Buying at auction? Buy at Batemans Meet the garden designer who was winner of a gold medal and best in show at The Rutland Flower show Not all heroes wear capes; how one Rutland publican battled to save Rutland Pumpkins galore for Halloween Travel; is New Zealand on your radar? ISSUE 158 | OCTOBER 2026
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On track for autumn Half term fun and plans for the ‘cozy’ months
w w w .t h e a c t i ve m a g . c o m
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Editor and Publisher Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Deputy editor Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com Art editor Matt Tarrant Contributors Will Hetherington, Jeremy Smithson-Beswick, Advertisement Sales Director Lisa Chauhan lisa@theactivemag.com Advertisement Sales Emily Stillman Production assistant Gary Curtis Accounts accounts@theactivemag.com Cover image: John Hillier Active magazine, 13 St Marys Street Stamford PE9 2DE If you have information about a club then please get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com. If you would like to stock Active magazine please email distribution@theactivemag.com. Active magazine is published monthly 10 times per year. ISSN 2059-8513 Published by Triangle Publishing Ltd
www.theactivemag.com
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Copyright (c) Triangle Publishing Ltd (TPL) 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from TPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the ie s or o inions of or its affi iates. isc ai er of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, TPL and its affi iates assu e no res onsibi ity as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws. an its affi iates are are not res onsib e for any error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any use of products or services or any action or omissions taken in reliance on information or any statement contained in advertising material. Inclusion of any advertisement is not intended to endorse any view expressed, nor products or services offered nor the organisations sponsoring the advertisement.
E DI TO R ’ S L E T T E R
‘It would appear that autumn is officially here and it won’t be long until it’s fire lighting time again which I am a big fan of.’ We are now in the -ber months so that means the countdown to the end of the year. How on earth did that happen? I’m still in June and mid summer mentally even though professionally I work a month ahead so November is bearing down on me with great speed – no wonder I don’t know what day of the week it is half the time! Apparently the -ber months originate from the Philippines and the countdown to Christmas but I’m not going there seeing as I’m still in mid summer. To us it means cozy season; wholesome, tasty food, wrapping up warm, getting out and about enjoying long walks in the countryside as the leaves start to fall. It’s a lovely time of year starting with the new beginnings of September (and my birthday) and then quickly moving on to Halloween and shorter days with the clocks changing. It would appear that autu n is officia y here an it on t be ong unti it s fire ighting ti e again which I am a big fan of. We’ve had a busy month here at Active – as we always do. Some highlights are that I got to catch up with Stuart Gaskin from SG Landscapes who won gold and best in show at The Rutland Flower show for his fabulous Mediterranean garden. rea y enjoye chatting to hi an fin ing out ore about ho a sho gar en is designed and built. Kate visited Batemans this month and I am very envious as auctions and antiques are my thing. Kate’s too, so she had a very enjoyable chat to Greg ate an to fin out ore about ife an ti es at his auction house. These months are often when thoughts turn to holidays for next year so we’ve got a lovely piece about travelling to New Zealand written for us by Alayna Carter, a travel counsellor, and it would appear we might all need one. I also caught up with Ralph Offer, landlord at the George and Dragon at Seaton who was up for an award as he’s been campaigning tirelessly, along with MP Alicia Kearns and Rutland Blogger Charlie Pallett, to retain the ceremonial status of Rutland. That would appear to be at bay at the moment. But we need eo e i e a h to fight our corner a successfu oca business an ith a great sense of community and love for his county; thankfully there are many more like him as well. Enjoy the issue Mary - Editor FIND US ONLINE
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October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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The family school for ambitious minds Book your personal tour now
For more information visit thepeterboroughschool.co.uk Thorpe Rd, Peterborough PE3 6AP
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I S S U E 158 / OCTO B E R 2026
Contents
ACTIVE LIFE 17 NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES Rutland landlord Ralph Offer was nominated for an award for his campaign to save the ceremonial status of Rutland
21 HARRINGWORTH VIADUCT
Historian John Hillier is giving a talk to unravel the mysteries of this Victorian gem
26 TRAVEL
Discover New Zealand with the help of travel counsellor Alayna Carter
26 34
30 A GOLDEN MOMENT
Mary meets award winning garden designer Stuart Gaskin
34 BUYING AT AUCTION? BUY AT BATEMANS
Kate chats to managing director Greg Bateman
44 WILL’S WALKS
This month Will enjoys a walk at ethor e hich is fir un erfoot if the wet weather strikes
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ACTIVE KIDS
49 LOTS OF SCHOOL NEWS
ACTIVE BODY
54 ANTIOXIDANTS
What are they and why do we need them?
56 THE ROUNDUP
Jeremy tells us about local sport happenings
44 October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Active Life Batemans auction house. Harringworth viaduct, a Victorian gem. Half term and Halloween. Discover New Zealand. Will picks an autumnal walk that is dry underfoot.
A golden moment Meet Stuart Gaskin, an award winning garden designer
P30
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October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Active life
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Discover the Great Hall, one of the finest examples of domestic Norman architecture in England. Built in the 12th Century it is a beautiful, romantic & dramatic setting for your perfect ceremony.
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Active life
A counsellor’s canvas
Karen Harrison is a mixed-media artist and counsellor whose work has been sold globally. Following a twenty-year career running a graphic design business, Karen retrained as a counsellor, a journey that included working with the police and victim support. She has also run art therapy workshops for vulnerable groups including rough sleepers, refugees and care leavers. Her artistic practice is deeply tied to texture and sustainability. Karen’s ‘Reclaim’ collection blends acrylics, collage, steel and found items on recycled wood to explore themes of landscapes, wildlife and birds. Her latest collection ‘Shingles’ uses the jagged, raw e ges of rec ai e s ate roof ti es to in uence the design, artwork and framing. Karen also works in traditional watercolours and oils, accepting bespoke commissions on paper and canvas, as well as wood and slate artworks. Combining her creative practice with philanthropy she supports wildlife charities globally. She exhibits permanently at the Baytree owl and raptor centre in Weston, Spalding, and regularly donates pieces to benefit the heetah onser ation un s on ine auctions. When not in her studio, Karen runs a private therapeutic practice in Lincolnshire, taking personal and Bupa referrals and serves as the school counsellor at Wisbech Grammar School. karenharrisonart.com For counselling enquiries email: karen@inbalance.org.uk
1000-year-old mystery solved When Queen Edith, the last Anglo-Saxon queen and richest woman in England died in 1075 AD, her lands were transferred to William the Conqueror. Included was the huge royal manor of Oakham which had been given to Edith by her husband King Edward the Confessor as part of her Dower. The estate land area was recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 AD and covered approximately 23 square kilometres. The question of how Oakham manor became so large has been a puzzle for over 1000 years, but we now know that Roman Oakham Villa Farm Estate was the origin of the 11th century Royal Oakham Manor. The geology, landscape archaeology and research model predicted a Roman Villa on the spur of land to the north west of Dog Kennel cottage and this location was confir e by the isco ery ear ier in the year. oration geologist Paul Wiggin said: ‘Oakham is unique. There doesn’t seem to be anywhere else in the world where people can walk from the town centre and visit the ocation of the si ey features that efine a o an i a Farm Estate.’ A map of the Roman Oakham Villa Farm Estate showing the key features of: Roman villa, farm buildings, agricultural land, boundaries and infrastructure, worker’s accommodation and religious features was commissioned for Rutland Day on 12 September and is on display at the Deafblind Bookshop on the High Street in Oakham.
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Ch Christmas C hri ris istm t as at W Wi ill il llo low B Bro r ok ro Willow Brook F Fa arm rm Sh S hop o Farm Shop Traditionallly home e reared beef, f locally f, y sou urced meat, poultry, pork pie es, cheeses, cooked d meats, chutn chutneys and of course fr f ee range e local turkies
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Active life
From the classroom to the treatment room After 12 years working in education Hannah Potter never expected her next chapter would involve swapping the classroom for a treatment room. But sometimes the things you are looking for are right in front of you. Hannah has always enjoyed working with her hands and doing something practical, as well as working with people, he ing the to fee ore confi ent co fortab e an su orte . hen she starte thin ing about hat she wanted from her working life, massage therapy seemed to bring together so any of the things she enjoye . assage isn t just about the hysica treat ent it s about creating a calm, welcoming environment where people can relax and take some time for themselves,’ Hannah says. ‘I set up Hannah Potter Massage Therapy in Langham, ith a treat ent roo at ho e an a so offer obi e massage across Rutland, Stamford and Melton. My treat ents inc u e fu an ha f bo y assage ost or out massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage. tarting a ne business has been a huge earning cur e but a o ing creating so ething of y o n an he ing eo e fee re a e care for an a itt e better than hen they arrived.’ hannahpottermt on instagram
Congratulations to Grange Spa he range a near eafor has been na e inner of the Customer Experience Award at the 2026 Lincolnshire Marketing ar s recognising a ersona a roach to hos ita ity that has been at the heart of the fa i y run business for years. he range a as estab ishe in by husban an ife team Matt and Emma Craven. For the Cravens, the award is articu ar y significant because custo er e erience has ne er been treate as an a on to the business. t has sha e ho the s a o erates fro the beginning. uest nu bers are e iberate y i ite allowing the team to create a quieter, more personal environment where people have the space and time to properly switch off from everyday life. er its year history he range a has re aine independently owned and family run, with Matt and Emma continuing to or c ose y ith the tea an ithin the ay to ay business. ather than ursuing a high o u e o e the s a has bui t its re utation aroun s ace ca ersona ser ice an attention to detail. hat hi oso hy is a so e be e into the s a s o n interna training programme, The Grange Spa Way, which helps ensure the a ues behin the business are re ecte throughout e ery stage of the guest journey. t focuses not si y on ser ice stan ar s but on genuine hos ita ity recognising in i i ua guests istening to the an un erstan ing that s a etai s can ha e a significant i act on how an experience feels. The award comes as The Grange Spa continues to develop its wider message around the importance of rest, recovery and taking ti e a ay fro the ressures of increasing y busy i es. or att an a ho e er the a ar be ongs first an fore ost to the tea res onsib e for e i ering that e erience e ery ay. thegrangespa.co.uk
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Exceptional Journeys, Personally Designed Your next long haul escape deserves more than a search box. I design bespoke itineraries with handpicked hotels and seamless flights, with full financial protection and 24/7 support from a real person, not a chatbot. Plan your next adventure with me and I will tailor every detail.
