Join Newbury’s Festival of Light

Karen Neville

Round and About

The illuminated parade takes to the streets of the town on Sunday, 15th December from 4pm in Market Place

The Corn Exchange Newbury is set to light up the streets of the town on Sunday 15th December, as their annual Festival of Light returns for another year to unite local people in an incredible illuminated procession.

From the terrific lantern making workshops, to opportunities to lead this phenomenal parade as part of their community Samba band, everyone is welcome to come together to celebrate the festive season.

The Festival of Light has seen over 30,000 people engage in the festival over the past 12 years, with 9,600 people having participated in the parade during that time. The parade will travel along Northbrook Street before arriving in the Market Place where locals can expect catchy live music.

The Corn Exchange have been running lantern making workshops at 101 Outdoor Arts and in local schools so pupils can ignite their creativity for the festive celebration.

Workshops have also been held for the community Samba band inviting as many people as possible to take part. Led by Reading based Music Charity Readipop featuring experienced drummers from Beatroots Bateria, they have guided participants through the process of learning the samba instruments, rehearsing the patterns and routines and forming a marching drumming troupe to perform at the magical winter parade.

Based on a former US nuclear airbase outside Newbury, 101 Outdoor Arts has grown to be a unique powerhouse for creativity, supporting the creation of hundreds of performances and installations destined to be showcased at festivals, major arts events and cultural programmes both across the UK and internationally. Whilst the Corn Exchange Newbury have been presenting outdoor events in Newbury for over 12 years, this year marks ten year since they opened the 101 National Centre for Arts in Public Space. With the support of Arts Council England and Greenham Trust, they host hundreds of artists every year in the centre’s unique facility, which includes residential accommodation and scenic fabrication facilities, and where the lanterns and festival programme will be created ready for the procession on the 15th December.

101 Outdoor Arts produces a year-round, free programme of national and international outdoor arts performances with the Corn Exchange Newbury, engaging thousands of audiences annually, and striving to involve thousands of local participants, volunteers and community groups across Newbury to widen the scope for creative engagement in the arts.

Corn Exchange Newbury’s Director, Jessica Jhundoo-Evans comments, The Festival of Light is always a highlight of the year for us; bringing together local people and volunteers to create beautiful lanterns and bringing our community together in an illuminated procession. It is a joy to see families and friends gather to enjoy this magical event and to know that people love it enough to keep it fixed in their calendars.


Latest posts

Twelve wild days of Christmas

Karen Neville

Round and About

Fox © Jon Hawkins

12 Days Wild is the festive challenge by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife (BBOWT), from 25th December to 5th January.

Are you up for the challenge of doing one wild thing every day or night…?

Sign up at 12 Days Wild (2024) | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust and you’ll receive daily inspirational emails packed with fun ideas to help you embrace winter walks in nature or the magic of night-time star gazing – to lift your mood and much more!

Illustration © Corinne Welch

You could:

• Track animals by looking for footprints in the mud or snow
• Go star gazing on a clear night
• Go winter wildlife watching on a walk at a nature reserve
• Or even volunteer at a nature reserve – nature will appreciate it
• Make a New Year’s resolution to help nature. What will you do in 2025?

BBC TV presenter and Wildlife Trust Vice President Iolo Williams, says: “From dawn to dusk, winter wildlife is busy all around us. Otters are always up early and if you see a trail of bubbles in the water, you’ll know they’ve spotted you first. Night-hunting barn owls venture out on cold winter days to find extra food and will woosh past you in the winter sun. Then, at dusk, starlings gather in the sky forming ever-shifting shapes and patterns known as murmurations. There are so many wildlife adventures to be had during 12 Days Wild – I hope you enjoy them.”

Liz Shearer, Community Engagement Director at BBOWT says: “To mark 12 Day Wild this year I’ll be pledging to connect with nature for at least 10 minutes every day. Whether it be a walk amongst the winter trees, watching birds in a tree across a cold and frosty park, or noticing the clouds on a bright day, I often find that stepping outside and taking a moment to connect with wildlife is a powerful way to recharge my batteries. 12 Days Wild is a great opportunity to create some space for yourself, which at this time of year can feel like a real gift.

