 

a good quality worksurface is a good 

option. It’s amazing the difference adding 

expensive handles can make to uplifting 

an otherwise ‘standard’ kitchen. I caution 

my clients to think carefully about their 

appliance choices too. It’s very easy to 

get excited about the latest gadget, but 

with appliances a large proportion of 

the overall cost of a kitchen, be realistic 

about how useful an appliance will be. 

Do you really need an oven with 42 

functions?! 


“ 

Without doubt, the 

most important 

lesson is to design 

holistically and to 

engage all of the 

senses. It’s not enough 

just to create a pretty, 

‘instagrammable’ 

room... 

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY 

LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT ABOUT 

INTERIOR DESIGN IN YOUR 

EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY? 

Without doubt, the most important lesson 

is to design holistically and to engage 

all of the senses. It’s not enough just to 

create a pretty, ‘instagrammable’ room. 

The way we experience our homes and 

workplaces is crucial to our mental 

health and performance and shouldn’t be 

underestimated. From choosing a colour 

palette to reflect your personality and 

emotional needs to providing good air 

quality, creating a harmonious space that 

‘feels’ and functions as good as it looks is 

key to good design. 

SINCE THE PANDEMIC, HAVE YOU 

NOTICED ANY CHANGES IN THE 

WAY PEOPLE WANT THEIR HOMES 

TO FUNCTION – A MOVE AWAY 

FROM FULLY OPEN PLAN FOR 

EXAMPLE? 

There is still a strong appetite for openplan 

living as it provides the space, 

light and connection to one another we 

all crave. That said, to mitigate some 

of the issues with open-plan such as 

noise, privacy issues and cooking-smell 

transference from the kitchen, ‘brokenplan’ 

is becoming a useful design tool. 

Broken-plan essentially incorporates 

vertical divides within the open-plan 

space using glazing, open-backed 

shelving, or sliding doors to delineate 

areas without closing off the visual impact 

of the space. This is also a great way to 

bring some architectural interest to an 

otherwise ‘large box’ that can too often 

feel like an airport lounge! I think anyone 

with shares in garden offices will have a 

good year ahead… 

WHAT TRENDS FOR 2022 ARE YOU 

EMBRACING THE MOST? 

Houzz are reporting a huge increase in 

interest in dedicated activity spaces such 

as art rooms, home bars, home gyms and 

cinema rooms. I am very excited to see 

this as it shows that we are choosing to 

design our interests and passions into our 

homes. It’s refreshing to feel such a sense 

of optimism when chatting with clients 

and I am working with warmer colour 

palettes and being asked to incorporate 

planting and natural texture into room 

schemes. There seems to be a continued 

need to connect with nature after the past 

18 months and I’m loving it! 

Julia Kendell will be the design expert 

at the Farnborough Homebuilding & 

Renovating Show, 15-16 January 2022 

farnborough.homebuildingshow.co.uk 


St Peters, Devizes 

A on of 25 magnificent highly specified homes with stunning views of the 

Kennet & Avon Canal. Only three remaining – show home open. 

01225 791155 ashford-homes.co.uk 

Supplying Heating Oil, Premium Heating Oil, Gasoil and Diesel 

to Devizes, Calne, The Pewsey Vale, Marlborough, Tidworth, 

Netheravon and Surrounding Villages. 


Image Hypnos Beds 

LEADING BRANDS AT 

AMAZING PRICES 

“Over 25 Mattresses to try from leading 

manufacturers such as Hypnos, Kaymed, 

Mlily, Dormeo and many more...” 

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY 

FREE ONSITE PARKING 

OLD BED / MATTRESS DISPOSAL AVAILABLE 

New shop now open! 

Unit 1, 23 Salisbury Road, Amesbury, SP4 7AW 

www.elitebedsandmattressesdirect.co.uk 

Thatcham: Unit 9, Wyvale Garden 

Centre, Bath Road, Thatcham, 

RG18 3AN • Tel : 01635 897665 

Devizes: l & 2 Windsor Drive, Devizes, 

SNlO 2TH • Tel: 01380 887943 

Hardware | Switches & Sockets | Lighting 

corston.com 


NOOKARY PRO BIOTIC CLEANERS 

Are you looking for a chemical-free, non-toxic product 

for your home that actually works and smells amazing? 

Enter the amazing eco-friendly probiotic refillable cleaning 

products from Nookary. With pro-biotic instead of bacteria 

killing properties, the cleaners rid surfaces of harmful 

bacteria and pathogens whilst leaving good bacteria to keep 

on cleaning for you after you’ve wiped! 

The All-purpose Cleaner really means all-purpose, it works 

brilliantly on worktops, limescale, kitchen, bathrooms and 

even windows! Put it to the test. What’s better, the products 

arrived concentrated, ready to dilute with water, with 

pouches you can send back to be re-used – meaning no 

single use plastic wastage! We also love the brand’s range of 

washable cleaning towels and stylish glass bottles. 

Probiotic All-Purpose Cleaner and Refill, £22 

www.nookary.com (one pouch will do 10 refills!) 

clean 

JANUARY 

Blast away the Christmas chaos and reset 

for a clean and organised 2022 

BRABANTIA LAUNDRY 

Brabantia are the go-to for smart laundry 

solutions - their products offer unrivalled 

handing space alongside clever space-saving 

designs. 

Complete set, consisting of a Lift-O-Matic 

50 meters rotary clothesline (which can be 

adjusted to the user’s height), a protective 

cover, clothespins and premium clothespins 

bag with hanging hook 

The Hangon Drying Rack can hold up to three 

machine loads of laundry - 25 metres drying 

space plus hanging rod. It’s also easy to move, 

even when loaded with laundry – thanks to its 

transport lock. 

Rotary Clothesline Set, £140.75 and Hangon 

Drying Rack, £69.50, www.brabantia.com 

BRABRANTIA FOLDABLE 

DISH DRYING RACK 

This Brabantia SinkSide Foldable Dish Drying Rack with drip-tray 

happily holds up to 13 plates or pots, pans and glassware. The basket 

for drying cutlery and utensils is removable, making it easy to collapse 

the rack and tidy it away. Beautiful enough to have a permanent spot 

in your kitchen, but also very compact to store. 

£41.50, www.brabantia.com 

LUPE PURE CORDLESS VACUUM 

Had enough of wrestling with a heavy, corded vacuum 

whilst cleaning over Christmas? But cautious of the suction 

power of cord-free models? Enter Lupe - Designed by a 

former Dyson engineer, Lupe’s Pure Cordless Vacuum is a 

sustainable newcomer to the market of cordless cleaners. 

Thanks to its patented Suction Intensifier, sealed in for 

maximum suction all the time, the Pure Cordless delivers 

the strongest and most efficient suction of any cordless 

vacuum cleaner out there. With cordless, it’s not just 

about how much suction you have, it’s how long you 

have it for. The Pure Cordless has been designed to work 

outstandingly well on its lowest power setting with a full 

60-minutes of proper dust cleaning performance. 

The Pure Cordless is crafted from recyclable plastic 

and delivers high performance whilst far outliving the 

expected shelf-life for typical household appliances. 

Other vacuum cleaners may use thinner plastic 

which is welded together instead of using bolts to 

reduce price and weight but these are then more 

easily broken and irreplaceable, forcing consumers to 

throw the model away and purchase even more single 

use plastic. Lupe’s Pure Cordless vacuum, however, is 

crafted from recyclable plastic. In the unlikely event a 

part does break, each individual small part of Lupe’s 

product has been designed to be fully removable, 

recyclable and replaceable. 

From £499, uk.lupetechnology.com 


200623 - Cheverell Ad A5-aw.indd 1 23/06/2020 10:01

Wain Homes has a 

brand new look 

The private, family owned house 

builder is marking its 50th year in 

the industry with a fresh new image 

and some exciting new developments 

across the region... 

While the logo looks different, people remain at the heart of 

everything the company does. 

Sarah Williams, Sales Director at Wain Homes said: “It comes 

down to an ethos which encourages team work and innovation. 

“Every person at Wain Homes is focussed on providing the best 

possible quality and service for our customers, from the design 

and build quality of the properties, to the journey customers 

have from their first visit to a show home to the moment they 

move into their own Wain Home and beyond. 

“For us, every step of that journey is personal and we want to 

make it the best it can be.” 

For half a century, Wain Homes has been building high quality 

family homes across the North West, South West, Severn 

Valley and most recently West Midlands and currently has six 

developments in prime locations in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 

with two more on the edge of Bristol and more in the pipeline. 

Sarah continued: “More than ever home buyers are looking for 

all the elements that add up to quality of life – access to open 

space, thriving local community, good transport connectivity and 

homes that offer well planned space and great specification. 

“Wain Homes selects the best locations and then builds homes 

that families love. 

“We are proud to be part of a family owned business and we are 

all looking forward to be embarking on the next 50 years with 

our new look, which we are all so excited to be part of.” 

Come and see for yourself what sets Wain Homes apart at two 

beautiful new local developments. 