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0116 312 0033 alayna.carter@travelcounsellors.com travelcounsellors.com/alayna.carter
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SELL YOUR ANTIQUES, COLLECTABLES, JEWELLERY & WATCHES WITH CONFIDENCE
We hold Continuous Timed and regular Specialist Live 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…
07/09/2026 10:24
DID YOU READ ABOUT THE SPECTACULAR RECENT SALE OF ANOTHER GOLDEN ‘CONUNDRUM’ EGG?
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The Red Hall South Street, Bourne, PE10 9LY The Victoria Hall 7 West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ The Maltings Ship Lane, Ely, CB7 4BB The Barnsdale Hotel The Avenue, Nr Exton, LE15 8AH
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SOLD FOR:
£123,500 (incl. 30% Buyer’s Premium)
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Active life
KG Sauna & Ice – a new wellness experience in Rutland Set within the peaceful surroundings of Kilthorpe Grange in Ketton, KG Sauna & Ice is a brand-new luxury wellness facility bringing the benefits of contrast thera y to the heart of ut an . reate by the tea behin etreats the ne faci ity has been designed as a place to switch off, recharge and enjoy a little ti e a ay fro the e ery ay. er oo ing ri ate a es an acres of surrounding countryside, guests can experience the combination of a traditional sauna and invigorating cold plunge in a re a e an e co ing setting. They offer a variety of sessions, including communal, private boo ings a ies on y an en on y as e as a three hour etreat ac age for grou s anting the fu e erience. ri ate sessions can a so inc u e their oo fire hot tub for an e tra touch of re a ation. ery boo ing inc u es access to the hi ut here guests can relax before and after their session, enjoy complimentary tea and coffee an a e use of t o sho er roo s. uests can a so ta e a refreshing s i in the a e hen con itions a o . Sauna and cold-water therapy have become increasingly o u ar for their otentia benefits inc u ing re a ation reco ery i ro e circu ation an an o era sense of e being. ut for them it’s just as much about creating somewhere beautiful to slow o n socia ise an fee refreshe . auna ce sits a ongsi e t o u ury a esi e she her s huts, meaning visitors can also turn their wellness session into a re a ing countrysi e stay. The team are excited to bring something a little different to ut an a ace to get hot co s itch off an ea e fee ing refreshe . kgretreats.co.uk
Arts Council award for Peterborough museum eterborough useu an art ga ery s internationa y significant prehistoric archaeology collections have been awarded Designated status by Arts Council England - recognising their outstanding nationa i ortance. The award celebrates the exceptional archaeological heritage of Peterborough and the surrounding area and its contribution to our un erstan ing of ritain s rehistoric ast. ra n fro the internationa y significant an sca es of the o er ene an o er e an a eys the co ections te the stories of thousan s of years of hu an e erience fro the ear iest rehistoric erio s through to the ron ge. hey re ea ho co unities a a te inno ate an ourishe in a constant y changing en iron ent. he co ections inc u e re ar ab e e i ence of so e of the region s ear iest inhabitants rare ron e ge og boats an ceremonial monuments, alongside many other objects that provide insights into rehistoric sett e ent techno ogy an e ery ay ife. Generations of archaeologists, researchers, museum professionals, volunteers and local communities have helped establish Peterborough as one of the UK’s leading centres for rehistoric archaeo ogy. he co ections continue to su ort ne research and discoveries, challenging established ideas and ro i ing fresh insights into rehistoric ife. e in trust by eterborough useu rt a ery for the people of Peterborough, the collections are a source of immense oca ri e an internationa archaeo ogica significance. The Designation recognises not only the extraordinary objects and archaeological evidence preserved within the collections, but also the long-term commitment to their care, research and inter retation. Through the completion of the Peterborough Archaeological rchi e nhance ent roject fun e by istoric ng an an he ea ey rust an the ongoing y ust ar roject su orte by he ationa ottery eritage un significant in est ent has been a e to safeguar inter ret an share this internationa y i ortant heritage. s research continues to un erstan ritain s rehistoric ast Designated status provides national recognition of the importance of Peterborough’s collections and the need to ensure they are rotecte accessib e an ins iring for generations to co e.
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Where the Trail Begins, the Scott Scale Takes Over. Lightweight by Design. Legendary by Nature.
GEORGE HALLS CYCLE CENTRE 10-12 Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leics, LE16 9HE. 01858 465507 www.georgehallscycles.co.uk georgehallscycle@aol.com
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Active life
Classic Ibiza tickets now on sale
Tickets are on sale for Classic Ibiza’s 2027 Anthems Tour which will be at Burghley House on Saturday 24 July. Ticket prices are frozen to be the same as 2026 and there are a limited number of ‘early bird’ tickets available. Urban Soul Orchestra have been at the forefront of dance music for over 25 years, performing with the likes of Groove Armada, Robert Miles and Nightmares On Wax. Details of the other erfor ers that i be joining the for o er fi e hours of state y house music at Burghley will be announced in the coming months. classicibiza.co.uk/Burghley
Harborough Singers hit 50 Next year it’s an unbelievable 50 years since The Harborough Singers was formed. They started small, but it sprouted into great things ha f a century of fine usic a ing an any any memories for many, many people. If you are one of those people, someone who has sung with the choir at all over its 50 year history, the Singers would love you to join them to celebrate on March 20 2027. It will be special singing with as many current and previous members as they can muster, coming together under the direction of the man who founded them, Barry Clark, to workshop some pieces for performance at the end of the day. With cake breaks, obviously. And a post-performance party of some kind, so that old friends can all reminisce together. The exact details are still being worked out. So if you are an ex-Harborough Singer, or sang under Barry Clark at Robert Smyth School or whatever it was called when you were there please save the date. Sign up at harboroughsingers.com/50-years to be kept informed.
Otherside Events, a new events company launches What began as conversations between two mothers balancing business and family life soon grew into something more. Hannah and Victoria are combining their experience of events and independent business knowledge with a shared ambition to do something different; welcome to Otherside Events. The idea grew from a simple observation: there is room for more ambitious, wellproduced events in the region that are about more than simply turning up and having a
browse. An event that gives people a reason to make the journey. There are brilliant independent businesses, talented people, great food, interesting venues and some pretty special places across our region. The plan is to bring those ingredients together in ways that haven’t been done before. Otherside isn’t being built around a set for u a. he i eas co e first. hat cou mean a large-scale public event, a seasonal event, a carefully curated market or something
that oesn t fit into any of those categories. The ambition is to create events that people will travel for, are properly produced, accessible and talked about. Several projects are already in development, with announcements to follow over the coming months. Businesses, venues and potential partners can follow othersideevents_ on Instagram or visit othersideevents.co.uk to join the mailing list and hear about opportunities to get involved.
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Exceptional craftsmanship meets timeless elegance
H O N O U R I N G H E R I TA G E , C R A F T I N G T O M O R R O W. From our Rutland workshop to the region’s finest properties, Brown and Jones creates extraordinary homes that stand the test of time.
Brown & Jones Ltd Contemporary & Traditional Property
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Contact us: • R I C H A R D J O N E S 0 7 9 5 0 0 3 6 5 4 4 • M AT T B R O W N 0 7 8 0 3 1 2 5 6 2 4 E : I N F O @ B R O W N A N D J O N E S . C O . U K W : B R O W N A N D J O N E S .C O. U K
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Active Life
Not all heroes wear capes Mary chats to Ralph Offer, landlord of The George and Dragon in Seaton about his recent award nomination and campaign to save the ceremonial status of Rutland
W
e all know that plans are afoot to wipe Rutland off the map – although thankfully that seems to have been shelved for the time being - but it will rear its head again I’m quite sure. For local businesses - particularly hospitality - the decimation of Rutland would be a disaster for them as the s a est county in the country is efinite y a huge se ing oint their USP so to speak. a h ffer oca icia earns an the ut an ogger a a Charlie Pallett) decided to do something about it and try at least to have the ceremonial status of Rutland preserved. So they got together in the pub and planned a campaign to raise awareness of what was about to ha en an this eeting as the first of any. ou i ha e noticed the Save Rutland signs which popped up everywhere about 18 months ago. Thank Ralph and the team for this. Eighteen of them appeared all over the county in prominent positions so we all knew what was afoot. ‘The status of Rutland is priceless for businesses in the county. e are uite uni ue a ub in a retty i age in the s a est county in the country says a h. n eo e ant to isit because of this.’ Ralph didn’t stop with the banners. He is in the Rutland Hospitality hats grou a ong ith other ubs ho ee in touch ith ha enings in the county ain y about custo ers so ra ie the troops and set up a petition in each pub for people to sign if they ishe . e they certain y i ish o er nine onths he gathere o er et signatures this eans actua y signe in erson . y this ti e the etition as in so e oca ost offices an other independent businesses in the county as well. ‘I was constantly han ing sheafs of a er co ere in signatures to icia ho then collated them all and eventually took them to the House of Commons to be used as part of the debate.’ ecause of a h s efforts a areness as raise to such an e tent that even a journalist from The Guardian turned up in the pub to inter ie hi an oca s in the bar to fin out their o inions awareness had certainly been raised!
Ralph, (second from right) with his wife Toni
ecause of a a h s efforts icia no inate hi for the iageo ub i o unity ero ar a ong ith the i e ranch at i sha too for a ifferent category an both ubs a e the short ist. t s uite e traor inary that the s a est county in the country should have two pubs on such prestigious shortlists. When I caught up with Ralph he had just returned from the ceremony and was full of his tour of the House of Commons and or s organise by icia. he ha e en ta en the into the s bar. Unfortunate y neither of the ubs on but they ere both runners up in their categories so not to be sniffed at. o that the future of ut an see s s ight y ore secure for the moment) Ralph is concentrating on a very busy time at the pub including many outside events which they are doing more and more of articu ar y o er the su er. e recent y catere for ser ing three courses for inner at a ba afternoon teas for a e ing an actua y he his first e ing cere ony an rece tion at the ub the ogistics of hich too so e organising. e i o ri ate ining an can cater for eo e. n then there s the ub as e . e has si roo s for guests an has recent y been re a ar e his rosette after a recent ins ection. e s busy anning for the shooting season hen he is ery busy. hrist as ay an e ear s e boo ings are no open and there will be Christmas specials on the menu throughout ece ber he s a busy an an o u ar in the i age here he is very much part of the community. The residents of Rutland have a lot to than hi for e a o as the status of ut an is ita to any of us. thegeorgeanddragonseaton.com
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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TRACEY’S EMPORIUM PRE LOVED FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ITEMS
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Fernie court, Station Road, Uppingham LE15 9US Delivery service available
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Active life
What’s On!