“Committing to something manageable will make it even more enjoyable. Observe how weather changes the landscapes and check in with yourself – how do you feel within them? Noticing our own relationship with the natural world is the first step to taking action to safeguard it. So, I encourage you to stop for a moment, listen, and see what wild means to you.”

Spending time in nature – night or day – is proven to help people feel happier and healthier. A Wildlife Trusts’ survey found that participants of the 30 Days Wild summer challenge felt 56% more connected to nature after taking part, and that it boosted the health of participants by an average of 30%.*

There’s more information on the challenge at: 12 Days Wild | The Wildlife Trusts


Latest posts

Metroland magic with Simon Pollock book

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Author Simon Pollock tells us about the bits of Bucks & beyond that inspired his book, I Love Suburbia: The Joys of Life on London’s Outskirts

Suburbia used to have a bad name (especially if you were a teenager looking for fun). But Simon Pollock’s book I Love Suburbia, celebrating iconic landmarks on the fringes of the Tube map has proved one of the year’s runaway hits. Daisy May Cooper calls it: “Brilliant. A glorious celebration that will leave a big smile on your face.”

From stations that wouldn’t be out of place in Miami Beach to cinemas converted to mega churches, I Love Suburbia brings to life the joys outside Zone 1. Simon, creator of Instagram’s @LondonSuburbia, has revisited simpler days in the suburbs to discover the pioneering interwar architects who brought modernism to Britain, and delight in the elegance of Art Deco buildings given a new lease of life. Filled with stories of the people who live, work and play in the outskirts of London, this full-colour book over 200 original photos is an exploration of the capital’s overlooked everyday treasures.

“Without any Green Belt in place, London’s suburbs were expanding almost unchecked in the 1930s,” says Simon. “New railways and trunk roads were being built all around the city and, along the newly placed commuter routes, huge estates of semi-detached cottages sprang up. Nowhere was more famous for this rapid growth than Metroland, a vast area of rural villages and towns of northwest of London, heading from places like Wembley and Harrow and spreading outwards towards Buckinghamshire. Although the Metropolitan railway reached as far as Aylesbury back then, the sprawling suburbs never really made it much beyond Uxbridge before the war slowed everything down and gave the powers that be the chance to draw up the plans for the Green Belt, stopping the march of the semi just before the borders of Buckinghamshire.

“That’s not to say that Bucks is without its own interwar architectural gems. Indeed one of the buildings that inspired some of the coolest art deco houses in London’s suburbs sits high on a hill in Amersham. Built way back in 1931, the High And Over is considered one of the most important modernist homes in Britain with its white walls, flat roofs, sun decks and sweeping spiral staircases. Just down the road are the Sun Houses, a group of smaller modernist homes that are no less beautiful to look at.

“But to me, if you want the ultimate 1930s experience then you can’t beat an afternoon out at Bekonscot model village in Beaconsfield. Started in the 1920s in Roland Callingham’s back garden it grew to become one of the quaintest tourist attractions in the South East. Frozen in time and reflecting life in Britain just before the war you can find everything there, from tiny figures playing village cricket surrounded by thatched houses to pastiches of ultra modern buildings of the day, such as the Hoover Factory, Charles Holden’s tube stations and even a tiny art deco Odeon.

“Of course the Metropolitan Line is still there, even though it now only gets as far as Amersham, but it’s well worth taking a trip deep into Metroland.”


Latest posts

Sleeping Beauty panto in Gerrards Cross

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Take the family to GXCA (AKA the Memorial Centre), SL9 7AD, to enjoy Sleeping Beauty on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd of December, in aid of a great cause!

Giggles the Jester & friends invite you to enjoy this magical tale retold by The Panto Company in an amazing touring production.