For more information, visit wainhomes.co.uk 


Fallow Fields 

TWIGWORTH 

Three, four and five-bedroom homes have 

just been released for sale in this idyllic village 

setting just a short drive north of Gloucester 

city centre. 

The Regency splendour of Cheltenham is also 

close by as are train stations with fast links to 

London, Birmingham and Cardiff. 

The Bluebells 

CHIPPENHAM 

A development on the edge of a handsome 

market town in North West Wiltshire. 

Three, four and five-bedroom homes with 

everything on the doorstep yet within easy 

reach of Bath and on the mainline route to 

London Paddington.

HOW TO CHOOSE 

Hardware Finishes 


AS PERMANENT FIXTURES, CHOOSING THE RIGHT 

FINISH FOR HANDLES AND HARDWARE IS ARGUABLY 

MORE IMPORTANT THAN PAINT COLOURS AND 

WALLPAPER WHEN RENOVATING A HOME. THE 

PRESSURE IS ON TO SELECT A FINISH THAT LOOKS 

GREAT, IS LONG-LASTING AND THAT YOU WILL 

LOVE FOREVER. THIS GUIDE AIMS TO SIMPLIFY THE 

SELECTION PROCESS AND HELP YOU FIND YOUR 

PERFECT MATCH... 

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT FINISH 

FOR MY HOME? 

There is no right or wrong finish for a 

property, but if you need inspiration, the 

architectural heritage of your home will 

often lend itself to a particular finish. For 

example, period homes from the Victorian 

era and earlier are well-suited to Antique 

Brass finishes as they look like authentic, 

original features. Polished Nickel has 

a refined elegance that is particularly 

fitting in regency style properties and 

townhouses. In rural or industrial style 

homes, such as country cottages 

and factory conversions, the rawness 

of Unlacquered Brass is especially 

appropriate. The moodiness of a dark 

finish, like Bronze, can prove very striking 

in modern homes. 

It can also help to consider what you 

want from your hardware. Would you 

like it to stand out and make a strong 

statement, or would you prefer it to sit 

quietly in the background? Consider a 

finish that will give a dynamic contrast; 

for example, Bronze on pale painted/light 

wooden doors and cabinetry. Conversely, 

you could choose a finish that will blend 

in, like Bronze on dark painted doors or 

Unlacquered Brass on warm oak. One of 

the easiest ways to avoid costly mistakes 

is to order samples. Even with the best 

photography in the world, finishes viewed 

online may look different in the flesh. 

Samples are also helpful for checking the 

quality of a finish and compatibility with 

other colours and materials in your home. 

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? 

Until recently, the main options were 

chrome for modern homes or black cast 

iron for traditional settings. Now, the 

choices are virtually endless, which can 

prove overwhelming. It doesn’t help that 

many companies use different words to 

mean the same thing. One company’s 

Antique Brass or Polished Nickel 

might look very different to another’s. 

At Corston, we like to offer enough 

choice to satisfy diverse tastes without 

overcomplicating matters. You won’t find 

our finishes anywhere else and, best of 

all, the colour will match no matter which 

products you choose from our extensive 

portfolio. 

BRONZE 

Bronze is a dramatically dark finish with 

richness and depth. A flexible choice that 

works in any period or style of property, 

it boasts definition and character. Our 

Bronze finish was developed in-house 

to achieve intense, warm undertones. 

In time, the natural brass colour will 

gradually emerge where the metal is 

most frequently touched, adding extra 

uniqueness. 

ANTIQUE BRASS 

With the exception of authentic antique 

hardware, Antique Brass is unlacquered 

brass that has been chemically aged to 

speed up natural patination. It’ is slightly 

darker than untreated brass, with more 

tonal variation. This makes it perfect for 

making homes feel a little more relaxed 

and lived-in. We believe that the only way 

to achieve convincing results is to antique 

by hand, which is why all our of Antique 

Brass is finished by our own skilled team. 

UNLACQUERED BRASS 

Imbued with dark golden tones that add 

colour and warmth, this is untreated solid 

brass in all its natural beauty. Sometimes 

known as a ‘living finish,’ Unlacquered 

Brass will oxidise and patina in time, 

reacting to atmospheric conditions and 

even the natural oils in your hands. We 

love the ever-changing character of our 

Unlacquered Brass finish, but it can also 

be restored to the bright, shinier look 

of box-fresh brass using Corston Brass 

polish. 

POLISHED NICKEL 

Polished Nickel is a sophisticated choice 

with warmer undertones than chrome 

but just as durable. A firm favourite in 

classical homes, Polished Nickel can also 

bring a crisp, clean look to contemporary 

spaces and is a timeless finish that will 

never date. We use a high-quality nickelplating 

process to provide protection and 

colour consistency, ensuring our Polished 

Nickel finish won’t oxidise or patina. 

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO 

CONSIDER? 

Some hardware finishes require polishing 

and specialist cleaning products. 

It’s well worth checking aftercare 

recommendations before you buy. With 

the exception of Polished Nickel, all 

of our finishes are unlacquered, which 

means they will alter very gradually over 

time. We believe this is all part of their 

inherent beauty and should be celebrated 

but it also means cleaning requires 

nothing more than a damp, lint-free cloth. 

The same goes for our Polished Nickel 

finish. 

www.corston.com 


BATHROOM 

SUITES ALSO 

AVAILABLE 

hot weather tips 

This summer from Maqueen 

Veterinary Centre... 

VISIT OUR 

Heatstroke: Dogs can only cool 

SHOWROOM FOR 

themselves by panting, which is much 

less efficient than sweating, DISPLAYS so are very AND 

susceptible to becoming overheated 

ADVICE 

in hot weather, especially if they 

cannot find a shady cool place to lie. 

Panting, which cools by evaporation, 

is less effective in humid weather, in 

a confined space, or for short nosed 

breeds like pugs and Bulldogs. 

Pets with thick coats, short noses, 

extra poundage or a drive to charge 20% DISCOUNT 

about whatever the temperature, are 

particularly at risk. 

ON STOCK TILES 

with this advert during 

Keeping cool: provide cool indoor January refuges, & with February. fans, and 

cooling mats or wet towels, and for water loving dogs, a cool 

shady paddling pool. Spray with cooling water and consider 

buying a cooling jacket. Take water, and a collapsible bowl with 

you when travelling or on walks, and Doggy Ice Cream is always 

welcome! *If your dog becomes overheated - contact your vet, 

cool him down with a cool tepid shower or wet towels, keep him 

calm and give him plenty of cool not cold water to drink” 

Opening hours 

Monday - Friday 7.30am to 5pm 

Saturday 9am to 4pm 

Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays 

The ins and outs of your 

pets carbon pawprint 

Choose planet-friendly pet food 

The global production of meat must be reduced: 

and dogs and cats consume a significant 

proportion of it. 

Choose pet food that contains by-products from 

the human food chain thus using material that 

would otherwise be wasted 

• Choose food with lower impact meat like 

chicken and avoid beef, whose carbon footprint 

far exceeds that of any other meat. 

• Support ethical pet food brands which still use by-products but 

source meat from free range and organic farms, and use MSC 

certified fish. 

• Consider pet foods which use novel protein such as insects, or 

vegetarian dog food from reputable sources. Cats require a meat diet. 

• Don’t overfeed your pet and try to reduce the amount of food that 

is wasted. 

• Make homemade treats - great recipes available 

• Recycle the packaging 

Mind the poo! 

Don’t flush! Sewage treatment systems are not equipped to treat the 

parasites found in pet waste. 

Always pick up after your dog and dispose of it into waste bins. Use 

compostable dog poo bags. There are pilot projects to make use of 

pet waste to produce power, so hopefully they will become generally 

available. 

For cats, use biodegradable/compostable cat litter (and compost 

the bits that aren’t soiled!) ideally, ones made from recycled paper or 

wood by-products. Avoid clay-based cat litter which is extracted via 

environmentally damaging mining processes. ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Senior pets: take special care of older companions, making sure 

Devizes Tile Store 

01380 729447 

that they stay cool and drink plenty of water. They often love to 

Unit 5, The Enterprise Centre, 

info@devizestilestore.co.uk 

sunbathe but may snooze longer than they should leading to 

Nursteed Road, 

heatstroke, circulatory problems, or sunburn. Sunbathing pets 

Devizes SN10 3EW 

with white ear tips and noses need SPF if 50 cream to prevent 

skin cancer and sunburn. Hypoallergenic products suitable for 

young children may be used, but products designed for pets are 

probably safest, as some ingredients may be toxic if licked off. 

www.devizestilestore.co.uk 


image from Studio McGee 

DECOR HOW TO: 

THE MODERN RUSTIC AESTHETIC 

What do you get when you mix 

mid-century modern furniture with 

rustic materials and accents? A 

perfectly modern rustic look! Kate, 

the founder of online homewares 

company Haus, delves into how you 

can achieve the look in your home. 

New to modern rustic style? You’ve 

probably seen it before and just 

didn’t know what to call it. It involves 

comfortable but streamlined furniture, 

natural elements, earth tones, and 

reliance on rustic materials and decor. 

