Newmarket and Ely Living Oct - Nov 2022

C O N T E N T S 

A NOTE 

from the editor 

10 

RECIPES FOR AUTUMN FEASTS 

I write this editor’s note under 

the sober shadow of the 

passing of our monarch. After 

over 70 years on the throne, 

our nation takes pause to 

honour the memory of Queen 

Elizabeth II. 

The past few weeks have 

held mourning, reflection and 

celebration of a remarkable 

life. Personally, I was a little 

surprised by the truly profound 

sense of loss I felt on her 

passing. Conversations with 

friends have revealed a similar 

depth of feeling - I’m not sure 

many of us realised what an 

impact losing her would have 

- a person who many of us 

have never met, but who we 

will miss as though we knew 

her. 

21 

GUEST BEDROOMS 

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 Andy Bruce 

e andy.bruce@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984503 

Cover image courtesy of Waitrose 

04 

COMPETITIONS 

WINTER HOME PREP 

24 

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. 

She has been in all our 

lives, for all of our lives - 

subconsciously there, each 

and every day. She was 

the face of our nation, an 

inspirational and revered 

figure across the world. 

She led the country through 

immense challenges, and is 

perhaps the greatest female 

role model to ever have lived. 

How blessed we were to have 

such a stoic figure on our 

throne, so dedicated to public 

service and to her people. We 

loved her, and we are proud to 

be represented by her. 

When we get caught up with 

the trivial moments of every 

day life, moments of collective 

grief and recollection can 

bring us back to centre - to 

reflect instead on what is 

really important, help us 

remember those we’ve lost 

and to cherish the ones we 

love even more. 

Thank you, ma’am, for 

everything. 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

COMPETITION 

To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at 

random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted. 

WIN 

A HAIER 

WINE COOLER 

WORTH 

£450 

Global domestic appliance leader 

Haier is offering one lucky reader 

the chance to win one of its 

fabulous and stylish wine coolers. 

This wine cooler, the Wine Bank 

50 Series 5, stores your wine in the 

same conditions as a professional 

wine cellar. It can hold up to 49 

bottles. 

Impress your guests with this stylish 

appliance. It contains an Air Natural 

Flow system that has precise sensors 

to keep the temperature and humidity 

stable – essential elements for 

guaranteeing that the properties of 

the wine remain unaltered. 

And you get to enjoy your wine at its 

very best! 

The door has special Anti UV glass 

to protect your wine from sunlight so 

you can place it wherever you want in 

your kitchen. Inside, the wine cooler 

has LED lighting that makes it easier 

see your collection. This beautifully 

finished wine cooler was developed 

in collaboration with Vivino, the 

community most valued by wine 

lovers. Because those who love wine 

choose Haier. 

www.haier-europe.com/en_GB/ 

Closes 5/11/2022 - 

Competition keyword: ‘HAIER’ 

WIN 

£300 TO SPEND 

ON LIGHTING & 

FURNITURE AT 

INDUSTVILLE! 

Industville 

a r e the makers of 

handcrafted, high-quality, 

uniquely designed Industrial 

Style Lights and Furniture. 

Products are made from the 

highest quality raw materials 

and are hand finished for 

an authentic look. From 

traditional vintage to modern 

and contemporary, there is 

something to suit all décor 

schemes. With a huge 

collection of both interior and 

garden lighting, as well as 

beautiful mirrors and stools, 

this Summer one lucky winner 

will win a £300 voucher to 

spend online. 

www.industville.co.uk 


Competition keyword: 

‘INDUSTVILLE’ 

Want to transform a bare wall 

with some verdant greenery? 

PlantBox is a clever, simple 

vertical garden, with a unique 

watering system that makes 

looking after plants so easy! You 

can opt for the mini (3 troughs), 

a medium (5 troughs), or go 

large with 10 troughs to create 

a living wall 1.2 metres across. 

No daily watering with PlantBox 

- each planting trough has a 1.8 litre water 

reservoir. That’s enough for 1 or 2 weeks, 

depending on location, weather and how 

thirsty the plants are. The reservoir and 

wicking-felt means that plants take up water as 

WIN 

A SET OF 

VERTICAL 

GROWING 

BAGS! 

they need it, so you don’t need to worry about over-watering 

either. No more guesswork about when to water: a water level 

indicator on each trough of your PlantBox living wall means the 

plants will tell you when they’re thirsty. One lucky winner will 

receive a set of 5 60x60cm vertical growing bags worth £108. 

www.growingrevolution.com. 

Closes 05/11/2022 - Competition keyword: ‘PLANTBOX’ 

We’ve teamed up with 

Asmodee, the biggest games 

company in the world, to 

provide a games bundle for 

the whole family to enjoy this 

Christmas! 

One lucky winner will receive 

a selection of games for a 

range of age groups, sure to 

keep the whole family happy. 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

WIN 

A BUMPER 

GAME 

BUNDLE FROM 

ASMODEE! 

The prize bundle includes 

Dobble, Taco Cat Goat 

Cheese Pizza, Bananagrams, 

Ticket to Ride Europe, CATAN, 

Dixit, Azul, Cobra Paw and 

HINT. 

www.asmodee.co.uk 


Competition keyword ‘GAME 

BUNDLE’ 

Enjoy an overnight stay in the heart 

of London this Christmas. You can 

enjoy a decadent, festive afternoon 

tea in Haxells Tearoom at the Strand 

Palace hotel. 

Set in the heart of London, a stone’s 

throw from Trafalgar Square and 

buzzing Covent Garden, Strand 

Palace is your home away from home, 

where modern comforts are complemented 

by a truly British charm. As part of the 

prize, one lucky winner will be treated to 

an overnight stay in one of the hotel’s newly 

refurbished rooms with breakfast the following 

morning. You will also receive festive afternoon tea for two in 

the hotel’s art-deco inspired tearoom, Haxells. 

WIN 

A FESTIVE STAY 

AT STRAND 

PALACE HOTEL, 

LONDON 

The lucky winner will receive a festive stay for two. Prize must be 

taken in December. www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk 

Closes 5/11/2022 - Competition keyword: ‘FESTIVE TEA’

Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

Join us for 2 days 

of craft filled fun! 

EAST OF ENGLAND ARENA, PETERBOROUGH, PE2 6XE 

FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2022 

FREE 

ENTRY 

FOR U16’S 

TICKETS ONLY £5.00 

FREE* entry for Ely Living readers when booked in advance! Use code ELY22 at checkout 

CRAFTINGLIVE.CO.UK 

Discover a garden that glows 

at Ickworth 

Ickworth Light Nights 

11 - 27 November, daily from 4.30pm 

© National Trust 2022. Registered Charity no. 205846. 

