Out & About October 2017

October 2017

West Berkshire, North Hampshire & East Wiltshire

A Newbury News Ltd publication

That’s your lot Antique hunters seek out a bargain Bollywood dancing Surendra Singh wants us all to learn Bhangra

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WELCOME to the October issue of OUT&ABOUT We haven’t gone all out spooky this month, but there is a nod to Hallowe’en in the fashion

pages (p10) and the wine choices from James Allen (p23). We have, however gone a little apple-tastic, with a round up of the crunchy fruit in the food pages (p28), autumn events at the Nature Discovery Centre (p57) and our book this month is At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier (p43). Talking of books, Trish Lee gets chapter and verse on the Hungerford LIterary Festival from Emma Milne-White (p16). If you’re looking for a way to keep fit, Bhangra dancing may be the answer. Charlotte Booth talks to Newbury resident and Bollywood dancer Surendra Singh (p13). And keeping up the international flavour, Hilary Scott reviews Arigato, the new Japanese restaurant in town (p24). Sarah Bosley meets David Pratley, whose ingenious bird boxes might just persuade some of them to stay home (p38) and there’s also the usual round up of what’s going on in October. Enjoy. OUT&ABOUT EDITOR: GERALDINE GARDNER (01635) 886684 geraldine.gardner@newburynews.co.uk

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Jonathan Hopson gives his personal take on the Newbury Triathlon Fitness: Vicki Brown encourages you to start your steps to success Health & beauty: Some product suggestions to help your skin glow Fashion: Discover your inner Morticia with these vampish high street styles Antiques: The Great Antiques Pursuit winners make their purchases Interiors: Emma Dweck brings some colour into your décor Gardening: Kate Gould encourages you to let the grasses grow Travel: Luxury sea and sunshine breaks in Europe Books: Helen Sheehan and Lissa Gibbins delight in Tracy Chevalier’s At The Edge of the Orchard Motoring: Maurice and Annette Hardy rediscover the Nissan Micra Nature: The Nature Discovery Centre is in full autumn mode What’s on: Four pages of listings on where to go and what to see and do this month Competition Foodylicious: Win a selection of Best bites in a box

Out&About

October 2017

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Features

TO ADVERTISE IN OUT&ABOUT Abigail Reddin. (01635) 886612 abigail.reddin@ newburynews.co.uk

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Spice it up Simon Rhodes recommends you look to Morocco for a tasty fish stew Far East feasting Hilary Scott pays a visit to Arigato in Newbury and is thankful she did Ghoulish grapes James Allen recommends some Hallowe’en tipples Bearing fruit It’s apple season and Hilary Scott is picking the best Local support Romilla Arber loves the cosy café culture in the autumn and supports the Walbury Climb A new chapter Emma Milne-White talks to Trish Lee about the sixth Hungerford Literary Festival He’s got the moves Surendra Singh is on a mission to bring Bollywood to Newbury, as Charlotte Booth discovers Feathering their nests Sarah Bosley takes a peak at the intricate bird boxes created by David Pratley Food & drink

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GROUP EDITOR: ANDY MURRILL (01635) 886625 andy.murrill@newburynews.co.uk Production design:

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Carrie Faithfull, Helen Layton, Tim Silvester Published on Thursday, September 28, free with the Newbury Weekly News. The November issue of OUT&ABOUT will be published on October 26, 2017 Deadline for listings for the October issue is: Tuesday, October 10. Email details to: report@newburynews.co.uk (subject line ‘what’s on’) OUT&ABOUT is published by Newbury News Ltd, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DW

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OA comment

takes on the Newbury Triathlon and comes third – in competition with his two children Jonathan Hopson

Split time for the bike was just over 44 minutes, an improvement on last year’s 49 minutes. A two-minute transition from bike to run was on the slow side, but I was able to get in to a running rhythm, (albeit a slow one at nine- minute mile pace), fairly quickly, which was a relief. I was helped along with shouts of

The rise of the triathlon Triathlon has enjoyed significant growth in Britain since it came to the country in 1983. In 2016, there were around 150,000 committed active racing triathletes in the UK (Triathlon Industry Association). Other people do triathlon as a ‘bucket list’ activity. Sport England believe that about 200,000 people in England did at least one triathlon in the last year. Membership There has been a 134 per cent increase in Triathlon England, Triathlon Scotland and Welsh Triathlon members since 2009. 25,200 people purchased a membership in 2016. Demographics show that a particular growth between 2009 and 2016 are young people (300 per cent) and women aged 55+ (521 per cent). There were approximately 202,000 race starts across Britain in 2016 – so more than 550 people doing a triathlon every day on average. This is 67 per cent more than in 2009. British Triathlon offer permitting services to events, with the objective of ensuring that the events around the country are safe and fair for competitors. There was an average of 26 permitted events happening each week last year, so plenty of opportunities to get involved. To find out more visit www.britishtriathlon.org