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IN CONVERSATION WITH LEVISON WOOD Thursday 15th October, 6:30pm-8:30pm Lamport Hall is excited to host an evening with world renowned explorer, writer & photographer, Levison Wood. His ten critically acclaimed television series have been broadcast around the world, and he is the author of twelve best-selling books.
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TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW WWW.LAMPORTHALL.CO.UK
Kindly sponsored by
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Kelmarsh’s annual artisan fair and autumn walk takes place on October 3 and 4. It promises to be a day of family fun exploring the woods to enjoy a leisurely countryside walk at your own pace and then a chance to buy some unique gifts as well.
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Enjoy an evening in conversation with renowned explorer, writer and photographer Levison Wood at Lamport Hall on October 15 from 6-8.30pm. This promises to be an entertaining and informative evening. Tickets from lamporthall.co.uk
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Peterborough Business Network ‘in the heart of the city’ is being hosted and s onsore by a fir egarty on ctober 13 at Peterborough cathedral. The event will focus on local businesses and the city’s future. For more information and tickets visit hegarty.co.uk/heartofbusiness
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Harborough singers and Harborough band are in concert at the Welland Park octagonal hall in the town on October 24. And it promises to be a great evening. harboroughsingers.com or harboroughband.co.uk
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Rutland Big Band are on the look out for new brass players if you fancy joining them; they’re a friendly bunch. They have two concerts coming up this month, both charity nights: October 5 at King’s Cliffe and October 12 at All Saint’s church in Oakham. ticketsource.com
5 October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Old Oak Farm Wreath Making 2026.qxp_Layout 1 09/09/2026 11:45 Page 1
Wreath making evening by the fire Sunday 22nd November - 3pm Monday 23rd November - noon Monday 23rd November - 7pm Tuesday 24th November - noon Tuesday 24th November - 7pm Wednesday 25th November - noon (sold out) Wednesday 25th November - 7pm £49 What’s included: Fireside atmosphere and laughter Homemade leek and potato soup with crusty croutons Refreshments (bar will be open for wine if needed!!) All materials to create a masterpiece Festive music and good company Also luxurious handmade Bows to purchase • Old Oak Farm, Uppingham, Rutland /// blurred.chops.shampoos
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Upcoming Occasions & Events
LIVE MUSIC Free Entry 12th December 2026
CHRISTMAS DAY £110pp 25th December 2026
NEW YEARS EVE £70pp 31st December 2026
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Active Life
Harringworth viaduct – a Victorian gem Unravelling the mysteries of Harringworth viaduct
Image: John Hillier
I
t is the 150th year since work on the Harringworth viaduct began. The viaduct was built to allow the railway to cross the River Welland between Harringworth and Seaton and is quite a feat of engineering. At 1,275 yards long with 82 arches with a 40 foot span it is the longest masonry viaduct in the United Kingdom and an iconic landmark in our area. It lies on the Oakham to Kettering line and is generally only used by freight trains today although there is a daily East Midlands Railway passenger train that runs between Melton and St Pancras which crosses it. There are also steam train outings across the viaduct which are always very popular, as you can imagine. As to be expected, because of the viaduct’s age, size and inaccessibility, the original brickwork has suffered over the years because of exposure to the elements and general deterioration. Extensive repairs have been carried out using traditional methods
with modern access techniques (much safer we imagine). Because of these repairs over the years the patchwork appearance of the bricks, original and replacements, has led to speculation about the type and colour of bricks originally used, knowing that they were made locally. But not any longer as recent research has unearthed the true story and all will be revealed in an illustrated talk ‘unravelling the mysteries of Harringworth Viaduct’ given by local historian John Hillier on October 9 at the village church which will be decorated for harvest. The evening is hosted by Harringworth Appeals and St John the Baptist PCC who will be serving canapés at the interval. Tickets cost £15 including a free glass of wine and are available from bookwhen. com/harringworth or harringworth@gmail.com
'At 1,275 yards long with 82 arches with a 40 foot span it is the longest masonry viaduct in the United Kingdom'
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Karen Harrison Art Influenced by texture and sustainability, original artworks on reclaimed wood and slate.
Commissions Accepted www.karenharrisonart.com hello@karenharrisonart.com insta @karenharrisonart
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Polestar — Leicester Now open
Polestar Leicester, Almond Road, LE2 7LP
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Active life
RECIPE
Pumpkin and bacon soup I think autumn is my favourite time of year when it comes to eating seasonally because it’s soup season, my absolute favourite. Soup is easy to make, nutritious and healthy and you really can chuck anything in and use a bit of imagination. What is best of all though is it’s so easy to eat seasonally, particularly as so many vegetables are now being harvested. And October of course means pumpkins. Ingredients
• 1tbsp olive oil • 50g butter onion fine y cho e • 125g bacon cut into small pieces, I use streaky g u in esh cut into chun s a ternati e y use butternut s uash • 100ml double cream itre chic en or egetab e stoc • 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds a t an e er
Method
eat the oi an g butter an coo the onions gent y for about inutes unti soft. ha f of the cho e bacon an coo for another inutes. • Increase the heat and add the stock and pumpkin, season well and bring to the boil. o er ith a i an si er gent y for about inutes unti the u in is soft. • Pour in the cream and bring to the boil again.
e o e fro the heat an then b en using a han he b en er to the consistency you ant. • Melt the remaining butter and fry the rest of the bacon until crispy. Divide this into four bowls, pour the soup over and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top. er e ith crusty brea .
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Your local deli, restaurant & bar.
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Good food, great drinks and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, right in the heart of Stamford. From breakfast and lunch to dinner, enjoy freshly prepared food made for eating in or taking away.
Great coffee Wines & beers Cocktails Dog friendly Outside terrace Private Hire Available Outside Catering
Come and discover Castle St Deli. 1 Castle Street, Stamford, PE9 2RA 01780 917621
Castor Lodge
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A Country Court Care Home
There’s Always Something Happening at Castor Lodge At Castor Lodge Care Home, there is always something to enjoy. From days out and gardening to cinema afternoons and community events, such as our popular dog show, life here is filled with companionship, laughter and meaningful moments. Residents also enjoy regular visits from pet therapy dog Rosie and her handler, Ruth. Alongside a varied and fulfilling lifestyle, we provide high-quality residential care, specialist dementia care and respite stays in a warm, welcoming and supportive environment.
Enquire today
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From the moment I stepped into Castor Lodge for my respite stay, I was made to feel very welcome. The staff were exceptional, and nothing was ever too much trouble.
Splash Lane, Peterborough, PE5 7BD
www.countrycourtcare.com
24/09/2026 13:19
Active life
October gardening tips We’re in the -ber months so it’s all change on the gardening front Memories are beginning to fade of the long months of drought and arid soils as moisture levels rise now that it has started to rain again. But this means there is possibly more to cut back this autumn, or less depending which way you look at it. More because we may have lost some plants, less because nothing actually grew uch in the first ace ea e it to you to decide this one. What October does mean is it’s time to start putting the garden to bed, transitioning from summer to autumn. But it’s time to look forward as well as back as it’s spring bulb planting season and that means planning for brighter days as winter loses its grip once more. Daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths should be planted this month so choose your spot and colours. I tried growing garlic this year and it failed completely; was this my fault or the fault of the weather? A combination of the two possibly so I’m going to try again this year and this is the month to plant your garlic cloves; wish me luck!
GARDE NING
Berrying with your elders Rowan Griffiths tells us more about the tree that was supposed to keep witches at bay, but could invite the devil in…
T
he elder is a small, hastily growing tree, found widespread throughout Britain apart from the Scottish Highlands and islands. Growing to a height of around 10 metres the wood (useless for burning) is deeply furrowed, grey brown in colour and with a cork-like texture. The leaves are compound and made u of s a o a ea ets that are toothe at the edges and arranged oppositely on the leaf stem. In June the tree blossoms, covering it in crea y hite o er hea s that ha e a istinct y hea y aro a. t is these o ers that for the basis for e er o er cor ia or champagne. There are numerous recipes available on the internet. My father used to make the champagne version, with sometimes explosive consequences once racked-off! Come September and into October the o ers turn into c usters of o n ar hanging small, almost black berries on a
purple red stalk. Eaten raw, these berries are astringent, cloying and may cause nausea and stomach cramps since they contain a small quantity of cyanide, released when consumed. However, once cooked, the toxins are co ete y neutra ise an a a ourso e and versatile product is created. For centuries elderberries have been foraged throughout the UK and Europe and once boiled for 20 minutes can be made into cordial, wine jelly, syrup or fruit leather. The a our is ee an i y tart si i ar to the most tangy blackberry. The berries are most often used as an addition to, say an apple pie, to lessen the sharpness. In folklore elder trees were sometimes grown next to a cottager’s door as they were another of the many British plants that was supposed to keep witches away. But it was also considered unlucky to bring the poorly burning word into the house as it would invite the Devil in as well.
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26 October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Travel
TR AV E L
Discover New Zealand: adventures tailored round you Sometimes it makes sense to use an expert if you are planning a trip of a lifetime. Travel counsellor Alayna Carter tells us what services she offers and why we should use her
W
hen you start planning a trip to New Zealand, the options can feel endless: North Island, South Island, cities, vineyards, mountains, glaciers, beaches, Maori culture, Lord of the Rings landscapes, selfdrive, motorhomes, hiking, skiing… and often only a fe recious ee s to fit it a in. That is where working with a personal tra e consu tant can a e a the ifference. I am Alayna Carter, an independent travel counse or base in eicestershire. ha e been lucky to visit many countries - more than 50 - but New Zealand is the one that tru y got un er y s in. first tra e e there as a backpacker, then returned multiple times and in 2011 moved to Wellington as chief executive of University Sport New Zealand, working with universities all over the country. hat ro e too e from Mount Taranaki to the ski and snowboard championships in Queenstown and gave me
a real feel for how New Zealand looks and i es beyon the usua tourist trai . My job is to take the stress out of the research, planning and booking and to pull e erything together ights accommodation, self-drive routes, excursions and special experiences – in a way that feels joined up and personal, not like a generic brochure itinerary. Backed by Travel Counsellors – a £1 billion travel business with over 30 years’ experience and a 5 star ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating – I offer the reassurance of financia protection and ongoing support throughout your tri . ecause or from home in Leicestershire I can speak to clients when it actually suits them: evenings, weekends and those quieter moments when you have time to thin . ou ha e one consistent point of contact fro the ery first chat to the moment you land back in the UK, no overseas call centres or chat bots here!