Photography © National Trust Images/Jim Woolf 

Join us this November for an illuminated winter 

trail through woodland, formal gardens and a 

Gothic stumpery. 

Book tickets: nationaltrust.org.uk/Ickworth 


IAPS GOES from strength 

to strength 

By Christopher King, IAPS CEO... 

The independent school sector continues 

to ride on its roller coaster. At the time 

of writing, in advance of a new school 

year, it does look as if there are plenty 

of negative factors lining up to puncture 

any post Covid optimism which might 

have occurred. Alarming increases in 

fuel and heating costs, high inflation not 

seen for more than 30 years, a squeeze 

on parental incomes and a gloomy 

mood in general, given the political and 

international landscape, do not combine 

to give much reason for thinking the next 

academic year will be any kind of bed of 

roses. All that having been said, there are 

some lessons learnt from the experience 

of the time of the pandemic which give 

good cause to stop one throwing in the 

proverbial towel. 

We learnt from the time of maximum 

impact of Covid-19 that parents of 

children at IAPS schools were remarkably 

loyal and supportive of the schools their 

children attended. We also found the 

total number of children on roll in our 

schools went up, not by many, but set 

against dire predictions of impending 

collapse of the sector this was a 

remarkable achievement. 

In short, the independent sector has 

demonstrated considerable resilience 

and positive energy can be drawn from 

the experiences of the last few years. The 

fundamental strengths of our schools 

remains unchanged. A holistic education, 

alert to the changing expectations of the 

wider society but tied to tradition when 

it makes sense to do so because of the 

stability this offers, lies at the heart of 

IAPS schools. Small class sizes, a sense 

that every child is known and valued, 

and a determination to offer excellence 

as standard. In combination, all these 

features offer a compelling model which 

continues to draw families into the 

independent school fold. 

There are changes which have been 

gathering pace in the prep school world. 

Much of this change involves new 

ownership and governance for schools. 

There are some investors in our sector 

with a motivation which is opaque and 

where their vales do not appear to align 

with the expectations we have for IAPS 

membership. However, the investment 

some of the so called ‘groups’ have 

brought to the schools is welcomed 

for the statement of confidence in the 

school’s future that this brings. The 

gathering into a larger foundation by 

some senior school governing bodies 

has been eyed with some suspicion 

in a few corners of the independent 

school sector. The drivers for such a 

move, where assimilation in this way 

has taken place, has been called into 

question. In reality, where senior school 

governing bodies have moved to draw 

prep schools into their fold, this has 

grown confidence amongst the majority 

of the current and prospective parental 

body, even if the leadership and staff 

might feel destabilised, at least for some 

time. Change brings such responses 

but time can heal this and it does seem 

that where new alignments are taking 

place confidence can return quickly as 

commitments on the school’s future 

start to be followed through on. The 

history of the prep school sector shows 

that there have regularly been well 

documented changes in ownership. 

The difference at this time would seem 

to be the aggregation of the schools 

into ‘groups’ but if they are well funded 

and can achieve economies of scale 

to suppress some costs which would 

otherwise have to be reflected in higher 

fees for parents then this can certainly be 

welcomed. The change of ownership and 

governance shows no sign of stopping 

and the parental body need not be 

concerned if they can see the values of 

the school aligning with their’s and that 

fundamentally children are happy and 

well cared for whist attending the school. 

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

BONFIRE delights 

Perfect sharing recipes to serve fire-side 

HOT DOGS WITH PICKLED CARROT 

AND SPICY MAYO 

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 15 minutes 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

2 tsp black sesame seeds (or a mixture of 

white and black) 

3 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Japanese Rice 

Vinegar 

1 tsp clear honey 

1⁄2 tsp toasted sesame oil 

300g carrots, scrubbed and julienned, 

shredded or grated 

4 Unearthed Bavarian Frankfurters 

3 tbsp mayonnaise 

1 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Gochujang 

Chilli Paste 

4 hot dog rolls 

METHOD 

Put the sesame seeds in a dry frying 

pan and toast over a medium-high 

heat, stirring from time to time, until 

fragrant; tip out of the pan and set aside. 

Meanwhile, mix the vinegar, honey, 

sesame oil and a large pinch of salt in 

a bowl and add the carrot; cover and 

chill in the fridge, allowing the mixture to 

quick-pickle until ready to serve. 

Heat a griddle pan over a medium-high 

heat and cook the frankfurters for 7-8 

minutes, turning regularly, until piping 

hot throughout. While they’re cooking, 

mix the mayonnaise and gochujang chilli 

paste in a small bowl; set aside. 

Split open the rolls and spread a little of 

the spicy mayo inside each one. Lift the 

carrot from its pickling liquor and arrange 

in the rolls, then top with the frankfurters. 

Drizzle over the remaining spicy mayo 

and sprinkle over the sesame seeds to 

finish. Serve any leftover carrot on the 

side. 

All recipes and images courtesy of 

Waitrose. You can find thousands more 

recipes at www.waitrose.com/recipes 

COOK’S TIP 

Gochujang (Korean chilli 

paste) makes a wonderful 

rub for meats, and is 

delicious in vegetable 

stews or bakes. It’s very 

spicy though, so use 

sparingly. 


SPICY TARKA 

DAAL WITH 

ROASTED 

AUBERGINE 



Serves: 2 

INGREDIENTS 

2½ tbsp vegetable oil 

1 clove garlic, finely grated 

1 tbsp lemon juice 

½ tsp ground cumin 

½ tsp ground coriander 

1 aubergine, cut into 8 wedges 

1 echalion shallot, sliced into 

0.3cm-thick rings 

400g pack The Spice Tailor Spicy 

Tarka Lentil Daal 

2 tbsp natural yogurt (or dairy-free 

alternative) 

Handful coriander leaves 

Naan breads or steamed brown rice, 

to serve (optional) 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 160°C, gas mark 

3; grease a 900g loaf tin and line with 

baking parchment. Shake the seeds 

out of the cardamom pods into a 

pestle and mortar. Grind to a powder, 

then mix with the cinnamon, ginger 

and salt; set aside. Finely slice 1⁄2 

an apple, then dice the rest into 1cm 

cubes; set aside. 

