Abingdon Living Jul - Aug 2022

Waitrose & Partners No.1 Dry Aged Sirloin of Beef Roasting Joint 

Rubbed with French wet salt, sea salt and three types of pepper, and served bone-in for a more intense flavour. 

SRENTRAP NODGNIBA 

& ESORTIAW

C O N T E N T S 

A NOTE 

from the editor 

13 

DISHES FROM RAYMOND 

I sit writing this in the most 

bucolic of settings - we are 

lucky in that our offices are 

within farmlands (we are 

actually housed in a former 

hen shed - we say that’s why 

we sometimes run around 

like headless chickens). 

From my desk, I get to 

watch the seasons change - 

we welcomed the swallows 

who put on the most 

wonderful of shows - and 

only occasionally knocking 

into the windows during 

their frenzied activity! 

04 

COMPETITIONS 

We are really looking forward 

to the warmer months, 

and this issue is certainly 

a celebration of that. We 

caught up with French 

chef Raymond Blanc and 

were lucky to have a really 

insightful chat with him 

about the British food scene 

and his love of teaching - we 

also managed to nab some 

recipes from his latest book. 

10 

RAYMOND BLANC 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk 

Assistant Editor Kate Norris 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre Press Manager Rebecca Rose 

Contributors 

Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Louise Thomson, Pete Lawrence 

FOR ADVERTISING 

Account Manager Marcus Hawke 

e marcus.hawke@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984505 

Cover image courtesy of OKA oka.com 

HOME & GARDEN 

16 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, 

Hilperton BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Printed on sustainably sourced paper. 

Please recycle this copy or pass it along 

when you are finished for someone else 

to enjoy. 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be 

held liable for any loss occasioned by 

failure of an advertisement to appear, or 

any damage or inconvenience caused by 

errors, omissions and misprints. No part of 

this publication may be reproduced without 

prior permission from the publishers. 

The opinions expressed within are not 

necessarily those of the publishers. 

We’ve also got some 

fabulous editorial aimed 

at getting the house up 

together for the summer 

months - with a range of 

projects both large and 

small to create that home 

you’ve always coveted. It 

can be really daunting, but 

ever so rewarding to refresh 

the spaces in your home - so 

we have a range of projects 

to consider. 

We hope you enjoy this 

edition - look out for the next 

one in September, when we 

will be hoping for an Indian 

Summer, and shining our 

shoes for a new school year. 

Until then, school’s out! 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

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CHILDREN AND 

MILITARY LIVES 

Stories of Adventure, Family and Exile 

2nd June - 24th November 2022 

® 

You will find us hidden in plain sight at the 

bottom of the Oxfordshire Museum garden 

Open: Tuesday-Saturday 11am - 5pm 

Sunday 2pm - 5pm 

Last admission 4.15pm • Admission prices apply 

01993 810 210 • www.sofo.org.uk 

Park Street • Woodstock • OX20 1SN 


Which nursery is right for you? 

You have your lovely baby and plan to go back to work shortly. You want 

them to go to a nursery to have a wide range of friends and quality learning 

and development experiences. But how do you go about choosing the right 

place for you and your precious bundle? 

KEEP LOCAL 

Initially look for a nursery close to where 

you live or work, depending on your 

circumstances. 

Check out your local authority’s website 

which will list nurseries in your area. 

Ask your family, friends and neighbours 

about their recommendations and where 

their children went. Do some research 

using your local social media groups. 

Visit a few nurseries before making such 

an important decision. Your child could 

be there for four years or more and you 

want them to be happy and develop 

well. 

PREPARATION 

It is important to know what questions to 

ask, what you should be looking for and 

the legal requirements a nursery should 

follow. If they have a website, brochure 

or prospectus, this can help you prepare 

questions and give you an insight into 

their offering. Check out their social 

media channels – are they posting about 

a wide range of learning opportunities? 

Check the nursery’s latest Ofsted report 

to see what the regulatory body has 

graded the nursery during their most 

recent inspection. There should be a 

link to the report on the website; if not 

you can find any report using the Ofsted 

‘Find an inspection report’ website, 

all you need is the nursery address to 

locate the relevant report. 

ON THE DAY OF THE VISIT 

First impressions really do count. Some 

things to consider include: 

• Is there a car park or somewhere 

you can pull in easily to take your 

child out safely? 

• What is the nursery entry system? 

Were they welcoming and polite? 

• Is the nursery clean and friendly 

and does it feel safe? 

• Are the children playing happily 

and are they engaged in activities? 

• Are staff supporting children’s 

emotional and care needs? 

• Do the staff appear to be confident 

and caring? 

• What percentage of their staff have 

early years qualifications? 

• How do they work with parents 

to keep you informed about your 

child’s development? 

High quality nurseries will expect you to 

ask questions. Try to spend time with 

staff and see how they interact with your 

child. Do they offer settling in sessions? 

GOING OVER AND ABOVE 

Look out for professional standards 

or awards which show a setting’s 

commitment to quality improvement. 

Millie’s Mark, the gold standard in 

paediatric first aid, requires all staff 

within the setting to be trained and 

confident in carrying out first aid. 

NDNA’s Champions programmes show 

dedication to Maths, Literacy or SEND. 

Nurseries who have achieved NDNA’s 

Quality Counts and e-Quality Counts 

show an ongoing commitment to high 

quality education and care where staff 

reflect and continually improve their 

practice. Find out more about these 

programmes at www.ndna.org.uk 

Check if they are members of any 

professional organisations such as 

NDNA, which supports nurseries to keep 

up to date with current issues and access 

high quality training for their staff. 

KEEP HEALTHY 

Look out for local authority healthy eating 

awards – some also give out awards for 

teaching children about growing and 

preparing their own food. Check their Food 

Standard Agency rating, which will show 

the cleanliness of food preparation areas. 

Do they offer special dietary requirements 

and can they cater for allergies? 

Are you interested in forest school 

provision? Do they have a good outside 

space in which children can explore and 

stretch their imaginations? 

Do they go into the local community for 

example, to visit old people’s homes or 

see how their local farm works? 

Ask about their SENCO (special 

educational needs) support and what 

other professionals they work with. 

HOW SHOULD I MAKE MY FINAL 

DECISION? 

Visit more than one nursery to gain an 

understanding of what each offers. Make 

notes after each visit and refer to these later 

to help you make an informed decision. Go 

for a second visit and spend some time in 

the room your child will be in. It depends 

what is most important to you. Your gut 

instinct will also help you to decide. 