Jonathan with his children Ed and Sophie

A rriving at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury, at 8am on a cold, damp and misty Saturday morning in September, one can perhaps be forgiven for the odd thought questioning the wisdom of a not-so-fit near-60-year-old taking part, for the second time, in the Newbury Triathlon. However, once I had engaged in some positive banter with several friends who were also taking part, negative thoughts swiftly subsided and I could concentrate on the first discipline – four lengths of the Newbury lido, 300 metres in total. An additional incentive for this year’s event was whether I could match, or perhaps even improve on, the time of my 24-year-old daughter Sophie and 20-year-old son Ed, who were also taking part. Swimming is by some margin my weakest discipline, as I am sadly unable to master front crawl and have to resort to breaststroke. Eight-and-a-half minutes later and I was in transition, putting on cycle shoes, unracking the bike and heading out on the 22km road course through Boxford to Welford, up the mile-and-a-half incline to Wickham and then back to Newbury along the B4000. The weekly bike training paid useful dividends here and I was able to push on, overtaking a few competitors en route back to Northcroft & Goldwell parks until having to slow down at some roadworks in Speen.

encouragement when a friend passed me after about a mile and then it was over the Monkey Bridge and the final few hundred metres around Northcroft field to the finish line in a time of 1h:25m:43s. All three members of the Hopson family taking part finished less than two minutes apart, with Ed winning the family competition in 1h:24m:25s and Sophie 35 seconds behind, in 1h:25m exactly. I will no doubt have to endure many more family jokes about wearing the Lanterne Rouge*, but I’m hoping to pass it on to one of my children after the 2018 Newbury Triathlon. In the meantime, cycling and running training are continuing in preparation for taking part in the Team Kennet Newbury Duathlon in April 2018. This event consists of two 5km runs either side of a 25km bike ride. A longer and more gruelling event than a sprint triathlon, but hopefully useful preparation for next year’s Newbury Triathlon. So for anyone reading this article wondering about trying a triathlon, whatever your age or ability, be brave, take the plunge and join the 400+ entrants in the September 2018 Newbury Triathlon. For more information about the Newbury Duathlon in April 2018, visit https://race-nation. com/newbury-duathlon-2018

*The Lanterne Rouge is the man at the very bottom of the list of finishers of the Tour de France. The name comes from the red safety lantern that used to hang on the back of the last carriage of trains and almost certainly dates to the very first days of the Tour de France, before the First World War.

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OA fitness

Workouts + Nutrition + Support = Success

Steps to success As autumn is truly upon us and we hurtle towards the festivities at the end of the year, it is often a time when people think about kick-starting a fitness routine. VICKI BROWN says it’s easy to get started and if you plan properly you can adopt a whole new healthy lifestyle with comparative ease

Working out Firstly, as you might expect, you should look to plan your workout routines. Think about what your goals are, how much time you are going to put aside each week and then, in more detail, what each workout’s aim and content will be for a set period. It is a good idea to loosely plan for 6-8 weeks of training and make sure you have the week ahead planned in detail. It is good to have an idea of direction, but you may need to adapt the plan as you go – progress can sometimes be faster or slower than you might have initially anticipated. Focus on making a little progress each week and try to include some exercise that you enjoy – this will make your plan easier to stick to, and more fun. Nutrition What nutritional choices are you going to adopt once you start your new exercise routine? It is important to think about all the food and drink that you consume. You should track this information and keeping a diary is the easiest way to do this – either with an app such as MyFitnessPal or just simply logging it in a notebook. Here are some basic choices you should make n Make sure you drink at least two to three litres of water a day. n Try and eat as little processed food as possible, with your aim being to fuel your body to its optimum level to achieve maximum results.

