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THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

DavidHasselhoffTHE HOFF’S GOT TALENT

The Hairy BikersDELICIOUS SUMMER DISHES

Suggs hits 50RELAX BACK IN COMFORTSEE OUR ADVERT ON THE BACK COVER

HATFIELD HOUSESOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

COZY TOURS LET US TAKE YOU THERE

BEARD BROTHERSMOBILITY MADE EASY

www.50plusmagazine.co.ukCozy Tours 2013 l 0345 265 8888 l www.cozytours.co.uk

Torquay5th - 11th August£399 ppHoliday includes

All Coach Travel•6 Nights half board•Entrace to Eden Project•Paignton and boat/train trip•Two further local excursions•

Cheshire21st - 25th August£365 ppHoliday includes

All Coach Travel•4 Nights half board•Manchester Ship Canal Trip•Liverpool Excursion•Chester Excursion•

Scotland8th - 15th September£589 ppHoliday includes

All Coach Travel•7 Nights half board•Cairngorm and Deeside Excursion•Loch Ness and Isle of Skye Excursion•Gairloch and Ullapool Excursion•

Derbyshire & Peak District30th Sept - 4th Oct£355 ppHoliday includes

All Coach Travel•4 Nights half board•Entrance to Chatsworth House•Matlock & Bakwell Excursion•A day in the Peaks•

Warner Bodelwyddan Castle2nd - 6th August£405 pp

Warner Bembridge Coast Hotel23rd - 27th September£390 pp

Warner Littlecote9th - 13th December£395 pp

Let us take you thereHolidays by coach 2013

Cozy Tours 2013 coach holiday brochure now available call on01763 241999 to request your copy of our 2013 brochure

Scarborough8th-12th Nov£275 pp

Cologne - GermanChristmas Market29th Nov - 2nd Dec£295Holiday IncludesAll Coach Travel3 Nights Half BoardFerry Crossings2 Days Cologne & Markets

Sheffield - Meadowhall XmasShopping22nd - 23rd Nov£79Holiday IncludesAll Coach Travel1 Night B & BTransfer to shopping mail

Turkey & TinselTurkey & TinselThursford Christmas Thursford Christmas

SpectacularSpectacularPrice includes coach travel, Thursford ticket and two

course lunchThursday 21st November Thursday 28th November Wednesday 4th December

Tuesday 10th December Tuesday 17th December£67 pp

Local pickups in Bedfordshire,Cambridgeshire and

Hertfordshire

50 Plus Adver 2013-A_Layout 1 10/05/2013 16:11 Page 1

TRAVEL & L E I SURE5 Graham Smith... Twittering On.

8-9 Travels around Tuscany... By Maria Meredith.

INTERV I EWS12-13 David Hasselhoff ... The Hoff ’s got talent.

30-31 Suggs hits 50... ...and talks about his new show ‘My Life Story’.

contents...

FOOD & DR INK24-25 The Hairy Dieters... Delicious Summer dishes.

HOME18-19 Creating Space... Tips for the home.

McGrath Media.Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG.T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594e: [email protected]

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Graham Smith...TWITTERING ONTwittering PopeI could of course make some very irreverent remark about the fact that the Pope has opened a Twitter account. But he’s got something going for him for he picked up over 300,000 followers in the first 24 hours of tweeting putting Stephen Fry and others in the shade.

I have a sneaking admiration for any 85-year-old who takes up social media but note that he has a new media department who will doubtless be handling his tweets before publication. It remains to be seen if congregations dwindle in the light of this innovation or whether many turn over in bed on Sunday morning and reach for their lap top!

Coffin therapyNext time you fancy a lie down try a little coffin therapy! A Ukrainian man is encouraging people to lie down for 15 minutes in one of his coffins to “prepare for the afterlife”. Now why would I want to do that?

The coffin maker has been in business for ten years and says the feeling is just like being in a bed. It’s the same sheets and pillows with its own special aura. You can choose from one of ten coffins in a special room with birdsong, falling water and he says you go home in a completely different mood.

Err, no thanks

Is your man a pig?A US company has created a gift for the man who has everything - bacon flavoured shaving scream.

J&D’s new product is described as “high end, luxurious bacon-scented shaving cream” and is on sale for about £9.

Inventor Justin Esch said: “There is nothing more powerful than the smell of bacon, nothing. Bacon is the smell of champions.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and bacon is the best part of breakfast. Why not smell like it and be the best?”

The self-titled “bacontrepreneur” has also come up with other pork inspired products such as bacon roses, bacon lip balm and bacon baby formula.

And, for those “who love bacon to death”, he has created a £2,000 bacon-wrapped coffin.

Mr Esch added: “Bacon is delicious, people get excited when they smell it. When you walk into a room don’t you want people to be excited to see you?”

I told you they weren’t all locked up.

Little lit up donkey!Hundreds of donkeys are to be fitted with glow-in-the-dark ear tags in Botswana to stop accidents on rural roads at night.

About 500 of the animals will be fitted with the reflective tags in the north of the country where one in ten crashes is donkey-related.

I think it’s a wonderful idea and also recommend the tags for those barmy joggers who tear around in pitch blackness.The UK-based Society For The Protection Of Animals Abroad is paying for the Maun Animal Welfare Society, in Botswana, to carry out the project.

Laura Higham, outreach veterinary advisor for SPANA, said: “The people that own working donkeys are some of the very poorest in Botswana’s society and often have no choice other than to let their animals roam freely in search of food in the sparse desert environment.

“This practice is essential, but obviously makes the donkeys vulnerable to accidents and we hope that this simple solution will help reduce the number of collisions caused by the animals every year.”

The charities hope the project will be adopted in other parts of the country, and will be the first step towards making reflective tags a legal requirement for freely roaming livestock.

Isn’t science wonderful?

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Also, the best thing about this is that it doesn’t matter what your mouth is like right now! We can offer a wide range of treatments and services that will have you feeling back to your normal self in no time at all. So come for a FREE Personal Consultation and let us talk to you about how we can help you. Call us on 01992 552115.We create exacting smiles using our Signature Complete Care Assessment program. This is an intensive highly detailed assessment that can last up to 3 or 4 hours. It involves for the most part Dr. Doshi using various state of the art diagnostics and understanding the details of your mouth. As a patient it is a very comfortable exercise and our customer care team will be on hand at all times to cater for your every need. You will also be able to enjoy our relaxation suite with refreshments as a break whilst Dr. Doshi does some very sophisticated treatment planning.

How do The Perfect Smile Studios & Institute create your Perfect Smile?1. We have a detailed comprehensive evaluation and assessment process. This allows us to completely understand your every need and requirement.

2. Personalised Treatment Planning. Once we understand the type of smile you are looking for we then generate a customized treatment plan of action. This incorporates cosmetic dentistry techniques that allow us to create that stunning smile that will be yours.

3. We do mockups on your teeth that are completely removable. They allow you to see the type of smile that would work for you.

4. We provide Free Computerised Smile Imaging. See your smile before you have anything done to understand which look suits you best.

5. We show you and discuss with you previously done similar cases to decipher your exact wants. We have found looking at different cases that are similar to you helps you to choose a smile makeover that you like.

6. We create stunning Trial Smiles. Dr. Doshi lectures regularly on this subject. The trial smile is another opportunity for you to see how you like your smile to be. It gives you the opportunity to “try-out” your new smile for a time. This way you can see your new look and smile in the comfort of your own home and get opinions from your family and friends if you wish. Dr. Doshi is then able to make alterations in your smile according to your exact and precise requirements.

7. We work in partnership with you to develop the exact smile you want.

8. Treatment does not end until you are fully satisfied. Aesthetic treatment is not completed until you are happy with the cosmetic outcome.

How to have a comfortable mouth with a beautiful natural smile that suits

As we get older we are often faced with a whole plethora of ailments. One of the most frustrating is our inability to enjoy the simpler things in life like our favourite foods because our mouths are not as they should be. Some people suffer from loose dentures which cause ulcers and the inability to chew food properly; others suffer from unsightly teeth that are often dark, painful and embarrassing; and many others suffer from bad gums which tend to bleed frequently and loosen teeth. Well, if you are suffering from any of these problems or even if your self-esteem and confidence has been hurt, then let me tell you there is light at the end of your tunnel. You can now have a beautiful natural looking smile with teeth that are fixed and strong. At The Perfect Smile Studios & Institute we are dedicated to creating mouths that look great, feel great and function to your satisfaction. We want you to look better…not different!

BEFORE AFTER

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6. Finance Plans. We offer flexible financial help with a leading company that specializes in financing for dental patients. This means you can afford a larger investment in your dental care by paying in small instalments over an extended period of time. We even offer interest-free loans over 12 months!

7. Special Techniques for Nervous Patients. For patients who are anxious, we offer relaxation sedation techniques or hypnosis to help with overcoming your fears. This allows you to have the important treatment you need in a totally comfortable manner. Indeed, there are now cosmetic treatments available to you whereby minimal preparation or no drilling is necessary of your teeth using our special Ultrathin Veneers techniques.

8. Pain-Free, Injection-Free, Drill-Free Laser Dentistry. We are one of the few practices in the UK that have a comprehensive range of dental lasers. These are used in many ways for our patients offering the very latest in dental technology.

9. Unique Ambience. Our Hertford Studios do not look and feel like a dental practice. We have a warm friendly atmosphere with so many small touches for your comfort and care.

10. Confidence and Trust. This is perhaps the most important reason. Dr. Doshi and his partners will advise and guide you as though you were their own family member. You will become part of our patient family where we will continue to respect your long-term dental care.

