Stow timeS Issue 86 • March 2011 An independent paper delivered to homes & businesses in Stow-on-the- old,Broadwell, Adlestrop, Oddington, Bledington, Icomb, Church Westcote, Nether Westcote, Wyck & Little Rissington, Maugersbury, Nether Swell, Lower & Upper Swell, Naunton, Donnington, Condicote, Longborough and Temple Guiting Copies go into the GO- STOW Information Centre, Burford Information Centre, and onto the Villager Bus. Copies are also available at centres around Kingham, Temple Guiting and Guiting Powers. Extra copies are generally available in the Stow Library. MARKET SQUARE STOW-ON-THE-WOLD GL54 1AF T: 01451 830364 E: [email protected] www.kingsarmsstow.co.uk * Curry nights : Cheltenham Races Every second Thursday Festival Week: £10.00 for choice of curry and pint (or glass of wine/soft 100 Years drink.) Booking recommended Monday 14th: Preview night with Gordon * Pizza nights : Clarkson £15pp including Alternate Monday's: 7th, 21st curry and a pint march Chefs home produced Chance to win £50 free bet authentic pizza's with a choice with Ladbrokes of toppings (Booking recommended.) Takeaway available Tuesday 15th: * Friday Fizz : Live Music and Pig Roast Buy two large glasses of fizz and receive the rest of the bottle Wednesday 16th: free Bottle of bubbly and Fish Comedy Night and Chip Supper for two, £35 Welcome to The Kings Arms, Half Lobster Thermidor and Thursday 17th: chips with large glass of fizz £20 Bar, Hotel & Chop House St Patricks Day Party in the centre of the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. We have recently taken over this beautiful old historic pub, taking Dining, working, celebrating or relaxing. time and care to refurbish the bar, restaurant and rooms. We have The Kings Arms Chophouse restaurant and bar offer you a warm also developed new menus - traditional English food, old ales and welcome and traditional home cooked English food. wines, which are available both in the lounge and restaurant. With original oak flooring and medieval windows, The Chophouse combines the atmosphere of an old London Chophouse with all the This one time coaching inn earned its place in history by providing warmth and character of one of the Cotswolds oldest and most historic Inns. Chef Jason Hyatt sources mainly local ingredients, lodgings for Charles 1st in 1645. Today everyone receives a warm usually within the Cotswold borders, producing some of the finest welcome fit for royalty whether you are popping in for a quick steaks on the bone, chops and cutlets; we offer you delicious whole drink, enjoying a meal in the restaurant or stopping over for a few grilled fish and shellfish dishes sourced from wonderful nights whilst you explore the Cotswolds and enjoy this beautiful fishmongers, and in an area rich in pheasant , deer, partridge and corner of the English countryside. hare, who could resist our Chef’s delicious seasonal game dishes. The Restaurant is open lunchtimes and evenings throughout Your host – Lucinda Hawkings-Byass the week. “I have worked in hospitality for 10 years, managing a number of pubs and restaurants throughout Gloucestershire, the South West The Kings Arms is your home from home – where a and London. I love being at The Kings Arms, one of the most friendly welcome always awaits you. historic pubs in the Cotswolds, and I look forward to welcoming We look forward to seeing you soon. customers old and new. Easter Weekend * Mothering Sunday * 22-25 April: 3rd April: Beer Festival all weekend * Saturday 23rd: Treat mum to Live Music and St Georges Celebrations a delicious lunch and a chance to win a Pamper day Sunday 24th: at Cowley Manor, Live Jazz Lunch and Fun for the Kids Book to avoid disappointment Monday 25th: Live Music and BBQ Stow timeS From the Editor It’s lighter in the mornings now, and so much easier to climb out of Inside this edition bed! There are small birds rushing around the garden and FEATURES hedgerows, parading and showing off to each other and battling over territory. Mike Boyes eml’d us photographs a couple weeks ago with 9 Cats and Arthritis – from Steve Cannon MRCVS this comment:”We have in our garden a very persistent and territorial 10 Stow Pits – a glimpse into the history behind Camp Gardens in male chaffinch. He was here last year and he seems to have returned. Stow, by Dennis Jackson Yesterday, when we saw the sun for a change, I waited patiently with my camera and captured a number of shots. The following sequence 12 ‘Lost for Words’. Part 1 of a series of short stories by Nicholas John tells a story.” We found them irresistible for our front cover this 15 Paranormal Investigation: Lower Swell. Tom Webb tests his nerve! month, and nicknamed this handsome and fierce bird ‘Warrior’. 