A real itinerary: a three week New Zealand honeymoon
One of my favourite recent trips to plan has been a honeymoon for a couple with a very clear brief: three weeks to explore both the North and South Islands, no nights in a campervan, the freedom of a hire car without endless long driving days and time for the things they really love – Lord of the Rings, i ife an starga ing. e starte ith business c ass ights on Singapore Airlines, with a short two hour connection in inga ore. hey i not ant to use up their annual leave on longer stop overs so we kept the journey as direct and efficient as ossib e. or other c ients e often build in one or two night stop overs in places like Singapore, Dubai, Los Angeles or ong ong. art of y ro e is to ta through hat i or best for you. Landing in Auckland they had time to get a feel for the city before collecting their hire car an ri ing to otorua. ere they visited Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland, with its steaming pools and vividly coloured terraces, and took a guided tour of the Hobbiton movie set – a must do for any
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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WHAT’S ON
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Travel
Lord of the Rings fan. From Rotorua they drove to Lake Taupo for a scenic cruise to the Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Maori rock carvings, then continued to Napier with its Art Deco architecture and nearby wineries, before heading down to Wellington for a couple of days in the capital. For me, Wellington is one of New Zealand’s most liveable cities: a mix of harbour front views, great coffee, small galleries, vibrant food scene and avid sports fans. From Wellington they took the ferry across Cook Strait to Picton and the South Island a enture began. heir first sto as ai ura here they hea e out ha e watching and managed to see sperm whales and dolphins. Then they continued on to Christchurch, followed by a stay at Lake Tekapo with time at the Dark Sky Project, which offers some of the clearest stargazing in the world. Further south they headed to Queenstown, a hub for outdoor activities year round. From here they too their fina e cursion to Doubtful Sound – a quieter, more remote fjord than the better known Milford Sound
with towering cliffs and a real sense of wilderness – before returning to Queenstown for lakeside downtime and good food. ina y they e bac to uc an an then home. he en resu t as an itinerary that o s logically, allows them to see a lot without fee ing rushe an re ects the things that matter most to them.
What I offer that is special
here a a ue is the fit bet een the country and the person. Because I have travelled widely in New Zealand and worked there I can suggest experiences that match your interests and travel style, rather than just ticking boxes. For some people New Zealand is about reconnecting with family history as much as it is about scenery. That might mean heading down to Dunedin to explore its Scottish roots and coastal setting or building in time on the Otago Peninsula to see albatross and penguins, as well as the city itself. For others it is all about planning a route that lets them catch a rugby match, cricket game or local s orts fi ture because being in the stan s
with the locals is as much a part of the experience as the landscapes. We can also weave in as much or as little activity as you like: from multi day hikes and highropes courses to cycling, kayaking or gentler coastal walks for those who prefer to take things at a slower pace. The country is set up very well for getting outdoors, but you do not have to be ultra adventurous to enjoy it. On my own trips I have skydived over Lake Wanaka and jumped from the Auckland Sky Tower. But some of my favourite memories are quieter ones: visiting small wineries in regions like Hawke’s Bay, black water rafting in the glow-worm caves of Waitomo (very relaxing), lingering over excellent coffee in Wellington or simply sitting on a beach watching the light change at the end of the day. New Zealand rewards both high energy adventures and slower, more food and wine focused exploring. Remember you do not have to experience New Zealand purely by land. For some clients a cruise around New Zealand is the erfect so ution. ou y in join the shi an then wake up to a different port most mornings, perhaps Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, the fjords or smaller coastal towns, without constantly packing and unpacking. It is an especially good option if you like the idea of seeing a range of places and landscapes but do not want to drive long distances. If you are starting to think about New Zealand – as a honeymoon, a big birthday trip or simply an adventure you have always wanted to take – I can help you shape it into something that feels personal, thoughtful and achievable. You bring the ideas; I bring the experience, contacts and planning, and together we can create a New Zealand journey that is absolutely yours. @alayna.travelcounsellor travelcounsellors.co.uk/alaynacarter
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30 October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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SG Landscapes
A golden moment If you went to the Rutland Flower Show in August you will have seen the show gardens. One in particular stood out and won gold and best in show. Mary meets Stuart Gaskin, the award winning garden designer
D
id you spot the Mediterranean garden at the show which won gold and best in show? Kate and I had looked round and seen all the show gardens and unanimously agreed that this one was the best. We got chatting to Hannah who was covering for her husband and found out that they were local, from just outside Bourne. We wanted to know where they had come in the judging but it hadn’t been announced. We drifted off for a cup of tea sitting in sight of the garden and within minutes Tom Mumby turned up with the certificates grabbe y ca era an caught it all ‘in real time’ so we got to see their genuine elation at winning the awards. Kate and I were delighted for them as well as being rather pleased that we had picked the best garden ourselves. So, I was happy to catch up with them both a few weeks after the show once the dust had settled and their feet had touched the ground again. I wanted to know more about that fabulous garden. Stuart is a very proud ‘yellow belly’ born and bred in Lincolnshire and literally now i es ess than fi e i es fro here he as born. He did some work experience just before he left school with a local landscaper and absolutely loved it, claiming, ‘I’d found my calling.’ He then actively searched for a landscaping job and started out on a YTS enrolling at Riseholme college to study for his City and Guilds in landscaping and horticulture. The company he worked for did landscaping work for garden designer Bunny Guinness and, ‘I sort of absorbed a lot of design techniques on the job.’ This
may be the case but Stuart confesses to always being arty, loving drawing and painting and creating things – the core essentials any designer needs. ‘Working for a talented designer opened my eyes to what could be done.’ Stuart was learning a lot and already had the landscaping knowledge and experience so was quietly building up some considerable strengths and skills. In 1999 Stuart branched out on his own setting up SG Landscapes Ltd. ‘The time was right. I knew that I wanted to work for myself.’ He had some clients lined up and hasn’t looked back. Nearly 30 years later he has built up an enviable reputation locally as being skilled and reliable and, because of his creativity, has been able to offer lots of design advice too. Many of his clients benefitte fro this for free unti a fe years ago Stuart decided to expand the business by incorporating a garden design service as well. ‘I had helped build two Chelsea Flower Show gardens, both of
which won silver gilts, and had spent many years working with designers so had absorbed lots of information. It turned out I had a keen eye, so with my construction knowledge and creativity started to create my own gardens. Being able to do both jobs, landscaping and designing, means that the client only has to work with one person. As the designer and creator I don’t have to try and communicate what I want done, it’s all in my head and saves the client a lot of time and, at times, stress.’ Stuart is quite old school in that he sketches all his designs and will send a ros ecti e c ient fi e or si for a esigns to choose from. He’s a big fan of rockeries and different textures and heights. Clients’ gardens range from modern, smallish gardens which need good design to incorporate all a family’s needs to much larger ones too. Interestingly most of his clients are not particularly keen gardeners. This makes sense if you think about it.
'I had helped build two Chelsea Flower Show gardens, both of which won silver gilts, and had spent many years working with designers so had absorbed lots of information.' October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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'‘We were on holiday and I was wandering around one of the small towns away from the touristy bits and spotted on the local streets lots of different, little outside areas; seating, green spaces, shady spots, etc and I could see that this could transfer so easily to a back garden over here without costing the earth.' A fanatical gardener will know exactly what they want in their garden, from where to place a bench or patio to exactly which plants to use. They would only use a landscaper to build the structures whilst a ess een gar ener ants a gar en that is fit for purpose for their lives – space for the kids to play, where to store the bins, seating areas, eating areas, where to hang the washing and which plants to put where; shady, sunny, bad soil, that sort of thing and all pretty low maintenance. They need Stuart for this. Or they might use AI… The jury is still out on AI for many businesses; is it going to destroy or enhance? Who knows but Stuart as a garden designer is coming up against it frequently. ‘It can certainly help give clients ideas for their garden and stretch the imagination; there is certainly a place for AI in our world,’ says
Stuart. ‘But you won’t get a scaled drawing which can cause problems when it comes to physically landscaping a site. Also, it may provide you with great planting ideas but won’t have the knowledge about the plants. Will they grow in this soil (it should be accurate advice) but it won’t warn you about the size some of the chosen plants will grow to. AI doesn’t do this so you may well end up with a couple of plants swamping a bed and smothering others. There is a place for it, particularly if you are planning a DIY project but my advice is proceed with caution.’ And that’s probably true of all AI at the moment. But back to the showstopper. Where did Stuart get the inspiration from for this beautiful Mediterranean garden? Menorca! ‘We were on holiday and I was wandering around one of the small towns away from the touristy bits and spotted on the local streets lots of different, little outside areas; seating, green spaces, shady spots, etc and I could see that this could transfer so easily to a back garden over here without costing the earth. We could easily create your own oasis in a smallish back garden incorporating an office s ace that ou n t cost the earth. Smoke and mirrors is the term I’d use to describe it. We were able to make a lovely garden, not using much space, with good design to create the impression of it.’ There were also the practicalities to think about – building the garden on site – and Stuart has lots of experience of this because of Chelsea. It has to be pointed out that at Chelsea you get two weeks to build a garden whilst at the Rutland Flower Show you get three days. You are allowed on site at 6am on the ues ay an ha e to be finishe by 5pm on Thursday to be ready for the judging
which starts then. That meant two days of ery ear y starts an finishes an remember how hot it was. ‘It’s all down to planning,’ Stuart says. ‘There were four of us involved in the build and I’d done most of the structural/ manufacturing work beforehand, including lots of upcycling. We just had to put it together. I had worked out beforehand how long it should take us and how we would physically do it.’ He makes it sound so simple but of course it wasn’t. Space is limited, everything has to be remembered and loaded onto the trailer, water is an issue (a huge one this year). Plants were all in pots so had to be kept alive in 30+ degrees and attempts made to stop them bolting because of the weather. ‘Impossible,’ according to Stuart. Basically Stuart’s experience and organisational skills came to the fore and winning gold and best in show was efinite y a i ation for hi an his esign skills. ‘It was lovely for the team as well to win as this is something we all created together.’ SG Landscapes is a team of four and very much a family business which Stuart is very proud of. As well as two landscapers, Stuart’s son works with him and is a skilled landscaper as well. His daughter works in the office an is a so oing a gar en esign course and wife Hannah does a lot of the marketing as well as having her own garden maintenance business; a true family affair. I wanted to know now that Stuart has won the big prizes if he would enter again, and of course he will! ‘I’m already planning next year’s design. I’ve got lots of sketches done. I know what I want the garden to look i e an ha e an i age of it finishe in y head. I’ve just got to work out how to create it.’ I can’t wait to see it. sglandscapesltd.co.uk
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SG Landscapes
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Buying at auction? Buy at Batemans Batemans Auctioneers celebrates 25 years in business. Kate finds out how this dynamic auction house is evolving with the times
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Batemans Auctions
I
don’t need convincing that buying second hand items is the way to go. I often buy pre-loved clothes, but also love hunting for ceramics, paintings and jewellery. And, of course, furniture. If you re furnishing a ho e hy ou n t your first ort of ca be your local auction house? You can pick up well-made antique and mid-century furniture at a much better price than brand new, mass-produced goods, making it an option that is sustainable and great value for money. And, above all, it’s fun! You don’t know what you might come across.
