M&S Aylesbury colleague celebrates 40th anniversary

Karen Neville

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Bra fitter Julie Walters joined more than 50 colleagues at an event in London marking her years of service for the high street retailer

Julie Walters, a bra fitter at Marks & Spencer in Aylesbury is celebrating her 40th year working for the high-street retailer. Julie recently travelled to London to join M&S colleagues from across the country, all of whom were celebrating milestone anniversaries, ranging from 25 to 50 years. More than 200 colleagues attended the event and were congratulated by M&S Co CEO, Katie Bickerstaffe and thanked for their dedication and service.

M&S has been part of many special memories for Julie over the last 40 years, having worked at the store since she joined M&S in October 1982. Julie has spent her whole career working at the Aylesbury store where she specialises as a bra fitter.

Julie loves to help people and has found the role extremely rewarding over the years, from helping pregnant women or first-time mothers pick a new bra, to supporting transgender customers and young girls pick out their very first bra. A particular highlight was when a pregnant customer Julie helped pick out bras for named her son after Julie’s son! M&S is truly Julie’s second home, working with colleagues she calls friends, many of whom have been with the store for more than 20 years, including her best friend, Cassie McVeigh.

Julie said: “It’s honestly been an amazing experience working at M&S over the years. So much has changed but one thing remains the same, the people – both colleagues and customers – are the best! My passion for helping people has never diminished and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to work in a job I love for so many years. I’d like to thank M&S for all the wonderful memories I’ve made with the company and for the fabulous trip to London – I had a great time!”

Natalie Moon, Store Manager at M&S Aylesbury said: “There’s no doubt about it, Julie is an integral part of the team and has had a huge part to play in our success over the years. Having served M&S for a number of years with her tremendous bra fitting expertise, she has not only been able to make customers feel at ease, she’s also worked with the team to train colleagues and pass on her knowledge. I’d like to thank Julie for her years of service to M&S – it’s truly an honour to celebrate this milestone with her!”

To find out more about working for M&S, and the roles and training available, visit M&S Careers.

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Graeme Hall, AKA The Dogfather Q&A

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Wantage Literary Festival has lots of lovely highlights to enjoy between 21st October & 4th November, including Graeme Hall. Liz Nicholls asked him a few questions…

Q. Hello Graeme! You have great energy on telly… Are you naturally bouncy & positive or do you have to work on this?

“I think it’s the way I am. Some days more than others, like everyone. I love what I do though, so I’m sure that helps.

Q. If you were a dog, what kind would you be?

“My partner says I’m a boxer. She says because ‘I’m silly and loveable’. She missed out handsome… and modest. Obvs :)”

Q. And if you could live as any breed of dog in any home or environment, what would you choose!?

“A Boxer dog in my partner’s house before we met. I’m not saying he’s spoilt, but…”

Q. I’ve read that you became a dog-lover in your 40s & weren’t raised in a doggie house – is this true?

“Yes and no. I’ve always loved dogs but mum and dad were busy working people so it was always deemed it wouldn’t be fair on the dog. It took me a few years before the conditions were right for me to have my own.”

Q. What lessons do you think lockdown taught us about our relationships with our dogs?

“We have a generation of dogs affected by a lack of socialisation at a key period of their development. The evidence suggests we may not have seen the worst of this yet. So the key message for the future reiterates what experts have said for a long time: you can not over-stress the importance of early socialisation.”

Q. Are you surprised by your career pivot & what would the young Graeme say about it?

“I’m sure young Graeme would be surprised I ended up as a dog trainer because when I left uni I didn’t even own a dog. That said, I’ve always believed there are times to think with your head and times to think with your heart. I chose a university course with my heart, and I chose a new career path because it’s something I was passionate about. It wasn’t necessarily sensible some might say, but so far it’s working out well for me.”

Q. And you are so in demand – do people accost you much when you’re out and about?

“Rarely a day goes by that somebody doesn’t stop me in the street to share some kind words. It’s a privilege, how often do most of us have strangers compliment us on our work? Perhaps it should be more common for everyone! I once got asked if I wear tweed to bed (I don’t, for the record).”