King Humphrey and Queen Bea are so delighted at the birth of their daughter Aurora that they throw the biggest party the kingdom has ever seen! However, when they forget to invite the land’s most powerful sorceress, Vestra, their happiness soon turns sour.

Vestra casts a spell on the baby, proclaiming that, upon her 18th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. The spell is so strong that the comical Fairy Nuff’s only salvation is her spell to reduce its power by declaring that Aurora will fall asleep for 100 years. But how will she be woken?

“We are so excited to be performing again at the amazing GXCA in Gerrards Cross this year with our version of Sleeping Beauty,” says director Darren Mills. “Panto is a great time for all the family to get together and enjoy a great laugh, a superb sing-along and get wrapped into the love and adventure of the tale that is Sleeping Beauty!

“The show is suitable for everyone from the age of three to 93, and everyone can take part in booing at the evil Vestra and cheer the Prince into finding our sleeping Aurora.”

Shows are at 11am & 3pm. Tickets are £16pp, children £12pp, with under-twos free and family tickets £50, and all proceeds to the GXCA charity. Book at Community Events l Venue Hire l GXCA or you can call 01753 883759.


Latest posts

Ivy’s Circus NYE

Round & About

Round and About

See in the New Year with a three-course set menu, a night of circus fun, celebration and spectacular food

This New Year’s Eve, The Ivy Collection invites guests to step into the enchanting world of the circus for an unforgettable evening of exquisite dining, refreshing drinks, and dazzling entertainment. With a meticulously curated set menu featuring The Ivy’s signature dishes, diners can celebrate the arrival of 2025 in style with family, friends, and loved ones at their nearest Ivy restaurant.

Available to book now, the evening promises a festive atmosphere, with each restaurant offering bespoke entertainment, such as live music or a DJ, ensuring a lively and memorable celebration to round off the year.

From spectacular performances to indulgent cuisine, the menu showcases seasonal touches on The Ivy’s classic dishes. Starters include the festive Chilled Lobster and Prawn Cocktail, served with marinated avocado and Marie Rose sauce, and the Twice-baked Stilton and Walnut Cheese Soufflé, paired with a rich and creamy sauce.

For mains, guests can savour celebrated favourites like The Ivy’s Festive Shepherd’s Pie, a hearty combination of goose, turkey, duck, braised lamb, and beef, topped with mashed potato, cranberry chutney, and orange zest. Other options include the Lobster Linguine, featuring tender lobster in a roasted garlic and chilli sauce, and the Pan-Fried Sea Bass, served with creamed potato, samphire, tomato concasse, and saffron sauce.

For dessert, guests can choose from options like The Ivy Chocolate Bomb, a decadent melting dome with vanilla ice cream, honeycomb, and hot caramel sauce, or a creamy Crème Brûlée accompanied by winter berry cinnamon compote and shortbread.

As midnight approaches, diners can raise a glass to the New Year, celebrating with loved ones amidst circus-inspired cheer and the thrill of the countdown.

The festivities don’t end there; The Ivy Collection will also offer a flavour-packed New Year’s Day Brunch to help guests start 2025 on a high note. From a savoury Bloody Mary to hearty dishes like The Ivy Truffle Burger with thick-cut chips, Chicken Supreme Milanese with Truffle Sauce, or a comforting Lentil and Aubergine Bake, the brunch menu caters to all tastes and ensures a delicious recovery from the night before.

The New Year’s Eve set menu is available to book now at restaurants nationwide* starting from £87.50 per person, while the New Year’s Day Brunch is offered in select locations, starting at £34.95 per person.

*Terms & conditions apply. Prices vary by location.


Latest posts

Film in memory of loved ones

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Film-makers David & Debra Rixon invite you to watch Footloose in Iceland in aid of hospice charities on Thursday, 12th December, in memory of much-missed daughter Zoe & David’s first wife Alison

Zoe Rixon followed in her father’s footsteps, enjoying a career with the BBC. So, while local film-makers David & Debra have been coming to terms with losing her, a film fundraiser for her, & also her late mother, seemed especially fitting.