This style is all over Instagram and 

Pinterest, and brilliant designers like 

Amber Interiors and Studio McGee often 

design rooms that you could easily say 

are of this style. 

Comfortable foundations 

Comfort is key with this look. So, the 

largest pieces of furniture in any modern 

rustic room should be streamlined 

but never skimp on comfort. In living 

rooms, start with cosy oversized sofas. 

In bedrooms, opt for plush, upholstered 

beds. For a dining room, look for an 

oversized, rustic wood dining table 

around which big groups can gather. 

But, while prioritizing comfort, make sure 

the furniture lines are clean and simple to 

keep the look modern. 

Add Mid-Century Modern 

Accents 

Once the comfortable foundation is 

laid, introduce a more mid-century or 

eclectic vibe. At first it may seem odd 

to mix these styles—but the contrast 

they create is what makes this look so 

dynamic and fun. 

An easy place to do this is with your 

accent furniture. Think of an eclectic 

woven leather armchair or a coffee or 

bedside table with an antique flair. In 

dining rooms, pair your farmhouse dining 

table with more modern seating, like 

Wishbone or Eames shell chairs. 

Create Conversational 

Layouts 

A family-friendly style by nature, 

modern rustic interiors often have more 

symmetrical layouts that are geared 

toward large gatherings and facilitate 

conversations. (Hence the huge, rustic 

dining table we suggested above.) This 

is where the look leans more rustic and 

formal rather than modern and eclectic. 

Layer on Natural 

Textures 

When bringing the modern 

rustic style to life, we love 

the opportunity to play 

with textures and different 

materials. This keeps a 

room looking liveable and 

approachable. Look for natural 

materials like seagrass, jute, 

ceramics, leather, and liveedge 

woods—then mix and 

match them together in one 

space, incorporating them 

in furniture, lighting, and decor accents! 

This helps the room feel dynamic and 

visually interesting 

We love introducing lots of texture with 

soft furnishings too - think of fringing 

and tufts plus artisanal products like the 

gorgeously tactile mudcloth cushions, 

with their handwoven texture and 

abundance of prints and patterns. 

Introduce Industrial 

Lighting 

With modern rustic, light fixtures are 

often industrial with sleek, streamlined 

forms that are sculptural in nature. Look 

for matte black or antique brass options, 

or even rattan and include multi-level 

light sources. 

Shop the range of artisanal 

homewares at www.hauslife.co.uk 

Fox Club Chair, 

£870, limelace.co.uk 

Tray, £40, sweetpeaandwillow.com 


image from modsy.com 


Cosmia Tassel Throw, 

£58, hauslife.co.uk 

Anouk Pillow Cover 

(also available in coral), 


image from One Affirmation 

image from Studio McGee 

SHOP 

THE 

LOOK 

Layer these 

items in your 

home to nail the 

modern rustic 

look 

Anouk Pillow Cover, 


Wells Bubble Vase 

Wide, £40, 

gardentrading.co.uk 

Lines Mudcloth 

Pillow, £58, 

hauslife.co.uk 

Boston Reclaimed Wood 

Coffee Table, £314, 

modishliving.co.uk 

Extra Long Calliope 

Lumbar Cushion, £75, 

hauslife.co.uk 


50% RENT 

for the first 

three months * 

P 

P 

50ft 2 - 2,600ft 2 

24hr Access 

Elcot Park 

Marlborough 

Flexible 

Offices to Rent 

at Elcot Park 

in Marlborough 

P 

P 

Parking Available 

Flexible Leases 

For availability & more information call: 

01666 828903 

www.elcot-park.co.uk 

Offices • Studios • Workshops • Storage 

*Based on minimum 1 year Lease. Please quote Marlborough Living 

Saxon Laminates 

and Worktops Ltd 

We have moved to: 

7 Bath Road Industrial Estate, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 0AB 

Come and see our extensive range of over 500 

laminate and solid surface worktops at our new 

showroom. We deliver to your door! 

Worktops – www.saxonlaminates.co.uk 

Laminates – www.saxonlaminateschippenham.co.uk 

Wansbroughs 

announces Bare Your Trusts Wealth, 

new Partner 

Bare trusts are true to their name 

and just deal Head with “bare” of Corporate & 

essentials! Your The trustees hold Decision 

the 

trust Commercial 

property on behalf of the 

beneficiary, Victoria itIremonger, really is that simple. a paralegal at 

The Wansbroughs beneficiary ownsSolicitors the 

Wansbroughs Solicitors 

are 

in Devizes 

pleased to 

considers 

beneficial interest in the property 

announce that William Ingram Hill, Partner 

and the they English are entitled Court’s to the income commitment to upholding 

it and generates Head (if any) of a but new they will Corporate & Commercial 

not 

testamentary 

own the propertyfreedom... 

outright until 

Team, joins the firm. We had a chat to Will 

they reach the age of 18 years of 

Testamentary freedom is the concept that you can, within your 

age. about his exciting new role and what it brings 

Will, leave your wealth to whomever you wish - whether by 

outright 

Bare 

to Wansbroughs... 

trusts 

provision 

are often 

or 

used 

by placing 

by 

assets into a trust. 

grandparents to gift money to their 

grandchildren You have extensive who are experience below the age of advising of 18 years on multijurisdictional 

The recent case mergers of Cowan and v acquisitions, Foreman reaffirmed corporate the structuring English 

old and therefore 

unable to receive such funds outright. In many instances, 

grandparents 

Court’s fundraising, commitment 

maycomplex open 

to 

interest-bearing 

upholding commercial testamentary contracts bank accounts 

freedom and in their 

environmental, grandchild/grandchildren’s 

wherever possible, social by rejecting 

names governance Mrs 

and 

Cowan’s 

then matters transfer 

application - how money will to 

into this that 

blend account receive with her – either inheritance current larger one-off, corporate in the form lessand frequent of outright commercial sums legacies oroffering? 

more instead frequent of 

Wansbroughs through sums, i.e. the monthly trusts is well-established sums. set up The by Mr grandparents Cowan’s in the local Will. can community rest assured with in a this 

instance great reputation that they and retain a strong control offering. the As funds a firm as signatories we have a fabulous of the 

account blend 

Under 

of 

the while local 

terms 

expertise their of grandchildren Mr Cowan’s 

wider 

Will, are knowledge minors. he made The coupled 

Mrs funds Cowan 

with canthe 

be a 

ability used beneficiary for to things handle 

of two their a real 

trusts. grandchild variety 

Since 

of may complex 

Mr Cowan’s require, work. i.e. death, 

The school creation 

the fees, trustees 

of orthe 

new school have 

team 

been trips. presents 

supporting The only us stipulation with 

his widow 

an opportunity iswith that large they not must monthly 

only benefit to increase 

payments. the our 

It 

local 

grandchild is however 

presence, 

because reported 

but also 

although that 

to 

Mrs 

advise 

grandparents Cowan 

on transactions 

was uncomfortable will remain 

at a national 

in control with 

and 

the of 

international 

arrangements, the funds, they 

level. 

actually feeling that belong she towas the“at grandchild. the mercy of the trustees” 

who Whencould the grandchild cut her adrift attains with the no age access of 18, to they money can at request all’. that the 

trustees 

You have 

transfer 

a newly 

control 

formed 

of the 

team 

trust 

of 

property 

6 including 

and 

yourself 

the income. 

- what 

Bare 

trustees 

can 

Mrs 

you 

Cowan must 

offer 

therefore bear 

your 

in 

business 

mind applied that 

clients 

to if they to 

High consider 

make 

Court 

2022 

18to years vary 

a business 

old the to be 

too 

year 

distribution young for 

to remember? 

of their her late grandchildren husband’s toestate. inherit Ruling large sums against of money her, the 

then 

I 

judge a 

was born 

stated bare trust 

in Marlborough 

that may ‘there notis be 

and 

absolutely suitable. 

grew up 

nothing 

knowing 

in 

lots 

the 

of 

evidence 

the 

to 

excellent 

It suggest is not just that 

family-run 

for the grandchildren trustees 

businesses 

would that 

in 

blatantly 

the 

bare 

area 

trusts 

that 

defy can 

are 

the be 

still 

deceased’s created. 

thriving 

Bare 

today. 

wishes’ trusts can 

I’ve 

and be 

been 

‘it created must 

lucky 

be in Wills 

enough 

possible or when 

to spend 

for the trustees 

my 

testator of a 

career 

to pension 

working 

provide scheme 

in 

for his 

transfer 

exciting 

widow by a lump 

countries 

a generous sum death 

and with 

trust benefit, 

interesting 

arrangement to name 

people 

such just 

round 

as a couple this, 

the globe. 

without of 

For 

the 

examples. 

me, 

fear 

the 

that 

move 

it They will 

back 

be dointerfered not have to 

to Wiltshire 

with contain 

provides 

at huge cash 

an 

expense and can, 

excellent 

in for 

opportunity 

proceedings example, 

contain 

to 

take 

under 

my 

the shares 

experience 

1975 orAct.’ 

property. There can be more than one beneficiary 

of a bare trust (i.e. your of transactions grandchildren (big asand a class). small) All and inbring all, they it back can 

to bea great legacy firm with deep roots the Wiltshire area. 