Q. We are a nation of dog-lovers. What cliche would like to quash to help us all to be better dog parents?

” ‘A waggy tail means a happy dog’. Often, yes but not always: a waggy tail is a sign of excitement and not all flavours of excitement are happy ones. A tail that’s wagging attached to a dog who is bouncy and flopping is usually a good sign (I call it whole body wag).

A rigid dog, looking through the corner of his eye with a slowly swishing tail might be something to be wary of, depending on the dog.”

Q. Do you genuinely believe you can help ‘any dog, any age, any problem’?

“Help, yes. Perform a miraculous transformation, not always. But even now after thousands of cases I’m still surprised what you can do, even in a short time”

Q. What’s your favourite book?

“Surprisingly perhaps it’s not about dogs. I’m currently reading a book about Donald Campbell, the world land and water speed record holder. He’s a special interest of mine.”

Q. What’s the most common mistake owners make when it comes to their dogs?

“Forgetting to praise them when they’re good.”

Q. Were you always well dressed & interested in style?

“I think I was. My mum has a black and white photo of me somewhere as a toddler wearing a suit for a special occasion. It’s hard to tell, but it looks as though it may have been tweed.”

Q. Is there any useful gadget or bit of dog kit that you couldn’t be without?

“The made-to-measure dog box for the car. It keeps the dogs safe, secure and comfortable. I covered over 200,000 miles with my last one. And it doesn’t rattle. Happy days!”

Q. Finally, if you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?

“Maybe we could learn a lesson from dogs. They famously live in the moment and don’t hold a grudge. The world would be a better place if we were all like that, don’t you think…?

Book your tickets (£15/£10 students) for Graeme Hall in Conversation with Lin Lawson, 8pm on Friday, 3rd November, at The Beacon. Visitors will be able to enjoy ‘The Dog Father’ and presenter of Channel 5’s smash hit show Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly at Wantage Literary Festival for a second year. Hear Graeme’s hilarious and heart-warming stories of training dogs all over the country, and get the opportunity to ask him anything about your beloved canine friend. Book your tickets for this & more at Wantage Literary Festival.

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Midsomer On the Misbourne guided walks

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Follow in the footsteps of the Midsomer Murders team along the Misbourne Valley including picturesque locations in Great Missenden, Little Missenden, Amersham & more, as Susan Bosher explains

The River Misbourne wends its way through quintessentially English countryside and historic market towns and villages, packed with pretty cottages, stone churches, traditional pubs and ideal filming locations!

Midsomer on the Misbourne is a Midsomer Murders inspired self-guided locations trail that highlights filming locations and places of interest in Great Missenden, Little Missenden, Amersham and the Chalfonts.

To see it all, visitors can stay a few days in a real piece of English history – a cottage with an inglenook fireplace, a barn on a farm, a 16th-century coaching inn the oldest house in the village or in a filming location itself.

Amersham is used as a location in numerous Midsomer episodes. It also represents the perfect place to live in Midwich Cuckoos, the perfect place to stay in Four Weddings & a Funeral and the perfect Cornish fishing village in My Cousin Rachel. The Midsomer Murders & More walk starts at Amersham station, through classic beech woods and rolling fields to Old Amersham. You’ll stroll beside the Misbourne before turning up the hill, and passing the modernist house High & Over which has been used many times as a film location.

“I love the natural beauty of the Chilterns,” says Susan Bosher who leads walks along with Martin Pounce who also lives in Amersham. “I’m grateful that we have so many protected areas where people can enjoy the outdoors. I’m always finding new things to explore and sometimes sit by the river and enjoy the sound of the water flowing over the rocks near the wetland area. Amersham has a supportive community that unites people who share interests. I’m proud to be part of this community.”

The Midsomer on the Misbourne trail attracts new visitors and Amersham residents. The next Midsomer Murders & More guided tour is on Saturday, 21st October. The Chilterns Walking Festival Midsomer on the Misbourne walk from Great Missenden through Little Missenden to Amersham is on Saturday, 28th October.

To book your place please visit Walks – Amersham Museum

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National Trust restores Oxfordshire fen

Karen Neville

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Rangers and volunteers have been clearing and restoring an area of alkaline fen to aid endangered species such as a tiny rare snail

A team of rangers and volunteers have been scything reeds in a plan to restore an area of alkaline fen at Pea Pits in West Oxfordshire. Fenland is one of Britain’s most threatened and precious homes for rare plants and wildlife. The National Trust is working with Freshwater Habitats Trust who provided the tools and scythe training to protect this internationally important habitat.