Award winning celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr. Rahul Doshi of The Perfect Smile Studios & Advanced Training Institute says: “ We have treated many people in our practice, at the institute and also on the TV programmes like Extreme Makeover

UK. It is amazing to see the transformation in people when they have increased inner confidence due to having corrective comprehensive dental treatment. People can easily look 10 years younger. So now they can LOOK like they FEEL”

1. Our Signature Complete Comprehensive Detailed Assessments. This means that you have the confidence and trust that you will be given the best advice regarding suitable treatment solutions that meet your needs perfectly and satisfactorily.

2. Outstanding Customer Service. We are committed to looking after you in every way we can. We offer a range of complimentary services to make your visit with us as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. These include painless injections, aromatherapy, your choice of relaxing music on digital wireless headphones and a hand held buzzer so that you can stop treatment at any time and much more.

3. An Empathic and Understanding Approach. Many of our patients are aged 50 and over. We always take our time to listen to your needs and understand your previous dental experiences.

4. Hand-Made Cosmetic Strong and Stable Dentures. Working with award-winning leading dental technicians enables us to create beautiful, natural looking dentures that are comfortable and amazingly lifelike!

5. Denture Alternatives. We can offer a combination of treatments (including Dental Implants) that allow us to replace missing teeth in a predictable manner giving you back your confidence. You can now avoid the embarrassment of loose dentures and restore your chewing ability. Have teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth.

10 Ways How The Perfect Smile Studios Can Help YOU

Dr. Rahul Doshi works with a team of highly skilled dentists and specialists at The Perfect Smile Studios & Advanced Training Institute. He is a highly acclaimed, award winning leading UK Cosmetic Dental Surgeon, who works with the TV media on various makeovers, the most popular of them being Extreme Makeover UK and Britains Worst Teeth. He has also been extensively featured in the National Press including The Times, The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, Tatler and various other magazines. He is an international lecturer on many aspect of clinical dentistry and is author to many associated articles in the dental press. He has now taught over 5000 dentists on clinical dentistry. He helps the dental profession through his editorship with the main dental professional publication and is a board director at the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Any patient seen by Dr. Doshi or any of his partners will be in extremely good hands. The entire team will also be present to make sure your visits to the studios are as pleasant and relaxing as possible.

Special Promotion for Readers• FREE Personal Consultations (WORTH £175.00)• FREE Scan Radiograph to assess your dental health (WORTH £75.00)• FREE Computerised Photographic Cosmetic Analysis and Advice (WORTH £79.00)• FREE Smile Imaging for you to preview your teeth.

Call us on 01992 552115 and talk to us about your dental needs or go towww.theperfectsmile.co.uk for more special offers and information.

The Perfect Smile Studios and Institute, 7/9 South Street Hertford, Herts SG14 1AZ

!

Italy is one of my favourite places not only because I have family there (Parma) but also I love the many different areas- the Puglian trullis, the fabulous scenery and breath taking drives around the Amalfi coast, the Sicilian culture- not forgetting the fabulous food and wine! We had never been to Tuscany and decided it was time to go and see what all the fuss was about!

My Week in TuscanyOur Easyjet plane landed on time at Pisa, it’s much cheaper to fly here than to Florence and we picked up our hire car from Budget, which was a bargain £99 for the week. The car hire collection point is accessed via a 2 minute free bus ride and was one of the easiest car hire pick up/returns

we have had along with the bonus of being given a free upgrade. This was a very positive start.

Il Castelle, Certaldo AltaWe set out for our first stop, La Fonte in Certaldo, where we were staying for four nights. Our first visit was to San Gimignano, which we did like but we found it very touristy and much preferred the old town of Certaldo. Here we were lucky enough to witness an Italian wedding which provided a great opportunity to experience a true Italian event and watch all the characters enjoy themselves. Sadly, we did not discover the relevance of the various metal life-sized men placed around the town, one of which was perched on top of a high tower, an art installation perhaps?

Certaldo Alto was accessed via a funicular railway which stays open until late (costs 1 euro each way). It was far less touristy than San Gimignano and therefore was not as crowded. We enjoyed two excellent meals in Certaldo Alto– at Il Castello

and L’Antica Fonte - both with lovely views.

The owner of La Fonte strongly recommended taking the train to Florence (about 10 euros for a return ticket, the journey takes just under an hour to Santa Maria station, where you get off). It’s vital to check and double check train times as these can change at the last minute somewhat unpredictably.

SienaSiena was next on the agenda and this was the only place where we hadn’t pre-booked accommodation. We found a brilliant hotel within 10 minutes’ walking distance of the Duomo, main square, restaurants & bars etc. It is the Hotel Villa Liberty and cost only 133 euros for B&B in a very good location. The only downside of our stay in Siena was that minutes after getting seated “al fresco” in our chosen restaurant that evening, the heavens opened!

En route to Lucca the following day we decided to take a detour to

Travels around

Tuscany

By Maria Meredith from Silver Travel Advisor (silvertraveladvisor.com)

8 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Volterra which I had read about in the tour guide. Volterra is another walled city and most definitely worth the journey. The countryside views en route were stunning and sadly I conceded that many were better than in the UK! And it wasn’t raining……

Our arrival at Albergo Villa Casanova was far later than we planned so we did not really have that much time to relax – this 5 star boutique hotel certainly had the “Wow” factor but at a price! Leaving the luxury of Casanova behind we set out for a morning sightseeing in Lucca before making our way to our last destination of Pisa.

We wished we had allowed more time for Lucca - we noticed many people cycling around the city walls and would have liked to have done the same. We did manage to get lost in the maze of streets but fortunately the lady I asked understood my Italian….and more importantly. I understood her directions!

We had decided to return the car a day early as the cost of parking the car in the hotel garage was around the same price as taxis to/from the airport. We also felt it would be less stressful than the usual car hire return palaver, but I must say it was one of the easiest car hire returns ever!

The Royal Victoria Hotel in Pisa cost only £99 for B&B. Described as a very old antique hotel we appreciated it was going to be vastly different to the luxury we had experienced at Casanova but it was perfect for a short stay.

The Fields of Miracles was within 10-15 minutes walking distance from our hotel with many bars & restaurants en route - obviously the closer to The Tower the more you pay. We chose a bar on the corner directly opposite the Tower and were pleasantly surprised to receive four delicious mini paninis along with our Peronis!

Leaning Tower of PisaI had wanted to see the Leaning Tower for as long as I could remember and l was not disappointed. It has benefited from a “wash & brush up” and looked

marvellous. We could not believe the extent that tourists were going to get wacky photos - what a laugh! And …yes…we got a few of our own too-it must be infectious. We will definitely return …in Spring or Autumn maybe.

That evening we chose La Buca restaurant near the Tower – the meal was nice but sadly the service did not match the quality of the food.

After a few more hours in The Fields of Miracles the following morning we returned to our hotel for the taxi to the airport to catch our late afternoon flight.

Our only regret is that we hadn’t booked a further two or three days in this beautiful part of the world with the ever present scent of Jasmine. We returned feeling like we could do with another more relaxing holiday to totally “chill out”! We hardly had time to read more than a few pages of our books as the sightseeing, travelling and staying at four different accommodations was quite wearing - not to mention that I was suffering from “photography fatigue” after taking over 800 photos! In future I will bear this in mind or make a point of sightseeing only until mid pm returning to our accommodation for a spot of sunbathing, swimming and to read a few chapters.

Maria Meredith writes for the over 50’s travel review and information website silvertraveladvisor.com. Maria is an active Silver Traveller; when her husband retired two years ago, she decided to join him at the age of 54 (one benefit of marrying an older man!). She has worked in banking, catering and for the last 28 years for M&S at a variety of stores. She has many hobbies, entering competitions and photography being two of them. Travel has always been a big part of her life - visiting many places in Europe and also destinations further afield such as New Zealand, India & Mauritius. Her first ever cruise was last year to see the Northern Lights. She particularly enjoys reading about different customs and traditions and has many funny stories to share, hence Maria is delighted to be able to contribute to Silver Travel Advisor.

For more details please visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com


Come and Join us!28 May to 2 June - ‘Woolly coat to Woolly Jumper’ Sheep Shearing and Wool Spinning on the Farm26 Oct to 3 Nov - Halloween Trails and Craft weekWeekends in December - Make your own Christmas decorations15 December - Christingle

The Coach House Restaurant and Stable Yard Shops are a short walk away.

30th March to 3rd November open Tuesday to Sunday.

March to Saturday 30th March and from 9th November to 22nd December, apart from for prearranged school trips.

The Farm is open Tuesday to Sunday,

10am to 5.30pm

Families can enjoy:Feeding the animals

Free Tractor ridesAnimal demonstrations

Children’s Play AreaTraditional breeds

Seasonal activities include:Bottle Feeding Lambs

Lambing (March to May)Watching sheep shearing

The newly refurbished Stable Yard is now home to a variety of independent retailers as well as our own Hatfield House Gift Shop.

With hundreds of years of history, Stable Yard was originally used to house the estate horses.

There has been a gift shop and restaurant for the last few decades and in 2010 Stable Yard had a major refurbishment.

Stable Yard was cobbled throughout and many of the original stable outbuildings were refurbished to accommodate a new retail village.

Amongst our retailers you will find a wide selection of presents and mementos to take home. We hope you will enjoy exploring the antique shop and gallery where you will find interesting and original works.

Stable Yard includes, alongside The Hatfield House Gift Shop, The Toy Shop and Palace Green Gallery; The Oak Room, Stable Yard Music, The Butcher’s

Stable Yard at Hatfield HouseSomething for everyone!

Shop, Tudor Gems, The Sweet Shop, Fiona Rae Goldsmith, Burston Garden Shop, Bushwood Antiques & Collectibles and Hatfield House Tennis Club.