As 

very 

highlighted 

flexible 

in 

in 

the 

terms 

Cowan 

of what 

case, 

they 

as 

contain, 

long as 

who 

trustees 

the trustees 

act in 

are 

Businesses 

a 

and 

reasonable 

who the beneficiaries 

have 

manner 

had 

and 

are. 

18 months 

in accordance 

They can be uncertainty 

with 

set up 

your 

by 

and 

wishes, 

anyone, not 

just family members for the benefit of other family members. have had 

there is little reason to overturn a trust arrangement. It should 

For to confront challenges that could not have been foreseen - 

however both capital be noted gains that tax Mrs andCowan inheritance has indicated tax purposes, her intention the 

how beneficiary will you work with local businesses to help them going 

to appeal the 

is treated 

judgment 

as the 

so while, 

beneficial 

for now, 

owner 

the 

of any 

Courts 

property 

appear 

which 

to 

forward? is held in the bare trust, not the trustees. The transfer by the 

be upholding this concept, it remains to be seen whether Mrs 

We’re individual, a period whoever of that intense maychange be, intoand thewe trust will isbring a gifta for dynamic inheritance 

Cowan will persuade them to alter the means of her inheritance. 

approach tax purposes to supporting but no inheritance clients as tax their charge offering will evolves arise immediately to meet 

and the needs if the individual of a fast-moving gifting into market. the trust We are survives all about for seven long-term year from 

the 

To find out more about making a Will and other estate planning, 

relationships. date of theThere gift then are lots no inheritance of tax will be payable at all. 

please get in touch with your usual contact at Wansbroughs or 

family Capital businesses gains tax might in Wiltshire, arise on a transfer into the trust if the asset 

contact us on 01380 733 399 or via email at 

many is not of cash. which Therefore we know a gift and into a bank account in cash would not 

wealth@wansbroughs.com. 

have trigger worked a charge with tofor capital a long gains time tax. 

(personally Once fundsand are professionally) 

in the bare trust, capital gains tax, if payable, is 

payable 

By Victoria Iremonger 

and this by is something the beneficiary we want but they are entitled to their individual 

annual to continue exemption to build of upon. £11,100 Paralegal We and- similarly, Private Client income tax will be 

will payable also be by seeking the beneficiary. to build Wansbroughs our Solicitors 

long Bare term trustsrelationship have manyboth other with potential uses which you can discuss 

early with us stage should ventures you think and Devizes: large, this might01380 be of interest 733300to you. 

established, If you wouldbusinesses like to consider Melksham: which any of01225 this in896100 

more detail please 

are contact growing Wansbroughs their offering wealth@wansbroughs.com 

in in Devizes the on William 01380 733300, email 

wealth@wansbroughs.com West country. www.wansbroughs.com 

or yourIngram usualHill 

contact. 

Devizes Office 

Northgate House, Northgate 

Street, Devizes SN10 1JX 

Tel: 01380 733300 

Email: mail@wansbroughs.com 

www.wansbroughs.com 


Tel: 01249 660172 I Email:orders@saxonlaminates.co.uk 


CONSCIOUSLY 

CURATED HOME- 

WARES AND GIFTS 

USE CODE LIVE15 

FOR 15% OFF 

HAUSLIFE.CO.UK

For the small to the large garden there is an 

iMOW® for you. 

We survey, We Advise, We Install 

Your Local Stihl Dealer 

The iMOW® robotic mower doesn’t just mow the 

lawn, it also provides fully automatic lawn care 

tailored to your garden - meaning you can send it 

out to mow at a time that suits you. 

Once the iMOW® has finished mowing or its 

powerful lithium-ion battery needs charging, 

the robotic mower will automatically return 

to its docking station to charge. And because 

iMOW® works so fast, you can enjoy your lawn 

unhindered. 

Shire Garden Machines Limited, Roses Yard, Gains Lane, Devizes, Wilts, SN10 1QU 

01380 721575 | www.shiregardenmachines.co.uk 

SHOWROOM OPEN BY OPEN 

APPOINTMENT 

9-5pm (out of hours by appointment 

only) Sat 9-1pm 

Wood, Multifuel, Gas & Electric Stoves & Range Cookers, 

Outdoor Kitchens, Gas & Oil Boilers, Gas & Oil Appliances, 

Servicing, Installation, Design & Al-Fresco Living & BBQ’s. 

Contact us now for a free estimate and a 

professional service 

Unit 1 Garlands Trading Estate, Cadley Road, Collingbourne 

Ducis, Marlborough, Wilts, SN8 3EB 01264 850742 | 

info@sarsenenergy.co.uk | www.sarsenenergy.co.uk 


NOTES FROM THE GARDEN 

STEPPING INTO SPRING 

In this edition Matt Biggs gives us some 

ideas as to how to get our gardens in 

order ready for the Spring... 

Looking out at the garden in mid-winter might not seem the ideal 

time to gain inspiration – but it is the ideal time to look at the 

bones of what you have and plan for the year ahead! 

With little in the way of foliage and flowers to distract you, an 

hour spent contemplating your space can be very useful. 

You can see what works, see if the paths are in the best places, 

what you need to work on, any spaces that are overcrowded or 

those that are underused. If the paths don’t take you the way you 

like to walk you should be able to see the short cuts that show on 

the lawn- known as lines of desire - and you can plan to reset the 

paths to suit the way you use the space. You can also see if there 

are areas that don’t get much traffic, areas that are odd shapes – 

it is all there before you. 

If you aren’t a dab hand with a pencil, then photograph what you 

have and make a list of what you would like. 

If the past couple of years have taught us anything, the value 

of accessible outdoor space must be high on the list, as is the 

necessity to be kind to our world, so maybe a high maintenance 

lawn can give way to a wildflower lawn, trees can have nesting 

boxes added, a space for composting might be included and 

maybe a pond for wildlife – with child safety in mind – could be 

an addition you would want to make. Growing veggies, herbs, 

fruit and delicious items for the kitchen can also be incorporated 

– what an exciting prospect and now is the ideal time to plan it! 

If you are daunted by the task, call in a local landscaper or 

garden designer and see how your space can be transformed 

into something useful, beautiful and productive – 2022 is the 

year for you! 

Wiltshire Garden Design 

Creating Beautiful Gardens 

mob 07788 773356 www.wiltshiregardendesign.com isobel@isobelspandler.co.uk 


THE NED, London 

The Ned is special. It’s become special in our household 

anyway - it is our choice for big birthdays or date nights 

- treading the line somehow between a atmosphere of 

celebration and of intimacy. 

The Soho House group took this former bank, filled already 

with acres of marble and art deco features, and sprinkled 

their uniquely-stylish fairy dust over it - creating somewhere 

which at once seems modern and like an institution that’s 

stood here for centuries. Maybe this is what makes The 

Ned such a favourite - it’s a place of contradictions, which 

all come together to make something magical. 

You can head there for dinner or for the even more 

decadent Sunday Feast (a £75-a-head buffet of the likes 

you might never have seen) - but it’s when you stay that 

you really get to experience everything this place has to 

offer. The rooms are as artfully decorated as the rest of the 

venue - they cocoon and invite - think of antiques, dark 

wood and sumptuously soft sheets. You also have to make 

use of the spa - built into the underbelly of the building and 

decked out with Cowshed products - really push the boat 

out and grab a massage there too - you won’t regret it! 

Residency of the hotel also let’s you into the members-only 

areas - like the summer-hotspot Upstairs with its rooftop 

swimming pool and spectacular views, or the super cool 

Downstairs, complete with its 16-inch vault door and 

original 3,000 safety deposit boxes. 

I always want to take everyone I know here, but also keep it 

to myself. Another contradiction to add to the list... 

Katie Thomson 

27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ | thened.com 

Medium Rooms start from £450 


THE STRAND PALACE 

The rooms are clean and modern, with all the amenities you could need - but 

the real speciality of this hotel is its location - few hotels can boast of such a 

spot - truly in the heart of the West End - ready for a glittering evening of theatre 

entertainment and a cornucopia of dining options. Covent Garden is steps away, 

as is the buzzing Trafalgar Square. 

With its very own bar and restaurant and on-site complimentary gym, you have all 

you need without leaving the building. There are few places to stay for this value, 

this location and such well-appointed rooms - it’s the perfect pit stop for your next 

visit to London. 

Rooms from £199 per night | 372 Strand, London WC2R 0JJ 

strandpalacehotel.co.uk | 020 7379 4737 

MONDRIAN 

Shoreditch 

Mondrian, a leading brand within the 

Accor group, has expanded into Europe 

with the launch of Mondrian Shoreditch 

London. The lifestyle 

hotel, owned by The 

Reuben Brothers, opened 

its doors in August 2021, 

following a major overhaul 

and complete redesign by 

award-winning London 

interior design studio 

Goddard Littlefair. 

