Rutland Living May 2026

RUTLAND LIVING

HELLO MAY 2026

May is undoubtedly the most magical month of the year for the great outdoors. Birdsong is at its most intense, butterflies become prolific, wildflowers blossom, and in the garden the tulips pass the baton seamlessly on to the roses and all that follows.

And on our patch there is much to celebrate outdoors. We were blown away by just how very beautiful Burghley Sculpture Garden has become, and we review it in more detail this month (see p52) . There are also several National Garden Scheme gardens to visit and, at the end of the month, it is time for that great regional celebration of the outdoors, The Rutland County Show (p26) . This month, our walk starts out from The Olive Branch in Clipsham and heads through the wonderful Pickworth Great Wood, full of wildlife. Later in May, we are launching our new book, 20 Best Country Rambles – see p124 for details on pre-ordering copies.

And on those days when it really is warmer, alfresco dining will begin to take hold, without scarves and woolly jumpers anywhere to be seen. Some current favourites include The Pickled Shop in Bulwick, The Hayloft at Hunters in Uffington, the courtyard at Rutland Nursery in Manton and Picks Barn in Lyndon.

Enjoy magical May

Editors, Nicholas & Clare

Website: www.stamfordandrutlandliving.co.uk

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THE TEAM

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

This magazine has been created by the team at Local Living, PO Box 208, Stamford PE9 9FY

Nicholas Rudd-Jones | 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk

EDITOR & EDITORIAL DESIGN

Clare Rudd-Jones

ADVERTISEMENT SALES

Rutland & Market Harborough

Tracy Watkinson 01572 813187 | tracy@bestlocalliving.co.uk

Stamford

Claudia Bayley 07876 171063 | claudia.bayley@btinternet.com Nene Valley (Oundle & Peterborough)

Nicholas Rudd-Jones Contact details as above

ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION

Ad Copy Manager: Rachel Beecroft

Ad Designer: Sarah Patterson

This magazine has been printed by our local printers, Warners of Bourne, on FSC® certified paper from sustainable and other controlled sources.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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COVER

Rutland Living: The Rutland County Show (see p26). Stamford Living: Burghley Sculpture Garden (see p52).

THIS MONTH WE LOVE…

THE ORCHARDS BROCANTE

VINTAGE GARDEN POP-UP

Join textile designer Chloe Jonason for a French-inspired brocante in the idyllic setting of her walled garden in the Lincolnshire countryside (NG33 4AG).

Browse vintage furniture, textiles, jewellery, clothing and decorative treasures, with homemade food and drinks on offer.

Saturday 16 May, 10am–3pm. Donations to St Mary’s Church. chloejonasonco

LOCALLY GROWN FRUIT AT RUTLAND WATER FRUIT FARM

Set on the south side of Rutland Water, on Manton Road near Edith Weston (LE15 8HB), this much-loved fruit farm is one of the sweetest family outings of the late spring/summer season, known for its delicious strawberries and raspberries. They also have potatoes and asparagus. It’s open daily in May, June and July, with pick-your-own strawberries from mid-June. See p106 for full times.

MILLY’S WELLNESS CLUB AT THE WILLIAM CECIL

A fresh way to move, unwind and connect, newly launched in the garden marquee at The William Cecil in Stamford. Expect spicy strength sessions, slower flows, sauna collaborations, social events and those all-important moments after – coffee and cake on the terrace or a well-earned drink in the lounge. millyswellnessclub

‘May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope’ Emily Brontë

REOPENING THIS MONTH

WHITE GOOSE FLOWER FARM

Reopening on 1 May, this beautiful flower farm is a dream destination for growers and flower lovers alike – it’s one of Editor Clare’s favourite places. Expect even more growing space, perennials and three times (yes, three times!) as many dahlias this year. whitegooseflowers.com

info@sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk 6 Market Place, Uppingham 01572 823389 . instagram: sarahhardinginteriorsltd Timeless interiors, thoughtfully designed The Stables, Copthill Farm, Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD 01780 757946

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3 Red Lion Square Stamford, PE9 2AQ

Tel: 01780 408 549

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WHAT’S ON IN MAY

A SELECTION OF EVENTS TAKING PLACE ACROSS OUR BEAUTIFUL REGION THIS MONTH

2

ART EVENT

Stamford Pottery Market at Stamford Arts Centre

10am–4pm, admission free

Held once a year at Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford Pottery Market is a showcase for the work of local potters, offering the opportunity to view and buy a wide range of beautiful designs. With around 30 potters taking part, there will be something to suit everyone – from beautiful domestic and garden ware to all manner of ornaments, jewellery and sculptures – large and small. www.stamfordpotterymarket.co.uk

POETRY EVENT

Roger McGough at Stamford Arts Centre

7.30pm, £20

Join poet Roger McGough as he performs from Collected Poems,

spanning six decades and over 40 books. The aptly dubbed ‘Patron Saint of Poetry’, BBC Radio 4 presenter and Poetry Society President shares new work alongside favourites, reflecting on his Liverpool childhood, the 1960s and family life, with humour and warmth –including much-loved poems on cats, ageing and everyday moments.

LIVE MUSIC

Trio Stradella at St Martin’s Church, Stamford

7.30pm (arrival from 6.30pm for instrument demonstrations); £21, £5 under 18s and full-time students

The first concert in this year’s Brazenose Chamber Concert Series, organised by Stamford Strings, opens with a performance from Trio Stradella. This exciting young ensemble brings together violin, cello and piano in a richly expressive programme featuring Debussy’s Piano Trio in G Major and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor. Arrive early for informal

instrument demonstrations, offering a chance to hear Stamford Strings’ beautiful Brazenose violins and cellos up close. Refreshments are not included but will be available to buy.

2–4

FOOD FAIR

Spring Fine Food Market at Burghley House 10am–4pm, free entry & parking Set within the charming Chestnut and Stable Courtyards, the Spring Fine Food Market brings together fantastic local producers and artisan food makers, alongside flavours from further afield. Browse, sample and savour everything from handmade cheeses and rare breed meats to luxury sweet treats and beautifully crafted drinks. Pick from a range of cuisines available to enjoy on the day and stock up on foodie treats to take home. It’s the perfect excuse

LEFT: Classic Wheels, an incredible day of motoring, is at Rutland Showground this May. Also this month for lovers of classic motors: the Pageant of Motoring at Sandringham on Sunday 24 May (see p102).

for a relaxed foodie day out in the beautiful surroundings of Burghley.

7

TALK

The Luttrell Psalter at Stamford Methodist Church

Doors open at 7pm for the talk at 7.30pm, £5 non-members, £2 members

At Stamford Local History Society’s next event, Professor Michelle Brown presents an illustrated talk on the Luttrell Psalter, a richly decorated manuscript from c.1320–1340, commissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell of Irnham. She explores its history, artistry and significance, bringing to life one of England’s most remarkable medieval manuscripts. www.stamfordlocalhistorysociety.org.uk

CINEMA

Cinema for Rutland at Rutland County Museum

7.30pm, £7.50 from Oakham Wines or online at wegottickets.com

May’s Cinema for Rutland film is The Roses (2025). It stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as Ivy and Theo, a seemingly perfect couple. When Theo’s architectural career collapses and Ivy’s culinary ambitions soar, intense resentment, rivalry and insecurity destroy their marriage. Reimagining the 1989 film, this dark tale follows their transformation from loving partners into violent rivals.

11

COMMUNITY EVENT

Lyddington Village Fete

1.30–4.30pm, free admission

Enjoy a traditional village fête on and around Lyddington’s green, with a Pimm’s tent, BBQ, teas and cakes, Gretton Silver Band and a vintage

car show. Browse plants, books and bric-a-brac, try the tombola and raffle, enjoy a dog show, children’s games, circus skills and fancy dress, plus ice creams and free entry to the English Heritage Bede House. All welcome.

15

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Stamford Jazz at Stamford Arts Centre

8pm, £15

Spend an evening with the Ben Martin Quartet as they bring the timeless melodies of the Great American Songbook to life. Performing together for over a decade, the quartet presents a curated selection of jazz standards by composers including George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Harold Arlen – capturing an era of romance, sophistication and storytelling.

WORKSHOP

Elizabeth Stanhope: Masterclass Series at Rutland Nursery 10am–12pm, £75

Explore fabrics, textures and cohesive design at this soft furnishings workshop with Elizabeth Stanhope. Discover how to layer materials, mix patterns and create atmosphere, with a hands-on mood board session to develop your own scheme. Includes refreshments, a goodie bag, exclusive discounts and expert insight. Part of a masterclass series at The Bothy, Rutland Nursery.

VENUES

16

MUSICAL THEATRE

Kenny! The Kenneth Williams Centenary Musical at Uppingham Theatre

2.30pm & 7.30pm, £17.50

Celebrate the life of comic genius

Kenneth Williams in this new musical at Uppingham Theatre, marking his centenary. Master-impressionist Wink Taylor stars, with book and lyrics by Uppingham actor and writer Henry Dawe and music by Tom Neill. Directed by John Hewer, this production captures Williams’ wit and legacy with a vibrant portrait of one of Britain’s most distinctive entertainers.

17

CLASSIC CARS

Classic Wheels at the Rutland Showground 10am–4pm, £12.50 adults (under 15s free), car parking free Take a ride out to Rutland this spring for an unforgettable day of motoring. More than 1,000 classic vehicles were on display in 2025 alongside autojumble stands, food and craft stalls, live music, children’s entertainment and club displays –and this year promises to be just as enjoyable for all the family. www.classicwheelsrutland.co.uk

• Belvoir Castle Grantham, NG32 1PA, 01476 871001, www.belvoircastle.com

• Burghley House Stamford PE9 3JY, 01780 752451, burghley.co.uk

• Goldmark Gallery 14 Orange Street, Uppingham LE15 9SQ, 01572 821424, goldmarkart.com

• Nevill Holt Market Harborough LE16 8EG, 01858 437451, nevillholtfestival.com

• Rockingham Castle Rockingham, Nr Corby LE16 8TH, 01536 770240, rockinghamcastle.com

CULTURE, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS

• Rutland County Museum Catmos St, Oakham LE15 6HW, 01572 758440, rutlandcountymuseum.org.uk

• Rutland Showground Showground Way, Oakham LE15 7TW, rutlandshowground.com

• Rutland Nursery Lyndon Road, Manton, Rutland LE15 8RN, 01572 498720, rutlandnursery.co.uk

• St Andrew’s Church Church Lane, Lyddington LE15 9LZ, musicinlyddington.co.uk

• St Martin’s Church High Street St Martin’s Stamford PE9 2LF, stmartinstamford.org

• Stamford Arts Centre 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DL, 01780 763203, stamfordartscentre.com

• Stamford Corn Exchange Broad Street, Stamford PE9 1PX, 01780 766455, stamfordcornexchange.co.uk

• Stamford Methodist Church 11 Barn Hill, Stamford PE9 2AE

• Uppingham Theatre 32 Stockerston Road, Uppingham LE15 9UD, 01572 820820, uppingham.co.uk

• Witham Hall Witham-on-the-Hill, Bourne PE10 0JJ, 01778 590222, withamhall.com

29 May | 31 May | 5 June | 7 June

Extra performance added: 3 June

Step into the golden age of Italian cinema with this stylish new production by Opera North, directed by James Hurley, and set in an independent film studio in mid-1960s Rome.

WHAT’S ON IN MAY

RIGHT: Craig Revel Horwood will be at Stamford Corn Exchange on 23 May with his fab-u-lous new show, Revelations.

20

TALK

The Arts Society Burghley at Stamford Arts Centre

10.45am, £10, guests very welcome

This month’s Burghley Arts Society lecture, ‘The Seine Estuary – Capturing the 19th Century Imagination’, is by Carole Petifer, who is an experienced guide and lecturer on combined history and art tours in France. The ever-changing sky and sparkling Seine estuary, where sky, sea and earth seem to fuse, attracted the 19th-century artists, writers and musicians. Through the guidance of the ‘Master of the Skies’, Eugène Boudin, Monet took his first ever painting lesson in the open air here. A new way of approaching art was opened up, resulting in Impressionism.

21–23

LIVE MUSIC

SIMFestival at

Stamford Arts Centre

Three wonderful days of classical chamber music on the theme of ‘music to laugh and cry to’.

For more details on what’s on when and where, see our feature on pp20–21.

23

EXHIBITION

John Farrington at Goldmark Gallery

1pm, free admission Goldmark Gallery presents a major retrospective of John Farrington,

celebrating one of Britain’s most original painters. His dreamlike yet grounded works blend human and animal worlds, rich in imagination and lived experience. Spanning his career, the exhibition offers a rare chance to explore his singular vision. Opens 23 May 2026 in Uppingham with a complimentary buffet lunch and a glass of fizz.

LIVE MUSIC

Music in Lyddington

7.30pm; £20–22 (£5 under 25s in fulltime education)

This month’s concert at St Andrew’s Church in Lyddington is the acclaimed Reuben Goldmark Trio (Jazz piano, bass, drums). The trio will be playing a selection of original jazz compositions written by the leader. Lyrical melodies and hooks playfully dance over high-tech beats and grooves that seem to have a life of their own – constantly in flux and transforming at will.

LIVE MUSIC & THEATRE

Craig Revel Horwood at Stamford Corn Exchange 7.30pm; £35.50–81.50

Craig Revel Horwood is a national treasure. The longest-serving judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing is the master of the Glitter Ball. After starting as a dancer, he worked on the nation’s biggest musicals and became a choreographer, director and best-selling author. Craig’s also a remarkable singer, and to celebrate the release of his debut solo album

– and new book, Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing – he’ll reveal his own, hidden talent during a fab-u-lous night of big songs, tall tales and glamour. Expect dancing, tales from Strictly Come Dancing, songs, plenty of laughs – and, yes, an unexpected cookery demonstration. Revelations is the show that keeps giving for fans of dance, music, comedy and the nation’s best-loved dance show.

LIVE DANCE

Ballet Central at Uppingham Theatre 7.30pm; £18

Following a celebrated 2025 tour, Ballet Central returns in 2026 with a new company and a revitalising programme of classical and contemporary dance, including an evening at Uppingham Theatre.

The mixed bill includes Kenneth MacMillan’s dream-like Solitaire and Times Square Ballet from On The Town, alongside two new commissions by Monique Jonas and Cameron McMillan.

Find out more at www.balletcentral.co.uk and see also our feature on Uppingham Theatre on p24.

23–25

FAMILY FUN

Boom Circus at Belvoir Castle Shows at 11am and 2pm; workshops: through the day (tickets £6 each)

WHAT’S ON IN MAY

Roll up, roll up and prepare to be dazzled this Bank Holiday as Belvoir Castle welcomes the return of the sensational Boom Circus, who will be pitching their Big Top at Belvoir Retail Village. There’ll be workshops too; perfect for children and adults alike, these interactive sessions offer the chance to learn juggling, plate spinning, hula hooping and balancing skills with expert guidance.

24

LIVE JAZZ

Olivia Chaney in Goldmark Front Room 7.30pm, £30

Enjoy an intimate performance by Olivia Chaney in Goldmark’s Front Room. The Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist has appeared on Later… with Jools Holland and performed worldwide, including the Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury, collaborating with leading artists across contemporary folk and

classical music, earning acclaim for her voice and musicianship.

29

ARTS FESTIVAL

Nevill Holt Festival

29 May to 21 June, tickets and full details of what’s on at nevillholtfestival.com

A festival of arts, entertainment and ideas, held in the glorious setting of Nevill Holt Estate. Building on a decade of opera performances, the Nevill Holt Festival now includes opera (Don Pasquale this year; from 29 May), concerts, conversations, performances, art exhibitions, family events and open gardens. With panoramic views that look out over three counties, Nevill Holt’s award-winning theatre is surrounded by bucolic private gardens designed by Chelsea gold medal winner, Rupert Golby. Visitors can also enjoy outstanding pieces of British sculpture including works by Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Allen Jones and Marc Quinn.

30

SINGING WORKSHOP

The Vocal Club: Sounds of the Sixties at Witham Hall 2–4pm, £14 (book tickets online)

Join The Vocal Club for two hours of uplifting music and sixties nostalgia, celebrating the decade that gave us

The Beatles, The Beach Boys and more. No previous experience is needed – just come along and enjoy singing in a friendly atmosphere. thevocalclub.co.uk

31

COUNTY SHOW

Rutland County Show at The Rutland Showground

For fuller details, see our feature on p26

Note: card payments only on the gate

A wonderful annual celebration of rural life, packed with family entertainment, shopping, crafts and more.

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Stamford International Music Festival 2026

Stamford International Music Festival (SIMFestival) returns this May, marking a decade since its beginnings and its eighth festival in Stamford. This year’s programme, characterised by ‘music to laugh and cry to’, explores the interplay of light and dark across a rich and beautifully balanced series of concerts from Thursday 21 May to Saturday 23 May. Editor Clare Rudd-Jones caught up with Festival Director and international violinist Freya Goldmark to find out more

STAMFORD INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL has, over the past decade, grown into a vibrant and much-loved celebration of chamber music, bringing together exceptional musicians for an intimate and dynamic series of performances each year. Founded by Freya Goldmark in 2016, the festival began modestly, with early performances in Uppingham, and has since evolved into a firmly established highlight of Stamford’s cultural calendar. Now marking ten years since its beginnings – and its eighth festival in Stamford – it has developed with a quiet confidence, reflected both in the exceptional standard of its players and in the scope and imagination of its programming.

A Journey Through Light and Dark

This year’s theme, ‘music to laugh and cry to’, draws on the enduring interplay of comedy and tragedy found throughout classical music – and, indeed, art and literature. Across the programme, works move fluidly between lightness and gravity, humour and intensity, in music that speaks directly to human experience. As Freya explains: ‘I want people to come on the whole journey with us.’

The festival brings together 14 musicians, many of whom return year after year. ‘We are all really good friends,’ Freya says, a quality that gives the performances their distinctive warmth and cohesion. Alongside familiar faces are exciting additions this year, including the internationally acclaimed Ligeti Quartet – as first violinist of the quartet, Freya is uniquely placed to bring them to Stamford. ‘It was a bit of a no-brainer,’ she says – and for audiences, it offers a rare opportunity to hear musicians at the very forefront of the international chamber music scene, performing repertoire honed in major venues. At the heart of this year’s programme runs the music of Korngold, a composer Freya has long admired. His richly expressive style sits naturally alongside works by Bach, Schubert,

SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL

• Become a Friend (£40 / yr)

• Become a Supporter (£100 / yr)

• Sponsor a Concert

There are many ways, big and small, in which you can support the Festival, in addition to going to the concerts. You can email Freya directly at freya@simfestival.com to discuss sponsorship or hosting, and you can find out more at www.simfestival.com/support/

photography: matthew johnson

‘I want people to come on the whole journey with us’

Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, as well as more recent voices including Steve Reich, György Ligeti and Dobrinka Tabakova – a dialogue across centuries, united by shared human emotion.

This year’s festival once again includes a children’s concert, first introduced last year and enormously successful. Led by violinist Emma Purslow, Tchaikovsky Goes on Holiday is a playful, story-led introduction to classical music. ‘There’ll be funny hats, a song for the children to learn – and it’s very relaxed.’ Aimed at ages six to ten, though open to all (grown-ups too!), it offers a wonderfully engaging first experience of live performance.

For Freya, what remains most special is the spirit of collaboration at the heart of the festival. ‘It still amazes me that musicians I respect so much are happy to come and play here – I don’t take that for granted.’ That sense of shared purpose is evident throughout the weekend, as musicians live, rehearse and perform together in Stamford.

Alongside directing the festival, Freya’s own performing career continues to gather momentum, with recent appearances at the Barbican and with the BBC Philharmonic. Yet she remains grounded in the simple joy of making music. ‘It feels like being on a travelator –there’s always something happening – but I just love playing the violin.’ When I ask whether there are particular highlights for her this year, she pauses. It’s clearly a tricky choice to make! But then she notes that she is particularly looking forward to performing Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto on the opening night, alongside pianist Joseph Havlat, and to the Friday lunchtime concert: ‘That’s always a lovely moment – you hear so many different things.’

This year also marks an important step in the festival’s development, with its recent transition to charitable status, enabling it to expand its work beyond the concert hall, particularly with young people in this area. ‘We’re already planning school projects – it feels like a really important next step.’

For audiences, the festival remains as welcoming and accessible as ever. Concert tickets range from £8 to £32, with admission free for under-17s (except for the children’s concert), and a festival pass offers excellent value for those wishing to experience the full programme.