If you have any reservations about any 

of the nurseries you have visited, look 

elsewhere. If you leave the nursery and 

have further questions, any good nursery 

will be happy to answer them over the 

phone, or welcome you for another visit. 

Rosey James 

PR & Policy Manager 

National Day Nurseries Association 

T: 01484 40 70 66 

www.ndna.org.uk 

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

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Junior school bursary advert Chosen.indd 1 31/03/2022 18:45:40

Meet, 

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Summer at 

Waterperry Gardens 

Waterperry Gardens is more than just a beautiful 

garden in summer bloom during July and August, 

with so much to offer it really is the perfect place to 

come with family and friends... 

With a varied programme of events 

throughout the summer don’t miss the 

unique opportunity to enjoy the art festivals, 

or one of the many theatre productions and 

operas taking place in the beautiful setting 

of the outdoor Amphitheatre – a must for all theatre and music lovers. 

Please see our website for more information. 

If you are looking for a relaxing day out with friends enjoy some 

retail therapy in the gallery and gift barn followed by a stroll around 

the gardens. Get tempted in the teashop and sample the delicious 

homemade lunches available or have an extra special treat with a 

Waterperry afternoon tea. 

The plant centre, housed within the ancient walled garden offers 

plant connoisseurs and budding amateurs alike the chance to buy 

unusual varieties of shrubs and herbaceous plants whilst our friendly 

and knowledgeable staff are always available to provide advice, 

information and inspiration. There’s also a wide range of bedding, 

herbs and vegetable plants in season and the garden shop has a great 

range of garden sundries, tools, bulbs and seeds. 

Waterperry Gardens – A place to explore, relax and shop in beautiful 

surroundings all year round. 

Waterperry Gardens, Near Wheatley, Oxford, OX33 1LA. 

01844 339254 | www.waterperrygardens.co.uk ADVERTISING FEATURE 

illustration by Nobu Tamura 

Over 150 million years ago Abingdon was in 

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www.abingdonmuseum.com 

July August 2022.indd 1 www.minervamagazines.co.uk 10/06/2022 10:37:39 | 9

aymond blanc 

Bon appetit 

Editor Katie Thomson caught up with acclaimed 

French chef Raymond Blanc following his appearance 

at this year’s Blenheim Palace Food Festival – we 

talked all things sustainability, the British food scene 

and his love of teaching… 

Food and produce are at the centre of 

your life – you exude such a passion for 

it – where did this passion begin? 

It began in my childhood, in Franche- 

Comté. My mother was the greatest 

inspiration of my life. Through her I learnt 

about the importance of seasonality and 

the purity of ingredients. I was very much 

her kitchen helper and it wasn’t until 

the age of 14 that I made my first dish – 

crêpes Suzette, thin pancakes in a sweet 

sauce of caramel and Grand Marnier. 

I made about 30 pancakes, as light as 

feathers, and I was an extremely proud 

teenager. I folded them and arranged them 

on a big Pyrex dish. Then I made a light 

brown caramel, adding the juice of orange 

and lemon, and then the Grand Marnier. I 

poured the sauce over the pancakes and 

then decided to reheat the whole thing on 

a gas ring. Perfect! Or so I thought. At that 

moment catastrophe struck. The Pyrex 

dish exploded into millions of tiny pieces. 

Of course it was a blow to my ego but, as 

you know, I am delighted to say it didn’t 

put me off cooking. 

How important is the garden at Le 

Manoir aux Quat’Saisons? 

There is not just one garden in the 

grounds – there are many, from the 

potager to the orchards and herb 

gardens, and the valley of mushrooms 

and the Japanese garden with its little 

tea-house. For me, it is a daily ritual 

to wander through these enchanting 

gardens with their unusual herbs and 

the sweet, exotic scents of near and 

faraway places. Every little part of Le 

Manoir helps to make it a place with 

soul, a big heart and an appetite for 

humanity. My childhood in postwar 

France might seem ancient and 

simplistic, and we may have lacked 

today’s science or high-tech values, 

but we had one great asset: common 

sense. Information was passed on 

from one generation to another. We 

understood and appreciated that 

food connected with everything – the 

table, the family, environment, society, 

health. We respected what came from 

the soil. 

You’ve always been passionate about 

putting vegetables in the spotlight – do 

you think we are reconnecting with 

our understanding of produce and 

how it links to both our health and the 

environment? 

It begins with the young. We have to 

teach our children about the value of 

a meal, and instil in them that sense 

of place, of region. We need to show 

our children what flourishes near their 

homes and how to grow our own 

vegetables in the garden. If that’s not 

possible we can use window boxes and 

teach our children the miracle of the little 

seeds that contain the life force. If you 

grow and cook your own vegetables, 

life will feel better and you and your 

family will feel better. You will be part of 

gastronomy, too! 


Bespoke party 

and event menus 

available 

A big bonjour, fabulous feasts & gourmet goodies are 

waiting for you at The Funghi Club. Visit our shop and 

browse our selection of fabulous dishes ready to take 

home and pop in the oven. 

Choose from classics such as our Lobster or 

cheese souffle, snails in garlic butter or a seafood 

filled crepe with lobster sauce. For main courses 

perhaps Boeuf Bourguignon or Coq au Vin, Steak 

& Kidney pudding, or a spicy lamb curry - all 

freshly made by our Chefs. In addition, we have 

a weekly changing menu of delicious dishes, 

fantastic Fruits de Mer, Tartes, Terrines, Pates, 

Quiches & lots more - delivered to your door or 

for collection every Friday from our shop. 

A new menu is available on our website every 

Thursday for the following week – order by 

midday on a Wednesday for collection or delivery 

on Friday. 

• Delicious Heat & Eat Dishes 

• Menu du Jour (only available in the shop) 

• Beautiful Patisserie & Desserts 

• Fromage & Charcuterie 

• Freshly made Bread 

• Foie Gras & Terrines 

• Oils & Vinegars 

• Glorious Gifts 

• Luxurious Chocolates & French Truffles 

Our fabulous shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am -4pm 

13 Hungerford High Street, Hungerford, RG17 0DN 

V 

01488 646306 (shop) or 07903 662698 (orders) 

www.thefunghiclub.com | thefunghiclub@gmail.com 

: M

Have you seen the British restaurant 

industry change since the 1970s? 

Beyond belief. When I crossed the 

Channel in the seventies the nation 

was in economic turmoil and the 

quality of the food supply chain was 

not questioned; it had become an 

irrelevance. We had embraced intensive 

farming, and we held it as a triumph. 