The central obelisk topped with a pineapple, a sign of hospitality, welcomes you to the Coach House Restaurant. Stable Yard hosts many activities throughout the year including buskers, face painting and craft days! Just some of our new events this year include a Gardening Show between 31st May - 2nd June and Sir Cliff Richard - Still Reelin’ and A-Rockin!’ on Sun 9th June.

Have a look at our brand new website for information on our weekly craft days and ‘Fish n’ Chip’ Friday’ in the Coach House Restaurant.

Open Tuesday to Sunday (11am till 5.30pm), why not pop in next time you’re passing and explore some of our boutique stores and soak up over 400 years of history?

Tel: 01707 287010Stable Yard Shops,

Hatfield House, Herts AL9 5NQ

www.stable-yard.co.ukwww.hatfield-house.co.uk

www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Historic House and GardenOpen 30th March to 29th September

Over 400 Years of Culture, History and Entertainment

Royal Academy of Arts Sculpture Exhibition

Here, There and Somewhere In between

Stable Yard Shops and Coach House Restaurant

Open Tuesday to Sunday

Miniature Steam TrainWeekends and School Holidays only, as part of

Farm admission.

Hatfield Park Farm Come and meet our new donkeys!

Regular Events and Markets

Antiques and Farmers’ markets on the 3rd weekend of the month. Events throughout the year!

Pay once, visit all Season! Repeat visits to the West Garden and Park.

Please see the website for terms and conditions.

Children’s Play AreaPlay on the replica of Hatfield House

Congregate, Stainless steel, 2011, 257 x 329 x 660cm. Image courtesy of the Lisson Gallery

and the Artist.

Railway Advert 2013 (2).indd 1 3/14/2013 11:13:34 AM

Known to millions across the world as good guy Michael Knight, the man with the talking car in iconic science fiction series “Knight Rider” which was the most watched TV show in history, the actor became a hero. He compounded the image with another blockbuster of the small screen, “Baywatch”, where he played lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and saved even more lives.

His swashbuckling action is on the side of the baddies rather than the goodies as he became the notorious Captain Hook in perennial panto favourite “Peter Pan” for an extended run at Manchester’s Opera House.

The pirate with the interesting hand ornament and overdose of self-confidence, however, is a million miles from the young David Hasselhoff.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, David first got the theatrical bug at the age of seven and took acting, singing and dancing lessons. He was, however, very shy off stage in front of girls because he was tall and thin. On stage, though, he was in his element.

Unsurprisingly, acting became his career and, while in California, he became successful on the hugely popular US TV series “The Young and the Restless” in 1973 as Dr William “Snapper” Foster Jr. By then, he’d developed heartthrob looks and a physique to match.

In 1982 he moved from daytime soap to prime time programming with “Knight Rider” which captured the public’s imagination not only in the States but across the world.

When that show ended, Hasselhoff launched a successful recording career in Europe. In 1989 “Looking for Freedom” remained in the No.1 spot in the German charts for eight consecutive weeks. He has continued to perform regularly in concert ever since and has released nine albums to date, scoring a UK single hit in 2006 with “Jump In My Car”.

He returned to episodic TV in 1989 in “Baywatch” – the series about California lifeguards which launched Pamela Anderson to superstardom and made red one-piece swimming costumes the coolest beachwear on the planet.

Although the programme enjoyed good ratings, the network cancelled it after only one series. Undeterred, Hasselhoff and his partners acquired the rights to the

The Hoff ’s GOT TALENTFor a man who hit 60 not long ago David Hasselhoff – better known as simply The Hoff – has continued the swashbuckling ways he began as a young actor.



show and, based on his popularity overseas, secured funding and revived “Baywatch” in 1991.

The programme is still running and is now a piece of American culture, seen in 140 countries by more than one billon viewers each week.

David Hasselhoff has always been prepared to try new challenges and his lengthy acting career has included film and stage roles. He made his Broadway debut in 2000 in the title role of “Jekyll and Hyde” and played the lead role in London performances of “Chicago.”

He’s sufficiently down-to-earth to parody himself – even taking a major role in the children’s blockbuster film “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” in 2004 where he meets SpongeBob and Patrick very much in his “Baywatch” persona.

He had a short appearance in the movie “DodgeBall”, was in “EuroTrip” and played Adam Sandler’s despicable boss in the 2006 film “Click”. The same year, he portrayed Roger DeBris in the Las Vegas production of Mel Brooks’ famous show “The Producers”.

His star was certainly in the ascendancy during this time as he also became a judge on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”, taking a judging role in the second, third and fourth seasons alongside Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan.

Hasselhoff also has an uncanny knack of spotting trends and opportunities. In 2008, “The Hoff” became the first celebrity downloadable character for the PlayStation Network’s video game “Pain”. And the following year, he began a TV love affair with the British public through two-part special “The Hoff: When Scott Came To Stay” which chronicled how radio presenter Scott Mills lived for four days with Hasselhoff at his Californian mansion.

The star and his two daughters, Taylor and Hayley, took part in another British TV reality show when they went ghost-hunting at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. And in 2011, The Hoff – always a big favourite in the UK - returned to British TV as a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent”.

He’s been a contestant on America’s “Dancing with the Stars” and, to demonstrate his theatrical diversity, in 2011 took on the dastardly pirate role in “Peter Pan” for the first time.

Hasselhoff is a true Anglophile, has often brought his daughters here and his 32 year-old girlfriend, Hayley Roberts, is Welsh. At 6ft 4ins and with one of the most recognisable faces in the world that appears to be defeating the ravages of time, he’s still hugely popular wherever he goes.

He’s a big fan of Manchester, and has been reported as saying he wants to enjoy shopping in the city and see a play during his stay. “I love the Manchester accent and I can’t believe how beautiful and hip the city is,” he said.

“When I was in town for ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, Louis Walsh said to me ‘you’ll love Manchester’ and I did. The city is very, very cool and European.”

As for where his career takes him next, David Hasselhoff appears to be accepting of where the theatrical fates send him. Likeable and larger than life, he is pragmatic about his work and was once reported as saying: “I may not be a big movie star who gets to be James Bond, but who cares? I am happy. I’ll leave it in God’s hands.”

Photos: Shutterstock.com

INTERV IEW

PUZZLE PAGEACROSS 8 Geographical group

including Yell and Unst (9) 9 World’s second‑largest

bird (3) 10 US city associated with Al

Capone (7) 11 Aircraft location system (5) 12 Main division of geological

time (3) 14 Engineer Brunel’s first

name (8) 16 Car’s starting

mechanism (8) 18 Outward motion of the

tide (3) 21 Famous 1836 battle in

Texas (5) 23 White‑faced clown (7) 25 Hawaiian garland of

flowers (3) 26 Spiritual head of Tibetan

Buddhism (5,4)

DOWN 1 Mind, as distinguished from

the body (6) 2 Legendary creature of the

Himalayas (4) 3 Horse Bob Champion

rode to win the Grand National (8)

4 Variety of wool from a goat or a rabbit (6)

5 Old Russian emperor (4)

6 French police officer (8)

7 Liquid measure of two

pints (5)

13 Sprinkled with cheese and

browned (2,6)

15 Britain’s highest

mountain (3,5)

17 Slender reddish‑brown antelope of South and East Africa (6)

19 Comic‑book hero whose real name is Bruce Wayne (6)

20 Golf score of two under par (5) 22 Racing probability (4) 24 Five hundred sheets of

paper (4)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9

10 11

12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19

20

21 22 23 24

25 26

Try our general knowledge crosswordWord LadderMove from the word at the top of the box to the word at the bottom using the exact number of rungs provided by changing one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter).

F O O T

Y A R D

26 8 4

5 15 6 7 2 4

8 4 1 77 3 5

2 7 87 8 3

1 5 6

SudokuFill the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains the numbers 1 to 9.O

E N DO

IS O PI I

K GI N G

E

ER A N

W

R F UU

D L E

TC O N

R

RS E C

T

C O OO MU N S

L DD E A

Y

L E RD

A I D

D I SN

V A L

K E TH RA M I

T E AE ND O O

P E LI LL E Y

CO N DM O

L O CN

R I G

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

ACROSS 1 Pendant containing a

picture 2 Sixtieth part of a minute 3 Japanese paper‑folding art

4 Make disappear 5 Giving for a limited

time 6 Low area between hills 7 Less warm

8 High female voice 9 Not talked about 10 About to weep 11 Church officer 12 Scribble aimlessly

Pieceword With the help of the Across clues only, can you fit the pieces into their correct positions in the grid?

All puzzles © Puzzler Media Ltd ‑ www.puzzler.com

Solutions on page 3314

Cozy Tours 2013 l 0345 265 8888 l www.cozytours.co.uk

BATTLEFIELD TOURS BY COACH 2013

YPRES SALIENT4 DAY BATTLEFIELD TOURAUGUST 13TH 16THThe British, French and Belgian Armies held this part ofthe line from October 1914 until 1918. The cost of theirdetermination was horrendous and several hundredthousand lives were lost and Ypres was more or lessdestroyed during the four years of war. All that was leftwas the Cloth Hall's ruins standing as a defiant iconiclandmark to the passing troops on their way to the front.

£295.00Deposit: £50pp £80.00 Single supplementFull payment due: 5/7/13Price includes:

All Coach Travel•

Ferry crossings•

3 Nights Bed & Breakfast•

This holiday is accompanied by a Rifleman Tour

•Guide

THE SOMME

4 DAY BATTLEFIELD TOUR

OCTOBER 1ST 4TH

Prior to July 1916, the Somme was a relatively quiet sector of the

Western Front. However, in the build up to the 1st July and the

launch of one of the largest battles in history, this area was

shelled for a solid seven days with the aim of shifting the

Germans from their well dug trenches. At 7.30am the soldiers of

the British army went over the top to what they assumed would

be certain victory and the beginning of the end of the war. But by

the end of the day British and Empire losses had totalled 19,240

dead and 57,470 casualties. It was indeed the bloodiest day for

the British Army.