A family affair
So, I didn’t need asking twice when Greg Bateman, managing director and senior valuer, invited me to visit the showroom in Stamford. Greg is Ron Bateman’s son who founded the company in 2001 with his daughter - Greg’s sister - Kate. Ron had previously run a successfu anti ues sho in un e an ate ha just finishe university. The only auction house in Stamford had closed in the 1980s and Ron spied an opportunity. He didn’t have to wait for customers to come to him while he sat on stock; he could be the middleman between buyers and sellers. He’d always been someone with a vision and Kate agreed to partner him bringing practical skills with her. It was a true family affair. Ron’s wife was still running a successful framing business in Oundle. Greg, and their other brother and sister were also always a tremendous help, portering during the school holidays and, later, covering maternity leave for Kate who went on to move to the US with her husband. Greg, who was an engineer at Perkins, then joined the business. Initially they hired the Corn Exchange for nearly ten days each month. Ron would collect the items for sale in Oundle, transport them to Stamford where they would be laid out and Kate would set u their office. a c ear y un erstoo that ea ers ere usua y the ain buyers at auction reg to e an cou be a bit intimidating for members of the public. To break up this tradition and to encourage as many members of the public in as possible, he chose to hold sales in the centre of town and on a Saturday.’ The plan worked. They started to make their name as reliable, reputable auctioneers who both buyers and sellers enjoyed working with and, most importantly, trusted. In 2008 they moved to a permanent showroom off Ryhall Road and have held a sale practically every month since. And have sold approximately 15 million pounds worth of art, antiques and collectables during that time.
‘People want to show off their money, and gold is an incredible investment. A sovereign bought at auction for £50 in 2001 would now be worth over £600'
In recent years, particularly since Covid, the market has changed enormously. Greg used to see 200 buyers on any given sale day looking at 1,000 lots. Nowadays he’s likely to see just 15-20 people in person with 400 to 500 lots on offer, however more than 500 will be bidding online. Vendors are using different methods like peer to eer se ing on aceboo ar et ace e t oor interior an Love Antiques. And it’s not just the volume of sales that has decreased, it’s also the value of the goods. The exceptions to this are gold, silver, jewellery, coins and watches, particularly vintage sports watches. he rice of go is no higher than hen e starte years ago says reg. i er i e ise but s ight y o er. International economies used to be pegged to the gold standard; no it s a tra eab e co o ity. n there s a finite a ount of go on the planet.’ e e ery has a ays been o u ar. eo e ant to sho off their money, and gold is an incredible investment. A sovereign bought at auction for £50 in 2001 would now be worth over £600,’ Greg told me. e e ha ban ing crises ars o i ru . n in uncertain times, people invest in tangibles like gold rather than more nebulous stocks and shares.’
Online sales
Instead of accepting the inevitable slowdown in traditional sales, reg eci e to i ot. ant to se our ite s for the best ossib e rice reg says an that eans e nee to access the i est possible marketplace and importantly a younger market. All of our cata ogues ha e been on ine since hen e first use a platform called the-saleroom.com and later easyliveauction.com. ith a ance ents in internet s ee i ro e esign an digital picture quality, online sales now work incredibly smoothly in connecting many people together. On the-saleroom.com there could be 40 live auctions with 500 lots each, giving an average of 20,000 items on sale on just one day. o our job is to ut our ite s in the right ace for eo e to fin the . hen e no our cata ogue search syste is or ing e using keywords like Rolex, Cartier, Picasso and Ercol, we are
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confi ent that i ions of eo e i fin us an so are our en ors. ith on ine sa es e o ten ti es as uch or on each ite as for a re internet sa e. nstea of si y a ot nu ber an a brief escri tion e ro i e si es eights con ition an u ti e hotogra hs for on ine buyers as of the things e se ha en t been seen in erson. e ta e a huge a ount of rofessiona ri e in cata oguing things correct y. ne issue that re ains tric y is e i ery of the ite s so . n this as one reason hy reg has recent y a e a ra ica an ins ire ecision. e eci e to o e his ain on ine atfor to auctionet.co hich is a syste e e o e in e en an is no uro e s ea ing ebsite for on ine continuous auctions. t s a so an abso ute hit ith a ne er younger au ience ho are use to the for at of atfor s such as e ay but can be assure that this site has the bac ing of re utab e auction houses. n one ey a antage to auctionet.co is that by ty ing in your ostco e on any ot age you get an i e iate shi ing cost for your ite hich ay co e to the U fro er any for instance or be shi e fro ta for to hina. Unti no no one in the U has crac e this reg says. n the o syste s it s often uite confusing ith too any o tions. eo e a ays thin e i ery is not fast enough or is too e ensi e. ou often ha e to iaise ith trans ort co anies after you e a e your urchase. uctionet offers the si e con enience of no ing an e act cost of shi ing before you bi . t s rea y s ic an efficient. ate ans are sti oing i e sa es but are not no e e to sa e ays. nyone can a in on any gi en ay an see the ite s in their continuous yna ic cata ogue hich is not fi e but changes e ery ay. uctionet is about o en co etition an reaching as any eo e as they can to achie e the best outco e for the en ors. he ti e sa es are a so uic er. te s can be a e on ine to orro an the en or ou be ai ore than a onth ear ier than they nor a y ou . so eo e on t necessari y ant to guess hat the rice of a go so ereign i be in se en ee s ti e hen the ne t je e ery sa e is on. hey ant to se it no hen they no the rice is high.
Leading eggs-pert
a ing about go as e reg hat he ost i e to co e across ne t an ithout hesitation he re ie it has to be another go en egg. e has recent y so a carat go a bury s onun ru egg for a ho ing ha er rice of one of ri es fro an
Writers in the family Greg’s wife Emily (EC Bateman) has written four cosy crime books set in Stamford and the main protagonist happens to be a woman who runs an auction house. Emily married Greg and got to know the auction house having worked there for a while and decided it was the perfect location to set her Stamford mysteries. With titles such as ‘Death At The Auction’ and ‘Murder Most Antique’, these are hugely enjoyable whodunnits and Greg is the perfect person to supply authentic details for the plots although he says he’s always the last person to guess the twist. Greg’s sister Kate Bateman also writes books; her genre is historical romance and she wrote them while living in the US for 12 years. Historical romance is a hugely popular genre there and what Kate most enjoyed doing was all the research into the different eras.
36 October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Batemans Auctions
advertising campaign in the 1980s. Author Don Shaw wrote a book containing 12 paintings and 12 riddles which pointed to locations where 12 eggs were hidden. The book generated a hugely popular national treasure hunt. No wonder! No-one knows how many were found but four of the eggs have been sold at auction over the last 20 years. The egg called Cuckoo uc oo the e e enth egg in the series as so first in for £6,500 by Clive Pinder who found it in Somerset, to a man who had oo e an fai e to fin one hen he as younger. nce this an had enjoyed it for a while his family persuaded him to put it up for sale and, as he fancied a sports car, he was absolutely thrilled when Batemans sold it this year for £95,000. It was bought by the same person who had previously bought another egg through Batemans. He just so happens to like egg shaped objects and has the means to realise his dreams. his first egg as actua y so by reg t ice. he first ti e as following a call out of the blue from a couple who had worked most of their lives in a newsagents on the south coast. It was a secret thirteenth egg awarded by Cadburys in a competition to thank the retailers selling the books, and they had won it. They sold it for £17,000 but then the man who bought it sadly died in 2021 and his son as e reg if he cou se it again. sa art of our job is ea ing ith estates of the ecease reg says. ‘I did as much press as I could and got it on to the home page of the BBC website. Happily we sold it even better second time around for £31,000, paying back the trust that was put in us to handle the sale of the egg again.’ Another hugely exciting sale recently was of a Henry Scott Tuke ainting hich ha been onate to the fa sho in un e. reg an the other high y e erience a uers on the tea often
help charity shops with items that have been brought in and look interesting. ‘When I pulled out the painting from the pile it was unsigne but u e has a ery istincti e sty e. cou n t confir it as efiniti e y an origina so ha to escribe it as in the anner of’ Henry Tuke. It sold for £25,000 so someone obviously thought it as one of his a though they ha to fight for it Had the owner of the painting gone to one of Batemans’ valuation days they would have discovered its value before they donated it to fa . r aybe they ne an onate it any ay e sha ne er no . ff ite a uation ays are he regu ar y in un e a ha he arns a e ote in y ourne an so eti es in Spalding. And, of course, you can pop in with your items to the saleroom in Stamford. In the UK we have a long history of sales by auction and it’s good to know they are still thriving, albeit in a different format. With the aim of attracting a wider audience online via continuous timed auctions reg is ho ing to continue this ong tra ition. uctions are completely fair; we can’t control the prices. And it’s very exciting because now if you spot something in our catalogue, you can get it next week. You don’t have to wait for a sale weeks and weeks away. Come in, have a look, talk to us about it and you’ll spot other things you might fancy at the same time. As always, the sheer randomness of auctions is still one of the main draws.’ batemans.com
‘I couldn’t confirm it was definitively an original so I had to describe it as ‘in the manner of’ Henry Tuke. It sold for £25,000 so someone obviously thought it was one of his, although they had to fight for it!' October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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24/09/2026 13:19
Halloween
Halloween and half term Fancy picking a pumpkin or enjoying some half term adventures?