This was reflected in the restaurant 

industry which, yes, has changed 

dramatically, so that today London is 

considered one of the great gastromic 

cities of the world. Remember, food 

connects with every single part of 

our lives, a truth that was ignored for 

decades. Oh, how times have changed. 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Do you think our appreciation of food 

in Britain has had a similar overhaul? 

Yes, and also think of ‘the positives’ 

of the pandemic. Lockdowns 

encouraged many people to head for 

the kitchen and discover the great 

pleasures of cooking. It made me 

think about how it would impact on our 

lifestyles and the food we eat. We will 

seriously tackle food waste, and we 

will be closer to our farmers, butchers, 

fishmongers, cheesemakers and our 

other food producers. We do need to 

reconnect more with seasonality and the 

provenance and authenticity of produce. 

Sustainability must be the driving force 

in the years to come. We’ll rediscover 

our skills, grow more and import less. 

That’s good for the farmers and the 

economy. I have long felt that by digging 

into the past, we shall find our future. 

Maybe I am just an old romantic, but I 

do believe truly that this will happen. 

You appeared at the Blenheim Palace 

Food Festival this summer – what were 

the highlights in this special Jubilee 

year? 

The Blenheim Food Festival is a 

wonderful event with the focus firmly on 

eating well. It is buzzy, happy and fun, 

with lots of artisan producers with stalls, 

and cookery demonstrations. I hosted 

a question-and-answer session, and 

talked about my life, as well as my latest 

book, Simply Raymond, which is a little 

treasure chest of easy recipes. 

Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge 

– both on stage and to your brigade at 

Le Manoir? 

Without question, teaching is one of the 

greatest pleasures of my life. Over the 

years thousands have come to learn 

at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School 

at Le Manoir. And to think of the many 

young chefs who have come to work 

at Le Manoir ... and gone on to win 

Michelin stars! 

What has been your proudest 

achievement as a chef? 

Ultimately, it is sharing knowledge and 

watching others become masters of the 

incredible crafts of cooking and looking 

after our guests. I must tell you also of a 

special highlight… Many years ago the 

Queen Mother came to Le Manoir. With 

her entourage she enjoyed a particularly 

fabulous and long lunch, and then she 

stood and led her guests in a rendition 

of Le Marseillaise. Then she insisted that 

I gather together about 80 members of 

staff so that she could personally thank 

them for the wonderful experience. I am 

French Republican but I must tell you 

that on that day when the Queen Mum 

visited I came very close to becoming a 

royalist. 

Fantastic Food Festivals is hosting two 

more festivals this summer. 

The iconic Royal Victoria Park situated 

in the historical city of Bath will host the 

next food festival on Friday 29th July to 

Sunday 31st July with the final festival 

at Upton Country Park in picturesque 

Poole during the Bank Holiday on 

Saturday 27th August – Monday 29th 

August 2022. 

For more information and tickets visit 

www.fantasticfoodfestivals.co.uk 

‘Simply Raymond: Recipes from 

home’ by Raymond Blanc (£25, 

Headline) is out now 


Raymond Blanc 

MUSSEL AND 

SAFFRON RISOTTO 

Mussels and saffron are united harmoniously in this classic 

risotto. There’s no need for that constant stirring. Instead, the 

rice is stirred towards the end of the cooking time to activate the 

starches, a trick you can use with any risotto you make. 

INGREDIENTS 

For the mussels 

1kg fresh mussels 

1 onion 

2 bay leaves 

2 thyme sprigs 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 

100ml dry white wine 

For the risotto 

1 garlic clove 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 

200g carnaroli rice (or arborio) 

2 bay leaves 

a couple of pinches of saffron powder or 

strands 

pinch of cayenne pepper 

2 pinches of sea salt flakes 

100ml dry white wine 

300ml water (or fish stock) 

To finish 

50g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 

2 teaspoons unsalted butter, at room 

temperature 

a handful of coarsely chopped flat-leaf 

parsley 

100g cooked peas (optional) 

a handful of baby-leaf spinach (optional) 

½ lemon, for squeezing 

TO PREPARE 

First, the mussels. Ensure that all 

the mussels are tightly closed and not 

damaged before you begin to cook; 

any mussels that are damaged or open 

should be discarded. The preparation 

can be done in advance. Wash the 

mussels in a large bowl and under cold 

running water. Mussels that float at this 

stage are not very fresh, so discard them. 

Remove any barnacles and beards, but 

don’t scrub the shells as this can end up 

colouring the cooking juices. Drain. 

Finely chop the onion and peeled garlic 

and grate the cheese. 

In a large saucepan over a medium heat, 

sweat half the 

onion, the bay 

leaves and thyme in the 

butter for 1 minute. Increase the heat to 

high, add the mussels, pour in the wine, 

cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes. 

Drain in a sieve over a large bowl and 

discard any mussels that have not 

opened. Reserve the cooking juices, 

you will need about 200ml to make the 

risotto. Once the mussels have cooled, 

pick the mussels from their shells, leaving 

a few in their shells for decoration, and 

put them all aside. 

Now, to the risotto. Melt the butter in a 

large saucepan on a medium heat. 

Add the remaining onion, cover with a 

lid and cook for 2–3 minutes, until the 

onion is translucent. Add the garlic and 

stir in the rice. Add the bay leaves, saffron 

and cayenne pepper and lightly season 

with salt. Stir and continue to cook on 

a medium heat for 2 minutes, until the 

grains of rice are shiny. 

Pour in the wine and let it boil for 30 

seconds – bubble, bubble – and stir. 

Pour in the mussel cooking liquor and the 

water or fish stock and stir again. 

Now cook on the gentlest simmer, with 

just a single bubble breaking the surface. 

Cover with a lid and leave for 20 minutes, 

but it mustn’t boil. 

Now it’s time for 5 minutes of some 

serious and fast stirring. At full speed, stir 

the risotto. The grains rub against each 

other, extracting the starch, and this gives 

the rice its creaminess. Yet every grain 

remains whole, unbroken. 

Taste – the rice should have a slight bite. 

Add the cheese, butter and parsley to the 

risotto, along with the cooked peas and 

spinach, if using, all the cooked mussels 

and a strong squeeze of lemon. Stir, taste 

and correct the seasoning just before 

serving. 

SERVES 

4 

PREP 

20 

Simply Raymond: Recipes from Home by Raymond Blanc 

(£25, Headline) is out now 

Photo credit: Chris Terry 

COOK 

40 


Raymond Blanc 

PEAR 

ALMONDINE 

It’s rare to find a dessert that is both 

simple and extraordinarily delicious. Pear 

Almondine is one of my favourites. You can 

find some excellent preserved Williams 

pears in jars or tins, ideal for this recipe. 