£295.00Deposit: £50pp £90.00 Single supplement

Full payment due: 22/8/13

Price includes:

All Coach Travel•

Ferry crossings•

3 Nights Bed & Breakfast

•Excursions accompanied by a Rifleman Tours

•Guide

All our tours are run In conjunction withRifleman Tours who specialise in World War One

and World War Two battlefield tours.Run by husband and wife team Tony and Allison,Rifleman Tours is committed to providing apersonal service at an extremely high level.

Cozy Tours 2013 coach holidaybrochure now available call FREEon 01763 241999 to request your

copy of our 2013 brochure

50 Plus Battlefield 2013-A_Layout 1 10/05/2013 11:15 Page 1

Don’t leave it to chance...Find out how the Benefit Reforms affect youFrom April 2013, the Government will be introducing some changes to benefits. The changes to the benefit rules will mean that some people will get less benefit. We know that you may be worried about what this could mean for you and your family.

What is changing & when?

April 2013The Social Sector Size Criteria was introduced (also commonly known as the ‘bedroom tax’).

April 2013Council Tax Reduction has replaced Council Tax Benefit.

October 2013Universal Credit for new claimants will be introduced.

Social Sector Size CriteriaHow many bedrooms do you have? From April 2013, if you live in a home rented from a registered social landlord e.g. a Housing Association and you have one or more ‘spare’ rooms, you may get less Housing Benefit.

This could affect you:• if you are of working age;• even if you only receive a small amount of Housing

Benefit; and• even if you are sick or disabled. You won’t be affected if:• you live in a one-bedroom flat or bedsit; or• you or your partner are old enough to receive

Pension Credit.• you do not have a spare room

What is a ‘spare’ room?Under the new rules, you will be given one bedroom for:

• each adult couple;• any other person aged 16 or over;• two children of the same sex under the age of 16;• two children under the age of 10, whatever their sex;• any other child; and• a carer (who does not normally live with you) if you

or your partner need overnight care.

If you have a bedroom which is being used in any other way, it will be considered a ‘spare’ room. If you have any ‘spare’ rooms, you will get less Housing Benefit.


If you have:• one spare room, you will get 14% less Housing

Benefit; or• two or more spare rooms, you will get 25% less

Housing Benefit.• If your Housing Benefit is reduced, you will need

to pay your landlord the difference between your Housing Benefit and your rent.

Council Tax ReductionOn 1 April 2013, Council Tax Benefit was replaced by a local Council Tax Reduction scheme. The Government reduced the amount of money available, which means that we will have less money to help you pay your council tax.

The changes to Council Tax Benefit will only affect you if you are of working age. If you are old enough to receive Pension Credit, you will not be affected. You will also not be affected if you are:

• of working age with a disability;• of working age with a disabled child; and• of working age and receive a War Disablement

Pension or a War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension.

For more information about the proposals and a copy of the full report, contact your local council for more details on the local scheme will affect you.

Universal CreditIn October 2013, the Government will introduce Universal Credit.

This will mean that all of your benefit payments, including Housing Benefit, will be paid directly to you.

If you do not have a bank account and you need advice on setting one up, please contact your local council and ask for benefits.

How can I get more help and advice?If you are worried about any of these changes, you should ask for advice now.

You can do one of the following: • Contact your local council for advice about moving to

a smaller home or supported accommodation. They may also be able to offer you a cash payment to help you with moving expenses.

Do you have a disability and need overnight care?

If you are of working age, have a disability and need a room for your carer to stay overnight, please contact your local council for more advice.

• Contact Citizens Advice to make sure that you are claiming all the benefits you can, for example, if you need help with the costs of a disability. Their website address is www.citizensadvice.org.uk

17

The Benefits ServiceStevenage Borough Council Daneshill HouseDanestreteStevenageSG1 1HNTel: 01438 242440Email:[email protected]

Benefit ServiceWelwyn Hatfield Borough CouncilThe CampusWelwyn Garden CityHertsAL8 6AETel: 01707 357000Email: [email protected] in partnership with ARP

ARPT Working in Partnership withWelwyn Hatfield Council

Dacorum Borough CouncilCivic CentreMarlowesHemel HempsteadHertfordshireHP1 1HHTel: 01442 867868Email: [email protected]

St Albans District CouncilDistrict Council Offices, Civic CentreSt Albans, Herts AL1 3JE Tel: 01727 866100Text phone 07727 819570Email [email protected]

Broxbourne CouncilBishops' CollegeChurchgate, CheshuntHertfordshire EN8 9XGTel: 01992 785503Email: [email protected]

Benefit SectionThree Rivers District CouncilThree Rivers HouseNorthwayRickmansworthHertsWD3 1RLTel: 01923 773138.Email: [email protected] www.threerivers.gov.uk

Benefits Section North Hertfordshire District Council Council Offices Gernon Road Letchworth Garden City SG6 3JF Tel: 01462 474597 Email: [email protected] www.north-herts.gov.uk

Hertsmere Borough CouncilCivic OfficesElstree WayBorehamwoodHertsWD6 1WATel: 020 8207 7404 Fax: 0208 207 7403 Email [email protected]

East Herts Council The Causeway, Bishop's Stortford, Herts, CM23 2EN. Tel: 01279 655261Email: [email protected]

The Benefits Office Watford Council Town Hall, Watford, Herts, WD17 3EX Tel: 01923 278501 Fax: 01923 278541 Email: revenues&[email protected] www.watford.gov.uk

Revenues & Benefits ServiceEast Herts Council and Stevenage Borough CouncilWallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8EQTel: 01438 242440Email: [email protected] Benefit ServiceWelwyn Hatfield Borough CouncilThe Campus, Welwyn, Garden City, Herts AL8 6AETel: 01707 357000Email: [email protected] in partnership with Steria

Steria working in Partnership withWelwyn Hatfield Council Dacorum Borough CouncilCivic Centre, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1HH | Tel: 01442 228 000 and ask for BenefitsEmail: [email protected] In Person: Benefits SectionNorth Hertfordshire District CouncilCouncil Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3JFBy Post to: Benefits ServiceNorth Hertfordshire District Council, PO Box 480, Sale M33 ODETel: 01462 474597Email: [email protected] | www.north-herts.gov.uk Revenues & Benefits ServiceStevenage Borough Council and East Herts Council Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8EQTel: 01279 655261Email: [email protected]













































Contact Your Local Council...


Why on earth is it that we never seem to have enough space in the home – however big or small our property?Space is always at a premium. When the family is young we seem to accumulate cupboards full of toys and games, when they’re teens – if you can get them to put anything in a wardrobe – hangers and drawers are crammed with clothes and the latest fad. Even as we get older, the space problems don’t seem to diminish as we hoard a lifetime of happy memories and items we just can’t bear to throw away.

So before you start taking an objective look at potential new storage space around your home, take a long, hard look at your current cupboards, shelves and wardrobes and de-clutter. It’s quite cathartic to free up space, and local charity shops will definitely benefit from items you no longer use.

To house the rest, and as a temporary solution, there are plenty of clever storage systems around - from clear plastic boxes and wicker baskets to racking and wooden chests. There are

even mobile baskets that can house items you may need in the kitchen. But for longer term ideas, examine all those corners, walls and open areas in your home for possibilities involving new shelves or permanent storage units.

Interior designer Arvin Rodrigues says: “Most houses have under-stair cupboards and these provide useful space for storing the vacuum cleaner, suitcases and other small items. If these spaces are tall, shelves could be placed at higher levels to make the most of this space. Small under-stair cupboards could be transformed into drawers for all sorts of things.”

He also suggests high-level shelving for narrow hallways which don’t encroach on floor space. And these sentiments are echoed by chartered architectural technologist Gary Willis. “When lack of storage becomes an issue, the automatic response is to box up the items and attempt to hide them away, but let’s think out of the box for a moment. Most people will consider what is directly in front of them on a horizontal plane; look upwards for your storage needs.”

Gary also says that garages and sheds often provide ample storage already

Creating Space...“but just require some organisation. Very cheap, heavy duty racking or spur shelving in a garage or shed can generate substantial storage space. Just ensure that brackets and racking are securely fixed to the walls first.”

In the kitchen, why not free up space by putting your microwave on a glass shelf above the work surface? Hang sharp knives inside a high cabinet to save drawer space and keep them out of children’s reach, or store wooden spoons and other utensils bouquet-style in a handsome pitcher or canister.

“Kitchens are typically built to a fixed height,” states Gary, “leaving at least 300mm (12”) of space above wall cupboards that could be used for storage. Exploit this space by placing charming storage boxes to hide away items like old cook books, sewing kits etc.”

Take a fresh look at living room furniture. “Coffee tables that have storage for magazines and bric a brac are useful, as are sofas with storage in the armrest,” suggests Arvin. Consider furniture you can buy relatively cheaply that you can improve. Arvin’s own home boasts

pile of pretty, unusual hat-boxes can complement the bedroom décor and provide further storage solutions.Lofts are often under-used areas in our homes but can be altered at reasonable cost to become an effective storage room by boarding out. “Floorboards also help to insulate the house, preventing heat loss and reducing your heating bills,” explains loft expert Chris Waldron.

“We’re not looking at making the loft habitable and so needing Building Regulations’ approval,” he adds. “Just comfortable enough to sit in for an hour now and again with plenty of light and an absence of spiders hanging from the rafters!”