Foxton Pyo Pumpkins
Foxton pick your own pumpkins
T
he days are drawing in now - from both ends - darker in the ornings an the sun is efinite y setting ear ier an ear ier in the e ening. t s a o e y ti e of year as the ight is so ifferent ith the sun o er in the s y. he ea es are beginning to fa an there s a ni in the air morning and evening but warm during the sunny days. These erfect autu n ays are a e for getting out an about. his cou ean a ay tri because ha f ter is aroun the corner or just hea ing out for a a . a costs nothing. etting outsi e soothes the in an the e ercise re eases those fee goo en or hins erfect for a the fa i y an the og. he change in the season eans that ha f ter is itera y aroun the corner so thoughts turn to entertaining the s a er eo e. s ha f ter a ays coinci es ith a o een no that e ha e e brace this erican custo you nee to ic u a u in. e are uc y in our area as there are enty of u in atches to choose fro a though this year so e of the are sa y e ete because of the rought. o a cre it to those ho ha e anage to nurture their gour s. n a the ore reason to su ort the . he antra is the sa e for a the atches ra u ar as you are outsi e. e ies are ob ious y a sensib e choice. re are to get u y if the groun is et. rab a hee barro an enjoy searching for that erfect u in. n ha e a on erfu ti e
et on a fa i y far in the eicestershire countrysi e c ose to ar et arborough the u in atch i be o en fro ctober . here s ots to o here as e as ic ing your u in so you can turn a isit into a fa i y ay out. an er through the atch an choose fro u ins of a sha es si es an co ours. hen tac e the ai e a e here there ay be a fe s oo y sur rises aiting a ong the ay. ounger isitors can eet the ani a s an enjoy the bouncy cast e hi e a u ts can ar u ith fresh y a e coffee. oo is ery uch art of the e erience too ith fresh y coo e i a coffee an snac s a ai ab e erfect after an afternoon s ent e oring the atch. o ton u ins has a re a e tra itiona far fee ith enty of o ortunities for those a i ortant autu n hotos. hether you re searching for the u ti ate car ing u in stoc ing u for an autu n is ay or si y oo ing for so ething ifferent to o uring ha f ter it s an easy ay to e brace the season. Entry is £5 per car @foxtonpyopumpkins
March House farm
arch ouse far has an a ar inning far sho e i caf an entertain ent s ace in the heart of eicestershire in retty surroun ings near reat a by. o e of you ay re e ber the ater s i e they o ene this su er e they ha e u ins too so you can enjoy a ay searching for the argest u in in the atch. t o ens on ctober an an then fro fro . here s ots ore going on than just fin ing a u in this is not just a u in atch. ou can enjoy tractor ri es a s oo y ai e a e stra ba e c i bing fra es as e as the erfect u in hoto s ot. njoy ti e at the caf ith its e icious foo an you can t go ho e ithout one of their a ar inning ies. o onboar the tractor trai er ri e for just . er erson un er s go free . o boo a tic et isit marchhousefarm.co.uk
Rutland Water Pumpkins
en the ee en s of an an an ctober an then fro . here s enty of u ins to choose fro an ots ore as e . @rutlandwaterpumpkins
October 2026 / theactivemag.com 39
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Barnwell Road, Oundle PE8 5PB | 01832 273310 www.thebarngardencentre.co.uk
24/09/2026 13:19
Half term
What to do for the rest of half term Burghley Halloween trail
Still on the Halloween theme enjoy the Burghley Halloween Trail which runs from October 17 to November 1. Enjoy some spooky fun following a trail through the beautiful Sculpture Gardens searching for c ues an finishing ith a tasty treat. here s a chance for s a ones to ress u an for e eryone to enjoy a agica ha f ter adventure. burghley.co.uk
Tallington lakes
or ha f ter fun that s a bit ifferent try the a a ing ry s i s o es at Tallington. On the larger of the two slopes your children can learn to s i if they are o er fi e years o or if they are o er to snowboard as well. On the smaller slope they can get in some pre-winter season tobogganing and race you down to the bottom or you can give yourself an hour off whilst you just watch them. t a ington you on t nee sno to ha e an a ine goo ti e. They also have their eye-popping 15 metre climbing wall for your itt e i er en to tac e a ays secure y safe y harnesse to a competent instructor. ou can a so ta e a antage of the s a aygroun a a around the lakes or lunch at the Lakeside Bar and Restaurant. Book online at tallington.com
Royce Rangers half term camps
Keep the kids active this October with Royce Rangers Football ub s ha f ter ca s in a ha . en to boys an gir s age the ca s e co e a abi ities an offer a fun frien y en iron ent to get acti e earn ne s i s an a e ne frien s. he first ee is a about footba running fro ctober fo o e by a u ti s orts ca fro ctober gi ing children the chance to try a range of activities and enjoy plenty of fun along the way. oth ca s run fro a ith aces a ai ab e for in i i ua ays at er ay. hether your chi a rea y o es footba ants to try so ething ne or si y enjoys being acti e oyce angers ca s are a fun way to spend the school holidays. roycerangersfc.co.uk
Wind in the willows
A trip to the theatre was always a highlight of my holidays as a chi . n hen e e got one on our oorste at the ta for rts entre it s an o ortunity not to be isse . Theatre company Box Tale Soup will be performing The Wind in the i o s on ctober . his uch o e chi ren s c assic by Kenneth Graham will introduce your children to the wonderful characters of o e a ger atty an of course r oa . hey i be immersed in the tale and the adventures that take place in the Wild Wood; not to be missed. stamfordartscentre.com
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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Residential care homes for the elderly and dementia The three homes are run by a mother-and-daughter team with a combined 50 years of experience in care. They’re backed up by a strong team of dedicated carers who show true compassion for the elderly.
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24/09/2026 16:59
Snoring
'Zeus is a clinically developed, non-invasive snoring device developed in collaboration with King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.'
Zeus sleeps Fed up with her husband’s snoring Kate was keen for him to try a new snoring device
A
nyone who sleeps next to a snorer knows my pain. They sleep away merrily while, in my case, I grind my teeth and toss and turn all night, swapping between earplugs and a snooze band blaring very loud white noise through the internal speakers. Some nights, my husband Tim doesn’t snore at all and it’s bliss. But why? There’s no rhyme nor reason as to why one night he snores like a train and another night doesn’t make a sound. He does tend to sleep on his back though which really doesn’t help. This is one of the main causes of snoring because as the muscles in your tongue, nose and throat relax they cause the airways to narrow and vibrate as you breathe. Lying on your back allows gravity to pull your tongue and soft palate backward creating even more of a problem. Large tonsils can also obstruct your airways, as can having a blocked nose because of a cold. When I was very kindly offered the opportunity to review Zeus, a new anti-snoring method designed to help reduce tongue and throat based snoring, I jumped at the chance. Tim was less keen but happy to oblige; anything to stop me complaining! Zeus is a clinically developed, non-invasive snoring device developed in collaboration with King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. To be clear, this is not suitable for people with pacemakers, heart arrhythmias or related conditions as it delivers gentle electrical muscle stimulation, basically like a TENS machine. You do, therefore, have to ensure you position it in the correct position, as indicated, under the chin. The electrical pulses are intermittent throughout the night (and you can increase or decrease the level of stimulation) and help the muscles in the throat and tongue to stay active thereby keeping an open airway and reducing the vibration that causes snoring.
Each morning you charge the device, and every evening you attach a new Hydrogel pad. So having read the instructions we tried it for the first ti e. i e to say e got it right first ti e an he slept like a baby. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I’d stuck the wrong side of the suction pad to his skin so it didn’t stick on properly. Once I’d taken it off again and put another one on the power had gone and we had to charge it again. We had a few teething problems like this. Was it our incompetence? Was it because we hadn’t read the booklet properly? I’m not sure. I wouldn’t say it was very easy to use. Sometimes it fell off during the night as it doesn’t stick very well if you haven’t shaved or you sweat. But some nights I think it did help to keep Tim’s airwaves more open than they would normally be. So he either didn’t snore at all, or was less noisy as the vibrations were reduced. I think I’d probably count that as a win. Price: £250 including one month supply of Hydrogel pads and there is a 60 night money back guarantee. zeussleeps.com
October 2026 / theactivemag.com 43
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W I L L’ S W A L K
Apethorpe Much of this east Northamptonshire walk is on tarmac and farm tracks so it’s a good choice for autumn and winter. By Will Hetherington.
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Will’s Walk You will pass this small lake at the one-mile mark.
Difficulty rating
The route
Park somewhere near the charming King’s Head in beautiful old Apethorpe and walk up the road which heads west alongside the pub. After the tennis courts on the right you will come to a junction and turn left following the signs to Apethorpe Grange and The Lodge. Stay on this road for three quarters of a mile with a tall line of evergreen trees on your left for some of the way. Just before you reach Cheeseman’s Lodge and Lodge Farm you will see the gate and footpath on the right. Go through this gate and follow the path, passing a small lake on your left. After the lake take the sharp left turn up towards the farm ahead and then turn right at the farm to walk west along the road. When you reach Tomlin Wood keep going across the bottom of the wood for another 500 metres and look out for the right turn in the hedge line at the end of the wood. Walk up the western edge of Tomlin Wood for half a mile, looking out for red kites and other birdlife as you go. At the end of the wood you will come to a road. Turn right here and walk the last mile back to Apethorpe along the tarmac access road, with some nice woodland either side and the chance to spot a deer or two along the way. When you get back to the village it’s worth going for a wander before popping into the King’s Head for refreshment.
Apethorpe is stunning and the King’s Head is no exception. Images: Will Hetherington
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Will’s Walk ACTIVE INFO Elizabeth I inherited Apethorpe Palace from her father Henry VIII. For a period it was lived in regularly by James I and Charles I. James I contributed to its extension to make it more suitable for his ‘princely recreation’ and ‘commodious entertainment’, namely hunting in the nearby royal forest of Rockingham.
Well maintained farm tracks and plenty of tarmac make this a good option for the wetter months.
Essential information WHERE TO PARK Somewhere near the King’s Head in Apethorpe.
START/ FINISH
DISTANCE Three and a half miles. HIGHLIGHTS Beautiful Apethorpe, mature woodlands and mostly good underfoot even in wet weather.
©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2026 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 011/26
LOWLIGHTS There is a lot of tarmac but on extremely quiet farm access roads so don’t be put off. REFRESHMENTS The King’s Head in Apethorpe. DIFFICULTY RATING One paw. No contours to speak of and mostly excellent underfoot with no stiles. THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE This is mostly arable land but there is very limited fresh running water. For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.
October 2026 / the activemag.com
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YOUR TALENT. SHAPED BY YOU.