As the festival enters its second decade, its sense of purpose feels clearer than ever – rooted in friendship, shaped by artistic curiosity and enriched by its connection to Stamford. A few days set slightly apart from everyday life, it offers the chance to gather, listen closely, and experience music in all its immediacy – moments that may linger long after the final notes fade.

tickets for all concerts are available from stamford arts centre box office: 01780 763203 | www.stamfordartscentre.com for all concerts except the children’s concert, admission is free for under 17s with a paying adult. a festival pass, which gives access to all eight concerts with a 33% saving, is £120. find out more at www.simfestival.com | @sim_festival

THE CONCERTS

Opening Concert: Mendelssohn Double Concerto

Thursday 21 May, 6pm, £30, Stamford Arts Centre

The festival opens with a programme that sets the tone for the weekend, balancing elegance and intensity, from Beethoven to Mendelssohn’s remarkable concerto for violin and piano.

Late Night: Different Trains

Thursday 21 May, 9pm, £20, Stamford Arts Centre

A striking late-night pairing, contrasting Schubert’s inward lyricism with Steve Reich’s powerful Different Trains, performed by the Ligeti Quartet.

Lunchtime Concert: Much Ado About Nothing Friday 22 May, 1pm, £16, Stamford Arts Centre

A varied and intimate programme, moving from Mozart and Bach to Korngold and Ligeti, full of lightness, charm and deeper reflection.

Evening Concert: Dvořák ‘Dumky’ Trio

Friday 22 May, 7pm, £30, Stamford Arts Centre

At the heart of the festival, this richly textured programme brings together rhythmic energy, lyricism and expressive depth.

Late-Night Beethoven: String Quartet Op.130 Friday 22 May, 9.30pm, £20, Browne’s Hospital

One of Beethoven’s most profound late quartets, performed in the intimate setting of Browne’s Hospital.

Morning Concert: ‘À la mémoire

d’un grand artiste’

Saturday 23 May, 11.30am, £16, Stamford Arts Centre

Tchaikovsky’s deeply expressive Piano Trio, written in memory of a close friend, forms the centrepiece of this reflective morning concert.

Children’s Concert

Saturday 23 May, 2pm, £8, Stamford Arts Centre

A relaxed, interactive introduction to chamber music, with storytelling, humour and a full ensemble of instruments – perfect for younger audiences.

Festival Finale: Souvenir de Florence

Saturday 23 May, 7.30pm, £30, Stamford Arts Centre

Dance, drama and lyricism, culminating in Tchaikovsky’s much-loved Souvenir de Florence

THIS PAGE: Musicians performing at the Arts Centre at last year’s festival.

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Ballet Central will be at Uppingham Theatre on Saturday 23 May

Uppingham Theatre

David Fensom, Theatre Manager, talks about the history of Uppingham Theatre and upcoming public events

NESTLED at 32 Stockerston Road, Uppingham Theatre wasn’t always the vibrant hub of drama it is today.

When it first opened its doors on 30 March 1905, it wasn’t a theatre at all – it was the ‘South African and David Memorial Hall’, a building with a dual mission: to honour the memory of the Second Boer War (1899–1902), particularly nine members of Uppingham School who lost their lives, and to celebrate Paul David, the school’s first Music and Choir Master, whose passion laid the foundations for Uppingham’s rich musical tradition.

The building’s most transformative chapter came in 1970, when Uppingham School decided it was time to swap dumbbells for drama.

The old hall and gymnasium were converted into a dedicated theatre space, reflecting the growing importance of drama in the school’s curriculum and its long theatrical heritage, which stretches back to a recorded performance in 1794. By 1972, the 280-seat Uppingham Theatre officially opened. Its inaugural production was Macbeth, with none other than Stephen Fry appearing as one of the witches – just before his infamous expulsion from the school. Last year, he returned to the theatre, strolling across the stage and reminiscing about its days as a gymnasium and its dramatic transformation.

Uppingham Theatre has seen many talented alumni pass through its wings. Among them are Tim McMullan (National Theatre, Magpie Murders), Robert Thorogood (creator and writer of Death in Paradise), Sam Riley (film and TV star), Jonny Vaughan (presenter and radio DJ), Harry Judd (McFly drummer) and even Hugh Jackman, who arrived as a Gap student in 1987. In 2006, Uppingham Theatre expanded again with the ‘Williams Studio’, a flexible 175-seat ‘black box’ space perfect for experimental productions, rehearsals and smaller performances – a haven for creativity.

Today, Uppingham Theatre is much more than a stage. It’s a fully fledged arts centre, boasting modern technical equipment, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, workshops, a bar and two dynamic performance spaces. It serves not just the pupils of Uppingham School but also the wider community, making it a thriving cultural heart of Uppingham and Rutland.

What’s On – This Month & Beyond

In May and June, the theatre will showcase a vibrant programme of community theatre, with performances from local favourites including ERDA, Lemon Jelly and Curtain Upp – celebrating the incredible talent and creativity within our community. On Saturday 16 May, the theatre presents the debut of a brand-new musical marking the centenary of the birth of the incomparable Kenneth Williams. ‘Kenny! The Kenneth Williams Centenary Musical’, with book and lyrics by Uppingham’s very own actor and writer Henry Dawe, promises a joyful, heartfelt tribute to one of Britain’s most iconic performers. On Saturday 23 May, Ballet Central will be at the theatre. And, looking ahead to the festive season, following the success of their January show ‘Victorious’, the D-Day Darlings return this December with ‘A Christmas to Remember’. Tickets are on sale now.

From music and dance to magic and more, Uppingham Theatre offers something for everyone. So, book your tickets, take your seat and prepare to be entertained.

UPPINGHAM THEATRE, 32 STOCKERSTON ROAD, UPPINGHAM LE15 9UD | 01572 820820

WWW.UPPINGHAM.CO.UK/LIFE/THEATRE

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The Rutland County Show

A much-loved fixture of the local calendar, The Rutland County Show – this year on Sunday 31 May – brings together countryside traditions, family entertainment, shopping and great food for a memorable day out

RETURNING on Sunday 31 May, The Rutland County Show once again fills the showground with all the sights, sounds and energy of a much-loved rural tradition. Now in its 192nd year, it remains a wonderful showcase for farming, community life and country pursuits, with attractions for all ages throughout the day – and more on offer this year than ever. Best of all, admission includes access to the vast majority of activities and entertainment once you are inside.

Livestock and equine classes sit at the heart of the show, alongside the chance to meet friendly animals in the Show Farmyard. Visitors can also enjoy the ever-popular Sheep Show, while the Vintage Field features farriers and traditional rural crafts demonstrated by skilled specialists.

‘All the sights, sounds

and

energy of a much-loved rural tradition’

Action and Entertainment: a Day for All the Family

Headline entertainment in the Main Ring comes from the Atkinson Action Horse Team, known for their daring riding displays, high-energy stunts and crowd-pleasing precision. They are joined by the fast-paced British Scurry and Trials Driving competition. In the Rutland Ring, expect gravity-defying BMX action and expert dog training demonstrations from the Meadow View team. The Active Zone offers plenty of opportunities to get involved, with free family-friendly activities including climbing, go-karts, cycling, Rumble Live and opportunities to try sports and dance taster workshops with local clubs.

There is live music across the day in the bar area, including performances from local bands and the award-winning EAGA Gospel Choir. Around the showground, visitors can also discover vintage tractors, floral exhibits in the horticultural tent and scent dog demonstrations.

Beyond the entertainment, the shopping areas are always a major draw, with stalls selling crafts, gifts, jewellery, ceramics and more. The Local Farmers’ Market offers a chance to stock up on regional produce, while a wide choice of food and drink ranges from artisan local favourites to global street food. Well-behaved dogs are welcome too.

THE 2026 RUTLAND COUNTY SHOW ON SUNDAY 31 MAY TAKES PLACE AT THE RUTLAND SHOWGROUND, JUST OFF THE A606 OAKHAM BYPASS. GATES OPEN AT 9AM.

PARKING AT THE SHOWGROUND IS FREE. THERE IS A FREE SHUTTLE BUS RUNNING THROUGH THE DAY FROM OAKHAM AND UPPINGHAM.

NOTE THAT TICKETS ON THE GATE ARE BY CARD ONLY. BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE NOW AT WWW.RUTLANDSHOWGROUND.COM

Make the Most of the New Tax Year

At Stocks Financial Management, we specialise in providing clear financial advice to help our customers achieve their long-term goals.

The 2026/27 tax year brings fresh opportunities to review your finances and make the most of valuable tax-efficient investment options. With careful planning, you can protect and grow your wealth while reducing unnecessary tax liabilities.

With a strong focus on building trusted relationships, our experienced advisers take the time to understand personal circumstances and deliver tailored strategies across pensions, investments, and estate planning. Our approach is built on professionalism, transparency, and a commitment to helping you make confident financial decisions.

Key areas to consider this tax year:

• Maximise pension contributions

• Utilise Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) allowances

• Plan for Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

• Consider Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning

Get in touch with our independent financial advisers to understand and action appropriate opportunities.

Start planning for your tomorrow, today

Is Poetry Shaping Stamford’s Voice?

Poetry is emerging as a way for Stamford’s community to connect and share experiences. Emmy Jenkins, co-founder of Rhymes on the Rocks, explores why

LIVING in a small town can be a strange experience. Stamford has no shortage of places to go – cafés, pubs, shops – but that doesn’t always translate into connection. Knowing where you belong, or how to meet people, isn’t always clear. This is why a quarter of adults in the UK report feeling lonely at least some of the time [ONS figures] – not always because they’re physically alone, but because everyday connection has become harder to access. Fewer places exist where you can simply walk in without feeling you need an invitation. At the same time, more interaction happens online – but it doesn’t always carry the same weight. People can be in constant contact and still feel like something is missing.

Spaces to Tell Your Story

Across Stamford, one response to that gap has started to take shape. Poetry, spoken word, open mics, workshops and readings are returning to everyday life, not as large-scale events, but as smaller, regular gatherings where people can take part or simply watch. Those attending reflect that need: there’s no single type. People in their twenties read alongside those returning to writing after years away; some have always written privately, others are trying it for the first time. The mix is wider than expected, and so are the things being shared. These gatherings make room for topics that don’t always fit into casual conversation: loneliness, identity, grief, relationships and the weight of ordinary moments.

The Need for a Listening Ear

Performance isn’t necessarily what draws people in. It’s the chance to listen properly, without interruption or distraction: no phones, no background noise, no pressure to respond. Just a few minutes of someone else’s perspective, held in a shared space. That kind of attention has become rare. There’s no requirement to be good,

no expectation to perform. People can arrive, sit quietly and leave, or take a risk and share something aloud. There’s room for both –and because of that, people show up.

Unity through Inclusivity and Community

There’s a levelling in these spaces. Nobody’s there because they’re the most polished or experienced – they’re there because they’ve chosen to be. This openness extends beyond Stamford, with people moving between towns, supporting each other’s events and building connections that travel both ways.

Within Stamford, that sense of togetherness appears in many forms: informal readings in bookshops, workshops where people try something new, outdoor moments at the poetry stone and on Remembrance Day. Collectively, it adds up.

Stamford is known for its history and architecture, but a town isn’t only what it has been. It’s what’s being made, day to day, by the people living in it now. What’s emerging offers a way to belong without effort – to see familiar faces, hear new stories and find your place within them.

It’s about how a town shifts from somewhere you live to somewhere you feel part of. Not just preserving what’s come before, but shaping the Stamford that comes next. For people looking for that, it’s already starting to happen. Rhymes on the Rocks offers a gentle way in.

This highly inclusive monthly spoken word night, created by Emmy Jenkins and Kia Went, runs on the second Wednesday of each month. It’s a place to share experiences or just drink in the stories of others. Doors open at 7.30pm, with performances from 8pm, at Eleven St Paul’s, 11 St Paul’s Street, Stamford PE9 2BE. rhymesontherocks

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OUNDLE Vintage Festival

Rebecca Downey reviews the upcoming Oundle Vintage Festival

THE Oundle Vintage Festival returns this year on Saturday 16 May from 10am to 4pm. Once again, the market town, local shops, businesses, vintage vendors and artisan makers will be celebrating classic quality and retro style. Since its inaugural event in 2019, the biennial festival has grown with each iteration. As always, there will be heritage displays, classic vehicles and historic machinery including the star attraction, the mighty steam engine Nero, a 1915 showman’s locomotive, which was supplied originally for the Bostock & Wombwell Travelling Circus and Menagerie. Alongside the vintage market of clothing, homewares, bric-a-brac and objets d’art, there will be street entertainers and two dedicated stages for performers, dancers and singers featuring Lindy Hop, Northern Soul and Morris Dancing, among others. Classic cream teas will be on offer at the food court, while traditional Punch & Judy, a vintage funfair and the popular teddy parachute will keep children entertained. It’s hoped that once again there will be a spectacular flypast by a World War II Spitfire and Hurricane. Visitors are encouraged to dress in the costume of their favourite era from the roaring ’20s to the swinging ’60s. Parking and entry is free; however, donations raised will go to the Oundle Community Fund. For further information, visit www.oundlevintagefestival.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Rebecca Hardy Antiques & Ruth Warwick, Artist

A new stall at this year’s vintage festival is an intriguing collaboration between Rebecca Hardy Antiques and artist Ruth Warwick. Finding themselves at a transitional stage in their careers and lives, the two Oundlebased entrepreneurs will be displaying their work, which celebrates bold and bright femininity, timeless beauty and the resilience and imperfections of womanhood. Both businesses focus on the process of their work and the narrative behind each piece.

Curation & Context

Specialising in antique seating and lighting in her online boutique business, new mother Rebecca Hardy is fascinated by the history of antique items: ‘They have witnessed decades of human life and the traces of the people who came before us,’ she says, and she hopes to inspire others to imbue their homes with the individuality and authenticity of timeless style from a bygone era. Rebecca’s stock is mostly 19th- and 20th-century pieces: frilled opaline pendant lights, frosted glass, delicate crimped and scalloped shades, statement armchairs, nursing chairs and elegant chaise longues – restored sympathetically and reupholstered in striking contemporary fabric.

Sensuality & Strength

Ruth Warwick is a contemporary figurative artist exploring themes of femininity, identity and emotional resilience through the complexities of womanhood. Her work focuses on the intimate framing of cropped bodies with bold and intuitive brushstrokes, painted through the female gaze. ‘My paintings portray discussions of how femininity is constructed and performed. The large canvases celebrate the enduring power of the feminine form and all its imperfections, and use layered brushstrokes and a colourful palette inspired by my time spent living in the South of France.’

Inspired by each other’s work and motivation, Ruth and Rebecca look forward to connecting with their local community and starting conversations about their passion for art and curating interiors that expose life’s complexities and ‘have a personal story to tell’. As Rebecca ruminates: ‘The pieces we place in our homes should reflect who we are, where we have been and who we are becoming.’

The Notswolds Summer Makers Market

Notswolds started as a way for decorative artist Laura Jekyll and filmmaker John Davison to document life and work across Rutland and the surrounding counties, bringing people closer to the makers shaping the region today. This summer, its first makers market opens in Stamford, with talks, workshops and gatherings for design lovers

THIS JUNE, the showroom of Claire Langley in Stamford will host Notswolds for a 10-day festival celebrating contemporary craft. The Summer Makers Market brings together a well-edited market of independent makers and a programme of workshops and gatherings.

Notswolds was founded by decorative artist Laura Jekyll and filmmaker John Davison to document life and work across Rutland and the surrounding counties. They work with the most respected makers and places shaping the region today, across film, collaborations, commissioned projects and curated events.

This is the first of its kind for Notswolds. The immersive event unfolds over 10 days, with a programme of workshops and curated experiences, alongside relaxed browsing and shopping, all shaped by Notswolds’ signature approach to storytelling.

Traditional British crafts, from rush weaving and basketry to leather and wool, sit alongside contemporary ceramics, sculpture, clothing and homewares. Each piece is selected to reflect the Notswolds approach to design and making. ‘We’ve invited makers whose work we’ve long followed, who represent the best in contemporary craft and design,’ says Laura.

‘The immersive event unfolds over 10 days, with a programme of workshops and curated experiences, alongside browsing and shopping’

Makers will exhibit their work and share their craft, offering a closer understanding of process, material and skill. The market also includes a multi-arts exhibition by Hagstone Collective, an exciting new initiative working with under-represented art forms and underrepresented artists across the Midlands. ‘At its heart is good work by good people,’ says John. ‘This is about bringing together the makers we know and admire, and sharing that with others who value how things are made and how they are lived with.’

Hosted within Claire Langley’s showroom, a high-ceilinged space with an almost ecclesiastical atmosphere, the market unfolds across three rooms. Workshops, supper clubs and smaller gatherings will run alongside the work on display, bringing people together around making, food, coffee and conversation. ‘Stamford sits at the centre of the Notswolds,’ Laura explains. ‘Claire Langley has an impeccable eye and has long supported independent makers. It felt like a natural collaboration.’

Running from 19 to 28 June at Claire Langley (Halliday’s Yard, Radcliffe Road, Stamford PE9 1ED), Notswolds’ Summer Makers Market is an invitation to spend time in a living, breathing creative space, where craft, place and people meet, and belonging is built through what is made and shared.

SHOP LOCAL

Bringing the Outdoors In

As we welcome warmer days, refreshing our homes can be the perfect way to get that new season feeling. This month we’re embracing natural tones – fresh greens, earthy textures, and warm woods – to bring a sense of nature indoors

1. Refresh empty spaces with the Green Witham Rug (£90) from Sophie Allport of Stamford. This pop of green brings a touch of the outdoors in. sophieallport.com

2. The hand-painted Heikki Bowl (£20 each) from Hunters Interiors of Stamford brings character to the table with its distinctive green botanical pattern. huntersinteriors.co.uk

3. This large Seaweed Green Rectangle Plate (£40) from Bagel & Griff, of Market Harborough, is the perfect platter for all your sunny barbecues. bagelandgriff.com

4. The rechargeable lamp (£159.95) from Sarah Harding Interiors of Uppingham brings a nature-inspired touch with its bamboo-look stem. sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk

5. From floaty air plants, leggy trailers or the spikiest of cacti, houseplants are guaranteed to add freshness, colour and life to interiors.

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We love the fabulous range at Stamford Botanics. stamfordbotanics.co.uk

6. This large Balearic Collections Salinas Diffuser (£38) from Home Harborough of Market Harborough will instantly fill a room with the essence of fresh sea air. homeharborough.co.uk

7. The TBCo Checkerboard Recycled Wool Blanket (£98) from Goodwin & Belle of Uppingham offers cosy and stylish comfort. goodwinandbelle.co.uk

8. The Maegen Oil Pourer (£38) from Bunny & Clarke of Market Harborough instantly elevates your dinner party set-up. bunnyandclarke.com

9. Add a touch of effortless elegance to any quiet corner or sunlit space with the Simply Stamford Ribbed Brown PU Lounge Chair (£389). simplystamford.co.uk

10. Plum & Ashby’s Tomato Leaf and Bay Kitchen candle (£35) from Violet Rose of Uppingham fills the kitchen with crisp and fresh aromas. violetrose.uk

11. Casa Verde’s Dutch Vase Flo (£12), available at Horton & Co at The Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, brings classic countryhouse charm to the home. hillyhorton.co.uk

12. Perfect your dinner party setting with these Tinkalink Flameless Candles (£37) from The Little Collective Rutland in Oakham. @littlecollectiverutland

13. Echoing tones of nature, the Army Green Table Lamp (£69.99) from Nook of Stamford adds a moody warmth to any space. nookstore.co.uk

14. Add a playful touch to your home with these decorative pears (£5.95 each) from Stamford Garden Centre. They bring a fresh, natural feel to any space. stamfordgardencentre.co.uk

words: erin andrews

info@blackshawinteriordesign.co.uk www.blackshawinteriordesign.co.uk

woolroom

Natural wool products for an out-of-this-world experience

Woolroom’s Managing Director, Chris Tatershall, explains how his Rutlandbased business continues to expand and thrive globally with an award-winning product range and an ever-expanding client base – now including NASA

What is the background of the business?

‘Established since 2008 in Bradford – the ‘home of wool’, we have been in Rutland since 2012. I have been in the sleep industry for almost 30 years, and since my son Ed joined me in the business, woolroom is proud to be a second-generation, independent, family concern. On launching, I set down stringent standards around quality, sustainability, value for money and transparency for our business and I’m proud to say that we still operate to that exact ethos today.