Aluminium loft ladders or a folding wooden ladder make access easy and fitting a light in the loft – “a pendant light with an energy saving bulb and pull switch is ideal” – makes this an easy, accessible area that can add substantially to your house storage space.

And an added bonus is that floor boarding helps insulate the house, preventing heat loss and reducing your heating bills. So you get much more storage space and kinder heating bills as well!

Whatever you decide about storage, it’s worth acknowledging that you don’t always need to hide items away to keep them stored tidily. Sometimes – as with books, ornaments or lamps – it’s worth putting them somewhere where their “storage” actually creates an attractive room feature. Now that’s thinking outside the box!

cost-effective but beautifully restored second-hand chests of drawers which add to storage space and also create much-admired pieces of furniture.

He states: “Shelves around doors and windows and even beside radiators, if safe, could provide storage and look nice, too. A coat cupboard in the entrance is really handy and doesn’t need to be very big or deep. It could also function as a shoe cupboard at the lower level, and the sides employed to hang keys, scarves and hats.”

Gary looks to unusual areas for help with storage: “The bay window area in a living room is another great place that often has under-used space. Rather than use loose furniture that is often set into the room, consider a bay window seat with integral storage.”

Bathrooms again offer more storage potential. “Consider shelves over the toilet water tank, cupboards under the wash basin and even a shelf over the bathtub,” advises Arvin. “Bigger cabinets could be hung from the wall above mirrors or even over the entrance door.”

Utilise under-bed storage in bedrooms or consider buying a bed with built-in storage space. A bed headboard can be built for additional bedding storage, plus somewhere to put books, lamps or a radio on top. An ottoman or upholstered cube can double as a dressing table chair and offers extra space, and an artistic

CONTACT THE EXPERTS:Arvin Rodrigues, Transform Interior Designs go to www.transforminteriordesigns.co.uk

Gary Willis, Novensus architectural design services go to www.novensus.co.uk Chris Waldron, Bolton Joinery go to www.chriswaldron.co.uk


If you don’t have a Will then now is the time to consider writing one as leaving a Will means you can be sure that everything will be dealt with in the way you would wish following your death.

If you don’t make a Will, the “Intestacy Rules” will govern how

your estate is divided up when you die. The government will

determine which of your relatives receives how much, but

beware, they don’t provide at all for your friends or even for

a partner who you may have lived with for years. Under the

Intestacy Rules, even your step-children are not counted as

your children unless you have formally adopted them.

If you do have a Will it is important to review it, say every

five years. Family circumstances and relationships change

with family members sometimes becoming estranged, so

ask yourself, does your Will still provide for the people you

want it to? If you do want to make a change we can do this

for you even if your Will was not written by QualitySolicitors

Bretherton Law.

Who Will Look After My Finances If I Am Unable To Do So?You may want someone to look after your financial affairs

even if you are still mentally capable of doing so yourself. It

could be that you are going on an extended holiday, going

into hospital or you simply want someone to help you keep

your finances in order. If you want someone to be able to

QualitySolicitorsBretherton Law


Wills & Lasting Powers of Attorney

10% OffOnly on production of this voucher


Direct lawyer contact • No hidden costs • Free first advice • Same day response • Open on Saturdays

Our promises make us differentWe understand what you need from a solicitor - from always being able to speak to your lawyer to getting a same day response when you need us. We even open on Saturdays.

Our first advice is always free:

01727 869293qualitysolicitors.com/brethertonlawExpert legal advice in over 400 locations

continue looking after your finances and affairs in the event

that you lose mental capacity, then you should consider a

Lasting Power of Attorney. Without this authority even your

Husband or Wife will be unable to deal with many financial

matters on your behalf.

Your Attorney(s)As with any Power of Attorney it is an important document

and you should take care whom you appoint as they should

be trustworthy and have appropriate skills to make the

necessary decisions. If you appoint more than one Attorney,

you can appoint them always to act together (jointly) or

together and independently (jointly and severally). You may

even appoint them to act jointly for some things and jointly

and severally for others, although this requires care as it may

cause problems of interpretation when using the Power.

You may also choose to appoint a successor to your Attorneys in case one of them dies or otherwise cannot act for you.

In addition you may place restrictions on what your Attorneys may do for you or provide guidance as to how they are to act.

What Happens If I Do Not Make Arrangements?You may make a Lasting Power of Attorney at any time

provided that you have the mental capacity to do so. Delay

may mean however that you are faced with making the

decision when you are already seriously ill.

If you do not have mental capacity to make a Lasting Power

of Attorney it may be necessary for the Court of Protection

to become involved. The Court will appoint a person, called a

Deputy, to make decisions on your behalf.

The major disadvantages of not having a Lasting Power of

Attorney in place are firstly the possible delay in dealing with

your affairs and secondly the cost of making a Deputyship

application, which is likely to be much more expensive

than making a Lasting Power of Attorney and registering it.

Deputyship costs also run on year after year.

For any of these matters please contact Paul Humphrey at QualitySolicitors Bretherton Law, 1st Floor, Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road, St Albans AL3 4DG.

First Floor, Alban Row,27-31 Verulam Road,

St Albans AL3 4DG

The state will provide for those in greatest need but if you have assets of more than £23,250 you may be classed as a ‘self funder’. Unfortunately many families are not aware that specialist advice is available and if sought could result in more efficient funding arrangements.

Carematters have 2 key objectives:

1. To ensure that the person needing care can receive that care for the remainder of their lives.2. To preserve as much of that persons assets as possible.

The Carematters team of specialist advisers will work with you to recommend the right financial option for your loved one. There are a number of options open to families, but without the right advice, there is a real risk of the money running out.

Many areas of finance merit forward planning and this is no exception. One positive step you can take now is to have a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) drawn up. This allows you to

take financial and/or health welfare decisions on behalf of your loved one.

Failure to draw up an LPA can result in high fees being incurred, and the ability to make decisions and access funds will be delayed resulting in untold anxiety and pressure for all concerned.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR50 PLUS READERS: We will be happy to help you arrange your Lasting Power of Attorney at a discounted price of £250. Our experience, advice and expertise will simplify what can be a complex process. Call 0800 822 3385 to find out more.

One other area of forward planning that you may wish to consider is Funeral Planning. Pre planning your funeral saves you money and saves your family extra worry and distress. It

Arranging the care of a loved one can be a complex, time consuming and emotional experience. Failure to seek advice could result in the assets of your loved ones being depleted and the person falling back on the state for their care.

To find out more about how Carematters can help you, please call: 0800 822 3385

OR EMAIL: [email protected]

gives you the freedom to plan things exactly how you would want them.

Carematters specialises in providing financial advice to later life clients. Each member of the team is an expert in their chosen field. Our expertise in helping families fund care fees is widely recognised. Based in St Albans, we advise clients all over Herts, Beds, Bucks and North London.

Each member of the Carematters team have undergone Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks and are members of SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisors) thus demonstrating our commitment to the sensitive nature of our work. Founders Lorreine Kennedy and Brian Tabor feature regularly in the national press, and Brian has appeared on BBC News and Sky News, Radio 4 Today show and Radio 5Live.

22

www.carematters-uk.com

If you are considering the care provision of a relative or friend, you will know how complicated and stressful such a task can be. Carematters recognise this and provide clear, practical advice. We offer a bespoke service that focuses on those aspects of financial planning which are designed to help you secure your loved one’s care needs and financial security.

Services include: • Funding Care Fees • Estate Preservation • Equity Release •

The Carematters team are approachable, highly experienced and totally independent. Let us help you to make sense of the complex issues involved, so that you can make an informed decision that is right for you and your family.

0800 822 [email protected] is authorised and regulated by theFinancial Services Authority. FSA No: 587083

CALL FOR YOUR FREEGuide to Care Fees Planning Handbook

Funeral Plans

®

Carematters is a trading style of Carematters Countrywide Ltdwhich is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority


MUSHROOM, FETA AND TOMATO BAKED PEPPERS

It’s always important for food to look good, whether you’re dieting or not, and these peppers are a delight to the eye as well

as the tastebuds. A great vegetarian recipe, this has lots of strong flavours that come together in a beautifully colouful

and well-balanced dish.

SERVES 2 4 sun-dried tomato pieces in oil, drained well

2 tsp sunflower oil 175g chestnut mushrooms, wiped and diced

20g blanched hazelnuts, roughly chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

50g dry white breadcrumbs 1/2 small bunch of parsley, leaves finely chopped

1 tsp dried chilli flakes 100g feta or soft goat’s cheese, drained

2 smallish peppers, red or yellow freshly ground black pepper

HOW TO LOVE FOOD AND LOSE WEIGHT

delicioussummer dishes

Preheat the oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas 7. Roughly chop the sun-dried tomatoes. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and stir-fry the mushrooms over a high heat for 4 minutes.

Add the roughly chopped hazelnuts and fry for a further minute until the nuts are lightly toasted. Season with a good grind of black pepper and remove from the heat.

Stir in the tomatoes, garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley and chilli flakes until thoroughly combined. Break the cheese into small chunks and toss them through the stuffing lightly. Cut the peppers in half from top to bottom and carefully remove the seeds and membrane.

Place the peppers in a small foil-lined roasting tin, cut side up, and fill each half with the mushroom and feta stuffing. Cover the surface of the stuffing with a small piece of foil. Bake for 35 minutes until tender, removing the foil for the last 10 minutes of the cooking time. Serve warm with a lightly dressed mixed salad.