is so important for achieving the long-term goals. Professionals have often dealt with many of these issues before with clients and through their own experience, so know how to guide you. Prioritise time for yourself with those who can help you – it pays dividends. Success If you address all of these issues you will be accomplishment; try not to spend too much time comparing yourself to others, but focus on how far you have come and what your own personal goals are. Good luck on your pathway to success. successful in achieving your goal. Remember, success is a personal

n Limit the amount of alcohol and caffeine you consume and increase your helpings of fruit and vegetables. Getting the right balance regarding nutrition often starts with learning about what your food is giving you; in turn, making good daily choices becomes easier and this leads to a long-term healthy lifestyle. Support Setting yourself up with a good support network is an important thing to consider. Do you have the help of your family or close friends? When you have goals to work towards it is extremely helpful if you feel supported. Let people know what you are trying to achieve so they can encourage you along the way. The last thing you want as you get started is the offer of office biscuits or a night out down the pub, because temptation when you are trying to change habits is often counter- productive. Most people thrive off routine and it’s all about taking small steps to change your daily lifestyle to a healthier, fitter and happier one. Professional help can come in the form of showing you how to put a structure and routine into place that will allow you to work towards your goals. A personal trainer or a gym instructor can then keep you accountable and help you with your bumps in the road along the way. Remember, you need to remind yourself this is a long-term plan for long-term results; it may not all be plain-sailing and that is when support

Personal trainer Vicki Brown is the founder of LiveFitNow, based in Wash Common. For a free consultation, more information and links to online home fitness videos, visit: www.LiveFitNow.co.uk

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OA health & beauty

Save your skin Whatever the season, our skin needs looking after. In the summer, it needs protecting from the sun’s rays and as the the winter chill sets in, it gets battered by the wind and rain. The most basic regime of TLC involves drinking plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and daily moisturising with your favourite cream. We’ve selected a few products below that you might want to incorporate into your skin protection first aid kit

BrushYour Way to Super Smooth Skin

soothing qualities that fill the body once inhaled, reducing feelings of stress, creating a positive mood and feelings of energy. Even add to your morning routine, helping to suppress appetite and boost metabolism. It’s nature’s best defense against the signs of aging. Boost Oxygen Beauty is available online at boostoxygen.life and two sizes are available: 4oz (50 inhalations) for £14.99 or 22oz (150 inhalations) for £24.99. Vegan skincare With an ever-growing awareness about what’s actually in the products we use, more and more of us are looking to vegan skincare. It has recently been revealed, in a survey carried out by Superdrug, that vegan beauty sales are up by 20 per cent over the last year, across both make-up and skin care. Having a beauty stash filled with vegan skincare can be great for your skin as well as the environment. ELEMIS specialises in naturally caring ingredients of the highest quality with no need to sacrifice the efficacy or the luxury quality of the products. With more than 140 VEGAN PRODUCTS, here are a few top vegan picks: PRO-COLLAGEN MARINE CREAM SPF 30 (£82) PEPTIDE4 NIGHT RECOVERY CREAM-OIL (£49) BIOTEC SKIN ENERGISING

rosemary and clary sage, along with soothing ylang-ylang, jasmine and mimosa to boost your mood. Finish with ARK bodybeautiful conditioning oil (RRP £35), to lock in essential moisture. A combination of sacha inchi seed, abyssinian and sweet almond oil provide antioxidants. www.arkskincare.com Let your skin breath Looking for a way to revamp your regular beauty regime? Although at first you may question the abilities of 98 per cent pure oxygen, it is a beauty secret enjoyed by many. While we may not realise it the pressure that our skin is put under on a day-to-day basis is massive. From air pollution and stress, the list goes on, but what is the secret? Oxygen levels in our skin cells start to naturally

Body brushing is one of those beauty rituals that we should commit to doing daily, but falls victim to our busy lives. The benefits are endless – detoxifying, ridding skin of dry patches, smoothing cellulite and even banishing ingrown hairs, so if there’s one purchase we should be making, it’s a good body brush. Try this British brand ARK Skincare new Massaging Body Brush (RRP £15). The brush has a dual action with massage nodules and bristles that work together to shed dead skin cells and encourage cell renewal, resulting in smoother and brighter skin. The combined brushing and massage action aids vascular blood circulation, which helps reduce the appearance of cellulite and leaves skin feeling invigorated. While you can dry brush before bathing or showering, you can also use the brush as part of a dedicated body regime. Just remember to always brush in the direction of your heart. Start at your feet and work up the body using upward strokes. Brush the abdomen and chest in clockwise sweeps and pay special attention to the back of thighs and buttocks. Aim to use for a minimum of three minutes, two to three times a week. Enhance the effects of your

decrease, reducing the skins elasticity, which allows fine lines and wrinkles to develop. Boost Oxygen Beauty