‘From Rutland to NASA – woolroom continues to push boundaries’

‘We now have a thriving operation in North America as well as supplying four showrooms for retailers in China. Both markets appreciate the heritage, organic, hand-crafted skill levels involved with our production – it’s something they cherish and revere. Our showroom in the heart of Oakham is our shop window, but all our products and detailed information about all our sustainable sourcing and manufacturing processes can be found on our website.’

Who makes up your team?

‘Our team has grown from eight to 18, and every member is as passionate and well-versed in the wonders of wool as I am. From the wool buyers to the accounts team, everyone is based here in Oakham and most live locally too. At the very core of our operation is a passionate team of individuals with unrivalled expertise to guide clients towards better, natural sleep.

‘Visitors to the showroom are welcome to simply browse or book a personalised sleep consultation at which they can discuss their specific sleep issues in detail and leave with bespoke solutions, which is always our ultimate goal.’

Can you tell us about your remarkable collaboration with NASA?

‘We are excited to announce that our products were sent to NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, for testing. We supplied 16 wool mattress toppers for a NASA Johnson test mission, meeting strict safety standards due to their 100% traceable British wool, which is naturally fire-resistant without added chemicals or treatments.

‘The mission studies the effects of oxygen-enriched environments on the body, ultimately aiming to reduce “pre-breath time” before astronauts suit up to enter space. Higher oxygen levels subsequently increase the risk of flammability, thereby ruling out bedding materials that are more likely to catch fire and harm critical machinery or the astronauts themselves, such as nylon or polyester.

‘This is a proud moment for our team. We have always believed wool is the most advanced performance fibre nature ever created. The fact that NASA is testing woolroom toppers at Johnson Space Centre reinforces that the natural qualities of wool, like safety, breathability and resilience, stand up to even the most demanding environments.’

What is so special about the British wool you use?

‘Wool is a remarkable natural fibre known for its unique properties, including insulation, moisture wicking, breathability, durability and sustainability. It is a natural insulator like no other and has been the subject of many studies – including a recent Welsh Governmentfunded study in partnership with the University of Bangor that concluded that wool outperforms feather, down and synthetic fibre on every level.

‘Wool is just the most natural choice when it comes to sleep products such as mattresses, pillows, duvets, toppers and blankets, as its unique fibre structure keeps you warm in cold weather whilst regulating body temperature in warmer conditions. Wool will also absorb moisture without feeling wet, which helps the user feel more comfortable by drawing sweat away from the skin, allowing air to circulate and moisture to evaporate to prevent overheating, as well as having antimicrobial properties, which help prevent odours and can help alleviate the symptoms of some allergies.

‘We use British wool in support of British farmers and their flocks of centuries’ old breeds of sheep. Different sheep thrive in different conditions and produce wool that is purposed in different ways. British Wool sorts and grades the wool, so we are able to hand select the wool we need for different elements of our product range, and our unique QR code allows us to identify the specific farm that supplied the wool for each product.’

What are your best-selling products and why?

‘Our washable Deluxe range sells particularly well, as being machine washable makes it so easy to care for. Mattress protectors, pillows and duvets are particularly popular. Our range is incredibly durable and lasts significantly longer than others made with down, feather or synthetic materials, making wool products much better value for money and ultimately offering you far better sleep over a much longer period.

‘At the end of the product’s life, it can literally be put on the compost heap as every element is biodegradable. What begins life as grass feeding the animal that produces the wool goes back into the ground as the ultimate cyclical product – just as nature intended.’

words: amander

woolroom, 33–35 pillings road, oakham le15 6qf | 01780 461217 email: info@thewoolroom.com

open mon–fri 9am–5pm & weekends by appointment

thewoolroom.com woolroom

Spring Into a Better Sleep , Naturally

As the seasons change, it’s the perfect time to clear the clutter, lighten your layers, and create a calm, breathable sleep space. Our British wool bedding and premium naturally-filled mattresses help create a fresher, calmer environment - perfect for Spring’s unpredictable nights. Wool naturally regulates temperature and moisture so you wake feeling rested, refreshed, and ready for the season ahead.

Scan the QR to book a sleep consultation, or visit us at: 33-35 Pillings Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6QF 01780 461217 | info@thewoolroom.com I woolroom.com

Open Mon - Fri: 9am - 5.30pm, Sat - Sun: Appointment only

Selling Your Home? HOW TO STAND OUT ONLINE

With strong roots in Rutland and a career in global digital media, Steve Carroll explains what buyers really notice online –and what local sellers should get right this spring

SPRING has always been prime time for the property market. Longer days and that feeling of a fresh start mean many people across Rutland and Stamford will be considering a move in the months ahead. Although I’ve spent the past two decades working in the Australian property industry, Rutland has always been home. My career began at the Stamford and Rutland Mercury. My children started school in North Luffenham, and our first family home was in Bisbrooke.

Over the last 20 years, my work with international media organisations has focused on understanding how people behave online – analysing millions of property searches and educating homeowners and estate agents about how digital habits influence buying decisions. While people don’t complete property purchases online, almost every property journey begins there: scrolling through listings.

BELOW: Charm – which this Rutland thatched cottage has in spades – opens the door, but in today’s market it’s digital presentation that turns admiration into viewings.

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Buyers Scroll in Seconds: Online property searches are fast and instinctive. Buyers skim listings and make splitsecond decisions about whether to look further. In many ways, it’s like choosing something to watch on Netflix. If nothing captures attention within moments, they simply move on. Every successful movie has a trailer, a short preview that makes you want to find out more. Property listings need the same impact. The lead image, a video clip, an interactive floor plan, or the opening lines of description must create immediate interest. If a listing doesn’t make someone pause, it risks being lost in the scroll.

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Specific Always Wins: One of the biggest frustrations buyers experience is generic marketing. Phrases such as ‘ideal family home’ or ‘beautifully presented throughout’ appear so frequently that buyers barely notice them. What stands out are unique, interesting specifics. It might be the kitchen window overlooking open countryside, or the short walk to the pub. Details such as these help buyers imagine themselves living there –and imagination is powerful in property decisions.

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Make It Easy to Say Yes: Speed and knowledge matter. If a potential buyer struggles to reach an agent or waits too long for a response to a question, interest drops. A useful exercise is to ask a friend to ‘mystery shop’ your property. Can they easily make contact? How is your home described over the phone by the estate agent?

When my wife and I sold up recently, we did exactly this. We discovered our property wasn’t being described accurately with all its wonderful features. Fortunately, we identified this early and worked with our agents to ensure our home was represented well to buyers.

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Honest Marketing Builds Trust: Today’s buyers are informed and cautious. Over-edited or misleading photographs create mistrust. When expectations don’t match reality, buyers disengage. Honest, clear photography leads to more meaningful viewings.

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Community Still Sells Homes: Ultimately, people aren’t just buying bricks and mortar – they’re buying into a lifestyle. They want to read about the walks, cafés, schools and what the current owners genuinely love about living there. Local insight helps buyers picture their future.

As we head into the spring market, the message is simple: effective property marketing needs to be fast, visual, engaging, honest and human. A strong online presence can be the difference between a seller achieving a premium price and a buyer finding their perfect home.

Steve Carroll (pictured) and his wife, Lorraine, have recently returned to live in Rutland after 20 years in Australia. Steve has worked internationally in digital media and property, and runs one of the largest charity cycling events in Australia. He is a former 1st XV captain at Stamford Rugby Club. Steve can be contacted at steve@digital-live.com.au or www.digital-live.com.au

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words: amander meade

Elms Landscapes

For more

than

30 years, Elms Landscapes has been a trusted name across the region. It’s a family-run business, where heritage meets innovation, and clients are welcomed with warmth, expertise and an unwavering commitment to excellence

THE STORY of Elms Landscapes begins with David Lewenden, whose passion for horticulture began with his studies at Pershore Horticultural College. After graduation, David gained experience with other landscaping firms, before launching Elms Landscapes in 1989, supported by his father, who managed the office during those early formative years. A decade later, his wife Louise joined him, bringing her own qualifications in garden design and adding a creative energy that continues to shape the business today. Together, they form a partnership grounded in deep knowledge, complementary talents and an authentic love for the landscapes they create.

What truly sets Elms Landscapes apart is its team. Carefully trained by David from the ground up, many staff members have stayed for decades, which is a telling sign of both loyalty and leadership. ‘There’s a world of difference between someone who will mow your lawn and a qualified landscaper and horticulturist,’ David explains. The Elms approach is refreshingly rare in the industry, as they employ their team year-round, never outsourcing to subcontractors, ensuring consistency, accountability and craftsmanship in every project.

DESIGN EXPERTISE

This breadth of expertise allows Elms Landscapes to offer an impressive suite of services. From bespoke garden design and largescale landscaping to garden buildings, regular maintenance and complex outdoor installations, the team is equipped to tackle virtually

any outdoor project. Clients commission them for driveways, patios, pergolas, decking, lighting, planting plans and water features, right through to comprehensive outdoor transformations. Louise captures it perfectly: ‘If it happens outdoors, we can help.’ Whether working with a compact townhouse courtyard or a sweeping country estate with acres of lawn, the team brings the same care, ingenuity and attention to detail.

Never ones to stand still, David and Louise ensure their offering evolves to reflect contemporary trends as well as long-term landscape performance. Irrigation systems, wildflower lawns and meadow style planting remain popular as homeowners seek environmentally conscious features that support biodiversity. Event gardening has also emerged as a distinctive speciality, designing and cultivating gardens timed to look spectacular for weddings, anniversaries or milestone celebrations held at home. It’s a deeply personal service that captures the spirit of Elms Landscapes –creating outdoor spaces that enrich life’s most important moments. Design and maintenance sit at the core of the business. David and Louise believe that a garden should reflect the lifestyle of the people who live in it, whether it’s a family-friendly space, a peaceful retreat for retirement, a colourful cottage garden or an outdoor entertaining haven. They spend time understanding what clients want, then translate those ideas into imaginative, practical designs that flourish through the seasons.

MAINTENANCE YOUR WAY

Maintenance services are equally comprehensive. From grass and lawn treatments to hedge cutting, tree and shrub pruning, weeding, hoeing, planting and seasonal care, the team tailors each programme to suit the client’s needs and budget. Weekly visits, yearly tidy-ups or a one-off pre-event refresh are all delivered with the same dependable, personal service for which the team is known.

If you are ready to reimagine an outdoor space, Elms Landscapes offers not just skill, but partnership, reliability and a family ethos developed over three decades. Covering Rutland and the surrounding counties, Elms Landscapes remains firmly rooted in family values, with Louise acting as the first point of contact, while David still oversees every project personally, often quite literally getting his hands dirty. ‘We put our heart and soul into every project,’ adds Louise. ‘We are very proud that word of mouth brings in the majority of our clients. You will always feel our ownership and that’s what makes us unique.’

ELMS LANDSCAPES

01572 770373 | 07968 335651

ELMSLANDSCAPES.CO.UK | ELMSLANDSCAPES

GARDEN CENTRE | HOME & LIFESTYLE | DINING | FARM SHOP | FARMING

STUNNING GARDEN CENTRES IN RURAL LOCATIONS

Make the most of May at our award-winning garden centres. Discover top-quality locally reared beef and lamb in our Farm Shop, plus a large range of plants, gifts, homewares, barbeques and outdoor furniture including our exclusive Orchard Life ranges. Visit us at Oakham and Woodlands Hinckley to find everything you need to enhance your garden and home this spring.

The Spellbinding Gardens at Burghley

Set within the grounds of Burghley House, the gardens at Burghley are part of a landscape shaped over 500 years. From their beginnings under William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley, to the lasting influence of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, Burghley has long been a place of thoughtful garden-making. As the 2026 season opened, Nicholas and Clare Rudd-Jones went to take a fresh look – and, in particular, to see the new information boards recently installed across the Sculpture Garden. What emerges is a landscape that feels both expansive and quietly detailed, inviting visitors to pause, wander and look more closely

IN RECENT YEARS, Burghley’s gardens have been carefully reshaped under the direction of Head Gardener Joe Whitehead, with a focus on creating a more dynamic, resilient and nature-rich landscape. Layered planting brings structure, texture and seasonal interest, while a more natural approach supports biodiversity alongside horticultural quality. Incredibly, over 100,000 plants and bulbs have been added in recent years.

Visitors can explore two distinct yet complementary spaces. The Sculpture Garden integrates contemporary art within sweeping borders, wildflower planting and long views across Capability Brown’s great lake. The Garden of Surprises, inspired by Elizabethan ideas and historic records, offers a more theatrical sequence of enclosed spaces, animated by water, playful features and bold, architectural planting.

We arrived on a fine early summer afternoon to explore the Sculpture Garden for the first time this season, and to take a closer look at the newly installed information boards. Thoughtfully placed, they offer small insights into the sculptures and their makers, alongside gentle prompts that encourage visitors – especially younger ones – to look more closely. A QR code in the garden brochure provides a useful map and full guide to the works on display.

New Information Boards

The new boards deepen appreciation without intruding, allowing visitors to follow their own curiosity. There are also insights on different planting zones in the garden. Among the sights that particularly caught our attention was Swallows Rill – a rocky valley where, when the lake overflows, water cascades through the landscape before disappearing from sight. Shadeloving plants such as hostas and ferns thrive along the valley floor, while the banks are planted with spring bulbs and alpine flowers. Nearby, a Victorian-style stumpery – formed from upturned tree roots – adds another layer of interest.

Elsewhere, Cornu Ceciliu by sculptor Pete Rogers brings a note of quiet humour. Rogers trained in metalwork after a career as a marine engineer, and creates sculptures that balance precision with imagination, often with a lightness of touch designed to make people smile. This large steel snail does just that. The interpretation board tells us: ‘Snail has become our Sculpture Garden mascot, bringing together Burghley’s love of art and its garden residents. Spot his image on maps and signs throughout the garden.’ Young visitors are especially going to love this. With its polished shell catching and reflecting the surrounding garden, the snail’s shape subtly echoes the form of Burghley House’s towers; both refined and playful, it invites closer inspection – not least to spot your own reflection shifting across its surface.

The Cut Flower Garden offers a more traditional pleasure. Here, perennials and annuals are grown for weekly cutting, continuing a long-standing tradition of bringing flowers from the garden into the house, ensuring that Burghley’s interiors reflect the changing seasons outside.

And the Garden of Surprises is always a treat – for visitors young and old. There’s water cascading, mist rising, fountains dancing. It draws the visitor in and lifts the spirits.

At the end of a visit, the Garden Café provides a relaxed place to pause, with outdoor seating set among raised beds planted variously with flowers and vegetables, while the garden shop offers a carefully chosen selection of plants, gifts and homewares.

Burghley is the kind of place that rewards return visits. We left already planning to come back again through the season – to see how the planting shifts, and to enjoy once more the sense of calm that settles so naturally here.

OPPOSITE & ABOVE: scenes from Burghley’s Sculpture Garden and Garden of Surprises, including a new information board and Cornu Ceciliu – Burghley’s very own giant snail – by Pete Rogers, above centre.

VOTE FOR BURGHLEY GARDENS

Burghley Gardens has been shortlisted for the Historic Houses 2026 Garden of the Year Award, celebrating some of the country’s most remarkable gardens. Now in its 40th year and sponsored by Christie’s, the award recognises horticultural excellence among Historic Houses member properties. From hundreds of entries, just six gardens have been selected for the public vote.

Voting is open until 31 August 2026. To support Burghley Gardens, visit: www.historichouses.org/ garden-of-the-year-2026/

ANNUAL PASS

IF ONE VISIT ISN’T QUITE ENOUGH, AN ANNUAL PASS OFFERS UNLIMITED ACCESS TO BURGHLEY HOUSE AND GARDENS THROUGHOUT THE OPEN SEASON. IT’S AN EASY WAY TO RETURN AS THE PLANTING EVOLVES, THE LIGHT SHIFTS AND THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES THROUGH THE YEAR. AND – DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN UPGRADE A DAY TICKET TO AN ANNUAL PASS AFTER YOUR VISIT. JUST ASK AT THE TICKET DESK.

BURGHLEY.CO.UK BURGHLEYHOUSE

The Island with More Travel

WORDS: HELEN DOOLEY DIRECTOR OF MORE TRAVEL

You don’t book The Island. Not really. You hear about it – quietly, indirectly – through people who don’t overshare. And when you ask how to get there, the answer is always the same: you don’t. They arrange it.

More Travel deal in places that feel like secrets – soft, unspoken, and somehow more meaningful because of it. This is one of them.

It starts without effort.

No early alarms. No stress. Just a smooth journey where every detail has already been handled. Somewhere between leaving and arriving, the noise of everyday life fades out – the emails you forgot to send, the messages that no longer feel urgent.

And then, there it is… The Island.

Not dramatic. Not crowded. Just quietly beautiful in a way that makes you instinctively slow down. You look at each other – not because there’s something to say, but because there isn’t. And that’s rare.

Time moves differently here.

Mornings begin gently – coffee shared in silence, the kind that feels comfortable rather than empty. Sunlight spills across still water. Plans are loosely formed, then easily abandoned. You walk without deciding where to go.

You stop because something looks good – a table by the sea, a shaded corner, a place that feels right in the moment.

Lunch turns into an afternoon.

An afternoon turns into nothing in particular. And somehow, that becomes everything.

There are beaches, of course, but not the kind you rush to.

The kind you find.

Clear water that invites you in without hesitation. Quiet stretches where you don’t need to speak, because the stillness says enough. You swim, you drift, you lie in the sun a little longer than you meant to.

There’s no one watching the time.

So, neither do you.

At some point, you take the boat. Everyone who knows The Island does.

Not for the photos, not for the itinerary, but for that feeling – when it’s just you, the open water and a coastline that reveals itself slowly. You find places that don’t feel real. Coves you can only reach like this. Moments where you laugh for no reason… or say nothing at all.

And later, you won’t remember exactly what you did that day.

Only how it felt.

Evenings arrive softly.

A table by the water.

Glasses that are never rushed. Conversations that stretch, pause and start again. The kind where you realise you haven’t been this present with each other in a long time.

No distractions.

No need to be anywhere else.

Just the quiet luxury of time and each other.

And that’s the thing about The Island.

It’s not about what you do. It’s what it gives back.

Space to slow down.

Space to reconnect.

Space to remember why you wanted to get away in the first place – not just from everything else, but towards each other.

When it’s time to leave, it doesn’t feel dramatic. Just a little quieter.

You carry it with you – not as a checklist of places, but as a feeling you can’t quite explain to anyone who hasn’t been.

Which, in a way, is the point.

Because The Island was never meant for everyone. Only for those who know who to ask.

More Travel don’t just take you away. They bring you back to what matters.

IF YOU WANT TO EXPLORE THE ISLAND, OR ANY OTHER TRIP, JUST GET IN TOUCH:

Land Rover Experience east of england

Nicholas and Clare Rudd-Jones returned to Land Rover Experience East of England at Rockingham for a second visit – this time with a little more confidence, and a desire to push things further

WE DROVE back to Rockingham six months on from our first Land Rover Experience, feeling rather different. Our own Range Rover Evoque –which we had only newly acquired prior to our last visit to Rockingham – was no longer quite so mysterious. This time, we were keen to spend less time learning the basics and more time out on the course – testing both the vehicle and ourselves.

That, as it turns out, is exactly how it works. ‘It’s your day,’ as the team say – and every session is shaped entirely around you. Whether you’re a complete beginner or returning for more, the instructors instinctively tailor the experience to suit.

We were greeted this time by Charlotte, whose quiet confidence immediately put us at ease. Her background is impressive: she has been competing in off-road driving since the age of 15, starting in a Series 3 Land Rover, and brings with her a deep technical understanding of the vehicles. Yet what stood out most was not just her expertise, but her ability to read people.

‘Above all, I love people to build confidence,’ she told us – and that is exactly what she does. There is a remarkable intuition to her teaching: a sense of when to encourage, when to reassure and, occasionally, when simply to say: ‘Breathe.’

Out on the Course

The setting itself plays no small part in the experience. The off-road tracks are set within the Rockingham Castle estate, a beautiful and varied landscape of old quarries, woodland and open countryside. From certain vantage points, the views stretch across four counties – Northamptonshire, Rutland, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire – but once you’re on the course, your focus narrows entirely to the terrain ahead.

We began where we had left off on our previous visit: the steep descent. It remains one of the most counter-intuitive elements of the day. As the vehicle tips forward over what feels like an impossibly sharp drop, every instinct tells you to brake. But you mustn’t. The

car takes control, carefully managing each wheel, while you simply steer and trust.