The 120-bedroom 

property - including 13 suites - sits in 

the midst of Shoreditch, East London’s 

creative and cultural hub. Hosting 

elevated dining experiences at the 

property, Mondrian Shoreditch houses 

world-famous chef Dani García’s BiBo 

- a Spanish kitchen serving tapas with 

courtyard seats - and Christina’s - a new 

all-day café and cocktail bar serving 

Katsu sandos. 

STYLISH stays 

Guests can also stay longer for less 

when booking 3 nights or more (up to 

20% off). 

Rooms from £230 per night 

45 Curtain Rd, Shoreditch, London EC2A 

3PT 

sbe.com | 0203 988 4455 

MARSON PARK 

After a sell out summer in 2021, the iconic UFO-shaped Futuro House at 

Marston Park, Somerset, is now available to book overnight from May to October 

2022. Located between Frome and Bruton, this beautiful destination offers an 

exhilarating Pandora’s box of unique cultural experiences and a chance to spend 

quality time with loved ones in jaw-droppingly picturesque surroundings. 

Designed for leisure and pleasure by artist Craig Barnes, this is one of the only 

Futuros in the world where you can spend the night. Set in a leafy glade by the 

lake, it has a flexible living space, complete with a kitchenette area, vintage 

lighting, round dining table and reclining chairs upholstered in groovy mustard, 

plus two curtained-off sleeping cabins with double beds. It also comes with 

exclusive private bathroom facilities, including a piping hot shower and outdoor 

seating with a fire pit. 

Prices start from just £400 per night, based on two adults sharing, depending on 

date. Book this once-in-a-lifetime experience via the website: 

www.marstonpark.co.uk. 


WHI S 

I love skiing 

in the Alps. 

Truly I do. But 

Lord forbid I should 

find myself in a February 

half-term lift queue, caught in 

the paradox of desperately trying 

to remain balanced on pinned down 

skis whilst being held upright by the 

crush of irritated holidaymakers in the 

shared knowledge that this is our selfappointed 

fate for the next 20 minutes, 

only to be repeated in another 30 after 

a short respite of crisp white bliss. If we 

can find an opening in the piste that is. 

Unfortunately, the majority of families 

are limited to this crowded and 

expensive period of the school holiday, 

yet, if you are open to venturing further 

afar, might I suggest somewhere that 

I have found myself more and more 

drawn to; North America. Boasting 

wide open runs, generally shorter, 

well-managed lift queues and more 

consistent snow, Canada in particular 

offers an attractive alternative, 

especially when you consider that their 

school holiday dates don’t coincide 

with ours. Allow me then to introduce 

one of my favourite resorts; Whistler 

Blackcomb. 

North America’s skiing Mecca, 

Whistler is held up as a pinnacle of 

skiing excellence in the snow sports 

community, the echoes of which I have 

heard continually throughout my 20- 

year skiing career. It elicits pilgrimages 

from around the globe and is steeped 

in the history of the industry, playing a 

pioneering 

role in 

shaping modern 

day snowboarding, 

freestyle skiing and even 

(perhaps most excitingly) ski 

resort management. 

Split between the once rival Whistler 

and Blackcomb mountains, the skiable 

area and its runs are vast. With 200 

runs and over 8000 acres, Whistler 

Blackcomb is, if a little shy of some of 

our sprawling European counterparts, 

the largest ski resort in North America. 

With all levels of runs, kids-zones, 

terrain parks, trees and powder bowls, 

there is something for people of all 

abilities to get their teeth into. A well 

maintained and often-updated lift 

system puts all of this within easy reach 

with the pièce de résistance being the 

spectacular peak to peak gondola, 

which spans the valley between the two 

mountains and links what used to be 

two separate areas via an unforgettable 

ride across Fitzsimmons Creek valley. 

The snow here is heavier than in the 

higher elevation Rocky Mountains, so 

don’t expect the champagne powder 

“With many outdoor areas and people spilling 

out onto the snow, the vibrant atmosphere of 

the whole village places the après experience 

firmly above any I’ve experienced in Europe 

(with exception perhaps to La Folie Douce… 

if you know, you know)” 

the 

area is 

renowned 

for, however 

with usually 

consistent snow, 

making new fresh tracks 

is a pleasure you can find time 

and time again. 

A great mountain only provides half of 

the story when it comes to great resorts 

and the village of Whistler itself more 

than carries its own weight. Top off a 

long bluebird day sipping a cold few with 

your boots loosened on the first-floor 

patio of the Garibaldi Lift Co. (The GLC in 

local parlance), or if the adrenaline of the 

afternoon hasn’t quite worn off, stomp 

your feet along to the ski bum classics 

of The Hairfarmers at Merlin’s Bar and 

Grill or head to another of the many lively 

bars or quieter pubs on offer. 

With many outdoor areas and people 

spilling out onto the snow, the vibrant 

atmosphere of the whole village places 

the après experience firmly above 

any I’ve experienced in Europe (with 

exception perhaps to La Folie Douce… 

if you know, you know). Once back 

into a pair of comfortable shoes, you 

have a vast array of restaurants, cafés, 

pizzerias, crêperies and burger joints 

to choose from - catering to all sorts of 


STLER 

WE SENT JOSH TOBER AWAY FROM HIS USUAL 

ALPINE FAVOURITES TO TRY THE WIDE PISTES 

AND BUSTLING APRÈ S IN WHISTLER, CANADA 

budgets. 

There’s also 

the Whistler Grocery 

Store within a short walk 

from the bottom of the lifts should 

you wish to self-cater. If the evening 

still hasn’t tired you out then dance the 

night away at nightclubs like Garfinkel’s, 

MoeJoe’s and Tommy’s Lounge who 

often boast international bands and DJs 

hosting some of the wildest parties in 

British Columbia! 

Of course, those wishing to experience 

a more peaceful getaway are also 

generously catered for. If the essence 

of Whistler is the land of thrills and 

adventure, then its antithesis and the 

perfect cure to the inevitable hangover 

or burned-out legs is the Scandinave 

Spa. Isolated in a clearing amongst 

the picturesque coniferous forest just 

outside 

of town, 

you are presented 

with a snow globe scene 

of tranquillity and peace enclosed 

on all sides by frost-touched pines. A 

path winds its way amongst steaming 

hot and icy cold plunge pools, the 

surface of which are kissed silently by 

lazy flakes of snow. Bear in mind that 

talking is prohibited within the spa itself; 

a blessing, or a curse to some! 

Once thoroughly relaxed, enjoy a dash 

of local culture and visit the Audain Art 

Museum. Housing a collection of works 

from 

the 

indigenous First 

Nations through to 

world renowned coastal British 

Columbian contemporary artists, the 

striking architecture of the museum is 

arguably as much a part of the draw 

as the exhibits on display. Afterwards, 

when evening settles in, Vallea Lumina 

Destination Canada/Grant Gunderson 


offers a whimsical journey through a forest filled with light, 

sound and special effects. This is definitely one for the kids! 

The Fairmont Chateau 

The catered ski chalet model we are used to seeing in 

European resorts hasn’t really taken off in most of North 

America and the few that do exist tend to be luxury 

end offerings with a walloping price tag. However there 

are still a good many of choices of accommodation in 

Whistler, from the fabulous ski in-ski out Fairmont Chateau 

(complete with ski hosts to take and store your skis from 

you before you even step inside) to the more modern pod 

hostel concept on offer within the Pangea Pod Hotel (still 

located slap bang in the centre of the action in Whistler 

Village and a short walk to the gondolas) there are hotels, 

AirBnB apartments, lodges and hostels to suit all budgets. 

EN-ROUTE 

The typical route to Whistler is to fly into Vancouver 

and then take a cruise along the Sea to Sky Highway, a 

stunning route in itself on the days when visibility hasn’t 

been reduced to a few hundred metres. Why not extend the 

trip and build up the anticipation by stopping for a couple 

of days in BC’s capital? 

Vancouver manages to be at once isolated yet intrinsically 

linked with its striking backdrop of the Coastal Mountains. 

The town itself holds all the usual trappings of quirky 

bars, eateries and museums, but where it excels is as a 

platform to kick-off and ease you into the exploration of its 

magnificent setting. 

Start off in a gentile manner; hire a bike and ride the ample 

cycle paths to Stanley Park where the city seamlessly starts to 

blend into its surroundings. Ride, walk or ride the train along 

the routes criss-crossing the 400 Hectare park of coniferous 

forest, hidden lakes and beaches with views of the foothills 

of the Coast Mountains dipping their toes into the Strait of 

Georgia (keep an eye out for river otters!). For the slightly more 

adventurous, take the free shuttle to the Capilano Suspension 

Bridge Park; set around a cedar rainforest lined gorge, it 

represents quintessential back country Canada. Treetop and 

cliff-side hugging walkways have been added to complement 

the historic suspended footbridge, the crossing of which, 

with its slight swaying and bouncing, make the experience as 

exhilarating as it is beautiful. 

