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March 2026 Issue No.129 TOWNS & VILLAGES EDITION FREE hearing test FREE hearing aid trials Book an appointment: www.soundadvicehearing.co.uk 8-10 Baker St, Hull HU2 8HP 01482 222204 Special 'HEARING' Open Event on March 23rd
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Beverley St Nicholas Road, Beverley HU17 0QT Tel: 01482 870246 HULL TRADE FIREPLACES Hull 388 Holderness Road, Hull, HU9 3DL Tel: 01482 588885 www.hullfireplaces.co.uk Stove package deals Editor’s note Welcome to the joint March edition of the magazine. I hope that all our readers and advertisers are looking forwar to the clocks going forward - it is always a time that makes me happy as we know that the lighter nights are an indicater of better weather. It is still very tough for everyone with the current economic climate and the fragile state of the planet - so please continue to use the local businesses, shops, tradesmen and services that advertise in the magazine - it really does help our local economy when you do. The Technology page with Helen Gill offers insights into the latest trends from the digital world. We also have a varied range of topics in this edition for your enjoyment including the House and Home Feature which looks at Improving Your Kerb Appeal. We also have our usual round up of all the New Books to read this month. Also check out the Financial Wellbeing section for some surprising facts on figures around retirement. Rebekah looks at hair in her Beauty Column. As most of you football fans know Hull City are riding high and we catch up with their season thus far with Chris Warkup. The Motoring Column takes a close look at the latest ‘Hot Hatch’ offering from Skoda. In Sarah Kings’ monthly Gardening column she takes a broad look at Gardening. The Food & Drink section has some delicious recipes for you to try at home and also looks at Pairing Wines with Food. As usual we finish with Fiona Dwyer’s ‘Food for thought’. Until the next edition please look after yourselves. Jane Editor © Dalton Spire Limited 2026. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All information contained in this magazine is for information only and is as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. We cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. Readers are advised to contact advertisers directly with regards to the price of products and/or services, referred to in this magazine. Magazine Team Managing Director: Nic Gough. Sales Director & Editor: Jane Gough. Advertising Sales: Chris Johnson. Distribution Manager: Phil Hiscott. Finance Manager: JP Kinnersley. Designers: Mervyn King, Adam Jacobs. Photography: Clash Pix. Contributors: Fiona Dwyer, Sarah King, Rebekah Robinson, Helen Gill, Hugo G Salochin, Frances Round, Rhona Grew, Chris Warkup. How To Contact Us: - T: 01964 552 470 • E: ask@daltonspire.co.uk • www.daltonspire.co.uk 6 20 16 30 3 14 28 18 32 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470
Technology News March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed For more insights follow @helloucreative @hellougill_artist | @reelcreative_uk www.helloucreative.co.uk | www.reelcreative.org Helen’s World of Creativity By Helen Gill - HelloU Creative ARTS & CULTURE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION COMMUNITY Reading in a Digital World during the National Year of Reading 2026 In the National Year of Reading 2026, we explore how creativity, community and technology are reshaping the way we experience stories in a fast-moving digital world. A Year to Reimagine Reading The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide celebration encouraging people of all ages to rediscover reading for pleasure. But it isn’t simply about returning to traditional books. The campaign recognises that reading today takes many forms, from novels and magazines to audiobooks, digital content and shared community experiences. Its message is simple: follow what interests you, and let reading grow from there. Not a Traditional Reader - And That’s OK For years, I wouldn’t confidently have described myself as a reader. I often start books with enthusiasm and then drift. My creativity pulls me elsewhere. That used to dent my confidence as though finishing every novel was what made you a “real” reader. Yet I read constantly. Biographies, research on innovation and creative thinking, educational resources that shape how I work and see the world. I engage with ideas just not always in a straight line. Over time, I’ve realised this isn’t failure. It’s simply how I process stories. Storytelling at Home When my children were little, story became something shared and playful. We had a talking teddy that responded to certain words. We recorded our voices reading books so they could be replayed later. Nursery rhymes were favourites rhythmic and comforting. And of course, we loved Julia Donaldson, whose musical language made reading aloud something special. Those moments weren’t about finishing books. They were about connection. Creativity, Community and New Doorways As a child, I would fill pages with colour before adding words. The story emerged through creativity rather than planning. That approach still shapes me. In art, I follow instinct; in business, I craft stories strategically through brand and communication. Both are expressions of literacy - one intuitive, one intentional. When we give children space to imagine, experiment and create, we build more than reading skills. We develop creativity, confidence and problem-solving qualities that will shape future roles in innovation, technology and business. Super Stars at Mini Malarkey: The Power of Story and Community Working with Hull Libraries at the Mini Malarkey reminded me how powerful inclusive storytelling can be. During these sessions, Hull Central Library becomes a space filled with laughter, imagination and shared experience. The Reel Creative delivered a Super Star music-themed creative tech workshop as part of the festival. Children designed album covers using Canva, created dance floors for augmented reality robots and explored a virtual reality Viking drumming experience. Our newest team member, Ben-Ben the robot dog, quickly stole the show. It was a lively reminder that creativity and technology can sit comfortably alongside traditional storytelling. For some families, live events offer vital access. For others, audiobooks and digital tools provide meaningful entry points. Balance matters. Some connect through books. Some through sound. Some through digital interaction. In a digital world, creativity keeps stories evolving and open to everyone. Hull Libraries’ staff and HEY! Volunteering team create welcoming environments where stories feel alive. It isn’t just about the books; it’s about the people who make these moments possible. HEY! Volunteers are VisitEngland Tourism Superstar finalists! HEY! Volunteering (Hull & East Yorkshire) is a Top 10 finalist in the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar 2026 awards. Vote by 22 March 2026 at visitengland.org/ tourismsuperstarvote.