Using electric beaters, cream 

together the butter and sugar in a 

large mixing bowl for 2-3 minutes 

until light and fluffy. One at a time, 

beat in the eggs, making sure each 

one is fully incorporated before 

adding the next. Use a spatula to stir 

in the flour, almonds and spice mix 

until evenly combined. 

Stir the diced apple into the mixture, 

then spoon into the tin. Smooth the 

top with the back of a spoon, then 

scatter over the sliced apple. Bake for 

1 hour 10 minutes-1 hour 15 minutes 

until risen and a skewer inserted into 

the centre of the cake comes out 

clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 

minutes, then transfer to a wire rack 

to cool completely. 

For the drizzle, mix the vanilla bean 

paste and milk into the icing sugar to 

make a thick, smooth paste. Drizzle 

over the cake and scatter with rose 

petals before serving. 


ART UNEQUALLED 

EVENTS TO SHOWCASE SUPERB ART AND CRAFT 

07850 286566 www.artunequalled.co.uk info@artunequalled.co.uk 

 

East Anglian Festive Fair 


CONCHIGLIE WITH MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH 



Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

½ x 30g pack Cooks’ Ingredients Dried 

Porcini Mushrooms 

235g bag Ready-Washed Spinach 

300g De Cecco Conchiglie Rigate No 50 

pasta 

1 tbsp olive oil 

2 Echalion Shallots, finely diced 

250g Chestnut Mushrooms, wiped clean 

and sliced 

2 cloves garlic, crushed 

6 tbsp double cream 

60g Parmigiano Reggiano, coarsely 

grated 

METHOD 

Preheat the grill to high; put an oven shelf 

in the top third of the oven. Fill a large 

kettle with water and put it on to boil. Put 

the dried mushrooms in a heatproof bowl 

and cover with 300ml just-boiled water; 

set aside. Meanwhile, put the spinach 

in a large mixing bowl and pour over 

enough just-boiled water to wilt. Drain 

through a sieve then rinse under the cold 

tap. Squeeze out the excess liquid, then 

pat dry with kitchen paper and set aside. 

Bring a large saucepan of water to the 

boil and cook the pasta for 1 minute less 

than pack instructions. In a separate 

large, shallow casserole, heat the oil 

over a medium-high heat. Add the 

shallots, chestnut 

mushrooms, garlic and a pinch of salt. 

Cover with a lid and sweat for 5 minutes, 

stirring occasionally. Uncover and fry for 

another 5 minutes. 

Lift the dried mushrooms from the liquid 

and squeeze any excess liquid back into 

the bowl (reserve the liquid). Finely chop 

the soaked mushrooms and roughly chop 

the spinach, then stir into the casserole. 

Add 200ml mushroom soaking liquid 

(leaving out any sediment) and the cream. 

Drain the pasta and tip into the casserole 

along with 2⁄3 of the cheese. Season and 

stir together over the heat for 1 minute. 

Scatter over the remaining cheese and 

grill for 2-3 minutes until golden. Stand 

for 2 minutes before serving in bowls. 


CHAI SPICED 

APPLE CAKE 


Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes 

Serves: 10 

INGREDIENTS 

175g unsalted butter, softened, 

plus extra for greasing 

7 cardamom pods, cracked open 

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon 

1 ½ tsp ground ginger 

½ tsp fine salt 

2 Waitrose Jazz Apples, peeled 

and cored 

150g light brown soft sugar 

3 Medium British Blacktail Free 

Range Eggs 

150g self-raising flour 

100g ground almonds 

¼ tsp vanilla bean paste 

1 tsp whole milk 

2½ tbsp icing sugar, sifted 

Cooks’ Ingredients Pretty Rose 

Petals, to decorate 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 160°C, gas 

mark 3; grease a 900g loaf tin and 

line with baking parchment. Shake 

the seeds out of the cardamom 

pods into a pestle and mortar. 

Grind to a powder, then mix with 

the cinnamon, ginger and salt; set 

aside. Finely slice 1⁄2 an apple, 

then dice the rest into 1cm cubes; 

set aside. 

Using electric beaters, cream 

together the butter and sugar in a 

large mixing bowl for 2-3 minutes 

until light and fluffy. One at a time, 

beat in the eggs, making sure each 

one is fully incorporated before 

adding the next. Use a spatula to 

stir in the flour, almonds and spice 

mix until evenly combined. 

Stir the diced apple into the 

mixture, then spoon into the tin. 

Smooth the top with the back of 

a spoon, then scatter over the 

sliced apple. Bake for 1 hour 10 

minutes-1 hour 15 minutes until 

risen and a skewer inserted into 

the centre of the cake comes out 

clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 

10 minutes, then transfer to a wire 

rack to cool completely. 

For the drizzle, mix the vanilla bean 

paste and milk into the icing sugar 

to make a thick, smooth paste. 

Drizzle over the cake and scatter 

with rose petals before serving. 

COOK’S TIP 

You can vary the spice mix in this 

cake. Try swapping the ginger 

for ground allspice or crushing a 

couple of cloves instead of grinding 

the cardamom seeds.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 


Legal Power for 

Step-Parents 

By Daniel Sims, Solicitor, 

Family Department... 

Parental Responsibility (PR) means 

the legal power to make decisions 

for a child, i.e., school enrolment 

applications and consenting to 

medical treatment. Separated 

parents in new marriages will 

sometimes ask if their new spouse 

can obtain PR for their children, but 

this is not always straight-forward. 

Biological mothers will automatically 

hold PR, as will biological fathers who 

are married to the mother, and those 

fathers named on the Birth Certificate. 

The step-parent however, will not 

automatically hold this, even though 

they may be a significant presence in a 

child’s life on a day-to-day basis, and 

actually take them to school etc. 

In order to obtain PR, a step-parent 

would need to either: - 

1. Enter into a formal Parental 

Responsibility Agreement with 

the other parents that hold PR 

and then submit this to the Court 

to be made legally binding; or 

2. Apply to the Court for a Parental 

Responsibility Order; or 

3. Apply to the Court for, or be 

named in a Child Arrangements 

Order as, a person with whom the 

child lives. 

Option (1) is the most straightforward 

route, but requires cooperation, and 

sometimes the other parent (the 

biological mother or father) may have 

reservations about this, and fear being 

‘replaced’. If this cannot be agreed, the 

step-parent will have to apply to the 

Court for an Order if they wish to take 

this further. 

When giving this decision 

consideration, the step-parent will 

need to bear in mind the requirement 

to attend mediation before going to 

Court, and the fact that, once started, 

a Court process can be stressful 

and time consuming. Contested 

proceedings should involve the 

Children and Family Court Advisory 

and Support Service (CAFCASS) – 

effectively, social workers for the Court 

– and so background checks would 

be undertaken before Hearings were 

scheduled to try and resolve this issue. 