16 The Localism Bill – moving planning powers to local councils. Our communities have issues of their own coming up this month. 17 Councillors – only volunteers, or local representatives? Last month the County Council opened the challenge with cuts on 45 A Motoring date for your diary – from Mike Hallowes libraries, this month it’s police stations. Meanwhile our district council is asking for our opinions on planning and strategy, and wanting to increase the part that we play in running our community REGULARS assets and services. 6 News from North Cotswold Digital Camera Club and North The Big Society and The Localism Bill leave little doubt that it is Cotswold Community Radio going to be local people who will be making the decisions on community issues, including local planning, amenities and services, 13 Book Reviews from Cotswold Bookstore starting this year. It may be a fluke that this is also the year for local 19 Local Democracy in Action – GCC reviews the county boundaries elections across most of England (but probably not). For too many years it has been convenient not to pay too much attention to local 20 Stow Town Council – Notes from the last Council Meeting; elections and it could be said that we got the results we allowed to An appeal on behalf of Stow Youth Club happen..…un-elected town councillors, willing to serve but unable 21 Local Authorities, meetings & information to represent us at any level, and a district council that appears to have preferred to make its own decisions and tell us about them The future of local policing in our communities afterwards. We can change this by choosing to get involved – after 22 Church Services all, it’s our democratic right. 23, 24 Village Halls; Rural Cinemas. Our communities are very special to us – much more than stunning 25- 28 LOCAL EVENTS & EVENTS DIARY for March surroundings and beautiful buildings, good neighbours and a way of life we love – and this year it’s time to get involved in deciding how 29 Local Walks in March; Stow Civic Society news we are going to keep things special. We all have opinions and we 31,32 Correspondence – Letters & Emails on snow. Thoughts from need good representatives to carry our opinions forward. So we need to choose our representatives with care, for both our town and The Scribe. parish councils and Cotswold District. Hopefully we will have a 34 Tax – there are ways to ease the pain! By Robb Eden selection of candidates to choose from! 34, 35 Rotary – News from the local clubs. 37 The Cholesterol Debate Best wishes A personal Trainer Jenni Turner, Editor 38-41 Local Schools – news & reports ‘The chaffinch warrior’. The amazing sequence of photos on our Front 44, 46-47 News & Reports from some of the Local Sports Clubs, etc.. Cover was taken by Mike Boyes (MB© 02.2011) 49 Clubs, Societies & Associations, etc Copydate for the April edition is 16th March 2011. 50 News & Reports from some of the Local Clubs, Societies, (The 16th is our copy date for every month next year) Associations & Charities 51 Local Business Directory Thank you to all our contributors, the writers and photographers who Telephone Stow Times on have helped produce this edition. This month the team doing research, sub-editing and proof reading includes Kathie McDonald, Diana Murphy and Jan Marley – who also manages our deliveries. As always, their time 07789 175 002 and input was invaluable. Thank you too to all our volunteer deliverers (The phone will take your messages too – leave your and sources of information – without them these magazines couldn’t name & contact number and we will return your function and we always appreciate their time and commitment. call.) Our design team this month was Eagle Design Ltd. email STOW TIMES on 0845 230 8955 / www.eagledesign.net [email protected] www.stowtimes.co.uk Extra copies of Stow Times are generally available at Go-Stow, Stow’s Visitor Information Centre in Talbot Court, Stow, and at Stow Library. P O Box 6, Sheep Street, Copies are also carried on The Villager Bus. Stow on the Wold, GL54 1WD FOR MOTHERING SUNDAY... …the new range of Royal Botanical Kew pots, in lovely colours and filled with spring bulbs. Bursting with life for you to give to that special person on Mothers day! Or a Tilly Ba Lou bespoke wooden heart - you choose the colour and add your choice of beads and ribbons from our lovely selection. We will then prepare your gift, wrapping it in tissue…ready for you to give. Be it Narcissi from the Isles of Scilly or daffodils from Cornwall, we have some thing to suit all budgets – including that all important ‘pocket money range’! Treat her to a scrumptious hand-tied bouquet with luscious blooms beautifully wrapped - as only Allium can. Open on Mothering Sunday for local direct deliveries up to 2pm….