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maintained and cared for,’ he adds. It’s also a relatively straightforward and affordable DIY project: painting your door will cost less tha £200 on average. Replacements are more costly, around £500 to £1,200 including installation, depending on the style and materials used. ‘A stylish and good-quality front door can add around 3-5% to a home’s value, especially when the colour and design complement the architecture of the property and the rest of the exterior,’ Robin suggests. Improve your windows Decent double- or even triple- glazed windows are a must for most homes today. Not only can they improve energy efficiency, but they also provide added security and boost kerb appeal. They can, however, cost thousands, with prices starting from around £500 per window. When investing in new windows, consider your home’s age and architectural style to ensure your choice is sympathetic. ‘Aluminium frames can contribute to a 3-7% uplift in perceived value, particularly in homes with modern layouts or recent renovations,’ suggests Andrew Boast, property expert at SAM Conveyancing. ‘However, these frames work best in contemporary or architecturally “clean” properties. Introducing House & Home They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the outside of a property can make a lasting impression on visitors and potential buyers, so it’s important to get its appearance right. Whether you’re welcoming guests, preparing to sell, or simply want to feel a little extra pride when you pull into the driveway, giving your home’s exterior a refresh doesn’t have to mean a full-scale renovation. In fact, some of the simplest updates are quick, affordable and can boost the perceived value significantly – think freshly painted front doors, a few well-placed plants, and lighting that makes your home glow, even on the gloomiest evenings. Here, we’ve rounded up the best ways to help you enhance kerb appeal, with minimal fuss and maximum impact. Pep up the exterior A fresh lick of paint can make a world of difference anywhere in the home, but if the outside of your property is looking tired, then this can be a cost-effective way to significantly boost its perceived value by up to 7%. You’ll need to use a quality masonry paint, specifically formulated for exterior use. And, when it comes to choosing a colour, as a rule of thumb, stick to neutral tones. ‘It’s worth considering whether your shade is common in your area,’ Continued on Page 8 Boost your kerb appeal First impressions matter, so when it comes to adding value at the front of your house, we’ve asked the experts which upgrades are truly worth the effort... advises Cathryn Sanders, head of creative at Earthborn. ‘It’s also helpful to take your property’s orientation into account. North-facing homes may benefit from warmer tones to counter cooler light, while south-facing can handle cooler shades without losing vibrancy,’ she adds. Landscape the garden Front gardens might be small, but they act as a welcoming entrance to your home. ‘While buyers won’t expect landscaping worthy of a show home, they will notice if the grass is overgrown, or the path’s covered in moss,’ says Tim Simmons, property expert at Regency Living. ‘This immediately signals that, if they buy the house, they will have to spend extra time and money to rectify the problems, making them a point of negotiation on the price.’ Spending a little time and budget on a front garden refresh could add 8-12% value to your home, but it doesn’t have to be costly. ‘Just tidying up, cutting the lawn, shaping hedges, or jet-washing the drive can make a difference,’ explains Tim. ‘You don’t need to go overboard with planting either – just a couple of potted shrubs near the door or a smart border is often enough. What really matters is that the space looks neat, easy to care for, and like it hasn’t been forgotten. This alone can nudge up a home’s perceived value by thousands.’ Refresh your front door As the first thing your visitors see when they come to your home, a front door is an obvious feature to revamp if you’re hoping to enhance kerb appeal. ‘Whether that means a fresh coat of paint, upgrading the hardware or replacing the door entirely, it’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve the look of a property,’ says Robin Edwards, property buying agent at Curetons. ‘Updating your front door instantly modernises the facade, creates a great first impression and signals to buyers that the property is well- March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
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House & Home upgrade a driveway, consider an eco-friendly resin-bound surface, which starts from around £75 per square metre for a two-car area. ‘Resin-bound surfaces are low-maintenance, durable, and available in a wide variety of colours and finishes, giving homeowners the ability to create a bespoke design that complements their home perfectly,’ John adds. them to a traditional or cottage- style home can feel visually jarring, so matching the style of the frame to the character of the home is key,’ he adds. ‘Sensitive upgrades, such as restoring sash windows with timber or sash-style uPVC, can add 2-5% to a property’s value, especially when the work preserves architectural detail. In homes where authenticity is a major selling point, and where modern performance is subtly integrated, the uplift can reach 10%.’ Create a driveway A dedicated and private place to park is an attractive feature as it provides a safe and convenient spot for your car. And, if well maintained, it will be one of the first things potential buyers admire when viewing your home. ‘Driveways are one of the most functional elements of a property’s exterior, but they’re often overlooked,’ says John Pearce, director at driveway specialists Oltco. ‘An attractive driveway not only improves the look of your home, but also increases its practicality, which is something buyers and tenants value. Strong kerb appeal can increase value by as much as 5-10%,’ he explains. If you are looking to add or Add a porch According to Checkatrade, the cost of a new porch starts from around £4,000, but varies considerably depending on the style you choose. ‘Different types of porches bring unique advantages, says Rachael Munby, chief marketing officer at Anglian Home Improvements. ‘Covered porches create an inviting entrance, while providing functional storage solutions. Wrap-around porches, on the other hand, can significantly increase the perceived living space of a property, making them especially appealing for larger homes or rural settings,’ she adds. To see a return on your investment, look to add one that provides storage as well as protection from all weathers. You don’t usually need planning permission for a porch, but always check local Permitted Development Rights for your property. Build a bin store While the addition of a bin store won’t necessarily add direct value to your home, it can certainly help prevent value loss by keeping the appearance of your property’s exterior neat and well cared for. ‘A simple yet smart wooden bin store can instantly make your garden or driveway look and feel cleaner,’ says Nisha Kumar, head of marketing at Onduline. ‘And the good news is that building your own bin store isn’t as complicated as you may think – even without any DIY expertise. Materials for a basic wooden bin store typically cost around £50 to £150,’ she adds. A well-designed bin store can also give you extra surface space for planting or outdoor storage. It’s a small project that delivers big improvements in both practicality and kerb appeal. Prune any trees If you’re debating whether to remove an overbearing tree from the front of your home, you may be interested to know that it could increase the value of your property by around £5,000. ‘Many buyers are put off by the maintenance required for large trees; fruit trees in particular are unappealing, as the dropped fruit can go mouldy and requires cleaning up,’ explains Luke Saywell, partner at Gascoines Estate Agents. ‘While investing in a tree surgeon to do the job properly isn’t cheap, the larger space can significantly increase the price people are willing to pay for a home. Removing trees outside also helps to open up the space inside, creating rooms that are brighter and lighter,’ he adds. Factor in outdoor lighting ‘Buyers often form their first impressions from the outside, so kerb appeal benefits greatly from thoughtful lighting,’ explains James Kendall, operations director at KES Lighting & Home. ‘It can highlight architectural features, define pathways and create a warm welcome, all of which contribute to a sense of quality and care Continued on Page 10 CRAWFORD JOINERY TIME-SERVED JOINER ⚪25+ YEARS EXPERIENCE FREE QUOTES ⚪COTTINGHAM BASED Phone: 07764 946676 Email: crawford1919@icloud.com ALL ASPECTS OF JOINERY including: ⚪KITCHENS ⚪STAIRS ⚪FLOORS & DOORS ⚪BEDROOMS Now taking bookings for 2026 March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
9 House & Home To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470
House & Home before someone even steps inside,’ he continues. Elegant outdoor lighting could increase perceived value by up to 10% compared to similar properties lacking the same presentation. Be sure to choose lights with an IP65 rating so they are fully weatherproof and safe for garden use. ‘While it is hard to isolate how much of that uplift comes solely from lighting, exterior illumination is consistently cited as one of the smaller-cost, high- impact upgrades,’ James adds. Transform your garage Repurposing a rundown garage into a home gym, office or craft studio instantly turns underused space into an extension of your home – and it’s a smart financial move. ‘A garage makeover offers great value for money, as the foundations and walls are already in place, and it could add approximately 10-20% to the value of your home,’ says Marina Whitfield, head of design and marketing at My Garage Makeover. With clever storage and thoughtful design, an underused garage can become one of the most functional rooms in your home. And with more people craving flexible, multi-purpose spaces, an upgraded garage can make your property far more appealing to future buyers. Upgrade your fence While gates and fencing exist mainly for protection, they also shape first impressions and may contribute to your property’s overall value. Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there to complement the style of your home. ‘From ornamental metal designs to traditional timber, there’s something to suit every entrance size, whatever the location,’ says garden expert Leigh Barnes from Jacksons Fencing. ‘Flanking timber fencing can also be specified to emulate any undulating forms in the gate’s design.’ Premium fencing options can add up to 20% value to a house, depending on what is specified. ‘Essential requirements should be carefully considered ahead of installation,’ adds Leigh. ‘For example, metal railing options are more exposed than solid timber ones. Therefore, if the build is for a family, it is worth considering the latter, as they provide a higher level of security.’ Design a path Adding a path leading up to your front door is a simple yet relatively affordable upgrade to embark on, with prices starting from around £8 per square metre for a gravel pathway. ‘A well-designed garden path is a prime way to achieve this, offering both aesthetic charm and practical benefits, like defining a home’s entrance and keeping muddy shoes at bay,’ explains Chris Moorhouse, category director at Wickes. Buyers always notice a well- cared for entryway, and a smart garden path can add around 2-3% to a home’s value. What to do if you have untidy next-door neighbours ‘Our research shows that 68% of buyers care about kerb appeal. You can spruce up your own home, but if the problem is next door, it’s a very different story. A neglected neighbouring property puts buyers on alert: who are they living next to, and what other issues might come with it? A seriously neglected neighbouring home can wipe thousands off your property’s value. Buyers judge a street within seconds, and many will walk away if next door looks derelict. It can make your home far harder to sell. Can you report your neighbours? You don’t have to put up with a property that’s so neglected it affects your quality of life. Councils can act under statutory nuisance and public health laws if there are genuine hazards, such as rubbish, vermin, abandoned vehicles or dangerously overgrown gardens. But there’s no legal duty for someone to keep their home looking attractive. If it’s simply scruffy, the best starting point is a calm, friendly conversation. Most people respond better to direct, polite communication – you don’t want to trigger a long term dispute. Be aware: if you make an official complaint, you’ll need to disclose it when you sell on the TA6 Property Information Form. What if their poor maintenance damages your home? If their neglect causes actual damage – for example, a shared roof leak or faulty guttering affecting your walls – this becomes a matter of liability, not appearance. In these circumstances you should: 1. Gather evidence – photos, videos and notes of conversations. 2. Notify your neighbour in writing, asking them to fix the problem. If they refuse, contact your home insurer. They may pursue your neighbour or their insurer. 3. If you’re both leaseholders, report it to the freeholder or managing agent. They can enforce the lease and require action. 4. As a last resort, get a surveyor’s report and consider legal action for nuisance or negligence.’ March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
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Literature of their parents opening up their marriage. The eldest, Abigail, is dating an older ex-solider nicknamed “war crimes Wes”; the middle-child, Louise, is accidentally entangled with a terrorist online; and the youngest, Harper, has been sent to a kids’ reform camp for sleuthing on the town’s corrupt citizens (and her own family). But it’s a domestic comedy with darkness at its heart. Paul Alabaster, the elusive and evil local billionaire, is as corrupt as his critics say. And, thanks to Harper never knowing when to quit, the Flynn’s become embroiled in a corporate conspiracy caper. Exploring everything from grooming and religion to the online world and tech-bro culture, Cash’s novel is a wild ride – but, at its core, it’s about a family coming together against all odds. ‘Wants & Needs’ by Roxy Dunn Roxy Dunn’s follow-up to her debut, As Young As This (one of my favourite novels of 2024), Wants & Needs was released in January. An unconventional love story with comedic chops, the novel follows thirty-something Misty, who is recently single, on crutches after recovering from knee surgery and living back at home with her mother. Reluctantly thrown back into the dating world, she’s forced to navigate the world of apps, where she’s soon drawn to the older, handsome, charismatic and intelligent Christopher. The catch? He’s married with a child and in an open relationship. Faced with undeniable chemistry, she decides to explore the ‘ethical non-monogamy’ that Christopher is offering. Funny, witty and fast- paced, I tore through it on a Sunday afternoon. ‘The Shock of The Light’ by Lori Inglis Hall Lori Inglis Hall’s debut, The Shock of The Light, explores the emotional impact of World War Two on two siblings. It’s an emotional sucker punch of a novel. The story traces the idyllic upbringing of twins Tessa and Theo and their respective studies in Paris and Cambridge, before the outbreak of war changed their lives forever. Theo enlists in the RAF and is posted to North Africa before heading to France. Feeling frustrated at secretarial desk work in London, Tessa joins the SOE (Special Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy Half His Age follows Waldo, a disillusioned 17-year-old high school student. Living with her single mum, who bounces from man to man and struggles to hold down a job, Waldo works in Victoria’s Secret between school hours to sustain her online shopping addiction. Disillusioned with dating and disgusted by the boys in her year, Waldo becomes infatuated with her new creative writing teacher, Mr Korgy. A willing participant in Waldo’s misplaced desire, Mr Korgy is unhappy in his own way, mourning for the successful author career that never happened. The uncomfortable age-gap relationship is gross yet gripping, while the author’s tone is darkly comic and witty. The pacing is excellent – I read it in just two sittings – and the themes of power, grooming, class, desire and loneliness are deftly explored. Just like McCurdy took ownership of her own “creepy” age-gap relationship and abusive mother, the author makes a salient point by giving Waldo such agency over the relationship and, eventually, how it ends. It’s not a groundbreaking novel, but it’s definitely a conversation starter and an important look at power dynamics. ‘Lost Lambs’ by Madeline Cash Garnering early praise from Lena Dunham and Megan Nolan, Madeline Cash’s novel Lost Lambs is among 2026’s buzziest debuts. Combining a comic and wry tone with quirky characters that would be right at home in a Wes Anderson movie, it lives up to the hype. The slightly surrealist story follows the three Flynn daughters as they navigate the fallout Operations Executive) and is parachuted into occupied France. Hall