Whether a Step-Parent needs to share 

PR will depend on the specific family 

circumstances – if their partner, the 

parent, is ‘on hand’, they may not 

actually need to liaise with school 

teachers and doctors, but if one 

parent lives very far away, or the 

other has health issues of their own, 

the step-parent may need PR for 

day-to-day purposes, to step in and 

make decisions in the absence of the 

parents. 

If you need specialist advice regarding 

a matter involving children, you can 

contact Daniel Sims from our expert 

family law team today by email 

danielsims@fraserdawbarns.com or 

telephone 01553 666407. 

This article aims to supply general 

information, but it is not intended to 

constitute advice. Every effort is made 

to ensure that the law referred to is 

correct at the date of publication and 

to avoid any statement which may 

mislead. However, no duty of care 

is assumed to any person and no 

liability is accepted for any omission 

or inaccuracy. Always seek advice 

specific to your own circumstances. 

Fraser Dawbarns LLP are always happy 

to provide such advice.. 


MG4 EV 

ALL ELECTRIC 

HATCHBACK 

Motoring journalist Sue Cooke test 

drives the MG4 EV all electric hatchback 

The MG automotive brand provokes fond memories of my youth 

when I owned a little red MGB roadster. MG plans a new all 

electric sports car in 2024, but in the meantime, MG has entered 

a new sector of the market, which it has never been in before – 

the all electric C segment. 

The MG4 EV, is a strikingly designed fully electric hatchback. 

There are six colours to choose from. I road tested the model 

painted in a gorgeous Holborn blue. 

In the cabin there is little difference to driving a traditional car. 

The driver slides behind the wheel and presses the brake pedal. 

Engage the rotary gear selector and automatically the vehicle 

goes into ‘Ready’ mode in complete silence. 

Standard hi tech features include a wireless charging tray, a 

10.25” colour touchscreen with Apple CarPIayTM and Android 

AutoTM and iSMART app connectivity. Advanced MG Pilot 

safety features include traffic signs recognition and lane 

departure warning. The driver assistance systems have useful 

voice control. If you have ever left your car in a multi storey 

and promptly forgot which floor it is on, then you will much 

appreciate the phone app which will find your MG for you! 

Using an adaptor, you can even boil a kettle using the battery 

that powers the car. There are five Drive modes including a snow 

mode. 

The MG4 EV entry level is the SE with the standard 51kWh 

battery. Using a rapid charger, the charge to 80% takes 39 

minutes with a top range of 218 miles. 0-62mph is a quick 7.7 

seconds. The cost is from £25,995. 

The SE long range uses the 64kWh battery and will charge to 

80% in 35 minutes with an increased mileage range of 281 

miles. 0-62mph is 7.9 seconds. The cost is from £28,495. 

The Trophy long range battery will complete 270 miles and is 

recognisable as the car has changes to the exterior design 

which include a two tone roof and a very attractive Twin Aero 

Rear Spoiler with a gorgeous red patterned light bar and rear 

privacy glass. Equipment includes an upgraded MG Pilot 

system, with the inclusion of Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change 

Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Additionally, the interior is in 

leather with electric driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering 

wheel, a Bluetooth key, satellite navigation, a 360 degree 

camera, and an upgraded MG iSmart system compatible with 

live services. The cost is from £31,495. 

With a predicted high residual value of 64.6% and a seven year 

warranty, the MG4EV offers value for money. The new hatchback 

makes buying an all electric car more affordable and offers the 

spaciousness of an SUV with plenty of headroom and generous 

amounts of legroom, hi tech features, quick performance and a 

reasonable mileage range. 

The MG brand has grown by 75.9% and MG says it is the 

fastest growing manufacturer with 153 dealers in the UK, which 

number is expected to increase to 160 by the end of the year. 

Future models will use this new MSP platform architecture and 

an MG5 is promised in December. An MG4 EV with a larger 

battery of 77kWh dual motor powertrain and an extended range 

up to 329 miles, will even include a ‘Launch Control’ button! 

My little red sports car was lots of fun, but it couldn’t boil a 

kettle! 

Facts at a Glance 

Model: MG 4 EV all electric 

Price: from £25,995 for SE standard 

Power: 51 kWh battery 

Performance: 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and on to a top 

speed of 100 mph 

CO2 emissions: zero 

Combined Range: 218 miles (WLTP) rapid charge to 80% in 

39 mins 


MG4 The EVNew MG4 EV 

drive 

MG 

Available to test drive 

New MG4 EV 

The soon New at Brandon MG4 MG EV 

Available to test drive 

soon at Brandon MG 

able to test drive 

at Brandon MG 

From £25,995 

Contact us for more details 

From £25,995From 

Contact us for more details Contac 

From £25,9 

Contact us for more d 

FULLY COVID 19 

COMPLIANT 

SOCIAL DISTANCING 

MEASURES IN PLACE. 

01842 819999 • 07935 135806 

www.brandoncarcentre.co.uk 

72-74 High Street, Brandon IP27 0AU 

OFFERS ONLY AVAILABLE ON VEHICLES SHOWN

STYLISH 

stays 

CARROSSA HOTEL, 

SPA & RESORT 

Artà, Mallorca 

Katie Thomson visits the Carrossa Hotel, Spa & Resort for a 

moment of quiet, breathtaking island sunsets and the chance 

bask in the sun surrounded by rugged natural beauty… 

Sitting atop rocky hilltops with panoramic 

views over the neighbouring town of 

Artá and the glittering Bay of Alcúdia, 

the Carrossa Hotel, Spa & Resort is a 

stunning place to experience a taste of 

Balearic life. With landscaped gardens 

filled with fragrant lavender and ancient 

olive trees, the hotel beautifully blends 

classic Mallorcan style with contemporary 

comforts. 

STYLE 

The site centres around a 400 year 

old farmhouse, restored and artfully 

converted to house a range of rooms and 

suites, alongside villas and fincas. Think of 

floor to ceiling windows, exposed beams 

and fresh interiors - all making the most of 

the incredible views available from every 

angle. 

The rooms are spacious and elegant, with 

marble vanity units, ample storage and 

an airy feel. Our suite had beautiful high 

ceilings and exposed beams - the rooms 

are luxurious but unfussy - perfect for 

making you feel immediately relaxed. 