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OA on the high street

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OA feature

Hooray for Bollywood

After working as a professional dancer in Bollywood, Surendra Singh wants to share his love of Bhangra dancing. CHARLOTTE BOOTH went to one of his workshops to find out more T here is a twinkle in Surendra Singh’s eyes and he radiates joy as he finishes his routine to the popular track Jai Ho ( Slumdog Millionaire ) composed by A.R. Rahman, at a workshop performance at

Surendra explains: “We were a middle-class family and it was very difficult for him to provide everything he wanted for his children. “We didn’t get very good qualifications, with no private classes. We all went to a small school, but after school all I wanted to do was dance. “I always used to take part in local festivals, but my family did not want me to dance. They were from Punjab and never wanted me to dance. As a man they wanted me to do something like mechanics, or some other manly work, but I hated that. “All the people in the village would call me when there was a festival and looked forward to seeing me dance on the stage. “At every celebration people would chuck money at me. The whole crowd would watch and chuck money. They appreciated me, and when I was about 15 I earned enough money to buy a colour television for my family. We only had a black and white TV before that.” When he was 18 or 19, his brother-in-law, who worked as an editor in the Bollywood film industry, suggested he went for an audition for the Senior Dance Association, in Santacruz, Mumbai. “I went for the audition. I was about 18 or 19 years old. I was very, very young. “Bollywood was so popular the queue was so long. And when I saw the audition judges, who were film directors and choreographers, I was nervous. But I danced lots of choreographies and they asked me to dance Bhangra so I did that too. “All the best choreographers came and chose the best dancers. They asked if the dancers could dance classical, Bhangra dance or Western dance.” Surendra got through the audition with flying colours and joined the Senior Dance Association, Mumbai, which paved his way into movies. However, his father couldn’t afford the membership fee to the association so his brother-in-law offered to pay it for him. “I paid him back in only a few months as I got so many shoots it was easy.” “I spent 10 years working with them [the association] and still have a membership. I am catching up with people on Facebook and hopefully Amin Khan will contact 

the Audley Inglewood Retirement home. It is clear as soon as you look at him, that Surendra’s passion is dancing. Despite his simple costume of black jeans, trainers and waist coat he carries himself as a dancer, a star to be looked at. Born in Mumbai, India, Surendra has lived in England since 2006 and has decided that now is the right time to rekindle his Bollywood dancing career. In India, Surendra worked with some of the greatest Bollywood directors such as Amin Khan and rubbed shoulders with Bollywood glitterati like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Buchan, Shilpa Shetty and Aishwayra Rai. Surendra was a professional dancer, and can be seen in the colourful dance routines in more than 40 Bollywood films including 36 China Town (2006) directed by Mustan Burmawalla and Abbas Burmawalla, Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002) directed by Kunal Kohli and Bride and Prejudice (2004), based on Jane Austen’s literary classic Pride and Prejudice and directed by Gurinder Chadha. He was a part of this movie world for 10 years, but his dance passion went back to his childhood. Surendra has always danced and, as a child, he learned routines from movies on TV or from listening to the radio. “We had a tiny home and I was always dancing. “I watched a lot of folk dance, classical dance, Western and disco, which was popular at that time, to try to learn different kinds of dance. “I liked to watch hip hop and break dance and then to do the routines. I was so crazy about dance. I was younger than 12. “I learned so many different varieties from Bollywood movies – you have Gujarati, stick dance, Kathak. So many things I would practise. If I open classes I can show all of these dances.” His family was large with four siblings and his father was a taxi driver.

Pictures: Phil Cannings and Charlotte Booth

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me for work,” he said with a grin. At the height of his career, in 2003, he met his wife Bridgette in Mumbai when she was working in an international school. She reminisces: “We lived the Bollywood dream for 18 months, but I had to return to the UK as I was pregnant and really poorly. And on balance it was better to stay here. “It was a wild Bollywood time. We had these parties … which went on until 4am and still no one left, and I wanted to go to bed. “We would often go out at 10 o’clock at night and come back in the early hours the following morning.” Surendra added: “It was a great and amazing time. It was never my plan to come to England. “When I met my wife I switched off my career. “I retrained as a hairdresser. I’ve worked the bar at Audley Inglewood for two years, and I have chef-ed at Pizza Express, but it is time to go back to dancing. “It was very hard to change country and career. I used to make a lot of money and here no one knew what Bollywood was. “I’ve done lots of community shows and Diwali festivals here. “Now Bollywood is more popular so more people are getting in contact, such as schools and colleges.” As a professional Bollywood dancer Surendra had an exotic lifestyle travelling to Dubai,