Once the bracing outdoor air has roused your adventurous 

spirits, take part in a plethora of other outdoor activities, 

which offer something for any age, weather or season; 

snowshoeing and ziplines at Grouse Mountain, scenic 

sea plane tours from the harbour, rooftop jeep tent hire, 

canyoning, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, white 

water rafting and more hiking trails in the surrounding areas 

than you can shake a trekking pole at. 

While I won’t be swapping my annual helping of tartiflette 

for a portion of poutine for good any time soon, I’d 

encourage anyone; family or not, to give more than passing 

consideration to a winter trip West of the pond. See you 

out there! 

Destination Canada/Grant Gunderson 

BOOKING YOUR TRIP: 

Accommodation in Whistler was with the stunning 

Fairmont Chateau - find out more and book at 

www.fairmont.com 

More information about the resort can be found at: 

www.whistler.com 


TONIQ On Demand 


We caught up with personal trainer Arron Collins-Thomas to find out about his new 

online fitness offering, expanded from his very successful gym TONIQ... 

Your gym, with its fully-rounded approach to health and 

lifestyle, has made national news for its incredible client 

results – what will the app offer? 

At TONIQ we recognise that good health is more than just 

regular workouts, it encompasses taking care of every aspect 

of your body. We have created a solution where everything from 

nutrition, mindfulness, amazing workouts, yoga and more is 

available with guidance from fantastic trainers and experts in 

one place. 

Not only this, but as part of TOD you have access to your own 

coach, ensuring that you have someone you can speak to, to 

keep you on track and accountable as well as supporting you 

throughout. 

We have had some incredible results over the past few years at 

TONIQ and we want to be able to bring those results to more 

people. With the app we aim to give anyone, anywhere in the 

world, a taste of the TONIQ-life. 

As a TONIQ On Demand member you get to join the incredible 

community online, have access to our on demand workouts as 

well as live workouts, Q&As and educational talks. We have an 

incredible coaching team with a huge array of skills to bring to 

you including yoga, qigong, nutrition and mindfulness. 

The main workouts are written based on what we are up to at 

TONIQ in any given training block and a new phase of workouts 

launches every 6 weeks on the app as well as regular bonus 

content to keep the training varied and inspiring. 

Can you get a good experience with online coaching? 

Are you accountable and is it personalised? 

With TOD you have a designated TONIQ coach who you speak 

to on a one to one basis. When you first sign up with us you 

will have a call to help you set up your accountability sheets, 

help you curate your workout schedule and set you on the 

right nutrition plan for you. Then every month you get another 

call with your coach to help keep you on track and answer any 

questions you may have. Accountability is key if you really want 

to get results and that is one of the reasons why TONIQ has 

been so successful. 

Are the classes accessible no matter your fitness level? 

Some of us are self-conscious about going to the gym or 

nervous in COVID times. 

No matter what your levels of fitness we can help you. Our 

expert coach will advise what level to start at for you and 

how hard to push yourself in the first consultation you have 

with them. It will be based around your fitness and any health 

concerns, so you can feel secure in the fact that you won’t be 

over training or causing yourself any harm by taking part in our 

programs. 

For people who aren’t ready for the gym again yet or who are 

self conscious TONIQ On Demand is the perfect choice. You get 

personal trainer support and expert written workouts, all from 

the comfort of your own home. 

You also get to join a great online community who share their 

experiences and help support each other to get the results they 

desire. 

TONIQ ON DEMAND 

MORE THAN A WORKOUT 

Join our community from anywhere, at anytime with 

TONIQ on Demand, our app gives you access to: 

Personalised plans developed with expert coaches. 

Nutrition plans based on your needs and goals. 

Monthly 121 check in calls with an expert coach. 

Extensive library of classes including SWEAT, STRONGER, 

BURN and CHILL. 

Visit TONIQLIFE.COM to find out more

SCHWINN IC8 INDOOR CYCLE 

Designed with a magnetic resistance system that offers 100 micro-adjustable 

resistance levels, the Schwinn IC8 provides a smooth, quiet cycling 

experience that is simply hard to beat. A generous full colour backlit LCD 

display tracks your time, distance, calories, and RPM’s throughout your 

intense cycling sessions. Add a Bluetooth® heart rate armband/chest belt 

(sold separately) and you can easily view your heart rate readings too. The IC8 

comes complete with a media rack that attaches above the console so you 

can follow along with workouts, or keep up to date with your favourite shows. 

Plus, there’s a USB charging port, so your device will never run out of battery. 

Bluetooth® 4.0 compatible, you can digitally immerse yourself in the world 

of virtual races, exotic locales, and stunning trails from around the globe. The 

Schwinn IC8 syncs with JRNY App, Zwift App*, and the Peloton Digital 

iOS App, meaning you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to workouts. 

Schwinn IC8 Indoor Cycle, £899, www.fitness-superstore.co.uk 

fighting 

FIT 

Health and fitness are of paramount 

importance in these strained times. If you’re 

looking to support your health and fitness 

journey, here are some great products to 

help you along the way 

CLEAR WHEY 

PROTEIN 

If you are trying to 

support your workouts, 

feel fuller, or build muscle, it can help to 

supplement your diet with protein. Most 

recommend 1.5-2g of protein per day 

per kilo of body weight. If you don’t like 

milky-tasting shakes, Clear Whey Isolate 

tastes exactly like fruit squash, but can 

help you get to your protein goal, with only 

84kcal and 20g of protein per serving. 

From £26.99 for 20 servings, 

www.myprotein.com 

BOWFLEX 

SELECTTECH 

840 

KETTLEBELL 

With the turn of a dial, 

you can easily adjust 

from 3.5 to 18kg, rapidly 

switch from one exercise to the next, and 

perform a wide variety of full-body exercises. 

Its space-saving design allows you to 

replace up to 6 separate weights giving you 

more room to work, meaning you can get 

a quality workout from nearly any room in 

your home. 

New to kettlebell training? No problem. 

You can access 24 trainer-led exercise 

videos that focus on foundational kettlebell 

techniques to get you up to speed. The 

SelectTech 840 kettlebell’s wide weight range 

offers a variety of workout options, including 

swings, rows, squats, twists and more, and 

the ergonomic handle provides a secure grip 

no matter which weight you’re lifting. 

Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell, £219, 

www.fitness-superstore.co.uk 

UP YOUR N.E.A.T 

Non-Exercise Activity 

Thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy 

expended for everything we do that 

does not include sleeping, eating, 

or exercise; and ranges from simple 

things like standing and fidgeting to 

moving about. 

Over the past few years, 

researchers have begun 

investigating the remaining 110 – 

115 hours of the week that we are 

awake as a weight loss solution, 

rather than the few hours a week 

spent trying to exercise. 

For example, a 10 stone person 

burns approximately 102 calories 

an hour while performing their office 

job in a seated position (1.7 kcal / 

minute), but burns 174 calories an 

hour if performing those same office 

duties while standing. 

174 calories may not seem like 

much, but it translates to 18,000 

calories or a little over 5 lbs. over a 

50-week work year (250 work days). 

By comparison, that same person 

would need to squeeze in 60, 

30-minute runs at 5 mph to achieve 

that same caloric burn 

The goal is to rethink your approach 

to where and how you burn calories 

by making your entire day your 

weight loss battlefield. 

• Stand more. Start by 

attempting to stand or move 

about for 5 to 10-minute 

increments while you 

complete various daily 

activities. 

• Wash your car by hand. 

• Carry your groceries instead 

of pushing a trolley. 

• Walk more briskly and more 

often. Walking is an excellent 

strategy for weight loss! 

• Walk to a colleague’s desk 

instead of emailing or calling 

them. 

• Pace while talking on the 

phone. 


There's more to us 

than Muesli 

The Healthy Life in Devizes is one of those 

shops where you pop in for some muesli or your 

supplements - and end up half an hour later still 

browsing, and with a click and collect online 

option of over 12,000 items it is a real gem in the 

middle of town. We spoke to owner Justina… 

You have been here for a long time and have a loyal following 

-and new customers each day too, what is the best part of 

running the shop? 

The shop has been in town for over 40 years, I’ve owned it for 11. 

We have an incredibly loyal following and it seems new people 

are dropping by more and more, yet we still get people who have 

never been in, or think all we do is supplements and muesli. 

We are in fact a lifestyle store covering all aspects of health and 

wellbeing, sustainability, food, gifts, and products that are not 

only good for you but also for the planet. 

The best part of running my shop is living and working within 

the community, working with my staff and of course the range of 

chocolate! 

There is a lot of research that goes on behind the scene so 

that we can curate a mix of products that contain no parabens, 

harsh chemicals, and are gentle for your body and don’t cost the 

EARTH. 

The planet, and how we treat it, is very high on the new year 

agenda – you offer a great refill service, tell us more….. 

We have sold refills in one form or another since the store began 

40 years ago. A couple of years ago we increased our offering 

to over 200 dry goods and 26 liquid refills. This equates to 

many hundreds of thousand single use plastic bags and tens of 

thousands of plastic bottles. Not only is it much cheaper than 

supermarkets, it’s ideal for larger and individual households 

because you can buy exactly what you need, with no waste. 