401 calories per portion


MAKES 8 KEBABS

700g lean lamb leg (or leg steaks)

2 small yellow peppers

2 small red peppers

2 small red onions

150m1 low-fat natural yoghurt

1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint or 1 tsp mint sauce

6 pitta breads

1 romaine lettuce heart, shredded

1 medium carrot, finely grated

3 ripe vine tomatoes, sliced

15cm piece of cucumber, thinly sliced

flaked sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

lemon wedges and hot chilli sauce, to serve

Marinade

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

finely grated zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon

1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp fine sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

LEMONY LAMB KEBABSThere’s nothing better than the scent of lemony, herby lamb cooking on the barbecue. It’s a healthy way of cooking too, as much of the fat drips away. We like to eat these kebabs tucked into warm pitta bread, but you can also enjoy them with just a side salad or some vegetables.

To make the marinade, put the cumin, coriander and fennel seeds in a pestle and mortar and pound to a coarse powder. You can use 11/2 teaspoon each of ground cumin and coriander if you prefer, but the flavour won’t be quite as good as freshly ground spices. Add the thyme leaves and crush them into the spices for a few seconds.

Tip the spices and thyme into a large non-metallic bowl and stir in the lemon zest and juice, garlic, oil, salt and lots of black pepper.

Trim as much fat as possible off the lamb, then cut the meat into rough 3cm chunks — you should have about 40 chunks. Add the lamb to the marinade and toss until well coated. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking.

While the lamb is marinating, prepare the vegetables for the kebabs. Deseed the peppers and cut them into 3cm chunks. Cut each onion into 8 wedges with the root intact.

Remove the lamb from the fridge and thread the meat on to 8 metal skewers — these should be about 25cm long — alternating with the pieces of pepper and onion. Season with a little more salt and pepper.

Cook over a hot barbecue or under a preheated hot grill (close to the element) for 6-8 minutes. Turn once or twice until the lamb and vegetables are lightly charred — the meat should be pink in the middle. Mix the yoghurt, garlic and chopped mint or mint sauce together in a small bowl to make the yoghurt sauce.

Warm the pitta bread on the barbecue, in the toaster or under a grill and carefully cut down one side with a sharp knife. Pull the bread open and stuff with shredded lettuce leaves, grated carrot, tomatoes and cucumber. Slide the meat and vegetables off the skewers and into the pittas using a fork. Drizzle a little of the minty yoghurt sauce and serve with some chilli sauce and lemon wedges too if you fancy.

203 calories per portion 381 calories per portion (with pitta)

26

Would you or someone you know benefit from a Lifeline alarm? If so, we can help.

The Lifeline is an easy-to-use, telephone-linked alarm button that you can wear or carry around your neck as a pendant and it offers peace of mind for all the family.

Using a Lifeline, means you can get the emergency help you need at the touch of a button or via the unit that is installed next to your telephone.

Once you are in contact with the trained control centre staff, they will either contact your nominated key holders, your GP or the emergency services if you need urgent medical help.

Lifeline alarm offers the ideal solution if you live on your own and you want reassurance that you can call help quickly if you need it.

Anyone can rent a Lifeline or access support through us – you do not have to be a Thrive Homes resident.

To find out more, call 0800 917 6077 or find our leaflet at www.thrivehomes.org.uk/publications

Thrive Homes, Building 3, Hatters Lane, Watford WD18 8YG

0800 917 6077 or 020 8428 4428 [email protected] www.thrivehomes.org.uk

Enjoy independence and peace of mind in a welcoming community

Sheltered housing is the ideal choice if you want to combine privacy and independence with security and peace of mind.

Thrive Homes has eight sheltered schemes in and around Abbots Langley, Croxley Green, Mill End, South Oxhey and Rickmansworth.

If you are 55

or over and

considering such a move,

please contact us or visit one

of our schemes.

Ring freephone 0800 917 6077 to discuss your needs.

Safe as housesLiving in sheltered housing offers you a safe, secure environment with access to support to maintain your independence, giving you and your family peace of mind.

Independence to live your lifeOur schemes give you the freedom to be as independent and private as you like, while still being able to rest assured that help and support are always on hand when needed. Many people in need of minimal support move into sheltered housing with the reassuring knowledge that, if they or their partner need a higher level of care or support in the future, this can usually be arranged.

We offer:

• a dedicated Retirement Housing Assistant

• 24-hour emergency call system

• out-of-hours emergency assistance

• advice & information

• access to ‘floating’ support

• personal support plan

• social activities

• communal lounge

• a laundry or guest room (in some schemes).

A friendly welcomeYou can be sure of a warm welcome and a friendly community spirit in all our sheltered schemes. We understand you may need a range of support to cater for your individual and changing needs.Our schemes also have communal lounge areas and offer a range of activities which you are welcome to join or help run whenever you wish.

Adapting your home to meet your needsWe also deal with applications for aids and adaptations to tenants’ homes so you can continue to live independently and safely in your own home.

Hundreds of people have had such changes made to their homes over the last five years. Thrive can also help you downsize or provide you with housing options advice.

A thriving communityThrive Homes is making a difference to thousands of individuals and families. We have declared 2013-2014 our Year of Ambition to inspire staff, residents and community partners to think bigger and better.

Elspeth Mackenzie, Chief Executive

Offering a Lifeline with help at the touch of a button

What our customers say“After having a nasty fall, having the lifeline has given me and my family peace of mind, knowing I can get help if I have any problems in the future. I feel more secure knowing someone is always at the other end of the line.” Margaret Jones, lifeline customer

“This place is fantastic. When you live on your own, you feel so much safer knowing you can just pull the cord to call help when you need it. The staff are excellent and there is a good community spirit. It really is magic – I wouldn’t move from here for a million dollars.” Anita Batterbee, sheltered housing resident

Thrive Homes provides value for money, high quality homes and excellent services to help develop communities where people will enjoy living.

Would you or someone you know benefit from a Lifeline alarm? If so, we can help.

The Lifeline is an easy-to-use, telephone-linked alarm button that you can wear or carry around your neck as a pendant and it offers peace of mind for all the family.

Using a Lifeline, means you can get the emergency help you need at the touch of a button or via the unit that is installed next to your telephone.

Once you are in contact with the trained control centre staff, they will either contact your nominated key holders, your GP or the emergency services if you need urgent medical help.

Lifeline alarm offers the ideal solution if you live on your own and you want reassurance that you can call help quickly if you need it.

Anyone can rent a Lifeline or access support through us – you do not have to be a Thrive Homes resident.

To find out more, call 0800 917 6077 or find our leaflet at www.thrivehomes.org.uk/publications

Thrive Homes, Building 3, Hatters Lane, Watford WD18 8YG

0800 917 6077 or 020 8428 4428 [email protected] www.thrivehomes.org.uk

Enjoy independence and peace of mind in a welcoming community

Sheltered housing is the ideal choice if you want to combine privacy and independence with security and peace of mind.

Thrive Homes has eight sheltered schemes in and around Abbots Langley, Croxley Green, Mill End, South Oxhey and Rickmansworth.

If you are 55

or over and

considering such a move,

please contact us or visit one

of our schemes.

Ring freephone 0800 917 6077 to discuss your needs.

Safe as housesLiving in sheltered housing offers you a safe, secure environment with access to support to maintain your independence, giving you and your family peace of mind.

Independence to live your lifeOur schemes give you the freedom to be as independent and private as you like, while still being able to rest assured that help and support are always on hand when needed. Many people in need of minimal support move into sheltered housing with the reassuring knowledge that, if they or their partner need a higher level of care or support in the future, this can usually be arranged.

We offer:

• a dedicated Retirement Housing Assistant

• 24-hour emergency call system

• out-of-hours emergency assistance

• advice & information

• access to ‘floating’ support

• personal support plan

• social activities

• communal lounge

• a laundry or guest room (in some schemes).

A friendly welcomeYou can be sure of a warm welcome and a friendly community spirit in all our sheltered schemes. We understand you may need a range of support to cater for your individual and changing needs.Our schemes also have communal lounge areas and offer a range of activities which you are welcome to join or help run whenever you wish.

Adapting your home to meet your needsWe also deal with applications for aids and adaptations to tenants’ homes so you can continue to live independently and safely in your own home.

Hundreds of people have had such changes made to their homes over the last five years. Thrive can also help you downsize or provide you with housing options advice.

A thriving communityThrive Homes is making a difference to thousands of individuals and families. We have declared 2013-2014 our Year of Ambition to inspire staff, residents and community partners to think bigger and better.

Elspeth Mackenzie, Chief Executive

Offering a Lifeline with help at the touch of a button

What our customers say“After having a nasty fall, having the lifeline has given me and my family peace of mind, knowing I can get help if I have any problems in the future. I feel more secure knowing someone is always at the other end of the line.” Margaret Jones, lifeline customer

“This place is fantastic. When you live on your own, you feel so much safer knowing you can just pull the cord to call help when you need it. The staff are excellent and there is a good community spirit. It really is magic – I wouldn’t move from here for a million dollars.” Anita Batterbee, sheltered housing resident

Thrive Homes provides value for money, high quality homes and excellent services to help develop communities where people will enjoy living.

TEL 01442 248 516 email: [email protected]

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Suggs – still best known as the legendary frontman of feelgood band Madness – was 50 last January. He was lying in the bath on his birthday, nursing an epic hangover from the celebrations the night before when there was the most almighty crash.

‘I jumped out of the water,’ he says, ‘and there, lying amid shards of broken glass, was our four-year-old cat, a British blue called Mamba. I’d put up the glass shelf

myself and it must have given way. I knew he was dead from the strange angle of his body. I couldn’t believe it. I loved that cat.

‘I was 50. My kids had recently left home and now the cat was dead. I was really upset. It triggered a deluge of emotion, an event that somehow tipped me over the edge. I began to consider my own mortality and, out of that, the idea for exploring my own past somehow crystallised.’