Whatever your passion, Oakham gives you the opportunity to develop your strengths, explore new possibilities and shape your own path.
SCHOLARSHIPS
AT OAKHAM Academic. Sport. Drama. Music. Design & Technology. Art & Design.
Open Events | Scholarships | Sport | Boarding | Sixth Six Form 48.indd 1
24/09/2026 13:18
Active Kids Leicester High named national finalist for SEND Provision Leicester High School for Girls has been named a finalist in the Independent School of the Year for SEND Provision category at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026. The national recognition comes as the school continues to invest in and expand its specialist SEND provision, providing individual support and expertise for girls across the school. The expanded team brings together specialist teaching, dyslexia assessment, HLTA and teaching assistant support and works closely with girls, teachers and families to identify individual needs and put the right support in place at the right time. The team also works closely with the school’s health and wellbeing officer, helping to ensure that girls’ learning, wellbeing and individual needs are considered together. Headteacher John Partridge said: ‘At Leicester High, knowing each girl as an individual is central to the way we work. Our SEND team helps us understand what each student needs to thrive, build confidence and become more independent. Their work is an important part of ensuring every girl feels known, valued and able to achieve her best.’ Leicester High’s small-school environment means staff know girls particularly well – recognising their strengths, understanding where they may need additional support and providing individual help that can make a real difference.
Isaiah aims high Isaiah from Stoneygate has had a fantastic summer of athletics. He began the holidays by representing Leicestershire at the English Schools Athletics Association Championships in Birmingham where he performed brilliantly and narrowly missed out on a podium finish. A few weeks later Isaiah competed at the England Athletics U18 and U16 championships at Bedford athletics stadium where he achieved an outstanding bronze medal in the high jump. Throughout the season Isaiah has also competed in the Youth Development League. At the final meeting in Nuneaton he finished first in both the long jump and high jump, and second in the 100 metres. After a well-earned month off, during which he’ll be enjoying rugby, Isaiah will be back to athletics training next month as he prepares for the next season.
October 2026 / theactivemag.com 49
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Active Kids
Meet Lucy Pearson, new head of Oakham If Oakham School were preparing for its own Netflix documentary the start of this term would certainly be the opening episode. Behind the scenes Lucy Pearson has already been sharing her vision for the school through a series of filming projects, including a recent collaboration with an Old Oakhamian-owned local business Helium Media. The filming project inspired a social media reel - jumping on the ‘preparing for my Netflix documentary’ trend - which offered a light-hearted glimpse of Oakham’s new head before the term had even begun. But Lucy’s arrival marks more than a new face on screen. This September she became the first woman to lead Oakham in its 440-year history. For Lucy, it is also a homecoming. An Old Oakhamian herself, she returns to the school that shaped her, bringing experience from an international sporting career, senior educational leadership and a lifelong commitment to helping young people thrive. After studying English at Oxford University, Lucy represented England in Test and One Day International cricket between 1996 and 2005. She later worked in schools achieving headteacher role before becoming director of FA Education at The Football Association. She has also chaired the Lord’s Taverners, a charity using sport to enrich the lives of young people with disabilities and those facing disadvantage. For Lucy, education and sport share an important purpose helping young people discover what they are capable of. Her vision for Oakham is an education that extends beyond examinations giving students opportunities to explore their interests, develop confidence and build the skills and relationships they need for life. ‘Great schools are never defined solely by their history; they are defined by their ambition for the future,’ and there is plenty to look forward to at Oakham.
Wild about learning
Image: Helium Media
Witham Hall is delighted to announce the appointment of a dedicated outdoor learning practitioner who is now leading regular, timetabled Forest School sessions for pupils from Reception through to Year 3. Set in the school’s own Witham Wilderness, a truly unique green space where learning really comes alive, these sessions are fast becoming a highlight of the week for the youngest pupils. Each session gives children the chance to explore wildlife observation, plant identification, team building and hands-on problem solving, all designed to spark curiosity, build confidence and deepen their connection with nature. Crucially, Forest School is child-led. Rather than following a fixed set of instructions pupils are encouraged to take an active role in their own learning choosing what to investigate, how to work together, and how to tackle the challenges they encounter. It’s an approach that builds independence and resilience alongside a genuine love of the outdoors all within a safe and carefully supervised environment. The new sessions run alongside the school’s popular Monday morning toddler sessions, meaning the Witham Wilderness is now buzzing with young explorers from toddler age right through to Year 3 and beyond.
October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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SCAN TO RESERVE A PLACE
Discover Witham Hall AN INDEPENDENT DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL AGES 4 - 13
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Your family. Our family. Take the first step. Choosing the right Pre-school or Reception setting is one of the most important decisions you'll make. Come to an upcoming Stay & Play event to meet our experienced Early Years team, explore our learning environment and discover how we help children flourish from day one. Set on a beautiful rural campus in Great Glen Places available in Pre-school and Reception Welcoming applications for immediate or 2027 entry for children age 3 and 4
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Active Kids
It’s all go at St Mary and St John’s They’ve had a great summer at St Mary and St John CEVA Primary school in North Luffenham. They finished the summer term with an incredible sports day and leavers’ service - seeing their Year 6s move on to pastures new. And now this term are excited to welcome new starters in Reception. Their Little Saints pre-school has also welcomed some new families and the forest school area is looking fantastic; they’ve been busy. With the support of the Windmill Trust they have been developing the school’s forest school area and this summer holidays the start of their ‘fire circle’ with hammocks has been created. They are looking forward to developing this area further so that more forest school time can be built into their curriculum. If anyone would like to visit the school/pre-school head teacher Mrs Roddy would be delighted to show you round.
Brooke Priory’s riders’ success A squad of nine Brooke Priory School equestrians, aged 6 to 10, ventured to the prestigious All England Show Jumping ground at Hickstead for the National NSEA Grass Roots Championships. There was a field of over 100 in each class and they competed in all four classes. Each pupil and their pony demonstrated the school’s values throughout the event, particularly teamwork and resilience. Particular congratulations must go to Archie Smales who rode a speedy and accurate round placing him fifth out of 125 in the 70cm class. They were very proud of the 40cm team who came third out of 33 teams, the 50cm team tenth out of 26, and the 60cm team tenth out of 28. What a fantastic achievement.
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ActiveBody E D I T E D B Y K AT E M A X I M
A help or a hindrance? Chartered physiotherapist Sarah Babbs tackles the AI conundrum; does it help or hinder?
A
friend was recently referred for physiotherapy but was told to access an rtificia nte igence site an to search shoulder for the pain around her shoulder. Unfortunately, the pain was referred from her neck but this was missed eaning ti e aste an ore serious concerns not a resse . nother as e a ice on ho to re ie e orning stiffness in her hi s an egs. he a ice as e ce ent inc u ing ention of re ag situations in hich e ica a ice shou be sought. e ags inc u e orning stiffness asting ore than ha f an hour fee ing un e an es ecia y b a er bo e an genita area changes known as Cauda Equine symptoms must not be missed. Most patients i be una are that this is an urgent rob e here there ay be a age to an area of the s ina cor hich nee s urgent e ica e a ination. rtificia nte igence in hea thcare has e o e . s ith a infor ation is g eane fro that a rea y a ai ab e hether that is goo research base infor ation or nonsense an isinfor ation. as in a face to face hysiothera y a oint ent i res on to the infor ation fro the atient. his is fine if there is a si e rob e . ut the i ortance of a goo assess ent to isco er the source of the problem cannot be underestimated. As we know, not all pain is si e an often the source can be unc ear ith ain being resent for any non echanica reasons. ne e a e ight be that of a s raine an e cause by going o er the e ge of a erb. he infor ation re uire fro the atient i inc u e the echanis of injury the i e iate resu t ain s e ing bruising the ength of ti e since the injury an the reco ery so far. he nee for the return to fitness of the atient is i ortant. hey ay be an e ite netba er a young u running after a toddler or an older person who wishes to walk to the park each day. of this i he create a treat ent an hich can be re ati e y simple.
‘Artificial Intelligence in healthcare has exploded. As with all AI, information is gleaned from that already available, whether that is good, research-based information or nonsense and misinformation. ’
f the injury as si onths ago the netba tea are ca ing an the atient is concerne about ee ing their ace this a s another ayer an un erstan ing of the situation. here i be a nee for confi ence bui ing an a ifferent ty e of anage ent to that hich is i e y to offer. e no too that chronic ain nee s a ery ifferent a roach to so eone ho hurt their bac ifting a suitcase yester ay. gain this is i e y to be ess e anage by . he ifting a suitcase injury can robab y be anage by hich shou offer goo basic a ice of ain contro to ee o ing an gra ua return to acti ity. he chronic scenario can be uch ore co icate an is best anage in a goo c inica setting ith hysiothera ists ith no e ge an e ertise in the fie . s hysiothera ists e no is here an here to stay. e no our atients use it rather i e e a use r oog e. bracing it an using it a ro riate y hi e a ing sure e oo after our atients to the best of our abi ity an their nee s is ita . o e er the first an ost i ortant thing in hea th care erha s in ife is creating a re ationshi of trust ith our atients. ur istening s i s ust be secon to none hearing both etai an nuance in hat a atient te s us no ing that they ay ha e concerns they on t necessari y realise are important. a ing trust an access to goo c inicians is huge y i ortant. ot ha ing this because there are ong aiting ists for treat ent is erha s here is ste ing in. e no that ost of our atients co e ia or of outh fro eo e e ha e been ab e to he . n e ho e to continue he ing a those e can in a setting in hich atients fee confi ent an co fortab e face to face. www.sarahbabbsphysio.com
54 October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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ActiveBody
Antioxidant supplements
Antioxidants are good Heart Research UK tell us what antioxidants are, where we can find them and how they can help protect our hearts
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recent study revealed that higher consumption of antioxidants lowers the risks of developing ischaemic heart diseases and heart failure by 21%. Those in the study who ate antioxidant rich diets also showed lower rates of blood pressure as well as other diseases. Antioxidants seem to be a ‘superfood’ when it comes to heart health. But the question remains, what exactly are antioxidants and how do we best consume them?
What are antioxidants?
An antioxidant is not a nutrient category in the sa e ay rotein fibre an ita in are. The word antioxidant describes a function which is the ability of a substance to help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress so we need to understand what they are. Free radicals are unstable molecules produced naturally in the body during normal processes such as breathing, digestion and exercise. They can also be generated by factors like smoking, air pollution and UV radiation. Because they are unstable, free radicals can cause damage to cells and tissues. Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals in the body than it can effectively manage. Antioxidants help neutralise free radicals and therefore reduce oxidative stress.