From there, the challenges built steadily. Uneven ground lifted wheels clean off the surface; sharp inclines tested both nerve and technique (we reached an angle of 27 degrees); logs were negotiated with careful precision. Each obstacle revealed another layer of the vehicle’s capability – and another opportunity to refine our driving.

Perhaps the most enjoyable section, though, was the water. It is tempting, Charlotte explained, to power through at speed, sending up great waves. But the real skill lies in restraint: entering slowly, creating barely a ripple. The technology does the rest. Our vehicle measured water depth (up to 0.9 metres with raised chassis), warning us as we approached the limit, while a 360-degree camera kept watch for hidden obstacles beneath the surface. It is, quite simply, extraordinary what these vehicles can do.

More than Driving

What elevates the experience beyond pure driving is the sense of immersion in the landscape. Charlotte’s background in Forest School education brought an added dimension, as she pointed out elements of the natural environment along the way. Between sections of the course, we noticed sheep and lambs grazing nearby, pheasants darting through the undergrowth, and the occasional flash of a woodpecker. Roe and muntjac deer are often seen here too. It is a reminder that this is not a purposebuilt test track in isolation, but a carefully integrated part of a living, working estate.

Building Confidence

Over the course of our half-day, something subtle but significant shifted. The initial flicker of nerves gave way to enjoyment; hesitation turned into curiosity. With Charlotte’s guidance, we found ourselves approaching each new challenge not with trepidation, but with a sense of anticipation.

That, perhaps, is the true purpose of the Land Rover Experience. Yes, you learn about the remarkable capabilities of the vehicles. Yes, you develop practical off-road driving skills. But more than that, you build confidence – in the car, in the environment, and in yourself. Three hours passed in what felt like no time at all. Once again, we left exhilarated, a little more skilled and extremely well looked after.

Beyond the Experience

Land Rover Experience East of England offers far more than individual driving sessions. As we learned previously, its remit is broad: helping new owners understand their vehicles, certainly, but also delivering tailored experiences for a wide range of visitors. Young drivers (aged 11–17, with minimum height of 145cm) can take the wheel in a safe, controlled environment; adults can choose from one-hour, half-day or full-day experiences. Corporate groups can combine meetings with outdoor driving sessions, building both skills and camaraderie, while bespoke events and celebrations offer something altogether more memorable than the usual gathering.

THIS PAGE: a return to the incredible Land Rover Experience – our second time tackling the course, from deep water crossings to steep climbs, mud and seriously bumpy terrain (top left). It is also a brilliant setting for team away days, as seen here (left) with local company, Euromec, combining adventure, challenge and plenty of fun in the great outdoors.

‘Once again, we left exhilarated, a little more skilled and extremely well looked after’

For those requiring professional training, Lantra-accredited courses provide nationally recognised qualifications for off-road driving, used by organisations ranging from emergency services to environmental agencies. Yet whether you arrive as a complete novice, a seasoned driver or simply someone looking for a memorable day out, the essence remains the same. It is, as one instructor neatly put it, ‘about the people.’ And judging by the smiles – ours very much included – that is exactly what makes it so special.

Land Rover Experience East of England

Shire Farm, Rockingham Castle & Park, Uppingham Road, Nr Market Harborough LE16 8TP

01536 772238 | Open Mon–Sun 9am–4pm

What3words: latter.defenders.woodstove

www.landrover.co.uk/experiences/driving-experiences/uk/ east-of-england.html

The Muzzle Movement

WORDS: AMANDER MEADE

CLARA HEWSON of The Muzzle Movement has a BSc in Animal Behaviour and an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour as well as seven years’ experience of overseeing the largest rehabilitation unit in the UK for the Dogs Trust. She explains how Tolly, her adopted pointer cross, not only changed her life but the landscape for other dogs like him.

In November 2019, Clara adopted seven-year-old Tolly. His life up to that point included being exposed to domestic abuse, and as a result, he would use aggressive behaviour when approached by unfamiliar people or dogs. With her expertise in animal behaviour, Clara wasn’t daunted. ‘My job at the time meant that I was working with some of the most challenging rescue dogs in the UK, so I knew what to do. I had supported many adopters just like me with their own adopted dogs but also knew that many had been the subject of hateful words carelessly thrown at them by strangers in response to their dog being muzzled. I discovered firsthand how much it hurt to hear those things said about your own dog – a dog you knew was so loving and special when he was away from the things that scared him.’

‘Tolly changed the world for dogs just like him’

Rethinking the Muzzle

Further research led to Clara discovering a gap in the market for muzzles that are ethical, allow their wearer to pant and drink comfortably but look less intimidating. She decided to try and change the public perception of muzzled dogs by creating a more attractive product that met the needs of the dogs wearing them. ‘Tolly is the reason The Muzzle Movement exists. My love for him and my frustration with people’s response to his muzzle led me to leave my senior position and spend all of my time advocating for muzzled dogs and their guardians.’

Starting out on Instagram, Clara began creating content aiming to help people understand the magic of muzzles and that the guardians using them are thoughtful, responsible and undeserving of negative feedback. ‘Our community grew with Tolly’s handsome face always central to The Muzzle Movement brand.’ Using Tolly as her inspiration, Clara designed and launched her own

muzzle, initially in three sizes, and the response was immediate. ‘All our muzzles are handmade in the UK by our team of experienced dog trainers and behaviourists. They are designed with dogs’ welfare in mind and feature a purpose-built treat hole as well as ample space for sniffing, drinking, and panting to ensure maximum comfort.’

A Movement & Lasting Legacy

Despite orders flooding in, Clara struggled to enjoy her success due to Tolly’s declining health. ‘Tolly was becoming unsteady on his hind legs. He was now nine years old and my best friend. I knew he wasn’t well and when he became unable to jump on and off the sofa I realised things had become serious. In April 2022, an MRI scan revealed an inoperable spinal cord tumour. Completely devastated, we spent 24 hours with Tolly before he fell asleep peacefully forever in my arms.’

Although Tolly wasn’t with Clara as she surpassed more and more milestones with her business, she takes comfort from knowing he has forever changed the muzzle market and, as his size is worn by thousands of dogs all over the world, they all carry a little piece of him wherever they go. ‘Tolly changed the world for other dogs just like him. I’m still heartbroken that he’s not here but now it’s my responsibility to keep going. I couldn’t be prouder of him. I hope that every time someone asks about one of our muzzles, the dog’s guardian will tell them about the dog that started it all – because that’s what I’ll be doing every day until we meet again.’

Find out more about The Muzzle Movement at www.themuzzlemovement.com

Stamford – London – Holt – Uppingham

www.therugstudio.co.uk

01780 239594 rachel@therugstudio.co.uk

Unit C4 Brownlow Street, Stamford, PE9 2EL

The Stamford Studio: Tues. 10am - 1pm Wed. Fri.10am - 4.30pm Sat. 10am - 4pm Oct - April 10am - 1pm May - Sept.

Antique Centres: Stamford PE9 2LF Holt NR25 6SU Uppingham LE15 9PY

Why

• Repairs and renovations

• Overhaul and draught proofing

• Reglazing and reputtying

• Converting single glazing to double glazing Call James on: 01572 720524 or 07841 527855 tradrest@hotmail.co.uk www.traditional-restoration.co.uk

Our Village Hubs

Pamela Howarth visits a handful of our wonderful village shops to find out how they’re doing in these changing times

YOU’LL FIND a number of village stores in our green and pleasant land, around Rutland and Stamford.

Many are thriving, having diversified and adapted, but some are struggling. Others have closed in recent years, usually for financial reasons, including the Horizon scandal, and because locals don’t use them enough.

These days the village store faces rising energy costs, high business rates and changing consumer habits like the surge in online supermarket ordering – not to mention Amazon! Even the Ambridge village shop in The Archers is frequently under threat of closure these days… Options to keep a village store open include moving to a community-run model or joining a larger retail chain.

The Footfall

It’s important to stress that some villagers with no transport or internet access still rely on their local shops for food and necessities, as they did in our ancestral, pre-supermarket past. However, nowadays, the footfall in a village shop is largely made up of

convenience customers who use it for daily-need purchases: bread, milk, household items, snacks for the children or something for supper… Time and money are saved by avoiding a round trip to town. Carbon footprints are lower too.

Unique Shopping Experience

For those who haven’t visited a village shop recently, you’ll find a different, enjoyable and more personal shopping experience: each enterprise is unique, selling its own selection of goods. You’ll find the staples but everything else is serendipity: whether it’s fresh local produce, seasonal plants, cards and gifts, books by a local author, homemade cakes, craft items…

The Edith Weston Village Shop

I moved to Edith Weston just after the run-down farm shop, taken over by Helen and Andy Wood, was fast becoming the well-stocked store it is today, 12 years on. ‘It was a steep learning curve,’ says Helen, who now employs several lovely staff, ‘but we were lucky

to have six months getting used to the shop before the post office was reinstated.’ She has increased the P.O. services, including cash withdrawal, a boon these days when most banks have disappeared.

The range of goods is astonishing for a small shop, though always a balancing act, I’m told, between keeping prices down while also selling some luxury items. Local sourcing of fresh bread, meat, fruit and veg has become a real feature here, as in many village shops, and supports businesses in the area like Nelson’s, Farmer Lou, Manor Farm, Lily and Honey and more… The prices may be a bit higher but people value healthy eating and the provenance of food.

More recently, Helen and Andy have added a coffee shop with inside and outside seating, popular with cyclists and walkers, as well as villagers. The couple often help out at village functions, selling tickets and donating raffle prizes. During Covid, the shop became the mothership for everything from food boxes to organising prescription delivery and support where needed.

There are customers who don’t see anyone else during the day and enjoy a visit to the shop, Helen tells me. ‘We’re proud to call ourselves the village hub and love how people can come to us for information, advice and a chat.’ My partner, Les, gives the bloke’s perspective: ‘I like the banter in the village shop and, as a man who can’t find things, it’s really easy to ask!’

The Community Model: Market Overton

This attractive village store is organised by the villagers for the villagers. The imaginative model of the community shop, run by a committee and volunteers, has become a popular one. Other examples in our area are the shops at Barrowden, Castle Bytham and Cottesmore.

I spoke to Anne Pearson, the committee chairwoman at Market Overton, about the problems they’re experiencing in order to keep the shop open (she often uploads online appeals). Suppliers have had to put up their prices and then there’s the huge electricity bill – £600 per month on a business tariff. Staff wages are a large proportion of their costs, but employees often put in unpaid hours, she tells me. ‘It’s a lovely friendly place. Safe for children to go on their own and a lifeline for elderly residents who live alone.’

The shop, with its new coffee machine, is well run as a result of great teamwork going on behind the scenes: from helpers in the shop to those who donate all sorts of produce and plants; from the bookkeeper, the oldest member of the team, to the cake-bakers and the lady who makes sushi; from the villagers who support fund-raising for the store to the teenagers who decorated the window for Easter.

‘All the profits go back into the business,’ Anne tells me. But they don’t always break even. ‘We’re not giving up without a fight,’ she says. ‘This shop has run for 15 years, and we want it to be here for at least another 15…’

Barbara’s Store: Closing Soon…

Sadly the village shop in Empingham is closing in June, due to a change of ownership and rent increases. Barbara’s Store has been in the same family for over 50 years: Martyn Prior and his sister, Wendy Pickering, who lived behind the shop as children, took it over from their parents, though their mum, aged 86, still helps out too.

Martyn hopes that the business will continue as a village shop, but future plans are uncertain. Selling newspapers is a dying trade and many residents don’t use the shop, he tells me; it relies heavily on passing trade. He still delivers food regularly to several elderly, housebound villagers and wonders what will happen to them when the shop has gone.

The Cottesmore Village Shop

Raj and Devi Agath already had considerable retail experience when they took over this shop two years ago, employing all the members of staff who already worked there. They retained the post office and refitted the store, which now has several aisles like a minimarket – but still feels spacious. Raj tells me that they have a contract with Costcutter and, through this, access to Co-op products as well. Many items are already price-marked, the rest being sold according to each company’s recommended prices.

The range of goods is impressive: groceries, magazines, bread, fruit and veg, frozen foods, cigarettes and vapes, stationery and a good selection of wines and spirits. I ask about the homemade frozen curries. ‘Don’t buy them,’ he jokes, ‘you’ll get addicted!’ (I buy three for research purposes.) His favourite part of the job? Everything, especially getting to know the villagers and the friendly vibe. Customers come from other villages, especially those without a local store, like Greetham, Exton and Stretton. Walkers and cyclists pop in, too. Raj signed up to the Snappy Shopper delivery app – but those who aren’t able to come into the shop often prefer to text him a list and he’s happy to deliver their groceries.

The prevailing winds are not blowing kindly on village stores dotted across the countryside, as they battle with a tsunami of rising costs. But, in spite of the current retail revolution, I believe these feisty little shops are still needed by communities. Please support them.

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A Colour Story to Lift the Mood White Ginger

Sun-drenched colour, effortless silhouettes and the understated power of dressing well. We catch up with Emma Femminile of Stamford’s White Ginger to explore the thinking behind her new-season edit

IF EVER there was a time to wear colour, it’s now. When everything feels a little heavy, there’s something reassuring in the quieter pleasures of the day: coffee taken slowly in the garden, a walk in warm sunshine, a drink outdoors as the evening draws in. Small moments, perhaps, but ones that gently reset the rhythm of things.

And what we choose to wear can play its part too.

‘This season at White Ginger,’ Emma tells us, ‘we’re leaning into dopamine dressing – but in a considered, really wearable way.’ It’s a term that’s gained momentum in recent seasons, rooted in the idea of dressing to lift your mood – choosing colours, textures and pieces that bring a sense of pleasure, confidence and ease. ‘Think warm oranges, confident pinks and rich reds,’ says Emma, ‘with a palette inspired by tropical fruit and long, sunlit evenings.’

There’s a natural ease to the pieces this season – clothes designed to slot into everyday life without effort or overthinking. Relaxed silhouettes, breathable fabrics and those reliable goto items that feel just right the moment you put them on: a dress you can simply throw on and go; a clean pop of colour set against crisp white; accessories that add interest without ever feeling overstated.

At White Ginger’s Stamford boutique, located directly opposite The George Hotel, new arrivals appear week by week, creating a sense of quiet movement through the season – a gentle refresh rather than a complete change, with pieces chosen to lift and lighten, rather than overwhelm. Sometimes, that subtle shift is all it takes.

THIS PAGE & OPPOSITE: A joyful edit of new-season colour at White Ginger –effortless dresses, tops and shorts designed to lift the mood as summer approaches, in-store on High Street St Martin’s in Stamford and online.

‘This season at White Ginger, we’re leaning into dopamine dressing’

LOCAL Blue Skies & Denim Days

As we move through spring, tones of blue can help us feel brighter and more uplifted. With city breaks, staycations and sunny days at home on the radar, practical yet stylish denims and neutrals are leading the way

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1. Sandal season is almost upon us, and what better way to start than with the Gabor Peanut suede Flatform sandals (£125) from Marcia May of Stamford. marciamaystamford.co.uk

2. These woven shopper bags (£49) from Bunny & Clarke of Market Harborough add an elegant and natural look to your spring denim outfits. bunnyandclarke.com

3. Go all out in double denim or make a statement piece out of the FRNCH denim blue bomber jacket (£159) from Jacks of Market Harborough. jacksforwomen.co.uk

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4. Liven up your spring style with a playful twist in the stunning blue-and-white fish necklace (£30) from Murano Silver of Stamford. murano_silver

5. The Bronte blue Flora top (£110) from Cavells of Oakham is cheerful and easy to pair with light jeans or a midi skirt for a laidback daytime look. Perfect for a warm late spring day. cavells.co.uk

6. Save the trouble of styling double denim with the Pieces medium-blue Sky denim dress (£44) from Iris & Violet of Stamford. A simple but chic look. irisandviolet.shop

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7. Tie in the blue hues and denim look with the blue chalcedony Silver Sweetie hoop earrings (£100) from B Jewellery of Oakham. b-jewellery.co.uk

8. Ditch your everyday jeans and bring a contemporary style to your wardrobe with the Mos Mosh dark blue culotte Arge jeans (£139) from Energy Clothing of Stamford. energy-clothing.com

9. For a luxurious but practical day-to-day bag, opt for the Kate Spade denim tote bag (£150) from Arch Label Agency of Stamford. archlabelagency.com words: erin andrews

Join Us in Celebrating Our First Year in Uppingham

We are delighted to mark our first anniversary and would love for you to celebrate with us.

Thursday 14th May 4pm - 8pm

Meet our team and discover our wonderful brand partners.

Tickets available in store: £5 Redeemable against any purchase.

Complimentary prize draw We look forward to welcoming you.

Discover Your Future Skin at RÖ Skin & Wellness

We believe great skin isn’t just about today. It’s about the years ahead. Through innovative, biology-led treatments and personalised skin coaching, we help you build healthy, resilient skin for the long term. Our approach is simple: we work closely with you to understand how your skin functions, what it needs now, and how to care for it as it evolves. Every treatment plan is carefully tailored to support your skin at every stage of life. Get in touch to discover how we can support your skin journey.

Alongside our bespoke facials and advanced treatments, we’re always sourcing the most cutting-edge innovations in aesthetic science.

And now… it’s here. Meet Sofwave.

The next-generation ultrasound skin tightening treatment that’s taking Hollywood by storm, loved by celebrities for its powerful lift without the downtime. Sofwave works by triggering your skin’s natural repair response, stimulating collagen and elastin deep within the skin to visibly lift, firm and sculpt. It’s perfect for areas that are the hardest to treat:

• Heavy lids • Jawline and jowls • Loose neck

All with minimal downtime and maximum glow. Ready for your most lifted, sculpted skin yet? Message us and we’ll guide you on the best plan.

We are a Pilates studio based in the heart of Stamford, offering authentic Pilates for all levels.

Our experienced, friendly and dedicated instructors provide high-quality classes in a welcoming environment. We pride ourselves on having clearly structured Reformer classes, so you’ll always know you’re in the right level—no confusion or mixed abilities.

We now offer an Unlimited Membership for £169, giving

you access to all our classes, including Reformer, Barre, and Mat Pilates.

We’ve also introduced our new Sculpt Reformer classes, designed to be more dynamic and energising for those looking to challenge yourself further.

In addition, we run a Monday 9:30am class that is suitable for both prenatal and postnatal clients, ensuring safe and supportive training during and after pregnancy.

WELLNESS Beauty with Daniel Sandler

REFLEXOLOGY REFRESH

This month, the international makeup artist and founder of Daniel Sandler Cosmetics, who is based in our region, focuses on finding total wellness with reflexologist Fiona Ettridge

WE’RE ALL rush, rush, rush, aren’t we? Finding a true sanctuary can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, nestled within a beautifully clean and fresh treatment space, Fiona Ettridge has created a Stamford reflexology haven that defines serenity. From the moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere whispered one thing: chill, Daniel.

Fiona herself is the very picture of health, radiating a calm energy that set the tone for my session. The experience began with a thoughtful consultation, ensuring the treatment was tailored to my needs. Then the real magic began in a strictly ‘no-talking’ zone. All I needed to do was lie there and, if I wanted, fall asleep. Perfect.

The environment is meticulously curated for physical and mental comfort. Heated beds melt away physical tension immediately. Cosy blankets provide that essential sense of security and warmth. You can choose a warm or cold eye mask for customised comfort, while gentle music acts as a lullaby.

A Holistic Approach

The hallmark of Fiona’s practice is her focused and calm approach to reflexology. This isn’t just a foot massage; it is a holistic session centred on the health of the entire body. By targeting specific pressure points on the feet, Fiona works to rebalance internal systems and support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Despite the precision of her ‘gifted hands’, the touch is firm and professional – it doesn’t tickle, even for the most sensitive feet like mine.

If you’re new to reflexology, you might wonder how working on your toes can change the way your eyes look. It all comes down to the body’s interconnected pathways. In reflexology, specific points on the toes correspond to the head and eye area. By stimulating these points, practitioners aim to encourage energy and blood flow to those regions.

The Beauty of Inner Balance

The treatment acts as a ‘reset’ for the lymphatic system. By improving drainage from the ground up, the body can more efficiently process the stagnant fluid that often collects around the face. The result is a visible decrease in puffiness around the eyes. Features appear more defined and less heavy.

While the internal health benefits are the priority, the ‘Fiona Effect’ is clearly visible on the surface. By reducing cortisol and encouraging that deep lymphatic flush, I left looking as refreshed as I felt.

It turns out that inner balance is the ultimate beauty secret.

The care doesn’t end when you stand up. Fiona is incredibly helpful and attentive, providing an insightful post-treatment debrief. She takes the time to discuss what your body might be signalling, offering professional perspectives on supportive wellness pathways.