Bangkok and Australia for shoots and this was one of the highlights of the industry for him. “I loved the lifestyle. For the shoots, food was coming, drinks were coming, flights were booked, costumes were brought. I miss the lifestyle. “I’d love to go back to India and take part in movies again. I’m still in contact with everyone and they ask me ‘when are you coming back?’.” But it wasn’t all glamorous. “It would take a week to film one dance routine. “There were so many lights, sets and costumes. We would dance for 16 beats or 24 beats and then the lights would be changed and we would then do another 16 or 24 beats.” Surendra is managed in his comeback by his wife Bridgette, who acts as his agent. She has organised workshops and performances at local schools including Robert Sandilands, Ashford Hill Primary and Hungerford Primary schools, as well as bespoke workshops and performances. He is clearly popular and one of the residents at Audrey Inglewood, Doreen, approached him after his performance and told him: “You were wonderful. You have so much energy.” She then turned to me to tell me how kind he is and what a gentleman he is. Surendra obviously enjoys the praise and is in his element when performing. He explained he never had any formal training and simply learnt routines from the TV: “I am able to watch a

routine and then learn it,” he said. Surendra offers bespoke workshops for schools, colleges and youth groups, birthday parties, weddings and corporate events and has received some great feedback so far. Bridgette said: “He has received lots of interest from people in London. Bollywood is very popular right now.” However, Surendra has wider ambitions than workshops and classes and said: “Hopefully I will be able to choreograph a song in a movie, or even the whole movie.” He travels back to India every couple of years and normally stays with his sister and her family. He is hoping the next trip will be in the New Year for a family wedding. “It’s lovely to see everybody. My mum has visited me here and my sisters. They are due for a visit soon.” Surendra and Brigitte’s son Prem, 12, who goes to Park House School is not likely to fol- low in his dad’s footsteps. Surendra said: “He’s not a dancer, he’s an X-box fan.” Surendra is planning on starting a Bollywood class in Speen in the autumn. He said: “Hope- fully if the classes run, then we could do some shows. It would be great to have a dance troupe and we could go out as a group and perform.” For information on classes and workshops visit www.bollywoodworkshopswithsurendra.co.uk/

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OA feature

Bollywood is the nickname for India’s Hindi movie industry which is based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), and is an amalgamation of Hollywood and Bombay. The Bollywood film industry is a long one stemming back to the 1910s. By the 1930s more than 200 films per year were being produced. Today Bollywood forms 43 per cent of the film industry but is also one of the biggest film industries in the world, employing more people than any other. In 2016 it produced 225 Hindi films. Bollywood films are famous for being colourful, dramatic and interspersed with elaborate dance routines set in glamorous places. Bollywood dancing is a culmination of traditional Indian dance (kathak, bharatanatyam), folk dance (Rajasthani, Punjabi) and Western dance moves. It is characterised by elaborate hand mudras (gestures) such as the lotus flower, where all the fingers are curled towards the palm like a fan, and energetic movements. Bollywood dance is popular with both males and females across the world and is often performed as a group rather than as solo dances. What’s it all about...?

A popular branch of Bollywood dancing is Bhangra which derives from folk dances of the Punjab. It was originally a celebratory folk dance welcoming the advent of spring but has since become integrated into Western and Asian pop, house and hip hop music. Bhangra music is always upbeat and is drum-led, primarily a North Indian drum known as a dhol, which is very loud and is played with cane sticks. Bhangra fuses Western pop music, Hindi film music and folk music from the Punjabi region. In modern Bhangra traditional instruments are fused with Western instruments such as electric guitars. One of the most iconic Bhangra tracks in the West is Mundian To Bach Ke by Panjabi MC. Bhangra dance itself is characterised by a lifting and dropping of the shoulders while dancing, hopping and jumping, at speed. Add to this swords and sticks and you have yourself a traditional Punjabi dance party. Bhangra is high energy and not for the faint-hearted, but you can’t help but smile while doing it.

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Travellers’ tales

This year’s Hungerford Literary Festival – Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15 – is inspired by the theme of Journeys . TRISH LEE talks books and writers with the festival curator, Hungerford Bookshop owner Emma Milne-White.