This dessert is a template to accommodate 

many other fruits and flavours. For baking 

like this, I like to use a baking stone. 

However, if you don’t have this, it will still 

be a winner. 

INGREDIENTS 

6 pear halves, tinned or jarred 

100g unsalted butter, at room temperature, 

plus extra for brushing the tin 

100g caster sugar 

100g ground almonds 

1 teaspoon cornflour 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 medium egg (preferably organic or freerange) 

To serve 

a handful of flaked almonds (for extra 

flavour, first toast them in a dry pan) 

icing sugar, for dusting 

SERVES 

6 

PREP 

10 

COOK 

20 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/ 

gas 3. 

Butter (or oil) a tart ring, about 18cm x 2cm. 

Cut a long strip of greaseproof paper to 

stick to the inside. Place the lined tart ring 

on a lined baking tray or baking stone. 

Drain the pears and slice them in half 

again if they are large. In a large bowl, mix 

the softened butter and sugar. Then add 

ground almonds, cornflour, vanilla and egg, 

and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the 

cake tin, spreading it evenly. 

Arrange the pear halves evenly around the 

outside of the tart, resting them on top 

of the almond sponge mixture, and with 

the tip of each half meeting in the middle. 

According to size of the pears, you may 

require the base of half a pear to fill a space 

in the centre. Scatter with almonds. 

Bake the tart on the middle shelf of the 

oven, on the preheated baking stone or 

baking tray, for 16–20 minutes, or until 

golden. 

Leave the cake to cool for a few 

minutes before removing it from the 

ring. 

Before serving, dust with icing sugar. 

VARIATION 

In a saucepan, reduce the syrup from 

the jar, let it cool and add a dash of 

Poire William, the pear liqueur. After 

baking, puncture the pears with a 

fork and pour over the syrup. It adds 

colour and flavour. 

Simply Raymond: Recipes from 

Home by Raymond Blanc (£25, 

Headline) is out now 

Photo credit: Chris Terry 


GIVE A GIFT 

that means a little more 

Our veggie Boxes 

We deliver to your door free of charge on a Friday 

(15 mile radius) 

£15 Family Box, £10 Couple/Single Box 

Packed with seasonal fruit and veg plus basics 

each time including potatoes, onions, carrots 

and 6 free range eggs. 

sustainable, wellness-based 

gift boxes - customisable and 

beautiful, from £10 

available from hauslife.co.uk 

Didcot Civic Hall 

Two fun filled family days 

24 th & 25 th 

September 

2022 

English actress and singer Su Pollard will be 

opening the event at 10.30am on Saturday. 

Renowned Oxfordshire chef and finalist on MasterChef the 

Professionals 2021 Aaron Middleton will be appearing in the 

Chefs Theatre plus chef demos from The Great British Bake Off, 

Great British Menu and local stars. 

Over 40 artisan food and drink stalls, café, street food, 

entertainment and Kids on Sunday. 

Take advantage of the early bird prices on the website. 

For further information and to buy your advance tickets, visit 

www.didcotevents.co.uk/food-festival 


A calm and beautiful 

nursery using paired 

warm neutral shades and 

simple mdf panelling 

renew 

Refresh & 

RENOVATE 

Pampas and Milk No 

Sugar, coatpaints.com 

No. 101 Wick White, 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Refresh 

Sage Advice, 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

Dulux’s new heritage 

range has beautiful, 

richly-pigmented colours 

in hues that won’t date 

A lick of paint really does transform a space. This season, interiors have been 

comforting spaces - with colours designed to evoke feelings of nostalgia. We love 

the creamy whites now available - they give a hit of school-house warmth. For a 

calming bedroom or gender neutral nursery as above, try layering warm neutrals 

on details like panelling. Thanks to regency drama Bridgerton, greens are still 

hugely popular - the hues are endless depending on whether you want to create 

a rich and inviting space or somewhere dark and dramatic. 

Dulux Heritage in Waxed Khaki, 

duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk 

Using Crittall style doors 

floor to ceiling creates 

great impact here 

(Image credit: Paul Raeside) 

RENOVATE 

Lots of us have decided to stay put and improve our 

existing properties - nothing does this quite like new 

glazing. New doors and windows breathe fresh life into 

spaces, especially if glazing can open up an existing wall. 

If you want to look into increasing openings, check with a 

structural engineer to see what you need to account for. 

Bi-fold doors remain the most popular option - allowing 

for an expansive opening of the space. We also love 

Crittall-style French doors for industrial chic. 

The use of glass from expressbifolds.co.uk 

creates an amazing feeling of space 


MILTON PROPERTY 

MAINTENANCE 

SLATING, TILING, FLAT ROOFS, 

LEADWORK, CHIMNEY RE-POINTING, 

MOSS REMOVALS, ALL ROOFING REPAIRS 

Free Quotations - All work guaranteed 

Email: miltonpropertymaintenance@yahoo.com 

TEL: 01235 884188 

MOBILE: 07885 705850

enew 

With electricity prices soaring, it 

makes good sense to upgrade 

your appliances where you can 

- and making them smart-home 

compatible will help to futureproof 

your property. 

Free up space 

on the worktop 

with boiling 

water at the 

push of a button 

with the GROHE 

Red tap 

Haier’s I-Pro Series 3 Washing Machine is 

A rated - saving 33% on a D-rated product. 

We love the steam refresh programmes 

to remove the bacteria from clothes and 

the intelligent steam functionality, making 

ironing almost unnecessary. I-Pro Series 3, 

haier-europe.com 

EcoPower technology saves 

water and energy with a cleverly 

designed water supply that reduces 

consumption, plus, this product 

won’t disrupt your peace, as it’s 

Quiet Mark certified. Miele G 7100 

SC Dishwasher, £999, quietmark.com 

(Image credit: Susanna Hawkins) 

AI in the kitchen is taken 

to a new level with Haier’s 

Chef@Home system - the 

touch screen detects user 

presence and the sensors can 

detect the type of food in the 

oven, timing the cooking to 

perfection. Chef@Home Series 

3, haier-europe.com 

Dark kitchens continue to be 

popular - with bottle green 

shades joining classic navy 

and charcoal 

Mix open shelves with 

closed cupboards for 

a feeling of space. The 

drawer dishwasher here 

from Fisher & Paykel is a 

great solution for a busy 

family. fisherpaykel.com/uk 

Larder cupboards keep all those 

essentials at hand. Clever lighting and 

the continuation of the worktop inside 

helps to make this feel like part of the 

kitchen when the doors are open - but 

crucially can be closed to make it all 

tidy instantly. oliveandbarr.com 

(Image credit: Higham Furniture 

RENOVATE 

When selecting a kitchen, it’s not about trends - but 

it is always worth looking at innovative solutions. 