If you are looking to trade your worries for restorative quiet that nurtures the body and brightens your face, Fiona’s Stamford sanctuary is the place to be. She also works from Harley Street, as well as Claridge’s and The Connaught in London.

Fiona Ettridge MAR

Fiona’s fee is £80 for a one-hour treatment. Special offer: mention this article to receive £10 off your first session.

www.fionaettridgereflexology.co.uk

www.danielsandler.com danielsandlermakeup

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered LOCAL PRIVATE PSYCHOLOGISTS

Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Specialising in treating:

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Specialising in treating:

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

LOCAL PRIVATE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in Treatment for Adults with:

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

COVID-19: Online and face to face offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

COVID-19: Online and face to face sessions offered

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss confidence

Specialising in treating:

Specialising in treating:

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

Specialising in treating:

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

Specialising in treating:

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Anxieties, phobias, and ruminations

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Anxieties, obsessions ruminations

• Low mood, depression, self-harm and suicidal thinking

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Significant life trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Anxieties, phobias, obsessions and ruminations

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• and relationship difficulties

Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Attachment and difficulties

• Abuse emotional and

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Significant life events, trauma, nightmares, flashbacks Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Attachment and relationship difficulties

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Spectrum Disorders

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Adult Speciality

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Adult Speciality

Adult Speciality

Adult Speciality

Adult Speciality

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Adult Speciality

Johan Truter

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Adult Speciality

Adult Speciality

• Abuse (physical, emotional and sexual)

Adult Speciality

Adult Speciality

Adult Speciality

Johan Truter

Johan Truter

Adult Speciality

Johan Truter

Tel: 01780 758556

Johan Truter

Johan Truter

Adult Speciality

Johan Truter

Johan Truter

Tel: 01780 758556

Tel: 01780 758556

Johan Truter

Johan Truter

Tel: 01780 758556

Adult Speciality Truter

Tel: 01780 758556

Tel: 01780 758556

Adult Speciality

Johan Truter

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Tel: 01780 758556

Tel: 01780 758556

Johan Truter

Johan Truter

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Tel: 01780 758556

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Tel: 01780 758556

Tel: 01780 758556

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Tel: 01780 758556

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Johan Truter

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Tel: 01780 758556

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

House, 14 Barn Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Tel: 01780 758556

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist

Tel: 01780 758556

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Psychotherapist

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Psychotherapist

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Mbl: 07563241359

Psychotherapist

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Psychotherapist Dr Herman Holtzhausen

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Mbl:

Mbl: 07563241359

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Mbl: 07563241359

Mbl: 07563241359

Mbl: 07563241359

Mbl: 07563241359

Mbl: 07563241359

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Mbl: 07563241359

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Mbl: 07563241359

Mbl: 07563241359

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Mbl: 07563241359

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Psychotherapist

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child and Adult Speciality, Consultant

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Chartered Clinical Psychologist Johan Truter

Psychotherapist

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Alexandra Dent

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child Speciality, EMDR Dent

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Dr Alexandra Dent

Psychotherapist

Mbl: 07986 585270

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Alexandra Dent

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Dr Alexandra Dent

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Alexandra Dent

Tel: 01780 758556

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Dr Alexandra Dent 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07986 585270

Mbl: 07563241359

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Reflexology

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Online psychology workshops:

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

Mbl: 07563241359

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Online psychology workshops: www.heartledpsycotherapy.com/workshops/

www.heartledpsycotherapy.com/workshops/

Online psychology workshops:

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Online psychology workshops: www.heartledpsycotherapy.com/workshops/

www.heartledpsycotherapy.com/workshops/

Mbl: 07563241359

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

Psychotherapist

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Child and Adult Speciality, EMDR Consultant

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Herman Holtzhausen

Dr Alexandra Dent

Dr Alexandra Dent

Mbl: 07986 585270

Tel: 01780 758543

Mbl: 07986 585270

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Mbl: 07986 585270

www.stamfordpsychotherapist.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

www.alexandradent.co.uk

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Online psychology workshops: www.heartledpsycotherapy.com/workshops/

A CONFIDENT SMILE

North Street Dental Practice, Bourne

Friendly, welcoming and firmly rooted in the local community, North Street Dental Practice in Bourne has been providing high-quality dental care since 2001. Clare and Nick Rudd-Jones visited to meet the team, including specialist Peter Kerti, who is bringing a new level of expertise in dentures to Bourne

PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY dental care since 2001, North Street Dental Practice is a well-established, family-focused practice at the heart of Bourne. Known for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere and commitment to patient care, the practice offers a full range of treatments in a calm, welcoming environment – something evident from the moment you step through the door and are greeted by receptionist Tracey, who immediately puts patients at ease.

The team includes dentists Liam Fitzpatrick, Inga Bezhoski and Darko Bezhoski, alongside dental hygienist Gemma Round, all working together to deliver a preventative, patient-centred approach. Now, the practice is expanding its offering further with the introduction of a new specialist service.

A Specialist Approach to Dentures

Joining the practice one day a week is Clinical Dental Technician

Peter Kerti, who specialises in the design and fitting of dentures. With nearly two decades of experience, Peter brings both technical expertise and a genuine passion for his work – something that becomes clear the moment he begins to talk about it.

Originally trained as an accountant, Peter quickly realised he wanted a more people-focused career. He retrained in dental

technology and has never looked back. ‘I just love it,’ he says, describing dentures as both a science and an art.

Peter’s approach goes far beyond simply creating a functional fit. Each denture is carefully crafted and tailored to the individual, with close attention paid to comfort, appearance and how it works with the natural movement of the mouth. ‘Living with dentures isn’t always easy,’ he explains, ‘so I take my time. I want the best outcome for every patient.’

‘I want every patient to feel comfortable and confident with their smile’

Comfort, Confidence & Care

A key part of Peter’s work is ensuring patients feel supported not just during treatment, but afterwards too. Adjustments are often needed as patients get used to new dentures, and he places great importance on ongoing care and fine-tuning. ‘Aftercare is just as important as the denture itself,’ he says.

He also offers more advanced, bespoke denture options, including certified BPS and SEMCD systems – more sophisticated techniques that take into account the natural movement of the muscles in the mouth. The result is a more precise, secure and natural-feeling fit. For many patients, this can be a reassuring alternative to implants, particularly if surgery feels daunting or isn’t suitable.

Importantly, patients do not need to be registered with North Street Dental Practice to book an appointment with Peter, making his specialist service accessible to a wider community.

With a strong emphasis on quality, personal care and patient comfort, North Street Dental Practice continues to evolve while staying true to its friendly, community-focused roots. The practice is currently welcoming new private patients, and appointments with Peter can also be booked directly, even if you are not registered with the practice.

NORTH STREET DENTAL PRACTICE 72 North Street, Bourne PE10 9AJ 01778 422785 | www.northstreetdental.co.uk

Introducing Braingevity Stamford — a new kind of wellness space, designed for those who want to understand their body, sharpen their thinking and take a more proactive approach to living better for longer.

At the heart of our approach is the Firstbeat Life assessment: a 72-hour insight into how your body responds to stress, recovery and sleep in the rhythm of your real life. It offers something rare; clarity with a grounded understanding of how your nervous system is truly functioning.

To bring this insight to life, your Firstbeat Life Assessment also includes a guided session on the award winning Neurosonic Lounger, which uses low frequency vibration designed to support autonomic nervous system regulation. This deeply relaxing experience will help shift the body out of constant ‘switched on’ mode and into a state where recovery, clarity and balance can begin to return.

To celebrate our launch, we are offering an initial no-obligation consultation and a complimentary session on the Neurosonic Lounger.

Spaces are limited - email or call to book your session now.

PROCEDURES

•

•

• Laser dentistry (accepting referrals)

• Surgical Treatment

• Crowns and Bridgework

THE EDIT Bathtime Rituals

words: erin andrews

As the social calendar begins to pick up, it is easy to rush through our skincare routines and skip moments of self-care. These products are designed to help you slow down, reset and indulge in your bathtime ritual

8 2 6 7

1. After a soak, your skin will drink in the grapeseed oil in Caudalie’s Fig Smooth & Glow Body Oil Elixir (£31/100ml) from Chameleon Boutique of Stamford. chameleonboutique.co.uk

2. The Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream (£45) from Ellique Beauty of Oakham is the perfect lightweight but hydrating formula to soften and prep the skin. elliquebeauty.co.uk

3. The Goldrick Soothing Organic and Natural Face Mask (£18) from Nadinoo of Oakham is perfect for sensitive skin. Its seaweed formula softens and revitalises the skin. nadinoo.com

4. Sit back and relax while the PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Microneedle Eye Patches (£114) from Kalios of Stamford hydrate and brighten, aiming to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles. kalios.co.uk

5. Perfect for an evening event or simply the day ahead, the Scotch & Soda Barfly Fragrance (£50/50ml) from Energy Clothing of Stamford is an elegant, musky scent. energy-clothing.com

6. To wind down and relieve stress, sprinkle in the lavender-scented Aery Before Sleep Bath Salts (£10) from Iris & Violet of Stamford. irisandviolet.shop

9

7. Keep the relaxing spirit of a bathtime ritual ongoing with the Calm Hand & Body Lotion (£12.95) from Rutland Nursery of Manton. rutlandnursery.co.uk

8. The Abahna White Grapefruit and May Chang Bath Foam (£45/350ml) from Bagel & Griff of Market Harborough instantly elevates your bathtime experience, filling the tub with fragrant essential oils. bagelandgriff.com

9. We often focus on the face during at-home spa evenings, but the ORB Uppingham Cuticle & Nail Serum (£16.95) is a simple and beautifully natural way to nourish the hands. organicritualbeauty.co.uk

I’m Rachael, a registered nurse offering advanced aesthetic treatments designed to enhance your features — never change them.

Services include injectables, anti wrinkle treatments, skin boosters, polynucleotides, PRP, SkinPen microneedling, acne treatments, medical-grade facials, chemical peels, Hydrafacial, lymphatic draining, EMS, advanced skin analysis, all over body hair removal, plus so much more.

Expert treatment for back and neck pain, sports injuries, joint pain, arthritis, knee replacements and other painful conditions.

I take a holistic approach to skin health, offering personalised blood testing to assess gut health and omega levels, alongside tailored nutrition and collagen support, plus medical-grade skincare for complete, results-driven care. Enjoy 10% off treatments this May. Quote Stamford Living at booking. T&C apply.

Thoughtful skin and beauty treatments that support body, mind and soul — from deeply relaxing rituals to advanced skin therapies. Our results-driven holistic treatments use The Organic Pharmacy products alongside SkinBase microdermabrasion treatments to deliver visible results alongside deep relaxation. Calmia is your sanctuary for renewal – where beauty meets balance.

Enjoy 10% off treatments this May. Quote Stamford Living at booking. T&C apply.

Established in 1999, we are Stamford’s highest-rated physiotherapy clinic with over 100 five-star Google reviews. Offering free onsite parking and modern clinic facilities, with no referral needed, and appointments available within days.

Treating everyone from commuters with back issues, to marathon runners managing injury.

Friendly, supportive care from your first visit, with clear, personalised treatment plans.

Start your journey out of pain and back to the activities you love.

Book for our Launch Event Thursday 14 May 7pm

Where intelligent skin health begins INTRODUCING TIXEL® AT ELYSIA

At ELYSIA we are not about quick fixes or following trends. We choose treatments that respect the skin’s future, health and longevity. Most importantly treatments that work WITH the skin, not against it.

For over two decades, we have been at the forefront of a unique and forward-thinking approach to skin health and overall wellbeing. With a deep-rooted passion for blending advanced aesthetics with whole-body health, the philosophy at Elysia is simple — glowing, youthful skin starts from within. Nestled in a private and discreet setting, complete with convenient onsite parking, the clinic provides a haven for those seeking personalised, results-driven treatments.

Exclusive to this area, I am thrilled to launch TIXEL®, a next generation treatment using advanced thermo-mechanical technology to stimulate collagen, strengthen the skin barrier, and support natural skin regeneration. Unlike lasers, it utilises a self sterilised, medical grade titanium tip. TIXEL® delivers short bursts of pure natural heat directly to your skin’s surface without damaging deeper skin tissues, making it effective for TIGHTENING, RESURFACING, LIFTING, REJUVENATING and treating delicate areas like the eyelids.

N O LASERS, NO AGGRESSIVE DISRUPTION – just intelligent, controlled energy to make your skin repair and function at its best for years to come.

DERMATOLOGIST DR TAPAN PATEL – “One of the best devices I’ve ever bought. Fantastic results, especially with periorbital rejuvenation, scarring and general skin sun damage. Delighted with my purchase.”

WHY TIXEL®?

I carefully researched and trialled TIXEL® before introducing it into the clinic. Given the treatments I already offer, it needed to stand out. I had to consider what truly makes it different, ensuring it’s not simply the same technology presented under new branding.

• Does it have a proven track record? Yes, it’s proven in many countries with countless peer-reviewed studies.

• Is it safe? It’s the safest treatment I’ve ever operated. It offers high end results with low risk, unlike its Fraxel and CO2 counterparts. It’s FDA licensed and safe for all skin colours and treatment all times of the year.

What stood out was the versatility of this device—not only to rejuvenate, lift, and reduce lines and wrinkles, but also deliver outstanding results on harder-to-treat conditions such as ACNE, ROSACEA, MELASMA, AGE SPOTS, SCARRING, upper and lower BLEPHAROPLASTY, and DRY EYE (meibomian gland dysfunction), WEEPY AND IRRITATED EYES.

This treatment is quick and comfortable, with NO NEEDLES and little to no downtime, making it easy to fit into your routine. It can be used on the face, neck, eyes, body, and hands. For best results, an initial course of three to four sessions is recommended, followed by a maintenance treatment typically once a year.

DRY

EYE - BREAKTHROUGH TIXEL® is the only FDAlicensed treatment specifically approved for dry eyes caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. I wouldn’t have believed how effective it is without trying it myself. The procedure is incredibly quick and painless, and we recommend three to four treatments.

At ELYSIA, the focus is on addressing and repairing the underlying issue rather than relying on ongoing symptom management, such as continuous use of eye drops. TIXEL® is also clinically proven to help with watery or irritated eyes, including conditions like BLEPHARITIS.

In addition, TIXEL® offers a credible, non-surgical alternative to upper and lower blepharoplasty—without the downtime or risks typically associated with surgery. After personally trialling this treatment, both the patient and I were completely convinced, making the decision to introduce TIXEL® into the clinic an easy one.

FEEDBACK ON DRY EYE TREATMENT WITH TIXEL® “I am amazed and absolutely delighted with the results of my first treatment of TIXEL. My eyes feel much less dry, my vision is much sharper, and my eyes seem more open.”

A testament to the outstanding client care and dedication to providing outstanding results and client care.

Discover how science, wellbeing, and skin health come together – transforming not just your appearance, but the way you feel in the world.

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR LAUNCH EVENING

To celebrate the launch of TIXEL®, we invite you to an exclusive evening at the William Cecil, Stamford on THURSDAY 14TH MAY at 7PM.

Bubbles, canapés and a goody bag, plus an exclusive Launch Event offer. Live demonstration and expert insight.

YOU MUST PRE-BOOK YOUR PLACE. WHATS APP us on 07879 620196

Tansor, Oundle PE8 5HP 07879 620196 www.elysiaskinbodylaser.co.uk

May Day or a Cry for Help

Dr Naomi Murphy, based in Oundle, talks about the potential power of counselling to help with a mental ‘spring clean’

STRANGE how words can sometimes have two totally contrary connotations. Take May Day – a time for celebration, traditionally a time to dance joyously around the maypole and herald the imminent arrival of the warmth and carefree promise of summer. Or alternatively, Mayday!, a desperate cry for help, the rescue call of mariners for generations.

After a long winter, there is a sense of renewal and regeneration as spring brings new growth. And our instinct is to clean out, to start afresh. Spring cleaning clears the cobwebs that accrue as we have hunkered down, closed up shop and turned in on ourselves, to survive the winter months.

Emotional Spring Cleaning

But spring cleaning doesn’t only involve opening the house windows and doors to let the fresh air in. Psychologically, for our own sense of mental wellbeing, many of us look to cleanse emotionally too, to build on that sense of renewal. This time of year is the time for many to genuinely reassess whether their lives are everything they had hoped for.

I think we all wonder from time to time whether we are the best we can be. Too often our view of ourselves focuses on perceived shortcomings, the failures, the regrets – and this in turn leads to a cycle of underachievement, a failure to realise our own potential because we doubt our abilities or our worthiness.

For some, the relationships that they are in compound that negativity. Is my partner helping me to be my best self, or are they contributing to my sense of self-doubt? Do I perhaps feel trapped by an event from the past that weighs heavy on my mind and leaves me with a sense of guilt or a biting injustice? Am I still harbouring resentment for past relationships that I can’t find it in myself to let go? Is my work/life imbalance holding me back from the happiness and fulfilment I feel I deserve?

Help is at Hand

Some people can address this mental spring cleaning on their own. But seeking help to address these challenges isn’t a sign of weakness or an admission of failure. On the contrary… Recognising the value of outside help shows a strength to face up to the challenges and the doubts we all feel, and to genuinely work towards being the whole you deserve to be. Some enlist a motivational life coach to drive them to greater things. But for many, having a caring, listening, psychologically qualified professional is the real key to finding their true self.

Professional psychologists do not hand you the answers, but they do provide the space, the guidance and the care that helps you, individually, to find your own answers, the ones that provide a depth of self-understanding, which is the cornerstone of genuine wellbeing. An HCPC-registered psychologist will help you understand and address the underlying causes of self-doubt and self-deprecation. That, ultimately, provides the only real platform for personal growth.

As a clinical and forensic psychologist, both in my work in prisons, with some of the most challenging of cases, and in my private practice with ‘ordinary’ people, I have seen firsthand the transformational effect that counselling can provide. I do not pretend the journey is easy, but I do see so often that clients can turn a Mayday! alarm call into a bright summer’s May Day, and face the future with a spring in their step.

ABOUT DR NAOMI MURPHY

Dr Naomi Murphy is one of the acclaimed 100 Influential Index members listed by the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys. She is honorary professor of psychology at Nottingham Trent University and co-host of the Locked Up Living podcast. She is a regular commentator in the print and broadcast media and runs a successful private practice based in Oundle.

‘This time of year is the time for many to genuinely reassess whether their lives are everything they had hoped for’

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DR NAOMI MURPHY’S PRACTICE, OR TO ARRANGE A COMPLIMENTARY INITIAL CONSULTATION, VISIT WWW.OCTOPUSPSYCHOLOGY.COM

Feel that life could be better?

Relationships can be challenging, at work or in your private life. Perhaps you have unresolved issues you fear are just too hard to face or overcome. Maybe you just don’t feel good enough and don’t know why.

At Octopus, we help you to find resolution. Qualified clinical psychologists and experienced therapists guide you to explore your fears and challenges, with sensitivity and compassion.

Using traditional talking therapies, or the latest neuroscience interventions (including Safe & Sound Protocol™, NeurOptimal™ and RoshiWave™), we help you reconnect with yourself, gain inner peace and confidence, and become the real you, the person you are meant to be.

Contact Dr Naomi Murphy, D.Clin.Psych to arrange a complimentary consultation. Enquiries@Octopuspsychology.com 07771 732 104

Autumn Assisted is a small development of 8 specially adapted flats for elderly individuals or couples to access all the benefits of care without the institutional living. Stay in your own apartment with freshly cooked meals made to dietary requirements, laundry, apartment cleaning, on site care from £395 per week all-inclusive of bills, maintenance and council tax. Please call 01536 771722 and ask for Julie Visit www.autumn-care.co.uk

Do you have Plantar

Fasciitis (severe heel pain)?

The method of treatment I offer for this is highly successful. Using computerised Gait Analysis & Orthotic Therapy (medical insoles).

Also to alleviate Achilles, Foot, Bunion, Knee, Hip & Back discomfort and pain.

Contact Annette Robinson (Chiropodist/Podiatrist, Muscle & Joint Specialist) Tel : 01832 272200 or 07905 167944 www.injuries-clinic-oundle.co.uk

WELLSPINE

At Wellspine in Uppingham, a whole-body approach to alignment and care helps restore ease, movement and long-term wellbeing, as Nicholas Rudd-Jones found out when he went to meet the team

THERE is a sense of calm at Wellspine in Uppingham – a space where time is taken, and where the body is considered not in parts, but as a whole. Led by practitioners Taran Dhesi and Ioana Ford, the clinic offers a thoughtful, personalised approach to physical health, rooted in both clinical understanding and lived experience.