Most people associate fenland with the lowlands of East Anglia and are unaware that alkaline fens are also a special feature of the Oxfordshire countryside. The fens in Oxfordshire are fed by springs emerging from chalk or limestone in valleys and on hill slopes.

Alkaline fens support many wetland plants that are rare or endangered nationally or in the county such as the carnivorous butterwort, grass-of-Parnassus, marsh helleborine and marsh lousewort.

Endangered insects include species of soldier-fly, horsefly and damselfly, while molluscs include the Desmoulin’s whorl-snail. This is the tiny rare snail the size of a pinhead that almost stopped the Newbury Bypass being built in 1996 when the construction was set to destroy its habitat.

The work party cleared back trees and reeds at Pea Pits to give the rare plants some light. The cuttings were used to create dams to slow down water flow and create pools. The team also planted marsh lousewort to stop the dominant reeds taking up the majority of light. Marsh lousewort does this by finding another plant’s roots underground and extracting water and nutrients from the ‘host’ plant. This parasitic action weakens the reeds, allowing a diversity of other, more delicate plants to come through.

Whilst the marsh lousewort is establishing, the National Trust will continue to cut the reeds and scrub in the late summer and, if funding and a suitable grazier can be found, may eventually fence the area and graze it with cattle. Rest assured, if the vanishingly rare Newbury bypass snail makes an appearance at Pea Pits, it will have a safe home.

Richard Watson, Countryside Manager, West Oxfordshire said: “It’s great to see this quiet corner of the estate being brought back to life. It is the only Fen site we look after in West Oxfordshire, so it’s a really important habitat. It’s been great to work with the Freshwater Habitats Trust on expertise and training for our staff and volunteers to take on the management of the site.”

Paola Perez, Fen Conservation Officer at Freshwater Habitats Trust said: “Along with other small freshwater habitats, alkaline fens have traditionally been overlooked, but they support a unique community of plant and animal species.

“Restoring and protecting these rare alkaline fen habitats is a vital part of our work to reverse the decline in freshwater biodiversity. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the National Trust to restore the alkaline fen at Coleshill and are very grateful to their volunteers for all their hard work.”

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Sale e Pepe’s iconic Italian recipes

Liz Nicholls

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With neighbourhood trattoria Sale e Pepe recently being given a complete refurb ahead of its 50th anniversary next year, we’re saving up a taste of la dolce vita for those seeking a fresh at-home recipes to keep those summer vibes going!

The Knightsbridge staple invites lovers of traditional Italian food to take their hand at their classic dishes. Ideal for hosting across the summer period, the illustrious restaurant has always attracted a jet-setting crowd, loved by the likes of Rod Stewart, Sir Roger Moore, Priscilla Presley and Ringo Starr.

Sale E Pepe prides itself in serving the very produce, try your hand at their infamous Costaletta di Vileto Milanaise – pan-fried veal chop with breadcrumbs which is signature to the Lombardy region or the Camparian Linguine all’ Aragosta – Linguine with lobster, cherry tomatoes, basil and garlic. Opt for a more light dish of Insalata di Granchio – crab and avocado salad with tomato concassé, spring onions, chives and lemon dressing, bringing the Italian summer to the table.

Costaletta di Vileto Milanaise

Ingredients:
• 500g one bone in veal cutlets about 3/4 thick, trimmed or you can ask the butcher to make flattened for you than will be easier to prepare at home,
• Three eggs
• 100gm breadcrumbs granules
• 80 gm all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 240g clarified butter (recipe is mentioned below)
• One lemon, quartered

Method:
1. Make two or three cuts on the edges of cutlet to keep them from curling up as they cook
2. Heat the clarified butter over medium high heat. The secret to cooking the meat is to cook it quickly at a very high temperature to seal the outside and create a crunchy breading while keeping the inside moist and juicy.
3. Whisk the eggs and place them in a shallow pan
4. Place each first into the flour, then the eggs bath and then finally the breadcrumbs as you go to ensure that they don’t fall off
5. Fry the cutlet for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, then remove to a plate lined with paper towels and allow the extra butter to drain off
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then place on a baking sheet