Debra and Dave have made more than 30 travel films for Amazon Prime. Both widowed with two daughters and a son between them, they married in their 40s and formed Grindelwald Productions to make their own productions after David’s retirement.

This year they made the film Footloose in Iceland in the aftermath of the loss of daughter Zoe at the age of 44, from bowel cancer. Debra says: “We decided to show the new film in Zoe’s memory as she died one year ago. But also it will mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of David’s first wife Alison at the age of 40, from breast cancer.

“The Risborough Brushwood Suite feels like the perfect place to premiere the film to friends, neighbours and locals; Dave was born and bred in the town. “Zoe, along with her sister Emma, went to Brownies and roller skating in the community centre in Princes Risborough. Later she followed her father into the BBC to carve out her own career in broadcasting.”

Footloose in Iceland is dedicated to the memory of Zoe and Alison. The screening at 7pm on Thursday, 12th December, will raise funds for the Rennie Grove cancer nurses who looked after Alison at home and supported the family, and the Meadow House Hospice team at Ealing Hospital, who cared for Zoe so personally. Debra adds: “Dave and the family lost Alison in 1994, and the Rennie Grove nurses were a tremendous support. We support both charities throughout the year, but thought we could use our latest film as a fundraiser – it will also help promote this new(ish) venue in our home town, Princes Risborough!”

The two-hour film will be shown at 7pm on Thursday, 12th December, in the Brushwood Suite of the Community Centre at Wades Park, HP27 9AX, with an intermission to visit the bar. Tickets £5pp, cash only, from the Crew Cafe at the community centre, and on the door on the night, with all proceeds to charity.


Latest posts

Top Christmas Wine Essentials

Round & About

Round and About

Round & About Magazine’s resident wine columnist Giles Luckett recommends this year’s Christmas wine essentials.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and while they say Christmas is all about the children, this is one big kid who’s looking forward to opening some adult Christmas crackers this year. Christmas offers so many opportunities for enjoying a glass of something special and to give you some inspiration – or vinspriation (I got that one out of a cracker, can you tell?) – here are my top 10 Christmas wine (and spirit) essentials.

First up, champagne – well it is Christmas. I’ve tasted a lot of champagnes this year, some of the finest of which I reviewed in my recent champagne article. One that’s stuck with me is the Laytons Brut Reserve (£33.95). I worked for Laytons in the late 1990s and Laytons was a firm favourite with customers and staff alike and it was great to taste it again after so many years. Chardonnay-based it has a lovely lightness of touch, offering a fresh bouquet of citrus and white blossoms with a creamy, yeasty undertow. The delicacy continues in the mouth, but the long bottle ageing shows towards the finish as notes of toasted brioche, apricots and honey come through. A lovely way to start the day, it has enough oomph to partner hors d’oeuvres or smoked fish starters.

If you’re looking for beauty on a budget, then make a beeline for the Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 (Majestic £19 on a mixed six). This is going to make my top ten wines of the year and I’ll be serving it at home. At under £20, this is a great buy. Salmon pink with tiny red gold bubbles lifting notes of raspberries, strawberries and cream, and limes into the air, this beautiful wine entrances from the off. The medium-bodied palate offers red berries, cherries, and blackberries with rather more exotic notes of limes, coconut and Asian spices. Lovely on its own, it also pairs well with food such as smoked fish or brown turkey meat.

Next up the first of two delicious, but very different, French wines. The first is the Gérard Bertrand Orange Gold 2022 (Majestic £12.99). Orange wines get their name from their distinctive colour, in this case, a mid-apricot orange, colour they get from the juice resting on the skins as you do with red wines. This delightful example is Chardonnay-led but has support from Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Mauzac and Muscat which give it fragrance and complexity. Medium-bodied but with noticeable texture, here you’ll find everything from apples and melon to apricots, to dried pears and lemon rind. It’s a fascinating wine that goes perfectly with all kinds of white meats.