ACTIVITIES 

Relaxation is the order of the day at 

Carrossa - but if you do like to beat that 

holiday inertia, there are some great 

activities right on the doorstep. 

Despite its more remote location, this area 

has a huge pull for golfers, with a range 

of courses within a short drive. Capdepera 

Golf, Pula Gold Resort and Alcanada are 

superb courses, all within an hour of the 

hotel. 

New and experienced riders alike will 

love the option to ride horses in this 

charming area. The hotel also has details 

on a selection of morning hike trails, local 

cycling routes, and even yacht rental. 

FOOD 

The Carrossa is a foodie’s delight - with 

the option to dine in either the eponymous 

main restaurant or the more relaxed 

Badia Bistro available with half board 

pricing. Restaurant Carrossa serves up 

an ambitious classical menu with modern 

touches, all centred around seasonal 

ingredients. Each evening brings a new 

and exciting daily set menu, alongside 

options to interchange dishes from the a 

la carte menu. 

Badia Bistro is perfect for a burger or 

fresh fish dishes, plus a selection of tapas 

- it also enjoys wonderful sunset views 

across the bay. 

If after dinner drinks are in order, a trip to 

the Bar Oro is a memorable (well, depends 

on the number of drinks…) experience. 

This modern bar sits within historic vaults, 

creating an atmospheric space to enjoy a 

range of classic and more experimental 

cocktails. 

RELAXATION 

Carrossa is not short of lovely places to 

relax - each of the suites is complete with 

its own patio - the perfect place to unwind 

with a glass of wine whilst you watch 

the wild goats forage amongst the olive 

groves. 

Yogis can take part in the twice-weekly 

yoga classes on site, or those looking 

to ease out more muscle tension should 

head straight to the spa. 

The resort caters for all seasons - with a 

glorious infinity pool soaking in the best 

of the views for the summer months, and 

a large spa, complete with steam room, 

sauna and a relaxation area to soothe the 

muscles after a day of activity - or a day of 

reading your book in resplendent peace, 

we won’t judge! 

Standard rooms from £198, Suites from 

£288 per night. Find out more and book 

your stay at www.carrossa.com 

Camí de Carrossa | 07570 Artà 

Mallorca | Spain 

T: +34 971-835647 


BE OUR 

‘Tis (nearly) the season for hosting visitors - we’ve got top 

Guest 

tips on creating a sumptuous guest bedroom, plus tips to 

improve all areas of the home 

Left: Caitlin Marie Design, 

caitlinmariedesign.com 

Above: Annabel Grimshaw 

Interior Design (image from Chris 

Snook), annabelgrimshaw.com 

THE BEDROOM 

DON’T: WORRY IF YOU 

HAVEN’T GOT LOTS OF 

SPACE 

Ultimately you have to work with what 

you’ve got - in the last 2 years, many of 

us have seen our guest rooms overhauled 

to become home offices. If you’ve 

ditched the bed don’t worry - how about 

adding an attractive sofa bed that you 

can actually use the rest of the time as a 

break out area from your desk. 

DO: PROVIDE BASIC 

AMENITIES 

The more things you can put in the room 

to make their stay easier, without having 

to ask you for everything, the more 

relaxed everyone will feel. A mirror is 

important, as are fresh towels, tissues, 

and perhaps even a hair dryer. A bedside 

carafe and some glasses means they can 

help themselves to water too. 

DO: INVEST IN GOOD 

WINDOW TREATMENTS 

As you might have never slept in this 

space, you might not know how light 

behaves or how effective the current 

window treatments are for blocking out 

light. For a really luxurious look, pair 

blackout blinds or shutters with thick, 

decorative drapery. Shutters give a lovely 

secure feel to a space and really finish 

the room. 

DON’T: SETTLE FOR A 

LUMPY MATTRESS 

The same goes for the mattress as the 

window treatments - spend a night in the 

room and see if the bed is up to scratch. 

DO: PROVIDE GOOD 

LIGHTING 

Multi-level lighting is key for making a 

space feel cosy - make sure there are 

two bedside lamps and then another 

light source in the space, such as a 

standing lamp in the corner or a lamp on 

a dressing table 

DON’T: SKIMP ON THE 

BED LINENS 

Good bed linen really is worth the money 

- and it tends to wash better too. Provide 

a good quality duvet and pillows, linens 

and some additional blankets if your 

guests feel the cold. 

DO: CREATE 

SOMEWHERE THEY CAN 

UNPACK 

We all know it’s a bit stressful trying to 

live out of a suitcase - allowing for some 

hanging space and a few drawers to 

unpack into, can really help guests keep 

on top of things whilst they’re with you. 

DO: MAKE IT SMELL 

LOVELY 

Kit the room out with either fresh flowers, 

a reed diffuser, or room sprays. Neom 

candles have range of wonderful relaxing 

scents, which can fragrance the room 

even when they are not lit (Complete 

Bliss Scented Candle, 3 Wick, £48). 

Pillow spray to help deep sleep is also a 

lovely touch to make the 

space feel 

homely. 


Skimmia japonica 

DON’T: BE A 

PERFECTIONIST 

If your guests were hoping for hotel 

standards, then that’s where they should 

have stayed. Just aim to make sure 

the space is clean, comfortable and 

functional, then relax - there’s enough to 

be worrying about in the festive season 

without adding high expectations on top 

of that. 

THE REST OF 

THE HOUSE 

DO: ASSESS YOUR KERB 

APPEAL 

We can all become a little immune to the 

scenes we see every day, so taking a bit 

of time to objectively assess how things 

look can be really helpful. Give the area a 

sweep and a clear out, check wall lights 

are working, that your doormat is in good 

condition, and that any glass has had a 

good clean. Clean the door itself too - it 

really does help things look more up and 

together. If your door is on its last legs, 

now is the time to get a new one ordered 

- as a bonus it could save you money on 

heating your home too. 

Then, really set off your door with a 

classic wreath - you could make your 

own to really make it tie in with the 

setting, or to your personal tastes - go 

ultra-traditional with orange slices 

and berries or something a bit more 

contemporary with feathers or dried 

grasses. 

DON’T: FORGET TO 

REPAIR DAMAGE 

Last summer was exceptionally hot and 

dry, resulting in lots of hairline cracks 

from the humidity in the air. These are 

easy to fine fill, sand and repaint - it’s a 

quick job but makes such a difference. 

DO: REFRESH YOUR 

PLANTERS 

There are lots of great options for you to 

add some winter colour to pots at the 

front of your home. The little bobbing 

heads of cyclamen are gorgeous, as 

is the structure from winter heather. 