Linguine all’ Aragosta

Ingredients:
• 600g Canadian lobster
• 80g linguine pasta
• 120g red cherry tomato
• 5g fresh basil leaves
• 18g garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 45ml white wine
• 28ml extra virgin olive oil
• 5g mix micro herbs (optional)

Method:
1. Cover the bottom of a large frying pan with olive oil, chopped garlic, basil leaves and fry your cherry tomatoes together. Add stock, black pepper and fry for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
2. Add the lobster tail and chunks and fry for 1 minute
3. Add the dry white wine and make sure to cook all the alcohol out and reduce until the sauce has thickened slightly
4. Cook your linguine or spaghetti in a LARGE pot of rapidly boiling salted water. Stir the pasta regularly and cook until al dente almost 5 to 6 minutes and using your spaghetti spoon lift, the cooked pasta out of the pot, allow the water to drain off and add it spoonful by spoonful straight into the pan of lobster pasta sauce
5. Toss well and serve garnished with the micro herbs

(Insalata di Granchio) crab & avocado salad

Ingredients:
• 45g diced tomatoes
• 85g freshly handpicked crab meat
• One ripe avocado
• 30ml fresh lime juice
• 55ml extra virgin oil
• 5g chipped chives
• 5g spring onion
• 1 gram or pinch of chilli powder
• Sea salt & pepper as per taste

Method:
1. First in a small bowl mix together avocado cubes, lime juice, diced tomato, chives, olive oil, salt & pepper, mix well and set aside.
2. Then repeat the same process and add crab meat, lime juice, diced tomato, chilli powder, chopped chives, spring onion, olive oil, salt & pepper, mix well and set aside.
3. Take a flat base plate, place the round shape ring in a centre and add avocado layer and add crab mixture for second layer up, garnish with olive oil & chopped chives.


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Theatre: The Making of Mary Shelley

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Jonathan Lovett tells us about a fascinating new play about Mary Shelley landing at Norden Farm in Maidenhead on Thursday, 12th October, as part of a UK tour

Conception: Mary Shelley – the Making of a Monster celebrates the incredible life of Mary Shelley on the 200th anniversary of the first edition of Frankenstein to bear her name.

This latest production by feminist theatre company CLAIR/OSCUR focuses on the return of Mary to Lake Geneva, the birthplace of her most famous novel. Haunted by the ghosts of her husband, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and others from that infamous ‘year without a summer’ she embarks on a voyage of self-discovery resulting in a brutal confrontation with the very creation that made her name.

Unlike Frankenstein the life of Mary Shelley is not so well known… and yet it reads like the plot of one of her tragic, Gothic novels. Suffering three infant deaths and one miscarriage that almost killed her she then lost the love of her life, Percy, drowned in a yachting accident, in her early 20s.

Deserted by friends and with little money or means to support her one surviving son, she was known as the widow of Percy and some even questioned whether he was the author of Frankenstein. And yet, in the face of a misogynistic, critical society, this single mother went on to write a further eight novels, more than 50 short stories and essays and even, in a typically selfless act, brought together her husband’s writings in a complete works edition that made Percy’s name.

The play’s writer and star Deborah Clair says: “In Mary Shelley’s day society dictated the need for women to be wives. If not, the other paths were decidedly perilous: spinster, divorced, widow, harlot… corpse,” said “Mary was completely off-grid with her choices – elopement, travel, children out of wedlock, a thinker and writer. Her life straddled two eras – Romantic and Victorian – and the latter really didn’t know what to do with her!”

As well as playing the role of Mary, Deborah is director of CLAIR/OBSCUR, a female led-theatre company dedicated to placing inspiring women of the past centre-stage. Conception is directed by Lucy Speed who starred in EastEnders and The Bill and is currently playing Stella in The Archers.

Conception is being performed at the Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead on Thursday, 12th October at 8pm as part of a national tour. For ticket details visit Conception: Mary Shelley – The Making of a Monster : Norden Farm Centre for the Arts.