expertly weaves the personal tragedies and lives of the siblings with wartime history, from Theo’s D-Day mission and PTSD to Tessa’s experience as a woman behind enemy lines. As the afterword reveals, real-life betrayals, accounts of agents and horrors of wartime occupation influenced the book. The novel is particularly illuminating on female SOE agents – just 39 of the 407 SOE agents in France were women, and many of their stories haven’t been told. The novel takes us right up to the 21st century, where the reverberations of the Second World War are still playing out. It’s a devastating and masterfully told novel. ‘Jean’ by Madeleine Dunnigan Jean, is a searingly beautiful but brutal coming-of-age story. Set in the late seventies at a Sussex boarding school for troubled boys, 17-year-old Jean is in his final year with Marxist dreams of venturing to China. The son of a single mother who fled pre-war Europe, Jewish and on a scholarship, he’s an outsider and silent observer of his privileged classmates. Taking place over one hot English summer, Jean becomes increasingly entangled in an intense and intimate relationship with fellow boarder Tom. Navigating adolescent love, desire and loss, the story flashes back to his upbringing in London’s hazy late sixties counter- culture. Looming large in the background is Jean’s fraught relationship with his mother, who is herself an outsider, and his penchant toward violence, which landed him in the school for delinquents. The story of an ostracised child at boarding school is familiar, but Dunnigan’s story of a teenager figuring out both his future and his past is immersive and compelling. ‘A Private Man’ by Stephanie Sy-Quia Stephanie Sy-Quia’s beautiful debut novel is inspired by her own grandparents’ unique love story, unfolding between 1950s Rome, 1960s England and 21st-century France. The tender story follows David, a handsome and charming young priest, newly ordained and returning to England, sworn to lifelong celibacy. Margaret, meanwhile, is reeling from the end of an affair and has found faith later in life. With her feminist views and progressive outlook, she’s drawn to a forward-thinking Catholic school in Rome. Mid-century Rome and the post-war period are evocatively imagined in Sy-Quia’s writing, from Margaret’s liberating time studying and teaching as a theology teacher, to David’s Oxford years being interrupted by the Second World War. Their lives soon become entangled at a Catholic college in a small English parish, where a meeting of minds turns into something more dangerous. In flash forwards to the present, Margaret is living with dementia, and her grandson is unearthing the long-buried story of his grandparents’ forbidden love. A story of slow-burn romance, but also of hard-won friendship, the novel explores faith, duty and love. I couldn’t put it down. ‘Heart The Lover’ by Lily King A literary love story for those who don’t usually read romances, it begins with our unnamed narrator at college where she experiences first love, heartbreak, passion and intimate friendship in the orbit of fellow students Sam and Yash. But this isn’t your average campus story. Decades later, the protagonist is married with two young children, having achieved her dream of being a successful author. But when an old lover comes calling, she’s sent spiralling back into the past. Saying anything else would ruin the pure delight of reading the novel – but be prepared to cry. A meditation on the passing off time, coming-of-age and mortality, the literary references throughout give it extra appeal for book lovers. I’ve since read Writers & Lover’s which is just as excellent. March Reads This month’s reads, are recommended by our new book editor, Rhona Grew, and are selected from her favourites of the last twelve months. March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
13 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Education 'We smile – lots' is a motto that is truly lived out by staff and pupils at this school". (Ofsted, 2024) Nestled in the heart of Hull, St Charles’ VC Academy is more than just a place of learning; it is a family. With a rich history of serving the city, the school offers a diverse and welcoming community where every child is truly valued for who they are. While St Charles’ is a Catholic Primary School, its doors are open wide to families of all faiths and those of none. The school prides itself on an inclusive atmosphere where children from all backgrounds learn and grow side-by- side. Recently rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted and ‘Outstanding’ by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate, the academy successfully combines high academic expectations with a deeply nurturing environment. Our most recent Ofsted report noted: "Pupils are happy. They think that one of the best things about the school is the teachers – 'who care about us'” and "Pupils are polite and have excellent behaviour. They feel safe and have trusted adults" One of the school's greatest strengths is its size. Offering a genuine "small school" feel, St Charles’ ensures no child is ever just a number. Smaller class sizes allow dedicated staff to provide the individual attention and tailored support every pupil needs to thrive. This creates a unique "family feel" where older pupils look out for younger ones, and parents are greeted warmly at the gates. From expert phonics teaching to exciting extra-curricular activities, pupils are prepared not just for their next school, but for life. St Charles’ believes that when a child feels safe, happy, and loved, there is no limit to what they can achieve. Come and see for yourself why pupils smile, lots! Places are available across all year groups for 3-11 year olds. For more information or to visit the school, please contact: Phone: 01482 326610 Email: admin@stchull.org Website: www.stchull.org Address: Norfolk Street, Hull, HU2 9AA Love, Learn and Share at St Charles’ VC Academy