Skimmia japonica is a super winter 

shrub - glossy leaved and just the right 

size for pots, when winter is over and the 

container display has come to an end, 

you could plant them out in the garden 

to grow on. They come in a variety of 

shades - covered in clusters of longlasting 

buds during autumn and winter 

which eventually open to delicate flowers 

in spring. 

DO: RESTOCK 

CUPBOARDS 

Make sure your guests know where 

tea and coffee are kept and that they 

can help themselves - this is especially 

important if your morning routine is 

different to theirs. Some mince pies or 

other freshly baked goods are a lovely 

treat, especially if your guests have 

travelled far to see you. 

DO: KEEP SPARES 

It’s a nice gesture to make sure there 

are spares for those commonly-used, 

and often forgotten, items - toothpaste 

and other travel-sized toiletries and a 

phone charger. It makes people feel more 

comfortable if they can be self sufficient, 

without having to constantly ask to 

borrow things. 


PROVIDE SEATING 

Think about where you are likely to 

congregate together and make sure 

there is enough seating to accommodate 

everyone at once. This might be at the 

kitchen table or the living room. Pouffes 

and ottomans make great occasional 

seating which can be tucked out the way 

when not in use. We love classic leather 

Moroccan designs, or storage ottomans 

which can be used for blanket storage. 


RELAX 

For most of us, Christmas affords some 

rare time to relax in the company of those 

we hold dearest. Don’t 

forget to enjoy the 

company of those 

you are hosting 

- and don’t 

sweat the 

small details 

- your guests 

are just happy 

to see you! 

A festive wreath creates 

a warm welcome 

Moroccan Leather Pouffe, £99, hauslife.co.uk 

Macedon Storage Ottoman 

£92.99, wayfair.co.uk

Visit our website 

for a walk thru of 

our showroom 

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK BATHROOM SHOWROOM 

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK BATHROOM SHOWROOM 

Did you know we also do: 

Lighting, DIY, Plumbing Fittings, Paint, Tools, Work Clothing 

Did you know we also do: 

Lighting, DIY, Plumbing Fittings, Paint, Tools, Work Clothing 

8-5 Mon-Fri 

• OPEN TEL: 01353 8600936 DAYS EMAIL: portplumbing@hotmail.co.uk A WEEK 9-1 SatWEBSITE: 

www.portplumbing.co.uk 

• BATHROOM OPEN OPEN 6 DAYS SHOWROOM 

A WEEK BATHROOM SHOWROOM 

SHOWROOM 

TEL: EMAIL: WEBSITE: 

Did you know we also do: do: 

01353 860093 portplumbing@hotmail.co.uk www.portplumbing.co.uk 

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK B 

Lighting, DIY, Plumbing Fittings, Paint, Tools, Work Work Clothing Clothing 

Did you know 

TEL: TEL: 01353 860093 EMAIL: portplumbing@hotmail.co.uk WEBSITE: 

www.portplumbing.co.uk 

Lighting, DIY, Plumbing Fittings, 

Looking for a unique 

Christmas gift? 

Fox 

Sponsor a 

rescued horse 

or donkey from 

Redwings for a 

whole year from 

just £15! 

TEL: 

01353 860093 EMAIL: portplumbing@hotm 

www.redwings.org.uk/adopt 

01508 505246 

Upgrade your gift! 

We have a 

gorgeous selection 

of Adoption Star 

merchandise 

available in our 

online gift store 

www.redwings.org.uk/shop 


PREPARE YOUR HOME 

FOR WINTER 

Taking on some basic maintenance can 

help prepare your home for winter as the 

changing weather conditions can cause 

costly damage. With a few easy steps you 

can be winter ready for the long, cold 

months ahead. 

1. SERVICE YOUR BOILER 

Your boiler should be serviced annually 

to make sure that it’s still safe to use and 

works efficiently. Ideally this should be 

done before the heating season. This 

will give you some time to make sure 

everything is still working before the days 

get too cold! 

There are other ways to ensure your 

central heating is efficient. Bleeding 

radiators, to release trapped air, is a DIY 

task. While power flushing, a job best left 

to the plumbers and heating engineers, 

can ensure a build up of sludge is 

removed from radiators. 

2. INSULATE YOUR LOFT SPACE 

If you haven’t already insulated this 

space, or you have poorly performing 

insulation that has slumped over time, 

tackling this project will quickly pay 

dividends over the colder months. 

3. CHECK YOUR GUTTERING 

An essential task when preparing your 

home for winter — look for leaves, moss 

and other debris and clear gutters and 

downpipes to prevent blockages in heavy 

rain and snow. 

Cracked, missing or damaged rainwater 

goods or brackets should ideally be 

replaced, too. Leaky rainwater goods, 

can, over a period of time lead to damp, 

so it’s important to make these cheap 

fixes now — rather than making costly 

remedial work at a later date. 

4. GET YOUR CHIMNEY SWEPT 

The winter weather can cause damage to 

your chimney, so the pre-winter months 

are a great time to get your chimney 

professionally swept. Sweeping will 

improve the efficiency of your chimney by 

ensuring any potential blockages, such 

as nests or a build up soot, are removed 

before you start using your open fire or 

log burning stove. 

5. INSULATE YOUR PIPES 

Insulating (or lagging) your pipes can 

reduce the loss of heating and also 

prevent them freezing and bursting. This 

is particularly important when plumbing 

is located in cold areas such as in 

uninsulated loft spaces and garages. 

Keep the heating at a low level (above 

4°C) even when you’re away from the 

property, as this will help maintain a 

consistent temperature around the pipes. 

Just in case of emergencies, know where 

your stopcock is to enable you to turn 

the cold water system off and limit further 

damage. The stopcock is usually located 

under your kitchen sink and normally 

looks like a tap/lever. 

6. MAKE SURE YOUR OIL TANK IS 

TOPPED UP 

If your property has an oil tank, make 

sure it’s topped up for winter. Doing so 

will help you avoid peak winter prices 

and make sure you don’t run out of oil 

through the colder months. 

7. GET YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE 

READY 

Making sure your garden is clear, clean 

and ready for winter is a good idea. 

Secure anything that could be swept 

away by the wind such as greenhouses, 

plant pots and wheelie bins. 

8. GET YOUR ROOF CHECKED 

Roof slates/tiles can become loose 

throughout the year and this could lead 

to leaks through the winter. It may be a 

good idea to get your roof inspected by 

a professional to make sure there are no 

areas that need fixing before the colder 

months. 