The link to heart disease
Oxidative stress is thought to play an important role in the development of several chronic conditions including cardiovascular isease by contributing to in a ation damage to blood vessels and the build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries. Some antioxidants are made by the body (such as glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10) and these help limit the
damage caused by free radicals. A diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods contributes to normal physiological processes and forms one part of an overall heart-healthy dietary pattern. By ensuring we eat foods daily that are rich in antioxidants we can give our bodies a helping hand in protecting our cells and tissues.
Antioxidants in food
There are hundreds of different substances found in foods that can act as antioxidants. These include some vitamins and minerals, as well as naturally occurring plant compounds known as phytochemicals (sometimes called phytonutrients), such as polyphenols and carotenoids. Antioxidants and top food sources: ita in foun in i is a ayas berries, citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli and Brussel sprouts. ita in foun in nuts see s a oca os spinach, butternut squash, peppers and mangos. • Vitamin A (or beta-carotene, which the bo y con erts into ita in foun in oi y fish airy foo s an egg yo s hi e colourful vegetables and fruits such as carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, kale, apricots and cantaloupe melon are rich in beta-carotene. o y heno s there are arious ifferent ty es such as a onoi s anthocyanins an a ano s foun in berries a es beans, onions, tea, cocoa, coffee, ho egrains an a see s. arotenoi s these gi e ye o orange and red fruits and vegetables their colour) found in carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, mango, apricot and cantaloupe melon. u hur co oun s foun in gar ic onions and leeks.
For most people, routine antioxidant supplements are not recommended for car io ascu ar isease re ention. urrent evidence supports obtaining antioxidants from a varied diet rich in fruit, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds and wholegrains. This is because, as is usual when it comes to food and health, it isn’t as simple as food containing antio i ants that offer benefit. t is likely that many phytochemicals (natural ant co oun s benefit hea th in arious ways, beyond simply ‘mopping up’ free radicals, meaning we need to eat the whole ant to rea a i u benefit. For example, polyphenols may help reduce in a ation an su ort b oo esse function as well as acting as antioxidants. So rather than thinking about food solely in terms of their antioxidant content we should simply think about consuming a wide range of fruits, vegetables and colourful foods for the ost hea th benefit. Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and wholegrains contain a natural mix of antio i ants fibre ita ins an other ant compounds that work together. Research has generally found that eating a diet rich in these foo s is ore beneficia for heart hea th than relying on high-dose antioxidant supplements.
Eat the rainbow
One of the simplest ways to increase your antioxidant intake is to eat a wider variety of colourful foods. Different colours often in icate ifferent beneficia ant compounds. • Red foods such as tomatoes and red peppers contain compounds such as lycopene. • Orange and yellow foods such as carrots, apricots and sweet potatoes are rich in carotenoids. • Green vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli provide a range of vitamins and protective plant compounds. • Blue and purple foods such as blueberries, blackberries and blackcurrants are rich in anthocyanins. ro ing your antio i ant inta e oesn t require a complete overhaul of your diet. Small changes can add up over time. Try these small steps: • Add berries to your breakfast • Add beans or lentils to meals like spaghetti bolognese or chilli hoose fruit an nuts for snac s • Swap white rice or pasta for wholegrain versions • Add an extra portion of vegetables heartresearch.org.uk
October 2026 / theactivemag.com 55
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Jeremy Smithson-Beswick talks about the ending of one season and the opening of another in local sports
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oca rugby is fina y un er ay than s to the rain after the U e aye the start of the co unity e e season as the unusua y ry eather resu te in bone har itches across the country. a ha ha their first run out a frien y against ast ea e hich they ost narro y . irst tea coach a ie ay sai reat to be bac at the ho groun . o e ositi es to ta e a ay as e as high ighting areas to ush for ar in the ne t four ee s of training an start the season in the right ay. heir first eague fi ture is against outh eicester
the for er high ying outfit ho ha e foun ife ifficu t of ate. heir fa fro grace tu b ing o n the eagues fo o ing oss of ey s onsorshi is e act y the fate their rugby cousins o er at un e are eter ine to a oi . hey are current y s ee ing a before the e en after a ra i series of ro otions arge y base it has to be sai on a assi e increase in the sa ary bi to the oint here they re no ab e to attract re iershi ua ity ayers. his has not gone unnotice nationa y ith the ai y e egra h running a ajor artic e recent y ca ing the the
ga acticos of the ationa eague. oca naysayers ha e ca e their out ay ri icu ous an his er of hubris. t s certain y true there are any e a es of c ubs a art fro outh eicester ho e as ire to great things before crashing in the ost ra atic fashion. he goo ne s for un e fans is their c ub is e a are of the angers. eci e y unasha e y han achra ho is both hair an an irst oach an ea ing financia bac er to the e egra h here s a ays a narrati e aroun rugby c ubs here so eone goes in
Uffington CC Saturday XI
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ActiveSport
‘Stamford Daniels are really going through the ringer with – at time of writing - no points whatsoever from their first eight league games, a goal difference of minus 20 and already out of the FA Cup.’
with a load of money, pulls out after a couple of years and then the club falls ten levels. That is not the case with my involvement with Oundle’. He added combatively, ‘Look at the local clubs who say they’re proud not to pay their players. If you want to carry on being a social club then great but don’t knock someone who wants to be aspirational.’ Of further reassurance regarding Kachra’s lasting commitment is that his personal ties to both town and club are impeccable. He attended Oundle school and then went on to a distinguished career at Occupation Road, ca taining the first tea for se era years. Having narrowly missed out on promotion to National League 1 last term by osing the ay off fina the ine itab e an is to go one better this campaign with Championship, perhaps even Premiership, as the longer-term goal. So far, so good this season with wins against Bury St Edmunds, Esher and Havant. The positive will say ‘enjoy the ride’ – the negative, ‘enjoy it while it lasts.’ Football now and Stamford Daniels are really going through the ringer with – at time of writing - no points whatsoever from their first eight eague ga es a goa difference of minus 20 and already out of the FA Cup. Regular readers will recall that
Show your support for local sport Email mary@theactivemag.com
they retain only two players from last year’s first tea s ua an it as a ays the case that a completely new side would take time to gel but this, it has to be said, is spectacularly bad. Hopefully I can bring you better news next month. arborough o n continue to fin their feet in the same league (National North) which they were promoted to last year, with a record to date of won 3, drawn 3, lost 3 which sees them relatively comfortable in mid-table. They progressed in the cup at the expense of Rushall Olympic too, Michael Jacobs (or Crackers as he’s inevitably known in the changing room) with the only goal. What a shame they don’t have a player called Carr. He’d be Posh Crackers. Manager Mitch Austin, after a recent couple of losses followed by a 0-0 against Telford summed things up. ‘I’m glad we sto e the rot. t as not uite sou searching for me but we produced some really good standards since the start of the season and that started dropping off. We ha a eeting an just c arifie hat e want to do as a football club. I said it’s not been bad, but you’ve served us some really nice stuff and now it’s not as good. So we need to make sure the belief and performance levels are there’. This is, of course, Austin’s press-friendly way of saying ‘I gave the lads a right b********g.’
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We say farewell to the cricket season this month and it’s been a largely successful one for our local sides. One exception alas was Oakham’s relegation but even that has the silver lining of derby matches against Uppingham next year, the latter having been deservedly promoted. Oaks had some notable highlights nevertheless, one of the most important being their inaugural Ladies Day which celebrated ‘just how far female cric et has co e at a ha an the officia opening of the new changing rooms for women. Three generations of the same family turned out for Oakham’s side as Naomi, Elizabeth and Andrea ‘all took to the fie together certain y a first for our club and, we suspect, something pretty s ecia uch further afie too. Playing against them that day were Uppingham, whose men’s XI promotion was ater confir e against sian orts a in that inc u e not out an fi e catches from skipper Hayden Brough. There are also no fewer than three other champion sides for us to celebrate this year in the form of ourne ar et ee ing an Uffington. It went down to the wire for Bourne with a last-day, winner-takes-all tie against closest challengers Scunthorpe Town. Umpire Mark Evans called it ‘a great game to umpire’ and ‘Two balls from Ray Toole to get Wilson and Khanduri the Scunthorpe overseas out with were World Class deliveries and bowled from my end and that’s why I umpire. Congratulations to Bourne and commiserations to Scunthorpe. What a great advert for Lincolnshire Cricket.’ hat s a for this onth an fitting that the u ire has the fina say.
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October 2026 / theactivemag.com
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ActiveSport
On your bike This month Gary Waterfall tries out the newly opened Greatford Barn and enjoys a steady 21mile ride with just a couple of hills
CAREBY
S
tart at Greatford Barn and head south and then turn right to Barholm. Ride through the village and keep going until you see a sharp right turn just before you reach Uffington. Follow the road northwest until you take a left turn to Belmsthorpe; in the village turn right by The Bluebell and follow the road through Ryhall to the T-Junction. Take care joining this busy road with double-white lines; a recent brush here with a car’s mirror on my elbow as they passed me taught me once more to be vigilant. Turn right shortly after joining the main road and up a quick hill before following the road until you enter the village of Little Bytham where there is a right turn. Head up a hill once more - this time to the aptly named Witham-on-the-Hill.
After riding through Witham, and enjoying the descent, take care crossing the busy road. Follow the road through Manthorpe and then up the last hill into Thurlby. At the bottom of Swallow Hill turn right to Obthorpe and then right again at the T-junction. Follow the road and turn left at the next T junction to head through Wilsthorpe. Keep going to the next junction. Turn right here back towards Greatford and then turn left as you enter the village before returning to Greatford Barn for some well-earned coffee and cake. For the route, follow this link or scan the QR code. https://www.strava.com/ routes/3519389146557054154
WITHAM ON THE HILL
THURLBY
MANTHORPE
ROUTE 21.15 mi DISTANCE 811 ft TIME 1:24:34
WILSTHOPRE
GREATFORD
START / FINISH
RYHALL BARHOLM BELMESTHORPE
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A QUIETER KIND OF SPA DAY
Had one of those weeks?
Escape the crowds. We deliberately limit guest numbers, so there's space to truly switch off.
2026 AWARD WINNER Customer Experience Lincolnshire Marketing Awards
Discover a quieter kind of spa day. www.thegrangespa.co.uk 59.indd 1
24/09/2026 13:18
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