One such design that works for large and small 

kitchens alike is the larger cupboard - featuring 

a workspace inside to house appliances like the 

toaster and coffee machine, these cupboards banish 

the clutter and make kitchens look clean and crisp. 


Refresh 

The perfect option for a quick and easy update, or 

for renters, peel and stick tiles are a great option 

to breathe new life into walls and floors - without 

expense or long term commitment 

Self adhesive splashback 

in toughened glass. Laura 

Ashley Mr Jones Splashback, 

£249, splashback.co.uk 

Washable, wipe-able, heat 

resistant, fireproof, and 

removable, these wallpaper 

rolls are ideal for updating your 

kitchen easily (60cm x 300cm 

roll), £190, limelace.co.uk 

renew 

Rather than replacing whole pieces of furniture, you can 

breathe new life into items and rooms by upgrading the 

hardware. From new handles to lights or sockets, it 

can be a surprisingly dramatic change without 

too much upheaval. 

Kilburn Knob, £10.80, 

corston.com 

där Lukas Light, 

£289, 

darlighting.co.uk 

3G Two Way Dimmer Switch - 

Bronze, £115.20, corston.com 

Cushion, £39, 

cultfurniture.com 

Tap, £189.99, dowsingandreynolds.com 

Decorative tray, £23, 

sassandbelle.co.uk 

Bridgman Sunbury Sofa and 

Cushions,bridgman.co.uk 

Refresh 

Elowen Throw, 

£69, and Charu 

Cover, £34, both 

hauslife.co.uk 

Surely the quickest renovation win of all is a 

switch up of soft-furnishings and decorative 

objects. No mess and instant impact! If you like 

to change these items seasonally, try to shop 

with companies using sustainable materials and 

paying workers fairly for their craft. 


OKA 

Al Fresco 

IN THE GARDEN 

With long summer nights ahead, we look at how to turn 

your garden into a beautiful extension of your living space 

Cox & Cox 

LIGHT THE LIGHTS 

As with setting the scene for dining, 

don’t forget to light other areas of the 

garden to provide drama and depth. 

We love these solar-powered spots to 

light up trees from below in areas where 

you don’t have mains electric access. 

4 x 1W LED Premium Solar Spotlight 

Kit, £99.99, and Moroccan Stake Light, 

£16.99, both lights4fun.co.uk 

DINING AREA 

Creating a beautiful, exciting outdoor dining space 

is easier than you might think - the key is multi-level 

lighting. Festoon lights work beautifully for a romantic 

feel, then pepper in candles or LED candles for a soft 

glow on the table. Just because you are outside, don’t 

forget the linens and place settings - runners, chargers, 

proper napkins and nice glassware help to set the scene. 

Lights from lights4fun.co.uk. 

lights4fun.co.uk 

FIRED UP 

Firepits and heaters aren’t just 

lovely focal points - they help 

the party carry on even when the 

evening gets cooler. Before buying 

consider your usage - some come 

with cooking attachments, saving 

space on needing a separate 

BBQ. Standing Iron Brazier, £350, 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Maira, 

Roma and 

Boho Floor 

cushion, 

from £29, 

hauslife. 

co.uk 

TEXTURES & 

TONES 

Style a garden as you would your 

living room - layer blankets, rugs, 

pouffes, cushions - just bring them 

in at the end of the evening - there’s 

no need to buy special outdoor 

cushions. Play with textures you 

might not have in the house, like 

ruffles, fringing and jute. 

Linen Napkins, 

£10, ooh-noo. 

com, Brisa plate 

and serving 

bowl, from £16, 

hauslife.co.uk 




STYLISH 

stays 

THE ATLANTIC HOTEL 

Jersey, UK 

These days, travelling abroad has largely 

returned back to normal. There is no 

requirement to test or isolate, however 

if like me, you still feel a slight hesitancy 

in jumping on a 5+ hour flight to the med 

this summer, then you might find that 

Jersey makes a wonderful alternative. 

Flights with Blue Island (servicing the 

Channel Islands since 2006) are available 

from many airports across the UK, and in 

our case, traveling from Bristol to Jersey 

meant a flight time of less than an hour. 

No sooner were we in the air was there the 

announcement from the pilot that we were 

landing shortly. Amazing. 

A mere six minute taxi journey took us 

to our destination; The Atlantic Hotel. 

Situated in the parish of St Brelade on 

the west coast of Jersey, the hotel is 

surrounded by breathtaking coastal views 

as far as the eye can see. Our ocean 

view room gifted us scopes of the golden 

sands of St Ouen’s Bay and the Atlantic 

ocean. With the sun beaming, who needs 

the med we thought! 

There is a timeless elegance to the feel 

of The Atlantic Hotel. Being situated right 

along the bay, every room you step into 

is bathed in light, and this continues right 

out into the Ocean Restaurant. I must 

admit, I was extremely eager to sample 

the menu. Since 2017 Chef Will Holland 

has been putting together menus at The 

Atlantic Hotel that celebrate the very best 

that the land and the sea have to offer, so 

we knew we were in for a treat. And he 

didn’t disappoint. Each course had us in 

a state of wonder. Every element on the 

plate was so well thought out, so well 

pared, and so beautifully presented. With 

one Michelin Star under his belt before the 

age of 30, it certainly won’t be long before 

Will Holland earns his next one under the 

The Atlantic Hotel. Watch this space. 

The breakfast menu continues the superb 

culinary offerings at The Atlantic Hotel, 

with a wide selection of cooked breakfast 

options, as well as a full continental spread 

available. If the weather is good you 

are able to take your dining experience 

outside beside the pool, which I would 

fully recommend as a gorgeous way to 

start your day. 

Ditch your passport (you don’t need one 

to fly to Jersey from the UK!), and book 

yourself in to The Altantic Hotel this 

Summer. You won’t regret it. 

Ocean View rooms available from 

£320 per night 

www.theatlantichotel.com 

THE CHEVAL COLLECTION 

London 

The Cheval Collection boasts a beautiful 

collection of serviced apartments, 

townhouses and penthouses in some of 

London’s most desirable neighbourhoods, 

as well as three beautiful properties in 

Edinburgh. On a recent trip to sample 

the best of London’s new exhibitions, 

we were delighted to stay at the Cheval 

Knightsbridge. 

Our location was unrivalled – the 

apartment being literally steps from The 

Victoria and Albert Museum and The 

Natural History Museums, and of course 

moments from the best of Knightsbridge’s 

luxury shopping. 