9. DRAUGHT PROOF WINDOWS, 

DOORS AND FLOORS 

With current energy prices rises, 

undertaking draught proofing measures 

can be a relatively simple and costeffective 

way of improving your home’s 

thermal performance. 

Measures include insulating loft hatches, 

adding draught proofing strips to doors, 

and blocking up unused chimneys. 

Some tasks can take minutes — others, 

such as insulating beneath timber 

suspended ground floors, are more 

invasive and will require considerably 

more work. 

10. MAKE SURE YOUR PROPERTY IS 

INSURED 

One of the most important things to 

consider when heading into winter is 

whether you have home insurance. The 

winter months bring darker nights which 

lead to higher crime rates, plus the UK 

weather obviously starts declining in the 

winter. Not only will most home insurers 

provide cover for things like theft, but 

also fire and flood too. 


GIVING COUNT 

With Christmas around the corner, our 

regular contributor Matt Biggs gives us some 

tips on what to buy the gardener in your life... 

Giving gifts at Christmas is always both a pleasure and a puzzlewe 

want the recipients to enjoy what we give and, perhaps this 

year more than most, we want the gifts to be both valued and 

valuable. Thoughtful gardening gifts can fulfil both of these 

criteria, so here are a few suggestions: 

A subscription to a gardening magazine is a terrific gift for 

either a keen gardener or a new gardener – it lasts all year, has 

seasonal tips and ideas and is something to look forward to each 

month, what’s not to like! 

Membership of a local gardening club, or a gardening course 

or day is a really good idea too – there are lots of options from 

learning how to prune to a whole bee keeping course, just ensure 

you know the particular interest of the person concerned and the 

choice is yours. 

For people who may be house bound or less mobile, how about 

giving them a card with a little message in to the effect of –‘ This 

card entitles you to a day out at a garden centre, perhaps with 

coffee or lunch added to be taken during the next 6 months, and 

sign it – that way it can be taken in better weather or when the 

person is feeling up to going out and gives something to look 

forward to. 

Trees – fruit trees, ornamental trees, big trees, little trees – we 

know how important they are, and we know we need them so 

either a gardening gift voucher or indeed a tree in a pot to grow 

on, just ensure the trees eventual size is suitable for the space 

and give a gift that really will last. 

Thinking slightly outside of the box but for someone who maybe 

is having trouble keeping up with the basic garden tasks, how 

about buying them a few hours of a professional gardener in 

their area. That way the big tasks such as the autumn clear up, 

planting up of pots, grass maintenance etc can be done for them, 

allowing them to do the things that they can do and enjoy. 

There are magazines, there are books, there are tools, there are 

trugs and mugs and gloves – the list is endless so enjoy choosing 

and giving a gardening gift this year. 

To find out more about Matt visit his website 

matthewbiggs.com 

From 

£895 

* 

for a fully 

fitted electric 

garage door. 

Garolla garage doors are expertly 

made to measure in our own UK 

factories, they’re strong and solidly 

built. The electric Garolla door rolls 

up vertically, taking up only 8 inches 

inside your garage, maximising 

valuable space. Our expert local 

installers will fit your new door and 

they’ll take away the old one too, 

so there’s no mess. 

Give us a call today and we’ll come 

and measure up FREE of charge. 

CALL US TODAY ON: 

01353 930 038 

MOBILE: 

07537 149 128 

*Off er valid for openings up to 2.4m wide & including 2 remote controls, 55mm white slats, internal manual override. 


CHRISTMAS 

MARKET & 

DISPLAYS 

OPENING MID- 

OCTOBER 

GREAT RANGE OF 

GIFT WARE 

CHRISTMAS EVENTS 

Breakfast & Afternoon 

Tea with Santa, details 

on our website 

FOOD HALL 

WITH LOCALLY 

SOURCED PRODUCE 

NEW! 

SUNDAY LUNCH- 

TRADITIONAL 

‘POSH’ PIES 

Autumn, Tub & Basket Plants 

IDEAL FOR INSTANT COLOUR when spending £20 

or more in the store 

VALID UNTIL 31st DEC 2022

For more than twenty years, Dr 

Lucy Pollock has specialised 

in treating and caring for older 

people. More recently, she has 

written a book, The Book About 

Getting Older, to help everyone 

better understand the challenges 

older people face. 

Lucy hopes that the book will give honest 

answers to tough questions, so that 

everyone can support their loved ones 

and themselves to lead long, happy, 

healthy lives. 

“Older people are just the rest of us 

grown up,” says Lucy simply. “But I 

think most people have an older person 

in their life – be it a spouse, neighbour, 

parent or grandparent – who they may 

be worried about.” 

“Information is power. So, for me, the 

best thing I can possibly do is to give 

readers the words and confidence they 

need to tackle difficult questions and 

situations. Later life can be complicated. 

If I’ve helped just one reader with that, 

then I’ll have done my job.” 

When did you become more personally 

aware of the challenges for older people? 

“Before I became a medical student, 

I hadn’t spent a lot of time with older 

people. My remaining two grandparents 

lived far away, and we didn’t have a very 

close relationship. But my father was 

a geriatrician, so I think I was always 

subconsciously drawn to practising 

medicine for older people because of 

that. I quickly learned that older people 

are so interesting, but they can be 

challenging to treat and diagnose – it’s 

very easy to get treatment wrong, but it’s 

enormously rewarding to get it right.” 

“Younger people can be awkward or naïve 

about older people, especially if they 

haven’t spent much time around them 

THE WORRIES & WONDERS 

OF AGEING 

before. I know I was guilty of this at the 

start of my medical career. But an older 

person is still a person. I’ve learned loads 

from my patients – not just about medicine, 

but about life. One of the greatest rewards 

of my job is simply listening and realising 

what’s important to somebody.” 

How can we debunk the 

misconceptions about older people 

and change their position in society? 

“What’s interesting is that even in countries 

like Japan where older people have 

historically been respected and revered, 

attitudes have been shifting recently and 

some of that respect has been slipping 

away. Respect is a very vulnerable concept, 

and it can be lost quite easily. So, I think 

what’s important instead is to develop 

honesty and clarity. It’s so crucial that we 

recognise that older people are as diverse 

as any other group of people. 

“Living a good later life also doesn’t mean 

that you need to be contented every day. 

For some reason, it’s often assumed 

that older people have a very bland set 

of emotions, but it’s just not the case. 