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New Art Surrey fair at Epsom

Karen Neville

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Your creative senses will be tingling from the moment you arrive at Art Surrey, a new contemporary art fair coming to The Duchess Stand, Epsom Downs Racecourse, October 6th to 8th

Art Surrey opens on Friday 6th October with a Preview Evening with a complimentary glass of fizz from 6pm-9pm and opens over the weekend on Saturday 7th, 10am-6pm and Sunday 8th, 10am-5pm.

This exciting inaugural art fair curated by Art Surrey and Ewell based Art Adviser and Gallery, Caiger Art, offers art lovers and collectors the chance to browse and purchase artworks from over 80 of the most exciting contemporary and traditional artists selling today, many of whom are Surrey based artists.

As final preparations get under way, Carol Caiger, Director of Art Surrey, is excited about this new Epsom venture: “Being one of the largest art fairs within the south east of England, this new contemporary art fair will be the perfect place to find artwork to start your art collection, or add to your collection if you are already an art enthusiast!”

There will be over 3,000 works of art to see, paintings, drawings, prints, digital art, mixed media art, photography, sculpture, glassworks and ceramics. With all artwork ranging from £50 to over £3,000, there will be something for everyone.

This year the invited showcase is Surrey Sculpture Society, who will be showing a selection of their artists’ sculptures for sale.

Carol adds: “The bonus is, as well as awesome artwork, the Caiger Art and Art Surrey Team are on hand to give expert advice on the best artwork to buy for your home, too”

Weekend facilities include a bar and café / restaurant serving teas, coffee and food throughout Saturday and Sunday, so you can easily spend a whole day there. The venue is also wheelchair accessible.

Tickets are available to buy for the Friday Preview Evening, Saturday and Sunday from Buy Tickets – Art Surrey.

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Cube comedy and quiz nights

Karen Neville

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Kate Lucas, Louise Atkinson and Howard Read are on the bill for comedy at the Cube at The Shed in Bordon in October

The Shed has a truly top selection lined up throughout October with the return of the Cube Comedy Club as well as quiz nights and markets.

The venue offers the perfect backdrop for evenings of belly laughs and fantastic community events.

The Cube Comedy 5th October at 8:00pm

This month’s comedy delights include Kate Lucas, Louise Atkinson and Howard Read.

Kate Lucas is an award-winning musical comedian and is known for her razor sharp and deliciously dark songs.

Louise Atkinson has quickly established herself on the comedy scene as one of the ones to watch for the future, and is said to have a strong flavour of Victoria Wood!

Howard Read is a comic, writer, animator and actor, in that order. He is best known for being one half (and the other half), of the Big Howard, Little Howard, the world’s first human cartoon double-act.

Tickets are £13.50 and can be bought on The Shed website.

Quiz nights at The Shed

On October 5th and 17th The Shed’s popular bar will be running quiz nights to test your brains every other Tuesday.

The Tap at The Shed’s quiz nights are only £1 entry per person with teams up to six. Winner takes the pot and there’s a chance to win a £25 bar voucher! Always a fun night out, just message Tap @ The Shed via their social media to book – Facebook.

Throughout October there are also the popular Saturday Markets on 14th and 28th, as well as a Halloween themed craft session with Daisy’s Craft room to try with the little ones, and of course top films at the Ticket Cinema.

You can find the full line-up of all upcoming Saturday Night at The Shed acts on the events page – Upcoming Events at The Shed.

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Keeping adoptive siblings in care together

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Adoption agencies across the UK, including Parents And Children Together (PACT) have joined forces to keep brothers and sisters together.

Voluntary adoption agencies across the UK have come together with a joint mission to stop brothers and sisters who are waiting in care from being separated when adopted.

Almost half of children currently waiting in care* are part of a family group and voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) are looking for people who can offer them a permanent and loving home.

Thames Valley-based Parents And Children Together (PACT) is among 23 VAAs from all over the UK who have together created a guide for people considering adoption containing helpful information and advice from parents who have already adopted sibling groups.

Lorna Hunt of PACT said: “The impact on children in care who are separated their brothers and sisters to enable them to find a permanent family is huge and causes anxiety and loss for children who have already experienced a difficult start in life. Yet so few people feel equipped or able to consider adopting a sibling group of three, or even four children.

“We are excited to be a part of this project sharing first-hand, heartfelt experience and advice from families who have already done this incredible thing of adopting a sibling pair or group.”