The result, is his new stage show. ‘It’s a memoir,’ says Suggs. ‘It’s not stand-up. It’s not An Evening With… I toyed with calling it Mad-Life Crisis. In the end, though, having gone all round the houses, I’ve called it My Life Story which won’t win any prizes for originality but does at least tell you what you can expect, the good bits and the darker moments.’

It turns out there have been plenty of both. Born Graham McPherson in Hastings, he’s the only child of a jazz singer called Edith and a father, William – but everyone called him Mac – who worked for a photographic developers but whose life was increasingly overtaken by drugs.

‘Dad left home when I was about three. I have no recollection of him and he never featured in my life. My mum later told me she’d come home and found him with needles sticking out of his hands. Heroin was his drug of choice and it’s a one-way street that takes you further and further away from real life. In the end, it did for the marriage.’

Mother and son then moved to Liverpool where Edith sang in the clubs, winning the accolade of Melody Maker’s Jazz Newcomer of the Year in the mid-60s. She performed regularly at the Blue Angel to where The Beatles and Cilla Black would repair after sessions at The Cavern.

Moving south to London, Suggs’ life was unstructured, to say the least. Soho was his mother’s stomping ground where she both sang and worked in bars for extra money. They lived in a succession of rented rooms, the young lad trailing around after her when she went drinking in famous watering holes like the Colony.‘I’ll never forget it,’ says Suggs. ‘You’d walk up this rickety green staircase and enter a room full of artists and actors and various

SUGGS - MY LIFE STORYI’VE JUST TURNED 50, THE KIDS HAVE LEFT HOME, AND MY CAT JUST DIED

hangers-on, all drinking and smoking. But, amid all the booze, it was a creative hotbed. Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, George Melly, Jeffrey Bernard – they were all regulars.‘Was it an unsuitable place for a young child? Absolutely. I clearly remember staring up through the thick fog of tobacco smoke, the occasional hand ruffling my hair or giving me a florin, sometimes even a ten bob note. I couldn’t really understand what was going on at an adult level which was probably all for the best. But there was a feeling of community and I was never in any danger.’

Even so, in time Edith decided that her son would do better living out of London in Pembrokeshire with her sister, Diana, and her three children. ‘It was nice to have other kids around but I missed Mum. She was doing what she thought was the right thing. She was finding it difficult to find the two of us somewhere stable to live so she thought I’d be better off in Haverfordwest.’

Three years later, Suggs was back in London, living with Edith, and about to go to secondary in Swiss Cottage. It’s where he acquired his nickname. ‘The other kids used to call me Gray or Mac and I wanted something a bit more distinctive. I was looking through a book of my mum’s about jazz musicians.

‘I took a pin and, eyes closed, stuck it into the middle of a page. It went through the name Peter which didn’t seem especially memorable and then I noticed his second name was Suggs which somehow resonated with me. He was the drummer in an obscure jazz band in Kentucky. Graffiti was becoming popular and people had these amazing names – or tags, as they were called. Now I had mine.’

Had he known it, this was the moment when his estranged father was on the point of bowing it. ‘I didn’t find this out until many years later when I was researching the new show. It’s a tragic story. My father started injecting himself with paraffin and was then sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

‘When he was eventually released, he moved to Birmingham where he married again. He died aged 40 from a whole variety of drug-related conditions, his wife following him, probably from a drug overdose, a year later. So just as I was getting together with the band that became Madness, my father’s time was up. I’ve always found that rather poignant.’

These revelations prompted him recently to ask his mother about his father. ‘She told me he was a very nice man. “Just like you,” she said. That was the most shocking thing she could have said in many ways. I’d had him down in my mind as some sort of wayward old wastrel who’d just pushed off. The fact that he was really nice upset me. But then heroin is an unforgiving mistress.’

Given his colourful upbringing, it is perhaps not too surprising that Suggs married young. By 21, he had a wife, a baby daughter and a mews house in Camden bought with the money he’d made from Madness’s regular appearances in the Top 10. ‘To some extent, I think it’s true to say that I deliberately created Fortress Suggs to give my life a bit of structure. Having said that, I’d fallen in love with Anne. I wanted to be married to her.’

A professional singer who works under the name Bette Bright, the two are still together three decades later. They have two daughters – Scarlett, 29 and Viva, 25 – who now sing as a duo under their own names. ‘My mother, my wife, my daughters – I’m surrounded by women who sing,’ says Suggs.

Nor has he hung up his own microphone. ‘2012 was an extraordinary year for us. You wouldn’t have anticipated the Queen was going to invite us on her roof to play or that we were going to play at the Olympic closing ceremony. Like any human being we were insecure but we realise now we’re pretty good.’ The band have just release their tenth album Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da and are planning a series of gigs in the UK this summer.

‘Madness have always been about accentuating the positive,’ says Suggs. ‘It’s no accident our songs are still played, still enjoyed 30 years down the line. They’re upbeat, timeless, a clear-eyed celebration of life as it’s lived. And we’re still together, still making music. For me, the band has always been a bit like a surrogate family. We’re all a bit dysfunctional, all a bit stronger for being together.’

The only problem now for Suggs is shoehorning his less-than-conventional first half-century into his new show. ‘When we were rehearsing,’ he says, ‘my keyboard player would stop every so often and say: “Was that bit really true?” And it was, all of it. Amazing, really.’

Suggs: My Life Story opened on at Southsea Kings Theatre on 2nd April and tours all over the UK including:-

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For more information and to book tickets for venues near you, visit www.suggslive.com or call 0844 875 8758

INTERV IEW


And now, Sir Cliff Richard O.B.E. is returning to the UK in June 2013 for a spectacular Midsummer Nights series of shows, Still Reelin’ and A-Rockin’, in the most stunning venues in England:

Saturday June 1Harewood House (West Yorkshire)

Sunday June 2Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Lancashire)

Thursday June 6Blickling Estate (East Anglia)

Saturday June 8Warwick Castle (Warwickshire)

Sunday June 9Hatfield House (Hertfordshire)

Saturday June 15The County Ground, Hove (Sussex)

Sunday June 16Powderham Castle (Devon)

Knighted in 1995 – the first rock and roll superstar to be honoured with the title – Cliff has always been a firm favourite with his fans. Incredibly, his 2011 calendar pipped JLS, Justin Bieber and Michael Bublé’s efforts to the post, going on to win the Best Celebrity Retail Calendar award. And his wine, produced in his own Portuguese vineyard, holds Tesco’s record of being the fastest-selling bottle in the supermarket’s history.

With a career spanning six decades and a legion of dedicated admirers, Cliff says he can’t wait to put on the show of a lifetime.

Win! Tickets to see Cliff Richardand The Military Wives perform live in the UK in 2013

A Summer Holiday to Remember!SUPERSTAR ROCKER CLIFF RICHARD RETURNS TO THE UK IN 2013 WITH MIDSUMMER NIGHTSHe’s Britain’s most successful artist with over 250 million record sales worldwide and over 120 top 40 hits. He’s a star of the screen with films like The Young Ones and Summer Holiday. He’s gained millions of loyal fans, and has a place in the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music.

Terms and conditions Competition runs from 22/4//13 to 24/5/13 Entries have to be made by completing (1) step: (i) Answering the following question correctly ‘What was Cliff Richards 1st UK number one single?’

Any entries made after the closing date or through a different method will not be counted. Winners will be selected and notified via 50 Plus Magazine. The prize offering is 10 Pairs of tickets to Sir Cliff Richard’s 2013 ‘’Midsummer Night’s – Still Reelin’ and a-Rockin’’ series of outdoor concerts, for the venue closest to the winners local area.

The prize is not exchangeable for cash or any other item. This competition is not open to any persons directly or indirectly involved with the running of the competition, or their direct family members. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and to have agreed to be bound by them when entering this competition.

Superstar rocker Cliff Richard returns to the UK this June with his Midsummer Night’s series of shows and here is your chance to see him rocking and reeling live, supported by The Military Wives Choirs 50 Plus Magazine are giving away 10 pairs of tickets to see Sir Cliff perform. To win a pair of tickets simply answer the following question:

What was Cliff Richards 1st UK number one single? 1.) Living Doll 2.) Summer Holiday

3.) Congratulations

Name: ..........................................................................................Address: ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Postcode: .....................................................................................ANSWER: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................Tel: ................................................................................................Email: ...........................................................................................

Tickets are also available to purchase via see tickets and a charitable donation made by the promoter of the concert will go to the Military Wives Choirs Foundation which brings women in the military community closer together through singing.

Please send form to Unit 6 Moses Gate Workshops, Gladys Street, Bolton BL3 2QG.

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www.hertsdirect.org/tradingstandards

• Onlydealwithcallersbyappointment

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• Ifyouhavebeenvisitedbyaroguetraderoryou’reawareofavulnerableconsumerwhohasbeentargetedlikethis,contactthedoorstephotlineon0845 60 444 66.

• TofindtheTradingStandardsGoodTraderlistvisitwww.hertsdirect.org/bwcorcalltheCitizens Advice Consumer Serviceon08454 04 05 06.

Hertfordshire Trading Standards advises residents to always say no to traders that turn up uninvited on the doorstep. Rogue builders and gardeners often trick people into paying high prices for unnecessary or shoddy work and give false names and addresses.

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Rogue Traders


Whether you’re choosing a home care agency for a family member or starting to plan for your own future, there are several important things that you should consider. Here are a few useful pointers to help you along the way.

Your chosen home care provider is there to look after you. It should help you to make your own decisions and support you in maintaining your own independence. That also means treating you with respect, valuing you as a person and respecting your privacy. If you need assistance with tasks such as dressing, bathing and toileting, you have the right to choose your carer, whenever possible. Remember, it’s your care and you have the right to be involved in every aspect of your care. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for a family member or friend to be kept informed about your home care too.