Many older people have been through 

some terrible things in their life, and it’s 

perfectly okay for them to have sad days. 

“As a society we need to be realistic 

and honest about older people, and this 

change in attitude needs to influence the 

decisions made by politicians and policy 

makers too.” 

You mention in your book that the 

‘goalposts of ageing’ have moved over 

the years. How do you define that? 

“Life expectancy has increased year-onyear 

until very recently, but ‘healthy life 

expectancy’ just hasn’t kept up at the 

same rate. This means that older people 

are – on average – living four years longer 

than 20 years ago, but they’re also living 

a bigger proportion of their lives with a 

disability. In some cases, this disability 

may not greatly affect their independence 

or ability to enjoy life, but for others it has 

a huge impact. 

“However, it’s important not to make 

assumptions. Assuming that someone 

doesn’t have a good quality of life just 

because they’re housebound is wrong. 

In the same way, an older person who 

appears to be happy and healthy may 

actually be very tired and ready for their 

life to come to an end. It’s nuanced, and 

we need to realise that our goals, wishes 

and expectations for our life evolve as we 

get older.” 

What are your hopes for the future of 

ageing? 

“Something I’ve been thinking very hard 

about over the last few years is how do 

we make ageing better. Most recently, the 

pandemic has obviously had a massive 

impact on people in later life. As well as 

the fear of coronavirus itself, many older 

people have been affected by physical 

and mental deconditioning from not 

getting outdoors, not being active and 

not seeing their families. So it’s important 

that we restore their confidence, because 

isolation can be incredibly damaging. 

“That’s where we all need to get better at 

solving these challenges. On an individual 

level, older people and their families 

must get better at talking to each other 

honestly about their problems and wishes. 

On a societal level, we need to prioritise 

making changes to healthcare systems 

and government policies to improve older 

people’s lives. I’m currently working on 

a local project to provide some hospital 

services at home, which will allow older 

people to access care in their own 

environments. This would be a game 

changer, but more needs to be done. And 

many staff are so tired and overwhelmed 

at the moment, so it’s very difficult. 

“There’s a long way to go but I believe 

things can change. Good care is cheaper 

than bad care. And listening to someone’s 

needs is more resource-effective than 

applying standard health guidelines. We 

must listen to every individual.” 

Having written the book, what is your 

top advice for a more positive outlook 

as we age? 

“Make time for humour and fun! Old 

age can be full of joy and laughter, but 

sometimes it’s easy to get busy or sink 

into a routine. Even if you have to plan 

a fun activity, make sure you regularly 

do something that gives you a lift. It’s 

vital to enjoy the small things and keep 

connecting to others.” 

Article from 

AgeUk - you can 

volunteer to help 

the organisation, 

plus find a wealth 

of advice and 

resources at 

ageuk.org.uk 

“Older people are accustomed to facing very difficult situations. 

In later life, your day-to-day existence can move from being 

relatively untroubled to quite complicated quickly.” 


Be who you’ve always been... 

a keen gardener 

At Kentford Manor care home being a keen gardener doesn’t stop when you 

make the journey into care. Bring your life with you to a place you can call home. 

Award winning, person centred care for over 40 years. 

If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one call 01638 438 042. 

Trusted to care. 

Kentford Manor care home 

Newmarket 

careuk.com/kentford-manor

Brampton Manor Care Home Rated 

Good Across All Areas of Inspection 

Brampton Manor, Newmarket had its first CQC inspection in July 

and received good ratings across all areas inspected. The home 

opened in June 2021 and the hard work, dedication and passion of 

the team led to this fantastic achievement. 


Brampton Manor has established itself as an integral part of the 

Newmarket community and is the home of choice for many of the 

neighbouring towns, providing high quality residential, specialist 

dementia and respite care. 

The team enjoyed celebrating two very special milestone 

achievements, including their glowing CQC report and achieving 

9.9 on carehome.co.uk, a national care home directory where 

residents and families can post reviews about the service. 

The auspicious occasion was celebrated with cake, cheer and a 

message of thanks to the team and residents. 

Zoe Kirk, Home Manager thanked the team, “for all their 

teamwork and commitment and making coming to work and 

enjoyable experience every day and thanked the residents for 

being so delightful and allowing her to come and work in their 

home everyday in supporting them to lead the lives they want.” 

Ameet Kotecha, Founder and Managing Director of the Boutique 

Care Homes gave thanks to the team and commented “it is a 

testament that CQC recognise their hard work and that it’s a 

whole team approach to achieve this.” He thanked them for, 

“fulfilling our residents’ lives.” 

Brampton Manor achieved a good rating across all areas of the 

CQC inspection which include being: Safe, Caring, Responsive, 

Effective and Well Led. 

The home received 

an abundance of 

glowing testimonials 

from residents and 

families which CQC 

published in their 

report. 

One family member commented, “The staff are all lovely. They 

are really caring, and nothing is too much trouble for them. I feel 

we are like a family here which is what you want.” 

A resident commented, “The staff give you a hug which makes 

you feel loved. They are very gentle with you.” 

One relative told us, “We, as a family have been absolutely 

delighted how our family member has settled in so well into 

the home and has made new friends with other residents, joins 

in with the activities that they can do, and I personally am so 

pleased with the care. It has been a great relief to me.” 

Another resident told us, “I feel so lucky to be here. It was so 

good that I found out about it.” 

To learn more about Brampton Manor, visit our website: 

www.boutiquecarehomes.co.uk 20220816 Kingfisher or Advert call 01638 HiRes.pdf 598 827. 1 06/09/2022 21: 


A FANTASTIC 

RANGE OF 

DESIGNS FROM 

CONTEMPORARY 

TO CLASSIC 

A WORLD OF CHOICE AT REEDS 

UNBEATABLE PRICES FROM A FAMILY BUSINESS YOU CAN TRUST! 

SOFAS | CHAIRS | FURNITURE | BEDS | MATTRESSES | FLOORING | CURTAINS | BLINDS AND MORE! 

Opening Times: Mon – Sat 9am to 5pm in Downham and Ely | Sunday 10am to 4pm in Ely only 

Visit the café in our Downham Market Store where delicious food and drink awaits you. 

Check out our website reedshomestore.co.uk | Find us on facebook for the latest updates 

REEDS Furniture, Flooring, Bed Centre & Homestore, Bridge Street, Downham Market PE38 9DS T: 01366 382213 

REEDS Furniture, Flooring & Bed Centre, Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely CB6 3NX T: 01353 669754

Newmarket and Ely Living Oct - Nov 2022

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?