Having taken on the practice, Taran Dhesi has built on its strong foundations, continuing to support a growing community of patients – many of whom stay for months or years, drawn by the sense of care as much as the results. Ioana Ford joined the practice nearly a year ago now, and has been part of this sustained growth.

Letting the Body ‘Unwind’

At the core of Wellspine’s work is ABC (Advanced Biostructural Correction), a form of manual therapy that focuses on structural alignment. Rather than chasing symptoms, it seeks out the deeper causes of imbalance. ‘We’re not here to just give a patient temporary relief. We need to try and get down to underlying issues,’ Taran explains. ‘Over time, the body absorbs the effects of daily life – physical strain, emotional stress, even illness – and adapts in ways that are not always helpful. These compensations can build

quietly, until movement feels restricted and discomfort becomes part of everyday life. Treatment works gently to correct what the body cannot resolve on its own, allowing it to ‘unwind’ – releasing tension, restoring balance and enabling more natural movement. It is a gradual process, but one designed to last.’

‘We’re here to help people with pain, but the greatest thing is seeing them carry on with their lives again’

Care Shaped around the Individual

Each patient begins with a detailed consultation, taking in medical history, posture and, importantly, personal goals. Although physical pain may bring someone through the door, what lies behind it is often more meaningful. ‘Everyone has a different reason for why they seek help,’ they say. ‘It might be family, work or simply wanting to feel like themselves again.’

From teenagers with early postural concerns to adults managing long-standing conditions and those looking to improve performance or prevent future issues, treatment is always tailored – evolving as the body responds.

Small Changes, Profound Impact

‘We’re here to help people with pain, but the greatest thing is seeing them carry on with their lives again,’ Taran told me. What emerges, over time, is often more than relief from pain. Patients speak of returning to work, rediscovering hobbies or simply moving through the day with greater ease. ‘At the end of the day,’ they both agreed, ‘it’s client results that bring most satisfaction. Recently, for example, we had a patient with chronic headaches who became able to control them and return to full-time work.’

With plans to expand and a growing reputation across the region, Wellspine offers something increasingly valued: time, understanding, and a considered path back to balance. And I can vouch for the fact that you will get a very friendly, calm, professional welcome when you pop in.

Wellspine, 31 High Street East, Uppingham LE15 9PY 01572 345935 | www.wellspine.co.uk | wellspine_

WELLSPINE HELP WITH:

• Acute/chronic back pain

• Neck pain or joint pain

• Headaches

• Sciatica

• Poor Posture

• Anyone simply looking to improve their health

Halliday’s Yard, Radcliffe Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 lED 01780 592599 I 0775 2919172 I info@clairelangley.co.uk

THE ARTFUL LIFE

Our region is blessed with many excellent art galleries, antiques dealers and artists offering original artworks, limited editions, prints, heirloom furniture and collectable items. Here’s a preview of some of our favourites

VISITING galleries and auction houses can seem like a daunting experience, but you will find welcoming, knowledgeable proprietors, happy to help and offer advice, or to allow you to browse at your own pace. You will also find pieces to suit every budget. You may be surprised by the positive return on your investment later or find something to pass on as an heirloom. Besides, shopping this way doesn’t get much greener. Here’s a look at a selection of places across our region.

The Rutland Gallery

Located in a beautiful historic building that dates to 1472, The Rutland Gallery is an independent gallery on Uppingham’s High Street. The gallery specialises in contemporary fine art and was founded by John Jolley, who has bought, collected and sold art for over 40 years. John, who lives in Rutland, is also the founder of the Oakham Fine Art online art gallery and the developer of the BuyART software application. BuyART is a new art discovery app designed to connect collectors, enthusiasts and first-time buyers with outstanding contemporary artwork. BuyART will be available for download soon from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

John notes: ‘We only sell what we love and what we would hang in our own homes. The Rutland Gallery does not specialise in any particular genre, preferring an eclectic portfolio that caters, hopefully, for all tastes.’ The gallery’s collection includes an extensive range of work, including original paintings and sculpture from leading British and international artists.

‘We only sell what we love’

Genres covered include landscapes, abstract art, figurative pieces, coastal art, still life and wildlife pieces. Artists include Richard Barrett, Bridget Greenwood, Hervé Lenouvel, Jill Barthorpe, Judy Buxton, Suchi Chidambaram, Mark Demsteader, Andrew Farmer, Jane Hooper, Peter Kettle, Carl Longworth, Luci Maclaren, James Naughton, Mark Preston, Chris Prout, Beckie Reed, William Balthazar Rose, Elsa Taylor and Robbie Wraith, among others.

In addition to the art showcased at the Uppingham gallery, the team also sell contemporary art online and via the BuyART app, so do visit the website to see the full collection.

The Rutland Gallery, 27 High Street East, Uppingham LE15 9PY www.rutlandgallery.com | rutlandgallery

OPPOSITE: ‘Tents in the Mountains, First Light’ by Peter Kettle at The Rutland Gallery. THIS PAGE: chairs and footstool by furniture restorer, upholsterer and antiques expert Claire Langley.

Claire Langley has spent more than three decades restoring, buying and selling antiques, and that depth of experience comes through in everything she does. She began her career in 1985, training as a restorer in Brighton and London before opening her own restoration business in Cambridge. That early, hands-on grounding in traditional craftsmanship still shapes her work today – it’s what gives her such a keen eye for design and detail, and it underpins the bespoke furniture she now creates, from chairs and sofas to tables and footstools.

For many years, Claire has also run a vast 3,500 sq ft warehouse in Halliday’s Yard, home to an ever-changing collection of stock as well as her restoration and upholstery workshops. In 2024, she added a beautiful showroom in the same yard – her third shop – giving her the space to display her furniture and accessories in a way that really helps customers imagine how the pieces might look in their own homes.

The showroom has a decorative, layered feel, mixing antiques with newer finds and a lot of bespoke furniture made in her own workshop. You’ll find pieces from many different periods and styles, all chosen for their design and quality. There’s also a carefully curated selection of accessories, from cushions and candles to glassware, ceramics, lighting and gardenalia. Claire’s bespoke range, which is also available online, includes tables, sofas, chairs and footstools, all made by highly skilled craftspeople in her workshops. Many of these designs are inspired by original pieces that have passed through her hands over the last three decades. As Claire puts it: ‘Our ethos is good design, the very best English craftsmanship and sustainability. We buy what we like, not just on the basis of its age or provenance.

‘As furniture dealers, one of the parts of our job we genuinely love is helping clients style their homes. That might mean turning up with a van full of furniture, so you can see pieces in situ, or offering guidance on curtains, lighting, headboards and all the finishing touches that bring a room together. And because we design and make a large range of bespoke upholstery in our workshops, we can create pieces that are completely tailored to your home. We’re just as happy working with you on a single room as we are on a larger project – whatever the scale, we shape the process around you.’

The showroom is open Thursday to Saturday, and at any other time Claire and her team are more than happy to open by appointment. Claire Langley is also hosting a Summer Makers Market at the shop from Friday 19 June to Saturday 28 June (for fuller details on this, see p34).

Claire Langley, Halliday’s Yard, Radcliffe Road, Stamford PE9 1ED, www.clairelangleyantiques.co.uk

BATEMANS

AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

SELL YOUR ANTIQUES, COLLECTABLES, JEWELLERY & WATCHES WITH CONFIDENCE

We hold monthly auctions for a wide range of antiques and collectables, including Antique and Modern Jewellery, Watches, Silver, ANY items of Gold - even if it’s broken!, Gold and Silver Coins and Coin Sets, Militaria, Clocks, Bronzes & Sculptures, Asian Art, Pictures & Paintings, Garden Furniture & Ornaments, Toys & Models, Scientific Instruments, Musical Instruments… CAN’T GET TO STAMFORD?

WE HOLD REGULAR VALUATION DAYS!

EVERY FRIDAY AT OUR OAKHAM OFFICE: 4 The Maltings, Mill Street, Oakham, LE15 6EA

UPCOMING EVENT VALUATION DAYS:

The Barnsdale Hotel: The Avenue, Nr Exton, LE15 8AH: 27th APRIL

The Maltings Ship Lane: Ely, CB7 4BB: 11th MAY

The Cley Hall Hotel: 22 High Street, Spalding, PE11 1TX: 18th MAY

The Victoria Hall: 7 West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ: 19th MAY

WE ARE THE HIGHEST RATED AUCTIONEERS ON GOOGLE IN THIS REGION! WHY TRUST ANYONE ELSE? COME TO BATEMANS!

Less than a mile from the A1 and 10.30am-5pm Sundays Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat

Now with more than 70 dealers, the centre has a variety of antiques unmatched in the surrounding area. Items range from £5 to £5,000 and regular turnover of stock frequently brings customers back for more.

23a High Street, St. Martins, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 2LF (01780) 481158

www.st-martins-antiques.co.uk

Peter Barker Fine Art

What separates Peter Barker Fine Art from other galleries? Uniquely, when you visit the gallery, you will be talking to the artist himself. There is no pushy selling though – you’re free to browse in a relaxed atmosphere and get expert, informed answers to any queries you may have. The gallery also allows paintings to be taken ‘on appro’ [approval], before buying, which proves to be a surefire way of knowing whether a painting will ‘fit’ in a particular room.

Peter told us: ‘The most commonly heard comment from potential buyers, apart from “How long did that take you?” is “I’ve been in a lot of galleries and there are very few paintings I like, but here, there are so many I could take home.” Another is “Who is Peter Barker?” and “Peter Barker – is he a local artist?” It’s fun to say “Yes, and you’re talking to him,” which is always an ice-breaker!’ Visitors can often feel intimidated in art galleries, but Peter ensures that’s not the case at Peter Barker Fine Art.

Peter is a renowned painter of British landscapes. Alongside his own work, the gallery offers carefully chosen original paintings by 20 immensely gifted British artists – many, like Peter, are members of one of the Royal Societies, but all have the pedigree of being brilliantly talented. If you need to know anything about their work, Peter can wax lyrical – he knows them all personally and has an indepth knowledge of their methods.

Art lovers can join the Members Club for free, giving them first notice of new work, exhibitions and special offers.

Situated in Hope’s Yard, in the heart of Uppingham, the gallery is open 11am to 5pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or by appointment – on other days Peter is either painting, or playing golf. All paintings are available 24/7 online, as below.

Peter Barker Fine Art, 2A Hope’s Yard, Uppingham LE15 9QQ, www.peterbarkerfineart.co.uk

ABOVE: ‘Downhill from Lyndon’ by Peter Barker.

Batemans Auctioneers & Valuers

Established in 2001 and located on Ryhall Road in Stamford, Batemans is the highest-rated auction house and valuers on Google in the town. Run by the second generation of the local Bateman family, it holds monthly auctions for a wide range of antiques and collectables, including jewellery, watches, silver, gold, coins, clocks, bronzes and sculptures, fine art, garden furniture, toys and models, scientific instruments and musical instruments. Alongside its busy auction calendar, Batemans also offers probate and insurance valuations, house clearances and private sales, supporting clients at every stage of the selling process. Upcoming auctions include: ‘Jewellery/Antiques/ Interiors’ on 2 May and 6 June. There are also regular valuation days in Rutland (at The Barnsdale Hotel near Oakham – next ones are on 1 June, 29 June, 27 July and 24 August) and Ely (at The Maltings; next date: 11 May). See the website for full details.

Batemans pride themselves on offering a professional, friendly and reliable service to all their customers, helping clients across Lincolnshire, Rutland, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and beyond. Their strong client base locally, nationally and internationally, built up over decades of auctioning, contributes to their standing as friendly and highly trusted regional auctioneers and valuers.

Combining 25 years’ experience with a knowledgeable, passionate team and a modern, technology-led approach, they work to present every lot to its fullest potential and achieve excellent results for both buyers and vendors.

Batemans Auctioneers, Ryhall Road, Stamford PE9 1XF 01780 766466, www.batemans.com

St Martin’s Antiques Centre

Founded in 1993, this busy antiques centre located on St Martin’s is housed within an old carriage works dating back to the 1800s. A veritable Aladdin’s Cave, it is a delightful place to browse. With over 70 dealers, there is something for everyone. The extensive range

Step inside this unique gallery and experience a haven of superb original paintings by Peter Barker RSMA, alongside works of 20 carefully chosen, hugely gifted British artists. Hosted by Peter himself, you’ll be met not only by a dazzling array of artistic excellence, but a genuine warmth and deep knowledge of each painting on display.

2A Hope’s Yard, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QQ Tel: 07591 472228 peter@peterbarkerfineart.co.uk

Open 11am – 5pm Wednesdays & Saturdays, or by appointment, and 24/7 online, at www.peterbarkerfineart.co.uk

covers Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco, plus vintage designs and collectables. Items available include lighting, silver, jewellery, clocks, watches, clothing, furniture, pictures and prints, glass, porcelain, brass, copper, rugs, toys, tools, signs, kitchenalia, coins and taxidermy – you name, it will be waiting for you. The centre is open seven days a week (Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday and Bank Holidays 10.30am to 4.30pm), and stock turnover is fast, so regular visits are a must.

St Martin’s Antiques Centre, High St Martin’s, Stamford PE9 2LF, www.st-martins-antiques.co.uk

‘A veritable Aladdin’s Cave, it is a delightful place to browse’

Wingates Gallery

Wingates Gallery is a multi-award-winning, family-owned independent art gallery in Market Harborough. Andrew and Kathryn Cartwright and their team pride themselves on offering a genuinely warm welcome, alongside a thoughtfully curated collection that allows visitors the space to enjoy the art in their own time.

Driven by a passion for discovering outstanding new talent, the gallery showcases over 350 original artworks and handmade sculptures at accessible price points. With more than 40 carefully selected national and international artists – many of whom the team know personally, and some exclusive to the gallery in the UK – the collection spans abstract, wildlife, seascapes, still life, landscapes, sculpture, floral, cityscapes and illustration.

Wingates Gallery is known for its personal, transparent approach: all prices include framing and UK delivery, with no hidden costs.

ABOVE: Wingates Gallery in Market Harborough.

Home approval is available within 30 miles, allowing you to experience a piece in your own space before committing, and many artists accept commissions at standard retail prices, making bespoke work both accessible and straightforward.

A lively programme of events runs throughout the year. Highlights include a fundraising quiz evening on Friday 8 May (7pm), raising money for art supplies in local schools; the Independents’ Day Exhibition on Saturday 4 July (1–5pm), offering the chance to meet a selection of the gallery’s artists and view new collections; and the September Showcase (Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September), introducing a host of new artists, with visitors invited to vote for their favourites. The year concludes with a Skateboard Deck Auction on Saturday 5 December (from 5pm), featuring work from 18 artists and supporting the same schools initiative. For bookings and enquiries, email andrew@ wingatesgallery.co.uk

Wingates Gallery, 44a St Mary’s Road, Market Harborough LE16 7DU, www.wingatesgallery.co.uk

The BADA Art & Antiques Fair Rutland

THE British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) is launching its first major art and antiques fair outside London since its foundation in 1918. The BADA Art & Antiques Fair Rutland will take place at the Pavilion, Rutland Hall Hotel, from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June. BADA chose Rutland for its unspoilt villages, local sights and luxury hotels, anticipating visitors will combine the fair with exploring the surrounding area. The fair will feature 40 BADA members exhibiting fine art, antiques and design, including jewellery, furniture, drawings, paintings and watercolours, sculpture, clocks and watches, glass, rare books and silver. Each object will be vetted for quality and authenticity by BADA experts, offering visitors complete assurance. Rutland’s central location provides an opportunity to showcase regional dealers alongside leading names. Exhibitors include

Your independent, family-owned, multi awardwinning gallery in Market Harborough

Bringing you high quality, original artwork and handmade sculpture at affordable prices for over 50 years.

 Variety: We represent over 40 national and international artists who we have hand selected and we know personally.

 Choice: We hold over 350 pieces of original art and handmade sculpture which are all available to view in the gallery.

 Unique: Many of our artists are exclusive to us in the UK giving our customers a truly unique collection of art to choose from.

 Friendly: A warm, friendly welcome awaits you with the space to browse at your leisure.

 Expertise: We also have an expert framing service – sports shirts, war medals, cross stitch or just freshening up your favourite picture.

Come and see us soon.

44a St Mary’s Road, Market Harborough LE16 7DU 10-6pm Tuesday to Saturday Tel: 01858 465455 www.wingatesgallery.co.uk

Tomasso; Freshfords Fine Antiques; Gladwell & Patterson; Holly Johnson Antiques; French clock specialist Richard Price of BBC Antiques Roadshow fame; and Abbott and Holder. www.bada.org

Goldmark Gallery

Goldmark is an art and ceramics gallery, Royal Television Societynominated film maker, book publisher, printmaker and scholarship hub. A selling gallery of national and international significance, it has stood at the heart of Uppingham for over half a century. The gallery’s investment in and support of artists and potters means it now owns over 50,000 works of art, represents the estates of several major 20th-century artists and has exclusive representation of major potters from Japan and Korea to Denmark, the UK and the USA. Its bespoke exhibitions tour public and commercial UK galleries every year.

Goldmark’s exceptional permanent acquisitions include woodcuts by Kandinsky, original prints by Picasso and Matisse, paintings by Jenny Grevatte and fine bronzes by Elisabeth Frink and Frank Dobson, to name a few. Visitors enjoy the warmest reception at Goldmark, with coffee always on offer. New exhibitions are usually launched with a lunchtime Q&A with complimentary lunch and fizz – these sessions are hugely informative and enjoyable. This month the gallery is showcasing special exhibitions of the work of artists Sid Burnard (from 25 April through May) and John Farrington (from 23 May; see p14).

The gallery’s beautifully produced quarterly magazine, print workshop, ceramics and framing shops complete a portfolio of excellence that make it a shop like no other. Musical events are also regularly hosted in Goldmark Front Room, which can seat 60 guests – full details of these wonderful, intimate gigs are posted on the website; expect to see some big names among others. We recently went to hear Sam Lee and L.Y.R. (Simon Armitage), both incredible.

To visit the gallery online and research its books, films and documentaries about celebrated artists, authors, potters and art historians go to the website or watch on goldmark.tv. Goldmark, 14 Orange Street, Uppingham LE15 9SQ, www.goldmarkart.com

ABOVE: John Farrington, whose atmospheric ‘Horse’ is seen here, has an exhibition at Goldmark Gallery from 23 May.

Clarendon Fine Art

Clarendon Fine Art has brought a striking new gallery space to Stamford’s High Street in the restored former Halifax building.

Part of a boutique group of more than 90 galleries nationwide –with exhibition spaces aboard luxury cruise ships too – it brings a carefully curated collection of art to the town in a setting that feels both elegant and approachable.

Works range from 20th-century masters such as Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol to leading contemporary names including Philip Gray, Doug Hyde and Tabitha Millett. Behind the scenes, a dedicated artist programme also seeks out and supports emerging talent, helping new names develop alongside established figures and ensuring the collection continues to evolve.

Yet the guiding philosophy is refreshingly simple: buy what you love and what makes you feel good. The atmosphere is warm, inclusive and welcoming, whether you are an experienced collector or simply curious to browse. Visitors are encouraged to take their time, ask questions and enjoy the space. Private viewings and home appointments are also available, with the team happy to advise on finding the right piece for your home.

Clarendon Fine Art, 11–12 High Street, Stamford PE9 2AL, 01780 322270, www.clarendonfineart.com

Gladwell & Patterson

Gladwell & Patterson (see also p100) is an internationally renowned, family-run gallery with a history spanning over 275 years, specialising in fine oil paintings, watercolours and sculpture from Impressionist works to leading contemporary artists. Its exquisitely renovated Stamford gallery stands proudly at the end of the High Street, in a spot fondly known as ‘Gladwells Corner’. Set across several floors, it offers an inspiring setting in which to browse and enjoy art and design, with a welcoming team keen for visitors to feel at ease. Keep an eye online and on social media for Gallery in the Garden exhibitions at Molecey Mill (which the family also own), near West Deeping – a lovely venue that this month also hosts the Deepings Literary Festival (29 April to 3 May; deepingsliteraryfestival.co.uk).

Gladwell & Patterson, 1 High St, Stamford PE9 2AL, www.gladwellpatterson.com

Gladwell & Patterson

in celebration of spring

As we move into May, one of the prettiest months of the year, there’s a gentle promise of leisurely days, bank holidays and endless possibility. Few things reflect the light, colour and quiet optimism of this time of year as joyfully as a beautiful painting –here, each one captures a different mood, moment or familiar rhythm of May

Cut flowers like tethered butterflies

Inspiration at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The first ice lolly of the year?

