Out & About Summer 2021

GERALDINE GARDNER

Editor

W elcome to the summer edition of Out & About . Unfortunately, the government roadmap has not gone exactly in the right direction and the awaited opening up is on hold for a bit longer. I suspect there may be a few more diversions along the way, but things are certainly returning to some kind of normality and we have been able to reconnect with friends and family. Continuing the ‘roadmap’ theme, much as I hate to use the term, we do seem to have been on a ‘journey’. Coronavirus has completely upended everything we knew and in a very short space of time. We may return to our old habits, but some aspects of our lives have probably changed forever. One of the benefits of the pandemic – if benefit is the right word – has been our appreciation of the natural world. That is why we continue to cover the seasons with our Berkshire Farm Girl (p74) and the Barton Court river keeper (p78). And talking of seasons, if you’ve been thinking about ‘growing your own’ for a while, take some timely tips from Newbury allotmenteer David Cole (p70). Or, if you just want to sit in your already beautiful garden, we’ve got some design ideas for taking the indoors out (p66). The speed with which the various vaccines have been trialled and tested is testament to human resourcefulness. When people put their minds to it and work together they find a way to solve a problem and I was reminded of that when I paid a visit to Bletchley Park (p26) the home of the Second World War codebreakers. What they achieved

enabled us to live as we do now. I would recommend a visit to discover some of their incredible stories. Maybe you want to go further back, to a time when the world seemed simpler. The Kennet Horse Boat Company (p33) is one of only three remaining horse boat services in the country and offers a blast of nostalgia and a gentle day out. Events and festivals continue to open up and Newbury Spring Festival is an example of how flexibility can keep live performance on the agenda. The festival director Mark Eynon (p56) explains how he has managed to put together a two-week programme for the autumn. There are also plenty of other suggestions for days out in our What’s on section (p91). And you can’t think of going to a concert or an evening out without thinking about where you will eat. Our food critic Hilary Scott has great things to report about The White Hart (p42) and Outside at The Vineyard (p52). If you’re planning a picnic we have some themed ideas (p38) and tasty recipes (p44 and 50). Romain Bourger has some wine tips for you (p46) and fish aficionado Simon Rhodes encourages you to get barbecuing (p41). With four pages of fashion, as well as wellbeing advice, motors, travel, books and pet talk, I hope you’ll find some escape from the uncertainty of what’s going around us. The ‘journey’ continues, but it’s one of hope and resilience. We’ll be back at the next pit stop in autumn, until then enjoy the summer and hopefully the sunshine.

Editor’s picks

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Cover picture

War heroes

For the record

26 BLETCHLEY PARK

33 A TRIP TO THE PAST

61 ANTIQUES KNOWHOW

Discover the delights of the Kennet Horse Boat Company

The home of the Second World War codebreakers is open to the public

How to tell if your old vinyl albums are valuable

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