Hugel is one of the greatest names in wine. This Alsace domaine was founded in Riquewhir in 1639 by Hans Ulrich Hugel and has been family-owned ever since. They produce some of the most profound dry Rieslings in the world and this Christmas I’ll be pairing the turkey with a bottle (or two!) of the Hugel Classic Riesling 2022 (London End Wines £19.50). I’m a huge fan of dry Riesling, but the intensity and depth of flavour in Hugel’s wines take the breath away. The nose is zesty, full of mineral-tinted citrus, and green apples while on the palate there are lemons, limes, white peach and grapefruit with touches of apricot and pistachio. Give this a couple of hours open and serve with white meats, seafood, or creamy cheese.

Red wines are always popular at Christmas, and while many wine lovers reach for a bottle of red Bordeaux to partner the turkey, goose or their rich vegetarian centrepiece, there are better, more interesting choice to be made. The key to partnering red wines with foods such as this is intensity and juiciness. Turkey, goose, and other game birds can be dry, and all have a richness of flavour that takes something with a persistence of flavour to cut through. The following wines have all proved great partners in the past.

Burgundy is perfect with all forms of poultry and game birds, but red Burgundy prices have risen so high even in recent years that unless you’re planning to spend Christmas on your yacht you may want to look elsewhere. A joyful exception to this distasteful rule is the Louis Jadot Bourgogne Cote d’Or 2021 (Majestic £29.99, £22.49 when you buy any six). This is an affordable taste of Burgundian luxury. Deeply coloured, the bouquet offers cherries, blackberries, mushrooms and a hint of seasonal cranberries. In the mouth, it’s clean and fresh with a delightfully silky texture and offers and abundance of fruits of the forest, cherries, plums and a mint and mineral finish. Gorgeous.

And so, to Rioja but with an even greater weight of mellow fruitiness, we have the Baron de Ley Gran Reserva 2017 (Vinissimus £20). Gran Reserva Riojas are only made in great years and by law must spend at least two years in oak and three years in bottle before release. This long ageing mellows the fruit, adds a spicy vanilla tone and creates some of the finest wines Rioja can offer. The Baron de Ley Gran Reserve is a mighty mellow mouthful. The nose contains aromas of fresh toast, ripe black fruits, red berries, spices and tobacco. The generously full-bodied palate is juicy and complex. Baked black berries and sun-warmed black cherries are coated with creamy vanilla before the firm, fresh finish adds life and intensity.

If you’re feeling adventurous this Christmas, try the Chateau Musar ‘Hochar’ 2019 (Vimum £12.85). Chateau Musar is Lebanon’s greatest wine estate, and this is their second wine, the younger brother if you will, to Chateau Musar (Waitrose £41.99) and shares much of it characteristics. Produced from an unusual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault grapes (think Bordeaux meets Rhone meets Languedoc) it’s rich and full-bodied with flavours of plums, cherries, sloes, and blackberries. Ageing in oak gives it a spicy tone and having been grown at high altitude it has a delightful red berry freshness.

And speaking of adventurous wines, how about a red dessert wine? While they are relatively rare, I’ve had plenty of sweet red wines over the years. Many are fortified such as the brilliantly bonkers Zuccardi Malamado Fortified Malbec (N.D. John Wines £17.45) but the Masi Angleorum Recioto Classico (Hic! £28) takes a rather different route to sweetness. Healthy grapes (Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara) from Veneto hillsides are dried on bamboo racks over the winter months. This has the effect of concentrating the sugars while elevating the aromatics. These are pressed and the resulting wine is lusciously sweet and full-bodied but with sufficient natural acidity to keep the wine fresh and vibrant. Offering a beguiling combination of preserved cherries, prunes, and bitter chocolate, with a touch of mocha and raspberry liqueur, this is a stylish partner to gorgonzola cheese, sweet pastries and tarts or as an after-dinner sipper.