Hello, I'm Zoe from EXTRAHELP Beverley & East Riding Villages Call now 07375 709499 or email zoe@extra-help.co.uk Here are some of the services our local DBS checked team provide to clients near you - Cleaning, tidying and decluttering⚫changing bed linens, hanging washing out to dry⚫checking dates on foods, helping to plan meals ⚫shopping for or with clients, running errands⚫taking clients to the doctors or hospital appointments⚫companionship⚫getting out in the community⚫simply staying at home allowing respite for carers. We prepare a bespoke package to suit your individual needs, enabling people to live independently. Taking care of chores so that you get more time to do things you enjoy, providing peace of mind and support for families or individuals young and old. Are you looking for a rewarding part-time role, working flexible hours to suit you and earn extra income? Please get in touch. For the elderly, infirm, disabled and housebound Approved by the CQC we provide a friendly, professional service. FREE HOME VISITS DENTURES If you receive Income Support, ESA, Universal Credit or Pension Credit Guarantee your dentures will be completely FREE OF CHARGE. Otherwise your dentures will cost £326. Dr. Russell Davies - Dental Surgeon GDC 62838 Sharron Daniels - Dental Nurse GDC 136968 MOB: 07930 550274 East Riding Leisure is launching the time limited Spring into Fitness promotion. By joining the promotion from Monday, 2 to Tuesday, 31 March, members can enjoy six months for the price of five, or 15 months for the price of 12, saving up to £108. Memberships unlock access to all 10 centres, nine gyms, eight swimming pools, a full timetable of classes, sports hall activities and more. Each Spring into Fitness membership purchased comes with a free week pass to share with someone else, worth £24. Memberships start from just £77.50 for six months, or £186 for 15 months. Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “Whether you are an avid gym user, or new to working out, enjoy swimming, or a group fitness fan, East Riding Leisure have award winning facilities to help you improve your fitness, whatever your age or ability. Spring Into Fitness is always popular, and I would encourage residents to find out more!” Memberships are available to purchase from Monday, 2 March at any East Riding Leisure site or online. To find out more and to buy a membership visit: eryc.link/spring- into-fitness Spring into Fitness with East Riding Leisure this March East Riding Adult Learning’s mobile learning centre, is set to tour towns in the region, running engagement events and learning sessions on getting ready for maths and English, for residents. The centre, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) brings learning facilities directly to the community, enhancing education delivery in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The bespoke classroom, fitted into the bus, offers a unique learning environment, the first of its kind in the region. The mobile learning centre, operated by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, will visit Hornsea Hub on Monday 2, 23, and 30 March. It will also visit Beverley on Monday 9 March, Hornsea Mere on Wednesday 11 March, Withernsea seafront on Wednesday 18 March, Castle Hill Hospital on Thursday 19 March, and Bridlington on Wednesday 25 March. The centre has received £170,000 in investment to support residents with preparation courses prior to supporting a maths or English qualification. Councillor Anne Handley, East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader said: “We’re proud to support lifelong learning across the East Riding and enable residents to develop their skills and qualifications. We encourage interested residents to visit the learning centre if they can and sign up to the courses available.” More information about educational opportunities for adults can be found at eryc.link/ adultlearn or by calling the Adult Learning team at (01482) 887670. Mobile Adult Learning Centre to tour East Riding towns Health & Wellbeing News March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
15 Spring Weddings To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Elizabeth Hall Bridal, 16 Flemingate, Beverley, HU17 0NR T: 01482 869319 M: 07802 210584 E: info@elizabethhallbridal.co.uk W: elizabethhallbridal.co.uk As owner of Elizabeth Hall Bridal, based in Beverley, I am taking this opportunity let you know a little bit about us. Firstly, I would like to introduce myself, I am Laura (Elizabeth) Hall, and it will be me that will take you on your journey to finding the perfect wedding dress for your big day. If you are local, you may have seen the shop on Flemingate. It has become well known for the window displays. I often have passers-by popping in to compliment me. It makes me proud to have such an impact. I have had a very busy start to 2026. Last year was extremely busy, with all our brides-to-be selecting their dresses for this year and all our existing brides preparing for their big day. The shop was conceived in 2020; after being made redundant during the first lockdown, I used my redundancy and all my savings to invest in the shop. It had been a dream of mine for years and here was the opportunity to create a business that would bring a lot of Joy, not only to the brides to be but to me too. This is a great job, where my aim is to make all our customers feel special. As I reach my fifth year of serving brides across Beverley and East Yorkshire, I have now become an award-winning Bridal shop. After three years of trading, I was awarded, “Best Bridal Shop East Yorkshire”, “Best Bridal Shop in Yorkshire”, “Finalist for best Bridal Shop in England” and awarded