VAAs are specialists in finding families for children who wait the longest in care. They work in partnership with local authorities to find families for children waiting for a permanent home. VAAs are independent, not-for-profit organisations who have intensive services to provide families with vital support both when the children are placed and into the future.

Maggie Jones, chief executive of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) which represents VAAs across the country said: “Brother and sisters who are adopted together are often the only constant thing in each other’s lives in times of huge upheaval, loss and trauma. The voluntary adoption sector are specialists in finding families for sibling groups and being there for them with bespoke packages of support for as long as its needed.”

“Brother and sisters who are adopted together are often the only constant thing in each other’s lives in times of huge upheaval, loss and trauma!”

Download a copy of the advice guide Adoption agencies join forces to keep brothers and sisters together.

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Hogs Back Brewery celebrate hop harvest

Karen Neville

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Record number of guests enjoy beer and entertainment at Hop Harvest Festival

A record number of people enjoyed Hogs Back Brewery’s hop harvest and raised more than £2,500 for a local charity as they did so.

More than 3,500 guests savoured beer, food, live music and family entertainment in the late summer sunshine in Tongham, Surrey, over the weekend of September 15th to 17th, making it Hogs Back’s biggest hop harvest party ever.

This year, for the first time, the entertainment started on the Friday evening, with a new ‘Roots’ concert on the Festival stage, headlined by folk musician Seth Lakeman. On Saturday, crowds gathered from early afternoon to watch lively performances from six bands, culminating in a set of crowd-pleasing covers from headliners Bloomfield Avenue. Compere David Whitney kept people entertained as bands changed over, and performances were live streamed to the Beer Garden for those wanting a more chilled musical experience.

At Sunday’s TEA Party, a more family-friendly vibe took over, with plenty of entertainment for children of all ages. The fun included a circus workshop, archery, inflatable slides, Mr Magic show, farmyard animals and electric skateboarding, as well as the ever-popular dray rides around the Hop Garden. There was music for the younger crowd too, with the popular Harry Styles Experience topping the bill.

Across the weekend, guests enjoyed the full range of Hogs Back beers, including Green TEA – a variation of the brewer’s flagship Tongham TEA, brewed with fresh ‘green’ hops straight from their hop garden. Food included hog roast, pizzas and authentic Indian dishes from local Mandira’s Kitchen. In line with Hogs Back’s ambitious sustainability aims, no single use plastics were used, replaced with reusable or compostable items.

One of the highlights of the weekend was, as in previous years, the competition for best hop-decorated hat, this year won by Jonathon. The custom of raising money for a local charity was also continued as the Prostate Project, based in Guildford, took a stand at the event and received all donations made on the dray rides. In total, the charity raised £2,543 over the weekend.

Rupert Thompson, Hogs Back managing director, said: “Every year, we say we’ve just had our best Hop Harvest Party ever – and it’s always true! This year we had more guests than ever before, more bands on the Festival stage, fabulous entertainment for families – and we enjoyed nearly all of it in glorious sunshine.

“The whole event was staffed by the Hogs Back team, so a big thank you to them, as well as to local businesses and volunteers, and to the many local people who joined us to create the party.”

He added: “We have already set the dates for next year’s Hop Harvest celebrations, which will run on 13th,14th and 15th September. We look forward to an even bigger and better event.”

Hogs Back harvested three hop varieties this year: Fuggles, used in Tongham TEA; English Cascade, used in its Hogstar lager and Surrey Nirvana Session IPA; and Farnham White Bine, a traditional local variety that the brewer saved from near-extinction by planting in its hop garden in 2014.

Thompson said: “We’re delighted to have harvested hops from our own hop garden for the eighth year. This year’s crop won’t be our biggest, due to the wet weather in July and August, but the hops we have are of good quality and will add distinctive flavours to our beers.  We’re proud to be growing hops just yards from the brewery, helping to reduce our food miles and achieve our goal of being an ever more sustainable brewer.

“It’s rewarding to have reinstated hop farming in Farnham and we know it’s meant a lot to local people. We’re grateful for their support, particularly the 50 Hogs Back Hopper volunteers who helped us bring in the harvest. It’s hard physical work over a few weeks and they certainly earned themselves a few pints!”

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