I’ll leave the wines on a high with a Port. I’m a subscriber to the adage that Port is for life, not just for Christmas, and after tasting a wine as good as the Warre 1985 (MWH Wines £87) I’m sure you’ll be one too. 1985 was a truly outstanding year for vintage Port and the best wines are now drinking superbly. The Warre 1985 has retained much of its youthful Victoria plum colour with just a hint of ruby visible at the rim. The bouquet is a showstopping mix of dried black fruits, Morello cherries, chocolate, dried herbs, almonds, and smoke. Massive and rich in the mouth, the sweetly toned black fruits are complimented by flavours of coffee, black treacle, crushed nuts, pomegranate, mint and cocoa. Wonderful on its own, open and decant this beauty and enjoy with cheeses or fruity puddings.

I’ll finish my Christmas essentials with a couple of winter-warming spirits. The first is the Adnams Sloe Gin (Adnams £29.95). I’ll be honest I find most sloe gins are just a waste of good gin, being either teeth-rottingly sweet or bone dry but with red berry tones simply acting as a distraction to the gin’s botanicals. This though is excellent. Cherry red, there’s a touch of perfume to the nose which helps lift the sweet cranberry fruit and dry herby notes of the base spirit. The palate is voluptuous and warming – the 26% alcohol makes its presence felt – but clean and tangy. Maybe it’s me, but this tastes like a great gin cocktail rather than a Sloe Gin. Whatever the case, neat or with a dash of tonic, it’s delicious.

Last but by no means least we have Adnams Rye Malt Whisky (Adnams £42.99). In my early trade days, I got quite into whisky but as I’ve got older, I drink it less and less. That said I do like an after-dinner snifter at Christmas, and this is the perfect choice. Produced in Suffolk using locally grown rye, it’s aged in new French oak for at least five years. This oak ageing is at the core of my love of this. It adds a creaminess and an apricot and honey sweetness, imparting a creamy mouthfeel, a ginger spiciness, and a raisin fudge tone. Add a drop of tepid water and you have a joyous sundowner.

Well, that’s it for me this year. I’ll be back next month to celebrate Australia Day with some cool climate Australian wine stunners.

Cheers, and Happy Christmas,
Giles


Latest posts

Have a ball to help youngsters

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

The Marlborough Guild’s 2025 Charity Ball on 25th January at Marlborough Town Hall will benefit Julia’s House and Bridge for Young People.

The 2025 Charity Ball welcomes all community members for an enjoyable evening featuring signature cocktails courtesy of James at The Marlborough Tap, a delicious two-course dinner catered by Rachel at Square Root events, the fantastic live ceilidh band Bowreed and more.

100% of the profits from the event will be split between the two charities. Julia’s House provides essential support to families of children with life-limiting conditions, while Bridge for Young People offers safe housing and guidance to young adults facing homelessness or transitioning out of foster care, helping them build a more stable future.

“We are delighted to host this event for Julia’s House and Bridge for Young People,” said Jenny Quinlan, founder of The Marlborough Guild and Design Director of Studio JQ Ltd. “Both charities have a huge impact in the lives of children and young adults and we’re hopeful that our community will join us in showing their support.”

Tickets for the event, 6.30pm – midnight are £55pp or £495 for a table of ten. Further info at The 2025 Charity Ball Tickets, Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite.

Ticket booking: email [email protected] or call 01672 560236.

Businesses interested in sponsoring or supporting the event are encouraged to contact the organiser for details: email [email protected] or call 
01672 560236. 


Latest posts

Join Ben’s hike to support veterans

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Ben Scurr is stepping up to help the military charity Walking With The Wounded to raise funds for veterans and their families. Could you join him?

An Oxfordshire wellbeing and physical fitness business specialising in outdoor fitness and adventures, led by local man Ben Scurr, is taking part in the Walking Home Campaign this winter to raise funds for veterans and their families.

The initiative aims to raise funds to support WWTW’s vital mental health, employment, and social care services for veterans. Project Active will host walks on 1st December and 1st January and invites anyone in the local community to join them.