by parliament in recognition of outstanding business success and achievement. I have also won the Wedding Bridal Retailer of the year for Yorkshire and the North East winner for 2025 and a national finalist! I am very proud of this achievement, and it only goes to show the determination and dedication to provide the best experience for all would be brides. I provide an appointment only service, and each bride receives a two hour, one- to- one appointment. During the appointment you can try from our extensive selection of designer wedding gowns, to find the one of your dreams and say yes to the dress! All my wedding dresses follow the current trends, and I also ensure that new season fashion is provided so that each bride has the maximum choice in selection of that perfect dress. The latest trends are sleek, minimalistic and mini dresses to name a few. I am seeing a lot of pearls, 3D flowers and even coloured embroidery. We have our traditional style gowns too with a modern twist. So, whatever your style we are sure to have something special for you. If you are getting married and haven’t got your dress yet why not make an appointment and find your dream wedding dress. I look forward to seeing you and congratulations on your engagement. Laura
Food & Drink Rebekah’s Beauty Box Why & How You Should Be Exfoliating Your Scalp Scalp health is a hot topic these days – and rightly so, seeing as the length and look of your hair depend on it. To ensure you give your scalp the care and attention it deserves, we asked a local trichologist to explain what you should be doing and why... Remember Your Scalp Is Still Skin “We know what it takes to leave our faces looking and feeling fresh, nourished and healthy. Our scalps are no different, yet they’re often neglected. Adding a simple scalp scrub to your routine can change all that. Like the skin on your face, your scalp benefits from gentle weekly exfoliation. Exfoliating masks help to remove dead skin cells and flakes, and can improve the overall health of your scalp. Over time, regular use will reduce and calm conditions such as dryness, dandruff, excessive oiliness or irritation.” Understand Its Importance “The scalp, put simply, is the root of all hair health. It also ages six times faster than anywhere else, so it’s important to treat it with lots of care. In my opinion, prioritising scalp health is the first step to getting the rest of your hair to thrive. Whether you’re looking to strengthen strands, reduce fallout or treat conditions like psoriasis and dandruff, you need to start with your scalp. Taking care of it and prioritising a proper routine will give you a head start and ensure you maintain the right results. It’s also the answer to accelerating better hair growth.” Use An Exfoliator Weekly “How often you apply a scrub depends on the condition of your scalp, but once a week is a good rule of thumb. If your scalp is flaky or itchy, or you have a sore or dehydrated scalp, use a targeted scalp mask twice a week until symptoms clear up. Otherwise, once weekly is enough. In terms of how to use a mask, apply it in one-inch partings from ear to ear. Massage the mask into your scalp for a couple of minutes, using firm yet gentle pressure. Roughly rubbing your scalp can irritate it and you may also end up tangling or breaking strands. Read the directions to check how long to leave your mask on for – generally, this is around ten to 20 minutes.” “A chemical exfoliant is a great addition to your hair routine. It may sound intense, try Act+Acre Scalp Renew which is ideal as it uses just 0.15% salicylic acid to exfoliate and remove build-up, while calming any scalp irritation. Yes, it improves the health of your scalp, but it also improves the efficacy of any shampoos and conditioners you use afterwards as they can penetrate the shaft better.” Find The Right Formula “Finding the right formula for your scalp is key. If you don’t have specific concerns, any exfoliating mask will work – just avoid sulfates and silicones which can clog follicles and strip your scalp of good bacteria. If you suffer with soreness and dryness, try hydrating scalp masks instead. Look for ones that contain ingredients like aloe vera and olive oil, as these will moisturise the scalp while getting rid of any build-up. If you suffer with flakiness and itchiness, anti-fungal ingredients are key, including salicylic and lactic acid. Green tea extract is also useful for keeping flakes at bay.” Be Careful Not To Overdo It “If your scalp is on the drier side, it’s possible to over-exfoliate, so go carefully. In this instance, I’d recommend exfoliating on a bi-weekly basis. Look for formulas that contain hydrating ingredients, like fruit extracts, to rebalance the microbiome on your scalp. Additionally, if you’re struggling with ongoing dryness and irritation, try adding a hydrating serum to your routine. There are plenty out there that will hydrate your scalp and balance the skin barrier. You can also use nutrient-rich shampoos to bolster the hydration within your scalp.” THE SCALP, IS THE ROOT OF ALL HAIR HEALTH. It also ages six times faster than anywhere else, so it’s important to treat it with lots of care. Follow A Routine Like This “Once a week, pre-shower, use a gentle exfoliating treatment on dry hair to break down oil and remove product build-up. Then, once you’re in the shower, cleanse with a sulfate-free and synthetic- free shampoo – use this all over your scalp, starting at the base of your neck towards your hairline. Once rinsed out, repeat the process again. The first wash removes build- up, the second works specifically on the scalp. After you’ve done this, condition the hair with a moisture- rich conditioner that boosts hydration, or use a mask that’s full of protein to boost shine. If you want to accelerate hair growth, I recommend using a