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OA feature

We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started... and know the place for the first time. TS Eliot

L iterature Festivals large and small have become so popular, they seem to be popping up all over – Marlborough is about to enjoy their literary weekend and Hungerford’s is just around the corner. What has prompted this surge in interest? “I think it has coincided with the rise of book groups,” says Emma Milne-White, owner of the independent Hungerford Bookshop and curator of the literary festival. “Books are brilliant at provoking discussion, and a sharing of ideas. We like to know what others are reading, and what they think of the books. “A festival provides this opportunity too, but with the bonus of the author’s insights. “Sometimes – particularly if you have a good interviewer or responsive audience – you will hear the writer respond to a question they have never thought about before. “Like theatre – this is a live ‘performance’ so you never quite know what you are going to learn.

publishes more books per capita than any other country and with so much choice it can sometimes be a little overwhelming knowing which titles to pick. “Instead of a ‘scattergun’ approach where we tried to represent the best of a little bit of everything genre-wise, we decided to hone our thinking by selecting titles that were all tied together by a theme,” Emma explains. “Picking a broad concept like journeys allowed us enough room to be creative. “We have traditional travel titles, such as Alastair Sawday’s memoirs, but we also look at people’s personal journeys (at the risk of sounding like an X Factor contestant), such as Jules Mountain, who not only survived cancer, but conquered Everest; or a journey back in time, such as Jonathan Dean on tracing his family history, or even a time-travelling dog in a children’s book. “We are great believers that books can take you anywhere. “Every time one opens a book, it takes you

on an adventure. Journeys seemed a great first theme to choose.” Planning the programme begins in early spring,

“Of course, books make fabulous gifts, too – and

Books are brilliant at provoking discussion, and a sharing of ideas. We like to know what each other is reading, and what they think of the book.

signed copies are particularly special. “Meeting an author, having a quick chat,

when Emma and fellow bookseller Tessa visit the London Book Fair, where all the major publishers present their ‘hottest’ titles for the year ahead. They make copious notes, often contacting the publisher as soon as they get back to Hungerford. “After that we keep an eye on reviews, books that are performing well, books we have loved reading and books customers tell us we ought to read. “Gradually we create a ‘dream-list’ and then there are an awful lot of emails back and forth.”

one-to-one as your book is signed, is an experience that can’t be replicated online.” This will be Hungerford Literary Festival’s sixth year, although the group of people behind it has gradually changed over that time. Last year, local group Arts for Hungerford, which organises events throughout the year, collaborated with the bookshop and continues to do so – a relationship that is working really well for both of them, says Emma. The thread running through the forthcoming weekend festival is Journeys . Working to a theme makes the job of putting together a programme much easier. The UK

And so to this year’s choice of writers, an entertaining mix of wit, wisdom and wunderlust.

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lively discussion, and tickets are already flying out.” Andrew Martin’s book Night Trains taps in to the romance of travelling across Europe by sleeper train, and mentions all sorts of literary connections, such as Agatha Christie and Grahame Greene. “I’m a sucker for some golden age crime and also literary classics. As he traverses across modern-day Europe, Martin contrasts travel today with the past and even becomes embroiled in his very own night train whodunit. “I loved his dead-pan humour, and having just travelled to Edinburgh with two small children by train – which was delayed – his book resonated with me in many places.” A travel writing fan, Emma has several old favourites, and is constantly adding to the list. “Bill Bryson always makes me laugh, but Eric Newby and Jan Morris are bookshop favourites. “I’ve recently discovered Geoff Dyer – a contemporary travel writer who blends travel, essays and criticism together in a brilliantly original and often amusing way.” Who would Emma choose for the Journeys festival, then, if she could have booked any writer, past or present? We expect this to be an event that produces lively discussion, and tickets are already flying out

“Martin Bell uses his experiences as a war reporter, an independent MP and UNICEF ambassador to look at the way we now present items of news. “In his book War and the Death of the News , he issues an impassioned plea to minimise the entertainment factor and put the substance back into our news. “We expect this to be an event that produces

Described as the thinking man’s Bill Bryson, Sonning Common author Tom Fort writes ‘curious books about curious things’. “We had done so well with his book on the history of the A303 it was no surprise that his latest book, The Village News , appealed to customers too. “He has a great knack of focusing in on a subject – roads, rivers, the weather – and writing about them so engagingly and perceptively that suddenly they become the most riveting of themes. “ The Village News is the truth behind England’s rural idyll. “The author covers the length and breadth of England on his bicycle to discover the essence of village life. In between the historical analysis are personal memories from Tom of the village life he remembers and enjoys today. “Our local historian Sir Max Hastings calls the book ‘a triumph’ and we are inclined to agree.” Journalist Martin Bell, on the other hand, is something of a heavyweight. “We are living through a time when our world seems to be in a state of flux. I look on my phone and see the words ‘Breaking News’ almost every week and think ‘What now?’ Nothing seems too unbelievable.