Cheval Knightsbridge opened in March 

2020 as a luxury all-apartment residence, 

following two years of full-scale multimillion 

pound refurbishments, and 

features 98 beautifully appointed one, 

two and three bedroom apartments, as 

well as three spectacular five-bedroom 

penthouses on the upper floors, aptly 

named Gloucester, Cromwell and 

Kensington. 

Our home for the weekend was a 

gorgeous Deluxe Three Bedroom 

Apartment, complete with a kitchen and a 

resplendent living area – it’s ideal if you are 

staying for a few nights and fancy winding 

down away from the city bustle. We were 

escorted to the door by a member of the 

team – pleasantly surprised to find out that 

our front door stepped onto the famous 

Brompton Road – we could stay for a 

month in this location and not manage to 

sample all the wonderful eateries on the 

doorstep. 

The Cheval Collection provides all the 

comforts of luxury city living with the 

convenience of a full concierge service 

just a phone call away. It really is a special 

treat for your next trip to the big smoke. 

Whether you are staying for a night or a 

month, it really does feel like an elevated 

home from home. 

Luxury Two Bedroom Apartments from 

£650 per night 

www.chevalcollection.com 


GROW FOR 

Gold 

In this edition, our regular 

contributor Matt Biggs gives us advice 

on how growing your own can be both 

cost effective and rewarding... 

With prices rising and evidence of some 

empty shelves in the shops, now might 

be the time for a little bit of ‘Dig for 

Victory’ spirit! 

There are so many ways of adding to 

your food options, from a few radishes to 

add some peppery perk to your salads to 

courgettes, beetroot, peas, Japanese and 

Chinese salad leaves, tomatoes and, of 

course, the humble spud! 

Even if you have no space, balconies, 

hanging baskets and even windowsills 

can host something edible from chilli 

plants and herbs to hanging tomatoes 

- and there is nothing like picking your 

own home grown produce and taking 

it straight to the kitchen. Many local 

Colleges offer short courses to help you 

get started, there are books, videos, TV 

programmes and your local garden club 

- all there to get your growing energies 

into gear. 

As well as the physical activity involved 

in preparing the ground and hoeing and 

weeding there is a mental benefit too 

and this is becoming more and more 

recognised as we rush from work to shop 

to home - a little time spent in the open 

air with the birds in the background is 

very beneficial and if you join a gardening 

club there is a social side too, as there is 

in having an allotment and sharing both 

gardening knowledge and produce. 

Children too can join in - an easy to grow 

packet of seeds and a large pot or a 

patch of earth and off they go - and there 

is a lot of learning in a packet of seeds, 

from biology to botany, the maths of 

sowing and spacing, the responsibility of 

being in charge of something, watering 

and weeding and then the joy of sharing 

what is grown - it is win, win all the way, 

and if the odd slug or snail comes along, 

they too have a place! 

To find out more about Matt visit his 

website matthewbiggs.com 


Didcot Calor & Paving Centre Ltd 

• Indian Natural Stone paving from £19.95m2 

inc VAT & Free Delivery 

• Rolawn Medallion Turf stockist 

• Bradstone, Natural Paving, Stonemarket stockist 

• Sand, Ballast & Shingle (bulk loads available) 

• Grange Fencing, Gates, Pergolas & Trellis 

• Now stocking Growbags 

For deliveries call: 

01235 814186 

Monday - Friday 8.30am-5pm 

Saturday 9am-4pm 

visit us at: 

Rich’s Sidings, Lower Broadway, Didcot 

sales@didcotcalor.co.uk 

www.didcotcalor.co.uk 


BLEND ON THE GO 

This compact and powerful Cuisinart 

Cordless On The Go Power Blender, 

is ideal for an on the go breakfast 

smoothie, a post workout protein 

shake or to puree baby food when 

you’re out and about. 

It’s also perfectly sized to use at 

home for blitzing breadcrumbs, dips, 

dressings, sauces, cocktails and 

much more. Being cordless, it will 

sit neatly on your kitchen worktop 

or shelf. 

Cuisinart Cordless On The Go 

Power Blender, £100, 

www.cuisinart.co.uk 

FAMILY POWERHOUSE 

Suitable for homes with both carpets and hard 

floors thanks to new VersaClean Technology, the 

VAX ONEPWR Edge Dual Pet & Car is perfect for 

families and owners of busy homes with pets and 

cars. Its cordless design means it can be easily 

carried upstairs or outdoors to clean the car, and 

the additional tools for above the floor cleaning 

make it easy to reach awkward areas such as 

stairs, ceiling corners and car boots. With a run 

time of 100 minutes, it has all the power of a conventional 

upright vacuum, with the convenience of 

wireless technology. 

VAX ONEPWR Edge Dual Pet & Car £399.99 (plus 

free toolkit worth over £50), www.vax.co.uk 

GO GO 

Gadget 

They say a man is only as good as his tools 

- perhaps it’s time to upgrade your gadgets 

around the home...here are our top picks 

SWEEP, MOP & DRY IN ONE 

If you have hard floors and have always wished you 

could sweep and mop in one easy stroke - enter 

the Hizero hard floor cleaner. It automatically 

compartmentalises solid and liquid waste, 

separating both into no-spill containers that 

can be easily removed for cleaning. Plus, it’s 

self-cleaning roller ensures that dirty water 

doesn’t come into contact with your clean 

floors. 

The battery life is excellent (up to 60 

minutes on a single charge) and the 

cleaner hugely economical - it uses 

just 1 litre of water, 0.01kWh of 

electricity, and 8 minutes to clean 

up 100 square metres of floor 

area. It leaves floors much drier 

than conventional mopping too. 

COMPOSTING CHAMPION 

We all know how essential it is that food scraps 

and peelings are separated from general 

household waste - as food waste breaks 

down under uncontrolled conditions in 

landfill, it releases methane, which has 

a global warming potential 23 times 

greater than carbon dioxide. 

Make composting the easy choice 

with a stylish caddy - this can attach 

magnetically to the side of a Simple 

Human Bin, or can be moved to where 

you are prepping. 

Compost Caddy, £49.99, www.simplehuman.co.uk 

GET UP CLOSE 

A great, cordless mirror which will help you with your makeup 

and skincare regime. With touch-adjustable light from 100- 

800 lux, view makeup in true daylight or natural candlelight 

tones. Flip between three different views – on one side 5x 

magnification for a great overall view, on the other side 1x is 

ideal to check your look at true size with a 10x window for 

close-up work. 