Just messing about on the river

The joy of a vase of flowers and a view

‘Each one captures a different mood, moment or familiar rhythm’

Beautiful local walks on balmy days

gladwell & patterson, 1 high street, stamford pe9 2al 01780 917567 | www.gladwellpatterson.com | gladwellsart

With over 25 years of experience in the electrical trade, we specialise in all aspects of electrical services. From electrical installations, renewable energy, electric car charging to electrical fault finding, we have your electrical needs covered.

• We are NICEIC approved electricians and a member of the renewable energy consumer code. From a simple roof solar panel installation to a full battery storage system, we can guide, supply and install for you.

• Ordered your new ev vehicle? Company car charging? Public charging requirements? Contact us for a full design and consultation for your ev charging needs. We work with all the leading manufacturers, so be sure we will find the one that meets your requirements.

For more information about our services, speak to a friendly member of our team.

Unleash your inner adventurer from behind the wheel of a legendary sports car. This is your chance to take to the road in a 1962 Austin-Healey 3000, a 1969 Mercedes 280SL or a 1998 Morgan Plus 8.

You could even make it a ‘staycation’, with your base The Nevill Arms in the historic village of Medbourne –a boutique country hotel and pub described by The Times as “one of the cosiest places to stay in the UK”.

Whether you are craving a nostalgic trip, an escape from the pressures of modern life or simply want to get to know this area better in a novel way, you can travel in timeless elegance.

Our route suggestions will take you through charming villages, market towns and via some of the most iconic landmarks in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland and Lincolnshire.

An Auto Rendezvous experience also makes the perfect birthday, anniversary, retirement or Father’s Day gift.

A Nose-to-Tail Dining Experience

AT RUTLAND HALL HOTEL

Nicholas Rudd-Jones and Peter Raffan were recently invited to the Venison Nose-to-Tail Dining Experience at Rutland Hall Hotel

EACH MONTH, Rutland Hall Hotel puts on a nose-to-tail dining experience that showcases the expertise of the kitchen and local produce. This was the fourth in the series, with Pork (which local supplier Farmer Lou attended), Beef and Hoggett having already taken place earlier in the year. In the coming months there will be Goat (May) and Lamb (June).

The nose-to-tail idea is the brainchild of Lee Clarke, who became Head Chef at the hotel last autumn, bringing a wealth of experience with him. Many will remember him for the brilliant Clarke’s in Peterborough and then Prévost at The Haycock, and he is one of our very best local chefs. He originally trained under Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White in London. ‘I love the venue at Rutland Water,’ he told us. ‘It has the most amazing opportunity to turn into something that is unique and very, very special. And I always love to celebrate local food.’

RUTLAND HALL HOTEL

NORTH SHORE, RUTLAND WATER

LE15 8AB

01572 757901

RUTLANDHALL.CO.UK

RUTLANDHALLHOTEL

A Sense of Camaraderie

We were offered drinks on arrival and then shown through to the Apple Blossom Suite. There were about 24 of us altogether and it turned out to be a very convivial evening –everyone was brought together by a love of food, and the number of recommendations for restaurants and food suppliers that passed around the table as the evening progressed was astonishing.

The couple to our right came from Bulwick and had a love of good food, and were also keen vegetable growers themselves. The couple to our left were from Greetham and loved trying new food experiences. The party opposite had already been to the previous two events and had loved it – and warned us at the start, ‘Pace yourselves, there’s a lot of food!’ (The restaurant is very happy for you to take any leftovers at the end and provide a box for the purpose).

This sense of camaraderie, a shared love of food and sitting around the one big table was a big part of the enjoyment of the evening.

Truly a Feast

Lee introduced each of the flurry of dishes with a description of the key techniques that the kitchen had used to create them. Once the food started coming, it never stopped. In the first round, we had venison Scotch egg with Cumberland sauce, smoked venison carpaccio with truffle aioli, and liver and bacon pâté with onion marmalade and toast. We especially loved the delicacy of the quail’s egg inside the Scotch egg, and the thinness and flavour of the carpaccio.

In the second round, there was venison Wellington with red wine sauce, a slowcooked shoulder of venison taco with juniper butter sauce, a dish of venison and red wine sausages, venison cottage pie and, incredibly, slow-cooked white onions stuffed with venison neck.

The breadth and depth of preparation and the range of flavours were astonishing. Personal favourites included the huge ‘comfort food’ offering of venison cottage pie, which worked especially well as venison has a stronger, more interesting flavour than beef or pork mince, and also the charred onions encircling the venison neck – these were a sweet delight.

Side dishes included fried Brussels sprouts with pancetta, dauphinoise potatoes and roast parsnips.

If you love your meat, love good foodie company and are fascinated by all the different ways a type of meat can be prepared, then a Nose-to-Tail Dining Experience is for you. And it’s brilliant value at £39.50 a head. Wine flights are also available for a further £24, or any other drinks of your choice.

‘The breadth and depth of preparation and the range of flavours were astonishing’

OPPOSITE & THIS PAGE: our generous, convivial feast at Rutland Hall Hotel, showcasing venison in all its forms, from beautifully crafted dishes to traditional cuts, with the nose-to-tail ethos brought to life around the table.

OTHER CULINARY EVENTS

Spanish Tapas and Wine Evening 15 May, 5–7pm, £69pp

Enjoy a relaxed evening of Spanish tapas and wine, featuring a curated selection of four wines paired with delicious dishes.

Afternoon Tea by the Water May/June/July (weather-permitting), daily 12–4pm, £32.50pp weekdays/ £37.50pp weekends

Each guest will receive a takeaway-style afternoon tea box, perfect to enjoy at your own pace, with cosy blankets and a selection of classic garden games.

Visit The Farmer’s Hut in Polebrook from mid-April until June, supplying asparagus, farm produced venison and other local produce.

A new farm-to-table vending experience, bringing fresh, local produce to you through our unique farm shop vending machines.

FOR MAY, JUNE & JULY

Strawberries - Raspberries - New Potatoes

Asparagus - Strawberry & Potato Plants

Freshly harvested produce available daily Orders taken.

Deliveries available for Parties & Weddings

PYO Strawberries available from mid-June.

Opening Times: Mon – Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Whether you’re treating yourself to a meal from our two AA Rosette A la Carte menu, relaxing by the fire with a cosy meal, or simply catching up with friends over a tipple or two! Madison Keys, Zak Perrin, and the team at The Falcon, warmly welcome you seven days a week!

Mondays-Thursdays:

Food served 12-2pm and 5-8pm, bar closes at 10pm

Fridays-Saturdays:

Food served 12-8pm, bar closes at 11pm

Sundays:

Food served 12-3pm, bar closes at 5pm

What's on?

Easy as Pie Mondays

Join us every Monday for our homemade pies, a selection of your favourites paired with all the trimmings for just £10!

Darts Social nights!

(Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm)

Complimentary snacks provided in the evening

Fish and Chip Fridays!

Enjoy our local real ale battered Haddock and chips, crushed minted peas and tarragon tartare sauce all for just £10 between 12-8pm on Fridays!

Our menus are also available to view on our website

Joanna Kemp Chef/Owner of The Blonde Beet, Stamford

Q&A with Jo

Background

After a career in sustainability education, I retrained with a vegan diploma from Demuths in Bath, and started a takeaway service during lockdown.

How would you describe your style of cooking?

We aim to create excitingly different plant-based dishes, with sustainability, flavour and seasonality at their heart.

Favourite current dish on the menu

Our menu changes monthly, so I have to keep up with my own ideas to choose a favourite! Our salads are always really fun to make and go down a storm – they give us the chance to play with what is in season and showcase vegetables, herbs and pulses at their very best.

A favourite ingredient?

I should probably say beetroot! In their prime you can use the tender leaves in salads, and as soon as you roast them you can create so many delicious dishes with an absolutely gorgeous colour.

A cooking ‘trick’ to share with readers

Ingredients:

2 cans (14oz/400g each) chickpeas or other white beans

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Half a large white onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

Quarter teaspoon chilli flakes

Pinch of turmeric

1 lemon zest and juice

Half a cup vegetable stock (choose gluten free if needed)

2 tablespoons plain, unsweetened yoghurt

Kale or spinach

Half a handful fresh chopped parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

serves 2–3

Method:

1. Drain one can of your chickpeas (save aquafaba if needed for other dishes).

2. In a large pot, gently heat the olive oil

and add the chopped onion and minced garlic cloves and cook for about 3 minutes or until the onion starts to soften.

3. Add the drained chickpeas, chilli flakes, turmeric, lemon zest and stock and bring to the boil. Don’t be tempted to season until the end, as the stock is already salty.

4. Blend the final tin of chickpeas with its aquafaba and the yoghurt. When smooth, add this to your pan – it will create the sauce for the dish with added flavour and protein.

5. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can add further water or stock to loosen as needed to create the thickness you would like.

6. Roughly chop some kale or spinach and parsley and cook for a further 2–3 minutes.

7. Add the lemon juice to taste and set aside.

8. Serve drizzled with yoghurt, pesto and any other chopped fresh herbs or toasted seeds as desired.

Always think about leftovers! There are so many delicious things you can create with a humble leftover – we often create new soups or invent rostis from salads at the end of the day. It feels great to repurpose something you’ve already spent a lot of time over, and is the most delicious way of reducing waste.

A bit about The Blonde Beet

Starting as a weekend takeaway from our home during lockdown, we had a vision to bring delicious plant-based dining, a valuable community and sustainability-led space to Stamford.

We will have been in our stunning St Paul’s Street restaurant for five years this summer, and the community that has built around our food and ethos in that time has been nothing short of incredible! We thrive on creating both food and a space that welcomes everyone to get excited for what local and seasonal vegetables can do.

We are now a cafe, bistro, caterer and community event space, as well as hosting our own workshops and pop-up events. It brings me so much joy to hear people say they would eat much more plant-based food if it all tasted like ours, or that ardent meat-eaters choose us as one of their favourite eateries. We love to inspire people to give eating just a bit more plant-based food a go!

The Blonde Beet, 7 Paul’s Street, Stamford PE9 2BE | 01780 766464 blondebeet.co.uk | the_blonde_beet

Food & Drink

From Soup Kitchens to Starry Tables

Caroline Aston traces the story of dining out, from humble beginnings to today’s rich and varied restaurant scene

ILOVE TO COOK almost as much as I love history! To me, good ingredients are like an artist’s palette of paints: colour, texture, flavours, vegetables, fish and meat all combining together to create whatever taste landscape takes the fancy. Today we can travel the world via the huge array of exotic spices and products we have access to, and that journey has certainly taken me far, far away from the stock-cube-based cuisine of my dear mother! I can still taste her Monday ‘chicken curry’ – cold cuts of the day before’s roast bird stewed in that cube-based gravy to which she added a large slug of curry powder and a chopped onion. Rice was for puddings only and pasta never made an appearance. How times and tastes change, especially when it comes to dining out: what was once a rare treat to celebrate life’s landmarks has become a regular event for many of us.

A CHANGING TABLE

We’re so lucky in our area – there’s a multiplicity of taste experiences available, from mainstream pub grub to starry Michelin fare and plenty of delights in between. But the story of the rise of the restaurant is a fascinating one that goes back centuries and grew from pretty humble beginnings. In fact, the very word ‘restaurant’ comes from 18th-century France, where relatively humble soup kitchens served ‘restoratives’, simple hot broths to the weary and unwell – in fact, food as medicine. By the late 1700s there were establishments with tables, cloths, waiters and even a menu – the restaurant had come of age! However, it took the French Revolution of 1789 to spread the concept to our shores: aristocrats lost their heads, but Britain gained their chefs who fled over the Channel.

Food critic William Sitwell, who recently glowingly reviewed Oakham’s Hitchen’s Barn, wrote that London ‘benefitted from the French Revolution’ with the arrival of these gastronomic exiles. The prices charged were high and way beyond the pockets of most people: curator Danielle Thom of the Museum of London says that ‘food and drink on offer… was so notoriously expensive… that it became a standing joke!’ Prior to the French food invasion, people ate at taverns and inns, where travellers and tradesmen could get good plain food, a foaming pint and a bed for the night, probably not unlike the 18th-century experience at The George of Stamford or the former Ram Jam Inn near Stretton in Rutland.

‘It was that king of French chefs, Auguste Escoffier, who stated that we eat “first with the eyes, then the nose and then the mouth”’

DINING BEFORE DINING OUT

Chop houses did exactly what they said on the tin: they served up juicy mutton chops and steaks in a noisy communal setting at a reasonable price to artisans and businessmen. And the ordinary man in the street? He could buy himself a hot pie, some eel stew or a doorstep of bread and dripping from a pie shop or a street food vendor. But it was the Industrial Revolution of roughly 1760–1840 that led to recognisable restaurants. As Sitwell says: ‘as the Industrial Revolution took hold… many found themselves eating away from home by necessity.’ There was no interior design other than the odd candlestick and occasionally a tablecloth in these early eateries and certainly no hint of what the food critics of today call ‘ambience’, that crucial part of the eating out experience today.

THE ART OF AMBIENCE

It was that king of French chefs, Auguste Escoffier (1846–1935), who stated that we eat ‘first with the eyes, then the nose and then the mouth’. Escoffier, business partner of César Ritz at London’s Savoy Hotel, is giving us a perfect description of ambience – the overall atmosphere that hits us, for good or sometimes bad, when we enter a restaurant anywhere. It’s created with careful lighting, table settings, décor, music and flowers, and has been called ‘the intangible first course’, our first taste of place that has nothing to do with just our taste buds but is a sensual experience that draws us in.

When Tim and Stefa Hart bought Hambleton Hall near Oakham in 1979, the initial decoration of the hotel and restaurant (1979–80) was led by Stefa’s friend Nina Campbell, an acclaimed interior designer once described by the Daily Telegraph’s Emma Sinclair as ‘Not just a household name but a British legend who has made the world of interiors her own.’ Stefa Hart, also a renowned interior designer, has continued to make Hambleton Hall a treat for the eyes, establishing Hambleton Decorating in 1989 after so many guests had admired her work there. And the glorious bespoke breakfast china that brightens even the most windswept day on the Hambleton Peninsula was designed by her husband – Tim Hart collaborated with the renowned makers Duchess China over several visits to finalise the distinctive feather-patterned china that is so familiar to Hambleton habitués and which replaced the Villeroy & Boch china previously used. Ambience is all in the details, for example the glorious wall of assorted mirrors in The George of Stamford’s Garden Room and the fabulous choice of wallpapers and paint colours that create, throughout, different moods for different spaces.

A MORE RELAXED TABLE

Probably one of the biggest changes to eating out over the decades has been to the level of formality involved. True, fine dining is booming business and the twinkling of a Michelin star guides people to fine food shrines, but the starch has gone out of the stiff shirts and ties have been largely binned. There’s usually a dress code advisory at the higher-end establishments: Hambleton aims for a smart-casual to formal look with a collared shirt and no sportswear or ripped jeans, whilst The George of Stamford respectfully requests gentlemen dining in the handsome Oak Room to wear a jacket, though they can leave their ties at home. The world-famous London Ritz restaurant is crystal clear that jackets and ties are de rigueur and shorts and trainers definitely out, although you can wear your jeans to eat your breakfast baked beans framed in the glitter and the gold surrounding you!

Rutland and Stamford offer a cornucopia of dining experiences, from good pub fare to gastropubs (let’s hear it for The Olive Branch at Clipsham!) to the iconic venues already mentioned. But along the way is the amazing taste tapestry provided by any number of ethnic outlets that allow us to travel the world of flavour and cuisine with ease. Coriander, cumin, turmeric, five spice powder, galangal and ginger – words and flavours that sing in the mouth. And I have to admit that I love sitting opposite a picture of Maharajah Duleep Singh, a protégé of Queen Victoria, who was godmother to several of his children, in the very modern dining space at Sarpech, perched above Oakham’s High Street. He was a looker – ‘Those eyes and those teeth are too beautiful!’ – and surely that must be the most perfect blend of my twin loves: food and history.

Will your Pension Fund Pay Inheritance Tax? Prepare For April 2027: From this date many inherited pension funds will be subject to Inheritance Tax This is in addition to income tax

Will push many estate owners above the nil rate band limit (£325,000)

Will have 6 months to pay off the tax before significant interest is charged

There are some exemptions and ways to mitigate this impact – and we can help you with this

If these changes affect you contact us for an initial consultation at no cost or obligation

Contact Info:

Phone Number: 01780 761313

SUNDAY

Starters

Warm smoked salmon and asparagus tart, herb salad, white wine cream, lemon oil

Honey and flower cured goats cheese, spring vegetables, pinenuts, foraged elderflower vinaigrette

Mains

Fillet of Norfolk pork, warm piccalilli potato salad, bbq gem lettuce, spring onions and a little black pudding and apple sausage roll

Local wild garlic arancini, courgettes, broad beans, peas, wild mushrooms, Sussex Charmer cheese fondue

Dessert

Salted caramel egg custard, poached apples, spiced hazelnut crumble, apple brandy crème fraiche

Iced lemon meringue parfait, preserved berries, lemon and poppy seed shortbread

Please book your table online at www.lakeisle.co.uk or call 01572 822951 for any Tuesday to Saturday lunchtime (5th to 30th May) May Lunch for Less £26 for 2 courses, add another course for £4 à la carte menu also available

Local Briefing

News from the region this month

Your Pet’s Paradise

Twelve years ago, Anna Bowen from Baston had an idea to create a business that matched dogs needing holiday accommodation with dog lovers who missed having the company of a dog at home. Fast forward to now and her business, Your Pet’s Paradise, specialises in dog home boarding, pet sitting, dog walking and dog training and behaviour.

Your Pet’s Paradise has an array of ‘Holiday Homes’ – dog lovers who take dogs into their homes while owners are away. Anna matches the dogs to the best home for them, and then owners visit that home to make sure they’re happy.

Holiday Homes are often people who are retired, although postCovid, Anna has seen a surge in Holiday Homes who work from home and like some furry company during their work day. Or some homes have their own dog who likes to have friends come and stay for some extra company!

Alongside this, Anna recognises that not all dogs are suited to home boarding and prefer to be in their own environment. So, the business has expanded to offer sitting in dog’s own homes. She now has a team of sitters who will stay with dogs in their own homes, to keep their normal day-to-day routines. This also provides some additional security for the home too, as well as keeping up with things like plant watering and bin collections!

As a dog trainer and behaviourist, Anna has a deep and expert understanding of what dogs need and always aims to offer the highest quality of care, with many loyal customers returning year after year.

For more information on the services offered by Your Pet’s Paradise contact Anna or visit the website to find out more:

07590 282005 | anna@yourpetsparadise.co.uk www.yourpetsparadise.co.uk

Cherish Stories: Wedding Videography

by Henry Buxton

Helping the bride and groom cherish their special day forever

Having grown up in Stamford, attending both Malcolm Sargent and Stamford schools, Henry studied Graphic Design, then did a master’s in music. He then started his own videography business, quickly turning his hand to weddings. Now he has over 12 years’ experience filming weddings all over the UK, and even some in Australia and New Zealand.

Henry, priding himself on his natural and unobtrusive style, captures the ‘real’ moments of a wedding day. ‘I don’t want to direct anybody,’ he says, ‘I want to capture authentic reactions: the smiles, the laughter, the hugs, the tears, the genuine emotion of the day. The beauty of a wedding video is you can watch it back 5, 10, even 50 years later, and share it with all your friends and family!’

One happy couple said, ‘Our video has brought tears to our eyes, being able to relive our magical day is just amazing! The attention to detail: incredible! The pure joy, love and happiness on everyone’s faces that has been captured is truly brilliant! Thank you, thank you, thank you!’

Henry is equally happy with all the technical stuff in the editing suite: adding music, he crafts extended wedding videos, as well as providing the ceremony and speeches in full. He also offers aerial/ drone footage and the option to film all the ‘getting ready’ bits too.

Henry’s other passion is filming shows. Having worked with theatres, drama schools, choirs, amdram groups, dance troupes and more, he’s travelled all over the country recording performances. ‘It’s definitely a different style,’ he adds, ‘but with all the music and dancing, they’re so fun to film and edit!’

07342 446 853, cherishstories@gmx.com www.cherishstories.com | cherishstories

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DOG LOVERS WANTED

Would you like to welcome dogs into your home while their owners are away?

Annual rate £20 (UK only).

Please enclose a cheque made payable to North Norfolk Living Ltd.