Ben says: “My grandparents served in World War Two, and other family members have been in military service over the years, so I’ve always had the utmost respect and gratitude for those who dedicate themselves to something greater than them. I was keen to pursue a career in the military myself, but unfortunately due to an injury that dream was not realised, so I instead embarked on an alternative path, which led me to become an Outdoor Fitness and Neuro-Linguistic Programming coach, and I now operate Project Active. Project Active is all about helping people relaunch and rediscover themselves through both mental and physical approaches, and our mission aligns perfectly with the work of Walking With The Wounded, so signing up to Walking Home felt like a natural step.

“We’re organising two walks that we invite people to join us for, one on the 1st December and one on 1st January, both in Woodstock. We are really proud to be supporting this cause, so we hope to get as many people as possible joining us and donating to Walking With The Wounded.”

The Walking Home campaign was launched by former Army Reservist and presenter of the BBC’s Escape to the Country, Jules Hudson. Jules took part in a sponsored walk at Monmouth Castle where his former regiment, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, is stationed. Alongside him were local cadets from Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force and Monmouth School Combined Cadet Force.

Latest research commissioned by WWTW shows six out of 10 veterans at least sometimes experience feelings of loneliness, a 10% increase on the same statistic for the general public. As daylight hours decrease during winter, it’s common for feelings of loneliness to increase, meaning now is the time to show support for our veterans.

As well as combating loneliness, this year’s motto of Let’s Talk looks to encourage conversations about mental health more widely. The research highlighted outdoor exercise as veterans’ most popular mental health boosting activity, a contrast to the general public which showed socialising with friends and family as its primary mental health booster. Data also showed 90% of veterans agree that the key to improving mental health is spending sufficient time outdoors.

Jules says: “I am immensely proud to be supporting such a worthy fundraising campaign. Veterans are rightly admired for their courage in serving our country yet the mental, physical, and social challenges they face when returning to civilian life can easily be lost on us as the general public.
“By taking part in this year’s Walking Home fundraiser, I hope to inspire as many Brits as possible to follow suit in contributing to the excellent work Walking With The Wounded continues to do for our veterans.”

Tony Hulton, WWTC CEO, added: “The festive season is an ideal time for friends, families, and service members to come together to tackle the winter blues, enjoy the outdoors, and take on a sponsored walk to support those who served. This year’s Walking Home. Let’s Talk campaign encourages everyone to break the silence around mental health and start meaningful conversations. A huge thank you to all who have already signed up for Walking Home. Your support will help transform the lives of veterans and their family members.”

As well as supporting veterans with mental health, physical health, and social support, another key focus is to educate the general public on the often misunderstood struggles veterans’ face post-service. Over half (54%) of the general public feel upholding mental health is the biggest challenge facing veterans when returning to civilian life.

Yet, when asked on whether they feel veterans receive the appropriate level of mental health support, just 21% of the general public agreed, highlighting how this year’s Walking Home fundraising effort is the ideal time to take part in supporting our veterans this winter.

To add to the more than £2 million raised in the past decade of the annual Walking Home fundraisers, 2024’s participants are invited to once again take on a sponsored walk alongside friends, family, or colleagues. There is no minimum distance or fundraising target.

Sign-up today at Walking Home – Lets Talk


Latest posts

Wine expert Marcus Rees’ top picks

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

After careers in retail buying and professional brewing, Marcus now shares his love of wine and ale as a tour guide and writer. He shares his Bucks beauties.

My new book, Oxfordshire Uncorked, features 15 local wineries and vineyards, and the wines they produce, including two in Buckinghamshire and several others clustered just over the border around Henley.

Nowadays the standard of English wine generally, and the wine produced locally is excellent. You no longer need to worry that investing £15 for a still wine or £30 for a sparkling wine is a risk not worth taking. And the wines made locally have won awards and medals that prove just how good they are. What could be better than an English Sparkling wine to enjoy this Christmas, made by the same method as Champagne?