Sensor Mirror Trio, £299, www.simplehuman.co.uk 

The Hizero is great for allergy 

sufferers, thanks to its bionic 

tech instead of cyclonic 

cleaning. 

Hizero, £499, 

hizero.co.uk

Which? 

Where? 

When? 

What? 

Why? 

JOINT BORROWER SOLE PROPRIETOR 

COULD IT WORK FOR YOU? 

Julie Harris, Abingdon Branch Manager. 

“Dear Branch Manager, my wife and I 

would like to help our daughter buy her 

first property. We’ve recently heard 

about something called ‘Joint Borrower 

Sole Proprietor’ and we’re wondering 

what it means and if it could be an 

option for us. Can you give me some 

information about how it works?” 

Of course! With the Bank of Mum and 

Dad remaining one of the UK’s largest 

lenders, and many first-time buyers 

still struggling to access the housing 

market, it’s unsurprising that many 

parents (and grandparents) are looking 

for ways in which to help their children or 

grandchildren fly the nest. 

The most obvious of those ways is, of 

course, gifting a deposit, but it’s not the 

only one. Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor is 

another avenue to explore – here’s some 

information that we hope you will find 

helpful. 

What is a Joint Borrower Sole 

Proprietor Mortgage? 

A Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor 

mortgage (sometimes known as a JBSP 

mortgage) allows two or more people to 

buy a property together, but with only 

one person taking ownership of that 

property. This is the key difference from a 

joint mortgage, where all of the property 

purchasers are also the owners. 

The advantages 

In this case, you and your wife could use 

your income to boost your daughter’s 

overall affordability, but without being 

named on the title deeds, meaning she 

could potentially afford a bigger property 

or a property in a more desirable location, 

for example. 

If you are already a homeowner, a JBSP 

mortgage also means that you wouldn’t 

need to fork out for the extra 3% stamp duty 

applied to second homes or pay capital 

gains tax if and when the property is sold. 

A JSPB mortgage can be used as a 

stepping-stone to financial independence, 

providing the temporary support that 

many first-time buyers need to step up on 

to the property ladder. If and when your 

daughter’s circumstances change (for 

example, a pay rise) she could remortgage 

and remove you from the arrangement. 

Things you need to be aware of 

The mortgage application process would 

look very similar to buying a property 

solo. Income and expenses will still be 

considered, and there may be other 

criteria set by the lender that she or you 

would need to meet. 

You should also be aware that all 

borrowers in the arrangement have joint 

responsibility for the mortgage payments. 

While this lowers risk for the lender, it does 

mean that everyone in the arrangement 

has financial responsibility for paying the 

mortgage if anything were to go wrong. 

In this scenario, if your daughter could 

no longer afford the monthly payments, 

you would be liable to cover them and 

could also face additional financial 

consequences, such as a negative impact 

on your credit score. 

For more information, visit us in your local 

branch, book an online appointment at 

www.newbury.co.uk or give us a call. 

Abingdon branch: 

34 Bury Street, Abingdon, OX14 3QY 

Call: 01235 527750 

Email: abingdon@newbury.co.uk 

YOUR MORTGAGE IS SECURED ON YOUR HOME. THINK 

CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST 

YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU 

DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. 

Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the 

Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we will communicate with you in 

English. We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. 

Most complaints that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 8774 

Newbury 

Building Society


MAKING MUSIC 

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL 

On Sunday 28th August 2022, Oxfordshire will host 

what appears to be the only festival within the UK 

that focusses on making accessible elements as key a 

part of a fantastic music and entertainment event as 

the music itself! 

Following the incredibly sad and unexpected passing of Jody 

Dickinson from Wantage, J-Fest was created in her honour to bring as 

many accessible elements as possible to a family friendly event for all 

to enjoy. J-Fest isn’t a festival for people with disabilities, but a festival 

for everyone that enables people with disabilities and additional needs 

to be able to party and enjoy a festival with their friends and family 

without having to be in a separate area. 

With elements such as Sign language interpretation, mobiloo toilet 

facilities and all entertainment being accessible including aerial 

acrobatics, a climbing wall, DJ workshops, live street art displays, 

low noise pyro musical firework display and workshops as well as 

children’s crafts, face painting & glitter and much much more it really 

does cater for everyone. Music ranging from Dr Meaker bringing their 

live Drum and Bass Big Band, Green Haze (the UK’s leading Green 

Day tribute), Pop Covers, Gypsy Funk, Dub, Reggae, HipHop, Balkan 

Ska and DnB, you will be hard pressed not to want to dance in a field 

feeling the love! 

Gates open at 11:30am, music from 12:00pm and last entry is 

at 8:00pm. No public camping available however if you require 

accessible glamping (with full profile beds and electricity available for 

overnight equipment) contact J-Fest asap to book your slot! 

Tickets available from ticketsource.co.uk/j-fest 

More information available from j-fest.co.uk 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

28TH 

AUGUST 

2022 

The 

Cabarats 

Nodstar 

Konfluent 

The Undercovers 

+ 

Partners in Sign 

J-FEST 2022 

Bass Therapy 

Making Music Accessible For All 

Low Noise Fireworks 

DR MEAKER LIVE BAND 

Mixed Signals 

David Boomah 

TicTac 

TKD GAL 

Damo 

Sign Language Interpretation 

Accessible Aerial Acrobatics 

Accessible Climbing Wall 

DJ Workshops 

EAST 

HANNEY 

OXON 

Live Street Art & Graffitti Workshops 

Food Stands and Bar 

J-FEST.CO.UK 

TICKETSOURCE.CO.UK/J-FEST 

Dakka 

Skanks 

Zen Lewis 

Green Haze 

Swyndla + Kiai 

with 

Ricky D & Flex 

Face Painting & Glitter 

Award Winning Customer 

Service for Letting in 

Abingdon 

“I strongly recommend Finders Keepers, especially if you 

live overseas. They have been taking care of our house for 

the past 3 years and everything has been running smoothly 

for us. Before we had another agency it was just a problem 

after another. The entire team, despite Covid has been 

very reactive, and prompt to solve all issues we had. Natalie 

Wood and Henry Brown the Managers 

of the Abingdon branch have been 

extremely professional with us.” 

January 2022 

 

01235 535454 | abingdon@finderskeepers.co.uk 


FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR A 

HAPPY RETIREMENT 

The secret to a successful retirement is to 

slowly and surely build up your retirement 

pot. Exactly how you do that will depend 

on your situation – but there are lots of 

things you can do. Here we have advice 

from Money Helper (moneyhelper.org.uk) 

which is a government advice service. 

As with any financial planning matter, it is 

important that your unique circumstances 

are considered and you seek the advice 

of a certified professional. 