Your Pet’s Paradise are looking for dog lovers who would like to look after dogs while their owners are away.

All the joy of a dog without the full time commitment

You’re matched to the dogs who suit you best

Tailored to your availability

Meet the dogs beforehand and even have a trial stay

Full insurance and round the clock support

Retired?

Work from home?

Work in a school?

Miss having a dog of your own?

Have a dog who likes 4 legged friends?

We’d love to hear from you!

For more details contact Anna: anna@yourpetsparadise.co.uk

07590282005 www.yourpetsparadise.co.uk

Local Briefing

News from the region this month

The Brays Celebrate their 20th

The Brays are an indie rock band built on the bones of brilliant songwriting and the blood of anthemic, pulse-driven choruses. Hailing from Peterborough, this five-piece outfit – Gavin (vocals/ guitar), Keith (drums), Badger (keys), Eddie (bass) and Michael (lead guitar) – bring together raw emotion, rich melodies and lyrical storytelling in every track they write.

With influences spanning from Elbow and Radiohead to Pink Floyd, Joe Bonamassa, The Enemy and The Killers, The Brays blend introspection with power, weaving immersive sonic journeys that stick. Their songs are crafted, not just written – each one a story, each chorus a hook that lingers long after the lights go down.

Known for their unforgettable live energy and undeniable connection with their audience, The Brays have shared stages with the likes of The Levellers, Feeder, The Cribs and Bonehead of Oasis. But it’s their own sound – intelligent, emotional and defiantly melodic – that sets them apart.

This month, on 30 May at The Boulevard Club in Peterborough, they celebrate their 20th anniversary. Drummer Keith told us: ‘We’ll relive our journey with a setlist forged from 20 years –featuring ‘Illusion Sound’, ‘This Is It Now’, ‘If I Beat You Home’, ‘Burn’, ‘Carrie’ and ‘Headclever’.

‘The evening will be free of charge, but we will be supporting the local Musicians’ Youth Charity as part of the event – donations towards this charity will be greatly received on the night.

‘We look forward to seeing you all for what promises to be a night to remember!’

Many congratulations to The Brays on their two decades!

brays20

As spring edges towards summer, thoughts turn to spending more time outside, and Creative Oundle has two of its most popular outdoor events on the horizon.

Open Gardens returns on 14 June, with the promise of horticultural delights waiting to be discovered. In courtyards and gardens across the centre of Oundle, local residents will share their passion and flair with visitors. Wonderful displays of roses are expected to take centre stage, along with poppies, delphiniums, hydrangeas and many others. Some of the gardens are as notable for landscaping and sculptural features as for plants, and for a few properties their frontal displays are the star attraction. There are at least 15 gardens to explore, each unique, and refreshments are on offer at both ends of the town.

‘If music be the food of love, play on,’ as someone famously said, and ‘Party at the Wharf’ provides ample opportunity for both. Since food tastes better when eaten outdoors, a family picnic or food stall treats enjoyed with friends makes the perfect start to an evening of entertainment on the Wharf field.

The headline act, Madness tribute band ‘One Step Behind’ is sure to have everyone up on their feet, as are the support group Bamboozle, who are making a welcome return to Oundle, and four-piece local band, Broken Heroes. Get ready to dance the night away under the stars.

Open Gardens: Sunday 14 June 11am–5pm. Tickets: £5 in advance, £7 on the day. Party at the Wharf: Saturday 20 June 4.30–10.30pm. Tickets: from £23 (£15 for under 18, under 12s free). For more information and to book tickets, visit www.creativeoundle.co.uk/events

Local Briefing

Join the Rutland Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2026

Sunday 17 May

Local organiser Jo Lamb told us: ‘This year, we aren’t just attending the National Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) – we are hosting our very own, right here in the heart of Rutland. The DGR is about more than just dapper clothing and classic steel; it’s a global movement for men’s health, raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and mental health support. We want the Rutland ride to be a standout chapter of this story.

‘Whether you ride a thumping cruiser, a polished modern classic or a vintage gem, we want you on the starting grid with us. This isn’t about top speeds or spec sheets. It’s about community, character and riding for a cause that matters.’

Why join the Rutland ride?

The Route: We’ve scouted a stunning, ‘slow burn’ circuit through England’s smallest county.

The Film: We’ll be filming the entire day for a special feature on the channel. Come and be part of the story!

The Cause: Let’s show the world the depth and generosity of the Mr Darcy & The Ol’ Man community.

Spaces are limited, so shine your boots, prep your machines, and let’s make some noise for a great cause. See you on the road, dapper and polished.

How to sign up: Head to the official DGR website at gentlemansride. com/events/eng, select England, then Rutland. 118 | local briefing: may 2026

Oundle Psychologist Named in Top 100 Supporting Mental Health in Men and Boys

Local psychologist, Dr Naomi Murphy, has been named as one of the UK’s top 100 influencers supporting the wellbeing of men and boys, by a leading research organisation. She joins the likes of Gareth Southgate and actor Stephen Graham on the 2026 list of those whose work champions men’s and boys’ physical and mental health.

Fourteen men in the UK die by suicide each day. Over 90,000 men are in prison, many of them with mental health issues. One in five men die before they are 65. Boys are more likely than girls to be sexually abused within institutions. The Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB) is an independent charity which conducts research, advises government, and supports others in turning their research into action to improve the outcomes for males.

Dr Murphy, who runs a private practice in Oundle, is a clinical and forensic psychologist who spent over twenty years working within the prison service, where she supported some of the most challenging offenders and headed up the pioneering programme at HMP Whitemoor which holds some of the UK’s most notorious prisoners. She now works closely with Whatwashidden.org, a group of survivors of childhood sexual abuse, who are campaigning to ensure that mandatory reporting of sexual abuse in organisations and institutions becomes law.

‘It is a real honour to be recognised for the work I do in support of men’s mental health. There remains a stigma and secrecy around the sexual abuse suffered by boys, the effects of which last a lifetime,’ says Dr Murphy.

Dr Murphy, who heads Octopus Psychology, also co-hosts the acclaimed Locked Up Living podcast, which often gives voice to both male and female survivors of abuse and whistleblowers.

For more information on Dr Murphy, see also our feature this month on p84.

Octopus Psychology: 07771 732104 naomimurphy@proton.me | octopuspsychology.com

“I’ve been gardening since 13, I now keep busy as head of the gardening club.”

John, care home resident

For homecare visits, live in care, night care and more, contact us.

At Care UK’s Oat Hill Mews in Market Harborough, every resident is supported to live their life the way they choose. Our experienced team takes pride in offering quality residential, nursing, dementia and respite care.

John, a Care UK care home resident, shares how the care home’s dedicated colleagues and training help him to live life to the full.

‘The activities team does a very good job’ John moved into a Care UK care home from an independent living facility that lacked community. “If I didn’t see anyone walking by, I wouldn’t see anyone all day,” he says. “Here, I see people all day long, and the activities team does a very good job.”

The activities in each Care UK care home are tailored to its individual residents. “As soon as I tell the activities team my interests, they look at how they can organise things”, John says. He enjoys activities that keep him busy and challenge him mentally, like crosswords and quizzes. “I watch Lingo, and because I said I enjoy it, the team bought me the game.”

One team member is even teaching him Italian. “We laugh about going to Italy to speak Italian.”

Because John’s eyesight is deteriorating, the team makes special visits to his room each day to tell him what activities are on.

Nurturing interests

John has gardened since he was 13, having learned from his father at their allotment during the war. Now, at 91, the team encourages him to keep busy as head of the Gardening Club. Here, he’s made a name for himself, winning the home’s tallest

sunflower competition with a 9ft 6in flower. “It was incredible!” he says.

Each Care UK garden is designed for older people to enjoy as independently as possible. John thinks the raised beds are “brilliant”. “I can’t bend down, so I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them,” he says.

Team members also offer John extra help to get around the garden. “The team bring things to me and take me to the garden centre to buy what I need,” he says. “They are very good indeed. I’m quite content here.”

Trust us to care

Our dedicated teams are highly trained to ensure every element of your loved one’s experience is tailored to their needs, interests and preferences.

Care UK is a leading independent care home provider with some of the highest quality ratings of the UK’s larger care providers, and over 40 years’ experience of delivering high-quality care to older people.

For more information about Oat Hill Mews in Market Harborough, call 01858 390 253 or visit careuk.com/oat-hill-mews

THE MAY WALK

Clipsham & Pickworth Great Wood

This is a fabulous walk, starting at The Olive Branch in the Rutland village of Clipsham, and going through the tranquil and beautiful Pickworth Great Wood

words: nicholas rudd-jones

KEY DATA

Distance 5 miles (shorter route: 3.5 miles)

Typical time 2 hours (shorter route: 1.5 hours)

Start & finish The Olive Branch, Clipsham (LE15 7SH)

Terrain Straightforward

Stiles None

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Pickworth Great Wood is one of the largest remaining blocks of deciduous woodland in the region and contains stands representative of ancient, semi-natural woodland.

• The Lime Kiln at Pickworth (private, but visible from road) Pickworth has an interesting history. Although now a tiny hamlet, it

‘The poet John Clare worked here in 1812 as a lime burner’

was prosperous during the reign of Edward III (1327–77) but was deserted by the end of the 15th century. The original church was also destroyed during this period; one arch still survives near Manor Farm, alongside the 19th-century All Saints’ Church.

Just to the west of the village lie the remains of a lime kiln. The poet John Clare worked here in 1812 as a lime burner. He wrote in his poem ‘Elegy in the Ruins of Pickworth’:

‘These buried ruins, now in dust forgot, These heaps of stone the only remains seen.’

• Clipsham Old Quarry contains important exposures of Lincolnshire Limestone and some of the best species-rich limestone grassland in the area. The scrub within the quarry also provides suitable nesting habitat for a variety of birds including tree pipit, grasshopper warbler and sedge warbler.

• Stamford Stone took over the Clipsham Quarry in 2018. Previously it had been in the Davenport-Handley family for four generations.

• Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue (yewtreeavenue.co.uk) is a unique collection of 150 yew trees, most of which are over 200 years old. The Avenue was once the carriage drive to Clipsham Hall, the centre of the Clipsham Estate. The topiary trees are in the process of being restored and are well worth a visit after your walk.

PIT STOP

• The Olive Branch, Main Street, Clipsham, Oakham LE15 7SH. 01780 410355, www.theolivebranchpub.com A favourite regional pub serving unfailingly impressive, award-winning food and run by a fabulous team. Whether you’re in the cosy bar area, the restaurant or the delightful garden out the front, it’s a delight. Note they have several e-bikes to hire if your feet need a rest and you can also book to stay at the boutique Beech House, which has the same owners, just across the road.

DIRECTIONS

1 Set out from Clipsham east along the village street. Where the road bears left towards The Bythams, cross over onto a field path running due east; this eventually comes out on The Quarries road.

2 Cross the road and head south up the metalled track into the wood.

3 Where the metalled track becomes a path, you have the option of a shortcut here (marked with a dotted line, turning right and following the metalled track, taking it all the way until you come out of the wood on the western side and re-join our route just after 6); otherwise stay on the path heading south that soon emerges out of the wood.

4

5

Turn right on reaching the road, and half right again onto a metalled track where there is a gate and a bridleway sign; follow it until you enter a new field, then head diagonally right across this field towards the left end of the wood; the path heads through the wood where it is at its thinnest, and shortly comes out the other side in a field, with the wood on your right.

6

From here the path deviates from the path shown on the map; stick to the side of the wood, and descend into the working quarry on a clearly marked path (as you descend you will see the old quarry on your right).

7

On climbing up the other side, take a sharp left, a right and then a left when you come into a field, to re-join the path heading north and back to the village of Clipsham.

©Crown copyright 2026 Ordnance Survey. Media 001/26. The licence is valid until 31 December 2026.

Once out of the wood, follow the path along the field boundary to the left of the hedge in front of you, and the path takes you to Pickworth. 1 3 2 4 5 6 7

Local Photography

TThe speed of the spread of photography both as science and an art form bears comparison with the spread of computers in our day. Jean Orpin and Sue Lee explore a selection of local photographers who illustrate this story

HE TERMS ‘Photographist’, Photographic artist’ and ‘Photographer’ only came into use after 1839, when Louis Daguerre, a Frenchman, exhibited his method of ‘fixing’ a picture, yet in the 50 years from 1851 to 1901 the number of people giving these as occupations on the UK census rose dramatically.

1840s

Daguerre’s method created a single image, a ‘Daguerreotype’. These tarnished in contact with air, so were sealed in glass and mounted in folding cases. Not surprisingly, this was expensive, but it made photographs commercially viable for the first time.

The French government acquired the rights to Daguerreotypes and made them free to all – except Britain, where Daguerre had already secured a patent. The first patentee sold licences to London studios and around the country (including Lincolnshire) and employed the first professional photographer in 1841.

Meanwhile, Henry Fox Talbot was pioneering ‘Calotypes’, a method of producing photographs on paper by a different process. These lacked detail but needed shorter exposure, provided more copies and were more versatile, thus encouraging more to take up the profession.

1850s

While Mr Sarony, an ‘American photographic artist’, still advertised a visit to Stamford and Spalding to take Daguerreotypes, the ‘Collodion’ process (invented in 1853) opened up new opportunities. Photography became quicker and cheaper, and photographers opened studios in provincial towns. In 1854 the ‘Carte de Visite’ was patented and cost a fraction of Daguerreotypes. These were mounted on card the size of a

business card and provided eight or more copies of the same or similar pictures.

From the earliest days, it was not unusual to find women as photographers, and Elizabeth Higgins is a good example. She grew up in Stamford and, shortly after her marriage in 1854, set up her own business at 10 Maiden Lane. She advertised her ‘Portrait Gallery’ in the Mercury regularly and kept abreast of all the latest processes. In November 1859 the Mercury reported that All Saints’ Callis, ‘one of the oldest domestic structures in Stamford’, was to be demolished, but ‘it will be gratifying to those who take an interest in medieval architecture to know that several photographic views of this interesting building … have been recently taken by Mrs Higgins’.

1860s

Through the 1860s, Mrs Higgins continued to adopt new processes, advertising Collodion Portraits for 1s and large photographs ‘of Burghley House and all the churches and public buildings in Stamford’ for 5s. She also offered printing services to itinerant photographers. It was common for photographers to travel from place to place in vans fitted out with a studio/darkroom and living quarters. Negatives still had to be developed quickly, so outdoor pictures required a portable darkroom or a local studio.

Cartes de Visite became a craze in the 1860s. People exchanged cards and mounted them in albums. Pictures of celebrities could be bought and added. This craze accelerated the development of the profession and soon there were photographers’ studios in many of our local towns – young men such as John West in Market Deeping and William Copeland on Ashwell Road, Oakham. Also, by the end of the decade, another woman, Sophia Robinson, was advertising Cartes de Visite for 2s 6d at her Portrait Rooms on High Street, St Martin’s, Stamford. In the mid1860s, Charles Drake opened his business in Uppingham and illustrated a book about Uppingham School in 1870.

1870s onwards

In the 1870s, Cartes de Visite gave way to postcard-sized Cabinet Cards, which were framed and displayed on a cabinet. Other developments were ‘Ferrotypes’, made in a few minutes and sold in papier mâché cases, which itinerants used into the 20th century. The 1881 census was taken during Grantham Fair and recorded seven photographers’ vans in the town.

Family photos marking special occasions became more widely affordable and specialist studios made enlargements of prominent people, places and events. Studio portraits remained popular, but cameras became increasingly portable, so photographers spent more time out and about, leaving the technical printing to assistants. By the 1880s, photography was seen as an art form and we find Mrs Higgins, always at the forefront of the profession, beginning to call herself an artist.

Businesses were passing from generation to generation. Mrs Higgins’ studio was carried on by her nieces, Charles Drake’s by his widow and son, and when his wife died Frederick Robinson took her business on himself (and soon married a much younger assistant). There are also local instances of families spreading out – Gulliver Speight, who set up in Market Harborough, had five brothers who all established studios across the Midlands. Similarly, photographic premises, such as 30 St Peter’s Street, Stamford, were passed on from photographer to photographer.

30 St Peter’s Street

This 17th-century house, later joined with No. 29 in the late 18th century, became one

of Stamford’s longest-running photographic premises. By 1878 the houses were divided when George Nichols rented the property. Occupied by photographers and used as a studio for almost 100 years, from the 1870s to the 1970s, it reflects the changing nature of the profession – from an exclusive pursuit in the 19th century to something accessible to all by 1970.

George

Nichols

The first photographer to occupy the house was George Nichols, who rented it in 1879 from the Winifred Browne charity. He was aged 39 and lived at Rutland Villa, Tinwell Road, with his wife Rebecca, aged 24. He created a studio and a darkroom at No 30 and moved there, advertising his business as a photographer and portrait painter in 1882. He became well regarded in the town. An article in Stamford Illustrated said about him, ‘He has kept pace with the spirit of the times and produces work that is not surpassed by any other member of the profession’. He photographed stately homes, churches and views of the countryside, and also many groups. He also instructed beginners and allowed them to use his darkroom.

Rebecca Nichols

After George died in 1897, Rebecca carried on the business and stated in an advertisement, ‘Every description of photography undertaken’. She took advantage of the latest improvements and photographed wedding groups, family gatherings, sports teams, houses, animals and children. She retired in 1915 and died in 1921.

Gertrude Beales

Gertrude Beales took over the business in 1915 and lived at 30 St Peter’s Street. She was the widow of Anthony Beales, a member of a Spalding family with many

photographers. After their marriage, they had pursued photography in several places. It is not clear why she came to Stamford, perhaps because she found a house already fitted out as a studio. She specialised in portraits of children, enlargements and views of Stamford. She retired in 1939.

Charles Kemp

Charles Kemp took over the business in 1939 when he was 22. With the invention of the Brownie box camera and the vest pocket camera, photography was enjoyed more widely, and Charles Kemp was developing and printing photographs for customers. In 1960 he was taking many photographs of weddings but also selling cameras and equipment. He specialised in wedding photographs and children’s portraits and lived at 30 St Peter’s Street until 1975.

Paul McClure

The Good and the Bad of It

WORDS: STEVE ROBERTS

IFIRST wrote about Paul McClure – aka The Rutland Troubadour – in 2023 and the release of The Good and the Bad of It, Paul’s fourth album, was a welcome chance to catch up with him.

I described Paul in 2023 as a singular man. That has not changed. Two of the tracks on the album – U Do U and Take Me as I Am –reflect his determination to make music and live life on his own terms. There are 10 tracks on The Good and the Bad of It, all selfpenned. The list includes several love songs, as Paul says: ‘There are always songs about love because I’m in love’. Death, social media and mental health put in appearances through the lyrics, but be assured this is life-affirming music.

Paul and his producer, Trevor Moss, went back to the basics in making the album. Paul garnered a small, trusted and talented team, which includes vocals (and giggles) from his youngest daughter

Flossie (aged 13). His elder daughter, 16-year-old Lola-Rose, took the excellently moody photo for the album cover featured here. However, a key element, which doubtless contributes to the album’s fresh vitality, was the speed of its recording. I was reminded of Stuart Maconie’s film about the Beatles debut album Please Please Me – recorded in one day – as Paul (McClure, not McCartney!) described his back-to-basics approach. No track needed more than four takes (often fewer), vocals and instrumentals were recorded simultaneously without overdubbing or any of the tricks that make many modern recordings seem mechanical.

There is nothing mechanical about this album and, as Paul sings in U Do U, he measures his success in smiles. Another highlight is Across the Water, a classic piece of Americana-influenced folk with haunting harmonica by Trevor Moss complementing Paul’s echoing voice. The title track is a ballad that somehow manages to be both poignant and inspirational at the same time. Take Me as I Am loses nothing of Paul’s singularity, but I am reminded of the late, great Kris Kristofferson in the timing and phrasing of this heartfelt love song.

Paul is on a national tour from late May through July. The nearest gig to Stamford and Rutland is at Kontra Roots – a great venue in the Earls Barton Working Men’s Club, which is itself well worth the trip – on 12 June. He will also be doing some of his legendary House Concerts – so, if you can’t find a Paul McClure gig near you, book him to come round to your home to play. Paul, like the troubadour he is, will play anywhere, big or small – and will bring a pocket full of smiles with him.

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM & BOOK PAUL NOW:

The Good and the Bad of It by Paul McClure is available on Bandcamp/Paul McClure or on the Bex Pop label – go to www.bex-pop.com

To book Paul (The Rutland Troubadour), go to Paul McClure – Rutland Troubadour on Facebook or email paulmccluremusic@gmail.com

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