As an industry Health Stores and Lifestyle shops are ahead of the 

curve, always, adapting to change with innovation and product 

mix. 

With COP26 people are beginning to wake up to their own 

sustainable journey and shops like ours up and down the country 

are here to help. 

What is your current favourite ‘find’ of all the products that 

you have on offer, both online and in the shop? 

Online currently our range of Christmas food and advents 

calendars, in the shop our Gin refill service and Tony’s chocolate 

and our fabulous pop-up gift shop located on the first floor. 

www.yourhealthylifeshop.co.uk | 01380 725558 

4 Little Brittox, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1AR 



Foods to help 

reduce joint pain 

Benjamin Franklin was right when he said 

‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of 

cure’ – it is so important, no matter our age, 

that we adopt dietary and exercise habits that 

support strong bones and joints. Where there 

is pain, there is inflammation – so trying to 

avoid inflammation in the body is one of the 

first steps to take to eradicate pain... 

The underlying cause for inflammation may be due to a number 

of factors. Some common areas for consideration are: 

HORMONES: Some hormones are connected with the 

inflammatory response (examples include insulin, cortisol and 

oestrogen). 

FATS: The amount and type of fat in the diet is directly linked with 

inflammation, especially the essential fatty acids omega 3 and 

omega 6 (they are called essential because they have to come 

from our diet – we cannot manufacture them ourselves). 

DIGESTION: Our digestive system also has the power to mess 

about with inflammation in the body. If the digestive system is 

struggling then localised damage may occur in the gut leading 

to inflammation and food sensitivities (food sensitivities or 

intolerances are associated with the immune system, which in 

turn triggers inflammation). 

Eating to reduce inflammation: 

Make sure you get regular amounts of protein into your diet. 

Including protein in meals and snacks helps prevent sudden 

highs in blood sugar. Focusing on protein in this way is a good 

start in regulating hormone levels (including insulin, cortisol and 

oestrogen). 

Eat foods high in omega 3 fats. These fats are broken down 

into anti-inflammatory properties in the body. The best sources 

are oily fish (wild salmon, sardines, mackerel), ground linseeds, 

walnuts and green vegetables. 

Eat foods known to have anti-inflammatory properties (many 

foods have compounds that work in the same way as ibuprofen!). 

These include beetroot, ginger, turmeric and dark red and blue 

berries. 

Consider avoiding foods that you think may be contributing to 

your pain and monitor what happens. The most common foods 

here are gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye), dairy products, 

eggs, soy, nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine), 

and foods high in the substance lectin (beans, pulses, grains, 

nuts, seeds). 

Sense 

Ear wax removal 

Are you 

struggling to hear 

or experiencing 

ear pain or muffled 

sound or finding 

it tiring to hold a 

conversation? 

As a qualified ear practitioner I offer ear wax removal 

using the micro suction technique, In the comfort of your 

own home. 

Wax can give you up to a forty decibel loss in hearing 

when the auditory canal is badly impacted. Known as a 

conductive loss of hearing, impacted wax can stop sound 

waves from entering through to the eardrum. It makes 

sounds muffled and can also make it hard to follow a 

conversation. 

It is so important to keep good hearing health as this 

also helps prevent against cognitive decline. I also work 

in partnership with an independent company of private 

audiologists ‘Diamond Hearing Services’ who can assess 

your hearing and give you independent advice on a 

number of quality leading brands of hearing aids that can 

be tailored to your needs. 

If you experience sudden onset of hearing loss, 

especially in one ear it is important to book an urgent 

appointment with your GP for further investigation. 

Please don’t hesitate to call me and book a home visit: 

Call 07943 562 003 

Penelope Harrison is a fully insured Member of the 

BSHAA. £85.00 for home visit inclusive of micro suction. 


Make your home at 

Middlefields HOUSE 

OPENED 

AUGUST 

2021 

Discover great Christian care at our brand new, state-of-the-art 

residential care home, Middlefields House in Chippenham. 

The winter garden 

will offers a beautiful 

space to enjoy whatever 

the weather 

Household lounges 

with easy access from 

the bedrooms feel like 

home 

Comfortable bedrooms 

with your own items will 

be a peaceful and private 

place to rest 

With four households of 12, Middlefields House is like living in a regular family-sized 

home, but with the extra benefit of wonderful care, a community 

of friends and support, and access to lovely outdoor 

gardens, as well as an indoor winter garden. 

0300 303 8470 

middlefields@pilgrimsfriend.org.uk 

pilgrimsfriend.org/middlefields

CELEBRATING OVER 

30 YEARS OF CARE 


We find out more about the Founder of Caring 

Hands (Wiltshire), Vicki Fowler... 

Vicki Fowler has worked in care from 1984. She started at Moor 

Mead Nursing home, Wroughton social services and Royal 

Wootton Bassett various homecare agencies. When Vicki moved 

to Braydon in 2004, she moved to a 200 year old farm house 

that has been in her husband’s family since 1934. Vicki started 

to work in a local residential care home in Purton. When working 

at the Cedars she voluntarily gave her time once a month to take 

residents out for meals or shopping trips in her people carrier and 

now brings that expertise to her own business. Vicki received her 

registration on the 5th of September 2011 and Caring Hands has 

been caring ever since. 

For the last 3 years Vicki has supported her community by having 

tea parties once a month where locals and residents come with 

their carers for tea at Battle lake farm. The local Age Concern 

mini bus brings individuals to the farm and one mini bus it was 

named after Vicki’s first client, so he is here in memory and is still 

part of Caring Hands (Wiltshire). 

Vicki’s respite room can accommodate an individual or couple 

and is on the ground floor level with en-suite facilities. Vicki 

and her dedicated staff provide care, homemade meals, takes 

respite clients out and invites friends in for tea to make their time 

on Battle Lake Farm an enjoyable stay. Caring Hands has now 

received full planning permission to expand Battle Lake Farm to 

accommodate 11 beds and will publish more information about 

this exciting development in due course! 

Do you, a friend or a family member need Caring Hands? 

Welcome to Caring Hands (Wiltshire). Located in the beautiful 

Wiltshire countryside on a small family run working farm, Caring 

Hands (Wiltshire) provides residential/respite care for elderly 

clients. 

Respite clients are accommodated in their own respite room, 

with en-suite facilities, within the quiet family home. This is a prebookable 

personalised service with the ability to accommodate 

various needs. 

All services are CQC Registered, by clicking on their logo you will 

be taken to the CQC website. 

We have now received full planning permission to expand Battle 

Lake Farm to accomodate 11 beds. 

Caring Hands (Wiltshire), Battle Lake Farm, Braydon, 

Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AA 

vfcaringhands@live.co.uk | 01793 772777 | 07743 796766 

Welcome to Caring Hands (Wiltshire). 

Located in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside on 

a small family run working farm, Caring Hands 

(Wiltshire) provides residential/respite care for 

elderly clients. 

Respite clients are accommodated in their 

own respite room, with en-suite facilities, 

within the quiet family home. This is a prebookable 

personalised service with the ability to 

accommodate various needs. 

All services are CQC Registered. 

Caring Hands (Wiltshire), Battle Lake Farm, 

Braydon, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AA 

Call: 01793 772777 / 07743 796766 

Email: vfcaringhands@live.co.uk 


Caring for the elderly members of your family 

Over Christmas you may have spent some time with the family and perhaps more time with 

the elderly members and you become concerned about their health? 

Here we list 8 warning signs to assess if 

they need help and what to do if they do. 

You may wish to consider the following 

questions: 

1. Is the person (persons) able to take care 

of themselves? 

Pay attention to their appearance. Failure 

to keep up with daily routines - such as 

bathing and tooth brushing - could indicate 

dementia, depression or other physical 

impairments.Also pay attention to their 

home. Are the lights working? Is the heat 

on? Is the garden overgrown? Any changes 

in the way things are being done around the 

house could provide clues to their health. 

For example, scorched pots could mean 

they are forgetting about food cooking on 

the stove. Neglected housework could be 

a sign of depression, dementia or other 

concerns. 

2. Are they experiencing memory loss? 

Everyone forgets things from time to time. 

Modest memory problems are a fairly 

common part of ageing, and sometimes 

medication side effects or underlying 

conditions contribute to memory loss. 

There’s a difference, though, between 

normal Changes in memory and the type of 

memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s 

disease and other types of dementia. Are 

the memory changes limited to misplaced 

glasses or an occasionally forgotten 

appointment - or are the changes more 

concerning, such as forgetting common 

words when speaking, getting lost in 

familiar neighbourhoods or being unable to 

follow directions? 

3. Are they safe in their home? 

Take a look around their home, keeping an 

eye out for any problems. Could their be a 

difficulty navigating a narrow stairway? Are 

they able to read directions on medication 

containers? When asked, do they say they 

feel safe at home? 

4. Are they safe on the road? 

Driving can be challenging for older adults. 