REVIEW PENSIONS 

REGULARLY 

It’s important to review your pensions 

regularly. If they’re not on track to give 

you the income you want in retirement, 

you need to look at how to boost them. 

If they’re broadly on track, you can make 

a clearer plan so that your pensions will 

be able to give you the income you want 

when you retire. 

REVIEW THE WAY 

YOUR PENSION POT IS 

INVESTED 

If you have a defined contribution 

personal or workplace pension, you 

get to choose how your pension pot is 

invested. Typically, this involves choosing 

from a range of funds offered by your 

pension provider. 

These funds will be weighted differently 

between various types of assets, which 

offer different levels of risk and potential 

return. Generally, you can afford to take 

more risk when you’re young, and less as 

you get older. 

The longer your money will be invested, 

the more scope you’ll have to deal with 

investment performance going up and 

down over time. So if you are some way 

from retirement and your pension savings 

are invested conservatively, you might 

want to consider moving at least some of 

your fund into potentially higher-growth 

assets, for example, company shares. 

But bear in mind that there’s no 

guarantee that higher growth will be 

achieved. 

Transferring a personal pension into a 

self-invested personal pension (SIPP) 

can give you a wider range of investment 

options to choose from. 

But this brings higher risks if you’re not 

an experienced investor. And you might 

face higher charges. 

Unless you understand how the different 

pension investments work, you might 

want to consider getting regulated 

financial advice before making any 

changes to your pension investment. 

REVIEW THE CHARGES 

DEDUCTED FROM YOUR 

SAVINGS 

All pension providers will charge for 

managing your pot and investing your 

money. In defined contribution personal 

and workplace schemes, these charges 

are often called an annual management 

charge or ongoing charge figure and are 

automatically deducted from your pot. 

An annual charge of 1.5% a year could 

have eaten away a quarter of your 

pension pot after 35 years. An annual 

charge of 0.5% would have reduced your 

pension pot by only 1/10th over the same 

period. You don’t need to worry about 

this if you’re in a defined benefit scheme. 

But if you have a defined contribution 

scheme, charges reduce the value of your 

pension pot. Workplace pensions often 

have lower charges but that isn’t always 

the case. 

HOW MUCH MONEY WILL 

YOU NEED IN YOUR 

TOTAL PENSION POT? 

It’s important to think about your pension 

income in building blocks - first with the 

state pension, then with your private or 

workplace pension savings, and then with 

any other additional income you might 

get, from investments or property. 

How much extra income you need to 

generate from your private pension 

savings will depend on the type of private 

pension you have. 

Defined benefit and final salary pensions 

pay you a regular monthly income - how 

much you get is based on your earnings 

while you were working. 

If you have one or more of these, you 

should receive annual updates telling you 

how much you can expect to get. 

Adding that to your state pension 

(which you can find out by getting a 

state pension forecast) will help you 

understand how much you’ve got to play 

with in retirement. 

If you have any confusion surrounding 

multiple pension pots, investments or 

other pension queries, it is worthwhile 

seeking the advice from an IFA. 


NEW RETIREMENT 

APARTMENTS FOR SALE 

Chatting to loved 

ones about retirement 

isn’t always easy. But 

chatting to Churchill is. 

We all want the same thing for our loved ones. To feel 

safe, secure and happy in their retirement. When it 

comes to discussing retirement living we are experts 

in the industry, so you can always chat to Churchill. 

With over 25 years’ experience, we can help to make 

these conversations easy for everyone. Why not 

give us a call? We’re here to answer any questions, 

however big or small. 

Call today to find out more, 

01235 886305 

churchillretirement.co.uk/albert-lodge 

ABINGDON-ON-THAMES 

Albert Lodge 

Ock Street OX14 5DQ 

Open Tuesday-Saturday, 

10am-5pm 

LODGE MANAGER • GUEST SUITE FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY 

• LIFT • LANDSCAPED GARDENS • OWNERS’ LOUNGE

Get inspired by the “finest 

landscape model in the country” * 

Many exquisite miniature buildings 

Highly realistic model railways 

Drop-In Children’s Modelling on Wednesdays 

during half-term and summer holidays 

Indoors, with shop and tea room 

tel: 01865 407365 web: pendonmuseum.com 

Open at weekends and most Bank Holidays. Also some Wednesdays. See our website or call our information line for details. 

Pendon Museum, Long Wittenham, Nr. Abingdon, Oxfordshire. OX14 4QD. * Jane Insley, Curator, The Science Museum, London. 

Will 

£ 

£ 

£ £ 

LPA 

Living 

Will 

£ 

Abingdon Wills & Probate 

Part of Bicester Wills Ltd 

 

Standard Single Will - £225 

 

Standard Mirror Wills - £325 

 

Bloodline Wills - £625 

 

Lasting Power of Attorney 

Property & Financial Affairs - £325 

 

Lasting Power of Attorney 

Health & Welfare - £325 

 

Both Lasting Powers of Attorney - £500 

Gail and the Team 

offer a friendly 

estate planning 

service 

Phone us on 

01235 429483 

Home visits 

no extra 

charge!! 

 

Probate Assistance from - £1,500 

www.abingdonwillsandprobate.co.uk 

Telephone: 01235 429483 

gail@abingdonwillsandprobate.co.uk 


LODGE HILL GARAGE 

ABINGDON 

If you want to book an MOT 

or service please contact our 

service department on 

01865 326666 to arrange 

a convenient time for you 

✆ 01865 326666 

If you want to book an MOT or service 

please ✉ cars@lodgehillgarage.com 

contact our service department 

on 01865 326666 to arrange 

www.lodgehillgarage.co.uk 

a convenient time for you 

Q) 01865 326666 cars@lodgehillgarage.com 

www. lodgeh i I Igo rage.co. u k 

Lodge Hill Garage, Oxford Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 2JD 

Sunday Closed 

MOT 

JUST 

£53.50 

Unexpected 

car repair? 

We now have a solution to 

spread the cost of car repairs 

over 4 easy payments 

INTEREST FREE!! 

Please mention this payment 

option at point of booking, 2S% 

of final invoice to be paid on 

collection of vehicle. 

We want_ vou to sell us 

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your car!! 

We are one of the Best Buyers of 

Quality Used Cars, upto 10 years 

old and 80k witH service history 

Free quotation 

. Contact us today on 01865 326666 

fl 

ABINGDONS MOST CONVENIENT SERVICE CENTRE 

LOCATED JUST OFF THE A34 

10% OFF 

parts and labour 

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Abingdon Living Jul - Aug 2022

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