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OA feature

“Also, biographies of people that have led really interesting lives. Joan: The Remarkable life of Joan Leigh Fermor that Simon Fenwick will be talking about during this festival, isn’t published yet, but I know I shall be selling piles of this, especially in the run-up to Christmas. The cover is gorgeous too…” It wasn’t so long ago that the doom-mongers were predicting the death of paper books in favour of e-books, but the situation seems to be reversing. Although Emma accepts that e-books might Readers come in to the bookshop and remark on how beautiful the books are, how browsable have their place, she champions the former. “Yes, sales of e-books are falling and sales of ‘physical’ books are growing. Interestingly, it is the younger generation in particular that enjoy physical books. Also, people seem to have become bored with their e-readers… the novelty is wearing off. “Readers come in to the bookshop and remark on how beautiful the books are, how browsable. And, of course, you can pass them round to your friends once you

“Gosh… Intrepid women explorers I find very interesting, like Lesley Blanch or Gertrude Bell – so either of those. “I’d like to find out what happened to Amelia Earhart, so it would be good to ask her. I find David Sedaris really funny – I have been enjoying him on BBC Radio 4 recently – he would certainly make me laugh a lot. “William Boyd is one of my favourite novelists that I have never managed to get, but I’ll keep trying.” Mention of English writer Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), archaeologist, academic, Middle East explorer and possible spy, reminds us of the enduring appeal of travel books. They take you to places you may never get to see; they can broaden your horizons just by sitting in an armchair. They can inspire you to travel. Holiday reading or guidebooks become visible memories, keepsakes, on your bookcase. Reading travel literature written in the past can also make you reflect on how our world has changed. The bookshop is well-placed to get the feel for what appeals to Hungerford – which books go down well – and that is likely to shape future festivals. “History titles really work well for us. I suspect our next themed literary weekend might revolve around this somehow.

have finished with them. “ I can see that e-readers are handy if you travel frequently, but I would rather read my paperback by the pool and not worry about the battery running out or getting it wet. “I quite like opening a book years later and finding sand or blades of grass inside, a memory from a past trip.” We muse over what makes a good book. “For me a good book is a book that makes me reflect about my opinions, and gives fresh insight into our world. A good book can help me understand the world through eyes of others. Language to me is important – that’s why I like poetry – as much as the plot. “Often though, it depends what mood you are in. I always return to Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield when I need cheering up. “A good book can transport you utterly. It can connect you with the world, and let you escape from the world. I have re-read favourite books over the years and the meaning can change depending on where you are in your life. “In that way books come on a journey with you too.” For full programme details and booking, visit

www.artsforhungerford.com or www.hungerfordbookshop.co.uk

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Bestselling Author ROBERT HARRIS will be talking about his latest book Munich Tuesday 10th October at 7.30pm Hungerford Town Hall

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Plus, don’t miss... Katherine Webb & Vanessa LaFaye talking about their novels The Hiding Places and At First Light “Robert Harris is the master of the intelligent thriller’’ - The Times Tickets £6

in Hungerford Library on Tuesday 3rd October at 7.30pm. Tickets £5

Tickets for all events available from Hungerford Bookshop (01488 683480) or ArtsForHungerford.com

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OA feature

Hungerford Literary Festival features talks, discussions and book signings by journalist Martin Bell, travel writer Tom Fort, children’s author Debi Evans, crime novelist and railway historian, Andrew Martin, Jonathan Dean of the Sunday Times , founder of the hugely-popular Sawday’s Guides Alastair Sawday, maverick climber Jules Mountain, biographer Simon Fenwick and writer and journalist Nick Hunt, plus a children’s writing workshop with local writers Nicola Chester and Deborah Patterson