Do they become confused while driving 

or are you concerned about their ability to 

drive safely, it might be time to stop driving. 

They could be a danger to others. 

5. Have they lost weight? 

Losing weight without trying could be a sign 

that something’s wrong. Weight loss could 

be related to many factors, including: 

• Difficulty cooking. 

• Loss of taste or smell. 

• Underlying conditions - indicating ill health. 

6. Is the person (persons) in good spirits? 

Note their moods and ask how they’re 

feeling. A drastically different mood could 

be a sign of depression or other health 

concerns. 

7. Are they still social? 

Talk to them about their activities. Are 

they connecting with friends? Have they 

maintained interest in hobbies and other 

daily activities? Are they involved in 

organisations or clubs? Have they given up 

on being with others, it could be a sign of 

a problem. 

8. Is the person (persons) able to get 

around? 

Pay attention to how they are walking. 

Are they reluctant or unable to walk usual 

distances? Have they fallen recently? Is 

knee or hip arthritis making it difficult to get 

around the house? Would they benefit from 

a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle 

weakness and joint pain can make it difficult 

to move around as well. If someone is 

unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk 

of falling - a major cause of disability among 

older adults. 

Taking action 

There are many steps you can take to 

ensure the person/persons’ health and wellbeing, 

even if you don’t live nearby. Share 

your concerns with them. Your concerns 

might motivate them to see a doctor or 

make other changes. 

Encourage regular medical check-ups 

If you’re worried about weight loss, 

depressed mood, memory loss or other 

signs and symptoms,encourage them to 

schedule a doctor’s visit. 

You might offer to schedule the visit or to 

accompany them to the doctor - or find 

someone else to attend the visit. Ask about 

follow-up visits as well. 

Address safety issues 

Point out any potential safety issues you 

have observed - then make a plan to 

address the problems. For example, the 

person (persons) concerned might benefit 

from using assistive devices to help them 

reach items on high shelves. A higher toilet 

seat or handrails in the bathroom might help 

prevent falls. If they are no longer able to 

drive safely, suggest other transportation 

options -such as taking the bus or using 

a taxi. 

Consider home care services 

Particularly if they are having trouble taking 

care of themselves, you could hire someone 

to clean the house and run errands and 

help with daily activities, such as bathing. To 

ensure good nutrition Meals on Wheels is 

also an option. 

And finally 

It would be a good idea to secure an 

Enduring Power of Attorney to ensure that 

if things get worse you can step in without 

having to involve the Court of Protection. 

Your solicitor will be able to give you good 

advice on this. 


Could you be a Care Hero? 

If you are looking for a change of direction, a new challenge and a 

rewarding position Innovations would like to hear from you. 

We are a small local family run business, specialising in supporting 

people in their own homes with person centered care tailored to 

individual needs. We pride ourselves on offering a personalised 

service that meets our clients needs, promoting independence 

and respect for people who need our services to choose the type 

of care that best suits them. We offer support with personal care, 

washing, dressing, catheter care, meal preparation, management 

of medication, assistance with domestic tasks, washing, bed 

changing, cleaning, shopping. We can accompany our clients to 

appointments and on outings and we can support them whilst 

their full-time carer takes a break. 

We are looking for people to join our local team, to share our 

pride in what we do and to enjoy the challenges and fulfilment 

that every day brings. 

All staff are fully trained, and DBS checked, they are all dementia 

friends and our managers are dementia champions who are able 

to run sessions for anyone who would like to become a dementia 

friend, sessions can be arranged for organised groups, 

businesses or you and your friends and sessions are free. 

01672 514339 for more information 

HELPING YOU SEE THE WORLD 

MORE CLEARLY 

Cataract Surgery: 

Lens choices of standard and 

premium lenses to correct near and 

far vision. 

Vision Correction Surgery: 

Lens replacement surgery and internal 

contact lens placement for vision 

correction. 

Dry Eye Treatments: 

Advanced medical treatments for 

complex cases. 

Moor Eye Care 

55 George Lane, Marlborough 

SN8 4BY 

01672 515713 

www.mooreyecare.co.uk 


Live the life you want with the care you need. 

Our experience means that we understand everyone's care needs are different. 

Finding the right type of care begins with identifying what's important to you. 

Nurseplus Care at home offers a practical and affordable alternative to moving into a 

residential setting helping you to keep your independence. Whether you require weekly, 

daily or Live-in care, we can build a unique plan to suit your every need that allows you to 

continue living in the comfort of your own home. 

We take the time to get to know you and the way you want to live your life to ensure we 

can help you to continue doing all the things you love, such as staying active, socialising 

or cooking your favourite meal. 

Find reviews from our clients on 

We can provide for: 

Elderly support and assistance 

Companionship 

Emergency care 

24-hour care 

Live-in care 

Respite care 

Mental health needs 

Physical & sensory impairments 

Learning disabilities 

Brain & spinal injuries 

Speak to our friendly team on 

08000 448 848 

nursepluscareathome.com 


www.whct.co.uk 

We have a wonderful opportunity for a creative, 

enthusiastic, compassionate Support Worker to join 

us in Marlborough. We have a variety of flexible shifts 

available, full time/part-time, twilight (5pm to 10pm) and 

bank hours. If you are not sure please call Kath on 07706 

360836 who will be happy to answer any questions. 

The White Horse Care Trust, established for 30 years 

in Wiltshire, delivering award winning residential 

and nursing care to adults with learning and physical 

disabilities. We are seeking additional staff to join our 

team of dedicated and skilled Support Workers in our 

services in Marlborough and surrounding area.(SN8). 

You will join a great team of people, who are passionate, 

skilled, and enthusiastic, they will work with you to 

deliver an outstanding level of care and support. 

Our individuals enjoy a variety of activities such as going 

to the cinema, watching sports, shopping, swimming 

and music sessions, they also enjoy more relaxed 

activities such as walks in the local area with a picnic or 

even a creative arts and crafts session. The individuals 

we support have a variety of health and wellbeing needs, 

including personal care and assisting with mobility. 

Our Support Workers enjoy the following benefits - 

• Competitive pay rates 

• Enhanced pay for hours worked on Sundays and Bank 

• Holidays 

• Sleep ins paid at £65 

• Comprehensive training program 

• Support to achieve Level 2 above Diplomas in Care 

• Company sick pay 

• Pension scheme 

• Refer a Friend Scheme 

• Incrementing annual leave • • 

• (upto 7 weeks with service, • • 

• including bank holidays) 

• Paid DBS 

Join us for a rewarding and fulfilling 

career. If you are successful you 

will receive an amazing support 

package to ensure you are happy, 

challenged and continuously 

motivated in your role. 

Click apply now or email with your 

CV to recruitment@whct.co.uk 

Please note regulations are changing from the 

11th November, 2021 all care workers in registered 

services will need to be fully vaccinated, unless 

medical exemption has been confirmed. 

MAKE LIFE EASIER 

• Large range of Mobility Aids • PPE 

• Hire services • Wheelchairs • Stairlifts 

FREE HEARING HEALTH CHECK 

THE MOBILITY STORE 

SWINDON 

7 Clive Parade 

Cricklade Road, 

Swindon SN2 1AJ 

01793 701313 

swindon@thehearingand 

mobilitystore.co.uk 


MARLBOROUGH 

56 George Lane, 

Marlborough SN8 4BY 

01672 511550 

wiltshiremobility@mail.com 

Rise and recline furniture 

Adjustable beds 

Mobility scooters 

Mobility scooter repairs 

FREE LEVEL ACCESS PARKING AT ALL STORES 

www.thehearingandmobilitystore.co.uk 

Shoes and slipper 

Footcare appointments 


WROUGHTON 

6 Devizes Road 

Wroughton SN4 0RZ 

01793 815083 

wroughtonmobility@mail.com 


BOURTON ON THE WATER 

Lansdowne 

Bourton on the Water GL54 2AR 

01451 810088 

bourtonmobility@mail.com 


OSPREY – ELEGANT RETIREMENT LIVING 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

to those of you who were thinking 

of moving to a retirement home in 2022! 

Book 

a viewing now! 

Tel: 01672 515621 

Cottages from 

£370,000 

Town Mill, Marlborough 

Come and see retirement 

cottages we have for sale 

Exceptional ü location with private parking 

Shops, restaurants nearby 

ü 

ü 

ü 

On site Estate Manager 

24 hour Careline System 

Register your interest: 

Estate Manager / Hilary Barett Tel: 01672 515621 

www.ospreymc.co.uk 

Retirement Living

C H A R L E S G R E E N 

Stockist of 

SINCE 1824 

Deacon & Son Ltd 

11 - 15 Wood Street, Old Town 

Swindon, Wiltshire. SN1 4AN 

Tel: 01793 522072/527530 

E-mail: swindon@deacons-jewellers.com 

44/45 High Street, Marlborough, 

Wiltshire. SN8 1HQ 

Tel: 01672 519955 

E-mail: marlborough@deacons-jewellers.com 

www.deacons-jewellers.com 

Items featured subject to stock availability

Marlborough Living Jan - Feb 2022

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?