Home care agency standardsAll agencies have a ‘Statement of Purpose’ that sets out their aims and objectives and the type of the services they offer. If you’re employing an agency, they should give you a contract explaining all terms and conditions. This will include things such as their confidentiality policy – for example, how they will hold and use personal data. All home care agency employees should also have clear written guidelines and follow robust procedures on how to administer and assist with any medication needs.

Before your home care startsIt’s important to always make sure that the home care agency you choose visits you at home, before care starts. This will give you the chance to discuss your requirements in detail to ensure that you’re happy with your choice of provider. A good home care agency will answer any questions you may have during this visit. The visit will also give the agency the opportunity to see the environment in which they will be working. If possible, arrange for a family member or friend to be there when the home care agency visits.

So you’re thinking about using an agency to provide home care? But how can you make sure that the home care provider you choose treats and cares for you in the right way?

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOME CARE AGENCY

Initial home visit by a home care agencyDuring the initial home visit by the home care agency, they will carry out a detailed risk assessment of your home, as well as a manual handling assessment. This is important, as it will identify how the agency staff will move you safely around your home, if assistance is required.

All staff should be fully trained on using equipment such as a hoist, to help bear your weight safely, if needed.

Keeping you safe and secure in your own homeIt’s the job of the home care agency staff to make sure that you are safe and secure in your own home when they are working with you. Every home care agency must have procedures in place to protect those using home care services, to reduce the risk of accidents, and protect people from any form of abuse including physical, emotional and financial abuse. This will also include an agreement about gaining access to your home. Care workers should have ID cards to show their photograph, their name, the agency’s name and agency contact details. Home care agencies must also have a policy in place that sets out how staff should handle money, if you ask them to buy things, or to pay a bill for you.

Keeping records of home careHome care agency staff will keep a written record of the care that has been given to you, with notes made about any changes in your health, as well as any incidents that have happened.

Paying for a home care agencyIt’s important to know the cost of home care and you should always be provided with a clear idea of costs for home care agency services. In most cases, agencies will charge different rates for home care on weekday, evenings and weekends. There is also often a higher rate on Bank Holidays. Remember to ask if there will be any additional costs that you need to know about.

Direct Payments can also be used for employing a ‘personal assistant’ or arranging care from a private agency. Your local Social Services team will be able to advise you further. There are many benefits to Direct Payments – they allow a greater level of flexibility and freedom for the person who needs the care and support.

Where do Flexicare fit in?Now that Direct Payments are available we can help to negotiate with you by attending meetings with the local Social Services team. We have been to many of these and it always helps to have someone independent besides you. You can choose a personal assistant you know or a non-live in relative to receive the payment and, of course, Flexicare can provide highly qualified staff.

Check what you are being chargedIf you use Flexicare all charges are listed in the agreement provided and you will be invoiced fortnightly. Sign the time sheets daily or at least weekly. Flexicare certifies the time spent but you should check this carefully. Speak to some of our clients as a reference so that you have the confidence that Flexicare not only cares but can be trusted.

Automated care worker monitoringSome home care agencies have electronic monitoring so care workers can ‘check in’ using their mobile phone or put a pin number into your landline phone.

There is no cost to you when they use this system and it records the exact length of time that your care provider has been with you. This system also helps the home care agency to highlight any missed calls by the care worker, reducing the risk of you not getting a call.

Top 10 key questions to ask when choosing a Home Care agency

• Cantheagencyprovidethecareneeded,andhavethey providedcarebeforeforsomeonewithsimilarneeds?

• Areyouconfidenttheagencyandstaffwillrespectyour privacyanddignity?

• Havetheytakenthetimetounderstandyourpersonal likesanddislikes?

• Howdotheymatchthemostsuitablecareworkersto yourneeds?Willyoualwayshavethesamecarers,and whathappensiftheyaresickorgoonholiday?

• Whatchargeswillyoubeexpectedtopay(Istherea minimumcharge)?Andhowyouwillbeinvoiced?

• Istheagencyinsuredtoprotectyoursafetyand interests?

• DoallcareworkersundergoaCriminalRecords Bureau(CRB)checkbeforebeingemployed?Andwhat ongoingtrainingdotheyreceive?

• Doestheagencyhaveacopyofitslatestinspection reportavailableforyoutolookat?

• Canyouragencybecontactedoutsideofficehoursorin anemergency?

• Willtheagencygiveyouacopyoftheagency’sstandard contracttoreadbeforesigning?

• Howwilltheyensureyoursafety?

Flexible & understanding service

Personalised care...when you need it most

We offer personalised care packages to enable clients to remain living independently in their own homes.

We can support adults with all health concerns.

Flexicare can provide anything from domestic help or personal care to a 24 hour live-in care service.

We are flexible to your changing circumstances and we will provide a tailor-made care plan to suit your needs.

Flexicare is a caring organisation run by caring people

Telephone: 01438 814045 Email: info@flexicarenorthlondon.co.ukwww.flexicarenorthlondon.co.ukHead Office: 103a High Street, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 3HR

For reliable, understanding & free professional advice contactFlexicare Hertfordshire and North London(Care in your own home, domestic help and home respite care)


At Honey Lane Care Home, we make sure we put personal relationships first. You’re one of a kind and we want it to stay that way. We believe a care home should be a home first and foremost.

Honey Lane offers exceptional care and support, in beautiful and comfortable surroundings. So you can feel well and truly at home.

Honey Lane Care Home Specialist Dementia Care Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey Essex, EN9 3BA

You’re unique. So are we.

Honey Lane Care Home, in Waltham Abbey is a purpose built home offering specialist dementia care. It has been furnished throughout by our professional team to exceptionally high standards, providing elegance and comfort but above all a warm, homely and welcoming environment. You decide what you do and when you want to do it and friends and family can visit any time.

At Honey Lane our highly trained staff are leading the way in dementia care and making a real difference to the lives of our residents and their families.

It’s through understanding each individual, their likes and dislikes and their life story that our specialist teams can provide personal care with a real difference.

Our staff are trained to make every moment count. Honey Lane Care Home offers a range of services for long and short stays.

For more information or to arrange a visit please call 01992 800 138 or [email protected]

“It was just a feeling we got when we walked round the home and we instinctively knew it was the right place.”

www.honeylanecourtcarehome.co.uk

Honey Lane is a Dementia Care Matters Butterfly Service™

Honey Lane_Retired & Living_DPS_420x297.indd 1 06/08/2012 15:58


Tucked away on the outskirts of Stevenage is a beautiful, tranquil spot where families come to reflect and remember. With over 25 acres of lovingly tended gardens this special place is Harwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens.Established in 1997 by Austin’s Funeral Directors, the crematorium and gardens are run and managed by the family-run firm which also has eight funeral arranging offices and is Hertfordshire’s leading independent funeral director.

The beautiful gardens at Harwood Park are open daily and visitors are welcome at all times to tend memorials, leave flowers or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity. Everybody remembers their loved ones in their own unique way and nowhere is this more evident than at Harwood Park where traditional memorials are complemented by living memorials including Chestnut trees, rose bushes and beautiful shrubs. Everybody’s choice of funeral is different as well and to this end memorials are available to anyone, not only those whose funeral is held at Harwood Park’s crematorium.

Claire Austin, who is the tenth generation of her family to run Austin’s, has a particularly strong attachment to Harwood Park as it is where she started her career with the 313-year-old family business. It is also a lasting legacy to her late father John Austin who campaigned for many, many years for a crematorium for the residents of North Herts.

“Harwood Park is a very tranquil place and as the living memorials grow and mature it really is a beautiful spot to spend time and remember your loved ones,” she said. “We employ four full-time gardeners who make sure the grounds look immaculate at all times. We have many families who come here regularly to reflect and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and I know it holds a very special place in the affections of many people.

Keeping Memories Alive


“When my father designed the crematorium and gardens he was determined that everything should be done with the mourners’ needs paramount. He created a wonderful place and it is a real privilege to continue his work and know that we are providing the best possible experience to people at a time of great sadness.”

Before John opened Harwood Park, grieving families had to travel to Luton or Watford for a cremation. A much-loved member of the local community, John spent most of the 1970s trying to persuade and cajole the local councils to provide a new crematorium. Financial constraints were the reason for the councils’ reluctance so John proposed building a private crematorium himself on a municipal site. When this suggestion was rejected he decided to take matters into his own hands and in 1989 he finally got permission to design and build a private crematorium.

John spent two years looking for the perfect site and finally settled on Harwood Park. Having visited many crematoria over the years he was determined that both the design and the running of the crematorium and the gardens would revolve around the needs of the mourners. No detail was too small including making sure the floral tributes are placed in a raised area so that the cards can be read by the less-able bodied. His attention to detail in the chapel included the installation of a large plate glass window through which mourners have a view of rolling countryside and the steeple of Datchworth village church in the distance. The catafalque, on which the coffin rests during a service, was deliberately designed to be off centre so that mourners do not automatically have to view the coffin all the time.

John was particularly proud of the gardens and 16 years on he would no doubt be delighted by the sight of so many beautiful living memorials and the pleasure they bring to so many people.

To find out more visit www.crematorium.co.uk or call Harwood Park on 01438 8155555.

Harwood ParkTh e perfect setting to commemorate

the life of your loved one

Keeping memories alive

Crematorium and memorial gardens createdand managed by the Austin family in the

beautiful Hertfordshire countryside

01438 815555

www.crematorium.co.uk

Harwood Park is a very tranquil place and as the living memorials

grow and mature it really is a beautiful spot to spend time and

remember your loved ones.

Claire Austin: Managing Director


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