Arts For Hungerford is a not-for-profit community interest company providing a year-round programme of high-quality arts events for Hungerford and the surrounding communities – covering visual arts, performing arts and literature. Their mission is to use both traditional and innovative new ways of connecting with and understanding each other through the arts. During September, they ran a Visual Arts Trail, which closes on approach, they intend to engage with other arts organisations to create enhanced experiences, as well as provide a single hub website, which will enable one-stop viewing of all arts events in Hungerford and the purchase of tickets. For more information, visit https://artsforhungerford.com/ Saturday, September 30. Through their collaborative

Nick Hunt

Jules Mountain

Andrew Martin

Jonathan Dean

Simon Fenwick

Debi Evans

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The trend for Gin amongst other spirits is booming and Love Liquor is proud to be the first Festival of its kind in Newbury. The Festival will be held in the Berkshire Stand of Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 18th November 2017 between 12pm-5pm and 6pm- 11pm. Love Liquor promises to provide something for everybody with Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whisky and Tequila all on show. The event is sponsored by numerous up and coming spirits including Caspyn, Brockmans, and Sacred Gin. All our spirits have been meticulously paired with mixers provided by Fentimans Botanically Brewed Mixers and plenty of garnish to give you a perfect serve every time. Your ticketed entry includes an event brochure to This year brings the launch of Love Liquor, a Festival of Fine Spirits. If you are a fan of Gin, this is the event of the year and a perfect pre-Christmas get together for friends. We aim to bring you a hand-picked selection of the finest spirits and mixers all under one roof.

give you hints and tips to make the most of the evening and an event glass to use and take home with you. In addition, there will be hot food and live music from the local band ‘Paper Houses’ with their fantastic acoustic covers, as well as soulful songs from local artist ‘Jake Ward’. Tickets cost £10 and should be purchased in advance of the event due to very limited ticket numbers. Tickets can be purchased online at the following location: www.loveliquorfest.eventbrite.co.uk Further information and FAQ’s can be found at: www.loveliquorfest.co.uk

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OA food & drink

top by

tipples

bring on

Hallowe’en is coming and JAMES ALLEN thought it would be fun to see what could be drunk while waiting for the trick or treaters to knock on the door. Here are a few appropriate suggestions – wines made to keep body and soul together

the boos

Chronic Cellars Purple Paradise Another wine to sustain body and soul. This Paso Robles Zinfandel Blend has a label to bring out the Hallowe’en spirit. As the saying goes, Life is a gamble, just roll with it . With three quarters

Bogle Phantom 2013, California This dark rich and massively powerful Californian red blend is definitely a wine to keep the cold out. Winemaker Dana Stemmler has blended hugely fruity

Rex Mundi Cuvée Cathare 2016 Named in memory of the Cathars of Southern France, who were the subject of a gruesome medieval crusade (which wiped them out by the way). Sinfully delicious Rex Mundi

is adored by hundreds of fans of southern French reds, thanks to its wickedly moreish, silky black fruit. And if you covet that darkly- addictive drop, you’ll sell your soul for this masterpiece from century old vines. Deep, dark and dangerously easy to drink, Rex Mundi Special Edition is a beguiling black beauty. The grapes are Grenache and Carignan, but balanced and terrifically long. Slips down nicely on its own, or with your finest game dishes. Laithwaites, Theale, £15.99 Casillero del Diablo, Shiraz, 2016 Well I couldn’t do Hallowe’en wines without mentioning this one. This producer is sponsor, appropriately enough, of Manchester United, ‘The Red Devils’. Good-value drinking.

potent black grapes to create this dense chocolaty rich and very smooth red. It’s a bit of a monster of wine and is tamed with spiced meats and rich sauces. The Naked Grape, Hungerford, £18.99

of the wine Zinfandel and the rest a blend of Syrah, Petit Sirah and Grenache, it’s a great blend and well worth a punt. A rich dark colour is vanilla and spice and flavour to match. Enjoy with richly flavoured meat dishes from burgers and steaks to beef and game stews. Majestic, Newbury, £17.99 poured from the bottle, bursting with aromas of

S C Pannell Dead End Tempranillo

A Mclaren Vale version of the classic Rioja grape. The wine is highly perfumed, vibrant and complex with sweet black cherries and hints of exotic spice. It is a plush, medium bodied but juicy wine with leafy dusty tannins on the finish. This is a perfect wine for those dark, chilly autumnal evenings. Inn at Home, Newbury £21.95

they come from the very oldest vines – some more than 100 years in age – and from the finest slate soils of Maury in the Roussillon. As you might imagine yields are minute, which accounts for the depth of colour and intensity of flavour. This is a powerful red, beautifully

Widely available at around £8 per bottle

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