October was harvest time for most of thee local vineyards. Many of them encouraged volunteers to come and help harvest the grapes where they were rewarded with lunch and wine for their efforts. Winter can be a quiet time in the vineyards but many still welcome visitors over the colder months and have cafes or shops on-site where you can spend a pleasant couple of hours. In addition, several local vineyards host other events year-round.

Let’s focus on three in or near Buckinghamshire, all of which have wineries making wine on-site as well as their vineyard producing the fruit: Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery, near Henley and right on the Buckinghamshire-Oxfordshire border, continues to run regular tours and tastings throughout November, December and January. Winter is a good time to visit so you can also enjoy discounts on their luxury, B&B accommodation – no need to drive home! In addition, dinner can be arranged at the lovely, local Stag & Huntsman pub in picturesque Hambleden with return transport included. Book now for best prices and availability. They even offer a cookery school as well as weddings and Christmas parties in their lovely, converted barn.

Chiltern Valley was established in 1980 and is one of the older establishments in the region. They are well set up for visitors and attract a lot of walkers and cyclists exploring the Chiltern Hills AONB. Chiltern Valley produces a wide range of still and sparkling wines, all available to take home or to enjoy on-site by the bottle or glass. In addition, they offer bottle-conditioned ales brewed on-site, and a food van open every day serving coffee as well as hot and cold food. Try the lovely sparkling wines which have an extremely fine fizz on the palate, or their oaked white wines with tropical fruit flavours which are not always expected in English wines. 

Further north in the Chilterns, at Radnage between Chinnor and High Wycombe, you can find Daws Hill vineyard and winery. Planted in 2004 and run by Holly Morgan, Holly produces sparkling wines only, made by the traditional method, like Champagne. Holly relies on a team volunteers to help her in the vineyard, many of whom love to be outdoors and talk about the positive impact the work has on their mental health.  

Daws Hill hosts regular events. October saw another successful Sushi and wine evening  in partnership with Sakana Oxford – an online Japanese food service based in Chinnor. Other popular events have included Food Foraging (next planned for March 2025), a Wine blending workshop, and regular Wine & Cheese pairings. Daws Hill produces lovely sparkling wines from the Auxerrois grape – common in Cremant d’Alsace wines – and from the big three Champagne grapes – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. They even produce an unusual, elegant cider made in the same way as the wines with a second fermentation in the bottle – a lovely match for traditional English cheese or pork pie. Look out for Holly at local Christmas markets such as Waddesdon. 

Just outside Marlow, Harrow and Hope focuses on making high-end sparkling wines from the three classic Champagne varieties – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Henry and Faye Laithwaite planted the vineyard in 2010 and aim to let the grapes and their wines express the ‘terroir’ of the vineyard. The vineyard and its wines are now certified Organic. Prices start around £33 and are available from Laithwaites as well as independent delis and wine merchants such as Grape Expectations in Marlow. Henry and Faye produce wines with weight, texture and complexity. 

Tours run in the summer but sell out and should be booked well in advance. Harrow & Hope also hold pre-release launch days in summer which are probably the best time to visit, taste the current range, and to purchase newly launched wines. In the meantime, a traditional method sparkling wine from Harrow & Hope would be an excellent choice for a Christmas or New Year treat.  https://harrowandhope.com/ 

If you can’t wait until Christmas to get into the local festive spirit, you could consider joining Marlow-based floral designer, Joanne Caldwell, on weekend of 6th-8th December. She is running three Christmas Wreath-making workshops at Oaken Grove vineyard, near Henley-on-Thames. Joanne will be providing all the materials and her expert knowledge on how to use seasonal foliage and festive decorations to create your own wreath design just in time for Christmas. Mulled wine and sparkling wine from Oaken Grove are included in the ticket price with the bar open throughout the workshops.

Check out Oxfordshire Uncorked for details of more regional vineyards including visitor facilities and the wines that they produce… An excellent Christmas present for any wine lover.

You can buy Oxfordshire & Uncorked from Blackwells, Waterstones, Amazon and more. Oxfordshire Uncorked – A Guide to the Vineyards and Wines of Oxfordshire and North Cotswolds


Latest posts