dermaroller on a freshly washed scalp. The needles create micro-channels on the scalp to stimulate blood flow to the hair follicle and release growth factors. Finish off with a hair serum if needed.” Pay Attention To Other Aspects Too “Maintaining a healthy scalp doesn’t start or stop with the products you use. You need to have a balanced diet and increase your water intake. Diet and water are so important for healthy hair growth. Eat foods rich in protein, selenium and biotin. If you’re going to use supplements, look for ones that contain vitamins rich in plant extracts and amino acids. Likewise, it’s worth increasing your collagen intake as this supports better elastin both in the skin and hair.” Finally, Don’t Neglect Self- Massage “Add a scalp massage to your routine. You can do this with your fingers and knuckles or a dedicated brush. Just as facial massage is good for stimulating skin and blood flow, your scalp can reap the same benefits.” Health & Beauty March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
17 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Hello, I’m Gina – a fully qualified reflexologist based in the beautiful town of Beverley. With a Level 5 Diploma in Reflexology, and additional qualifications in Level 3 Facial Reflexology and Holistic Facelift Techniques, I’m proud to offer bespoke treatments that support your wellbeing, inside and out. I'm also a registered member of both the Association of Reflexologists and the Professional Reflexology Association, so you're in safe, trusted hands. Do you suffer from STRESS * ANXIETY * LOW MOOD * SLEEP DISTURBANCES * HORMONAL IMBALANCES FERTILITY ISSUES * DIGESTIVE DISCOMFORT * LYMPHATIC CONGESTION GENERAL TENSION AND PAIN? Reflexology is far more than a relaxing indulgence — itʼs a deeply supportive, non-invasive therapy that can help restore harmony within the body and mind. By working with specific reflex points on the feet, hands or face, reflexology encourages your bodyʼs own natural ability to rebalance, leaving you with a renewed sense of wellbeing. As a qualified reflexologist, I offer a personalised discovery treatment designed to gently identify any areas of imbalance — even those you may not be aware of — and support any ongoing concerns. You can choose from foot reflexology, hand reflexology or a soothing facial reflexology session. 20% off your first Reflexology Session (but quote BM03 when booking) To book an appointment, call or text Gina on: 07852 317174 01482 886236 | www.flourishhairdressing.co.uk 8a Wednesday Market, Beverley, HU17 0DG info@flourishhairdressing.co.uk @flourishhair&beauty @flourishhairdressing @weddings.flourishhairdressing @flourish.beautytherapy As we celebrate our 7th anniversary, we would like to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude to every one of you. Your loyalty, trust, and continued support are the reason we are able to do what we love every day. Whether you have been with us from the beginning, follow us on socials or recently joined our client community, thank you for choosing us. Exciting news: We are on the move! We are excited to share with you that in March we are moving to our new home near the Minster. We can’t wait to welcome you and show you around. This new space will allow us to expand our services and introduce exclusive treatments and experiences. Watch this space! We are also delighted to inform you that Lauren is returning to the ‘Flourish’ family’ after her maternity leave and she is very much looking forward to seeing clients old and new. Health & Beauty
Travel Though the world is waking up to veganism, some places are definitely easier for veggies and vegans to enjoy than others... Delhi, India India has a very long history of vegetarianism. Many of its religions - including Hinduism and Jainism - advocate a vegetarian diet. Within that, there are plenty of vegan options available (such as lentil deal, chana masala and vegetable biryani), and these should be dearly marked on menus. If not, don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant staff, who will be understanding of your dietary needs. If you’re looking for a quick fix, look no further than India’s incredible street food, or even have your lunch delivered in a tiffin as busy Delhi workers do, While North Indian food has some incredible veggie options. South Indian food is arguably even better for vegans, so be sure to try that too. Montreal, Canada. Brush up on your French, you’re going to Montreal. The Québécois city is one of the most culturally rich cities in all Canada, but its youthful vibe will keep you enthralled. In Montreal, food from around the world meets in the lovely city centre - you can try Vietnamese Pho, vegan falafel pittas, and dairy-free creamy Italian pasta within walking distance of each other. But the first thing you must eat on any trip to Canada is a veganised replication of the national dish, Poutine - which is French Fries, cheese curds, and gravy. Sounds like a weird combination, but trust us - you won’t be able to get enough of Montreal’s legendary vegan versions. Indonesia Bali is visited by millions of international tourists every year, for its beaches, jungles, and incredible history. This international flavour means it’s great for vegans, but many of Bali’s Buddhist and Hindu locals also practise vegetarianism. So, once you’ve finished exploring an ancient temple, or doing a relaxing yoga class, you’ll find plenty of options for your dinner. Besides raw burgers, piping hot tofu stir fries and spicy curries, you’ll find sumptuous vegan ice creams and cheesecakes to have for afters. If you’re there in October, be sure to attend the annual Bali Vegan Festival, where you can share some gorgeous street food with other vegan travellers. Tauranga, New Zealand The Antipodean nation of New Zealand is known across the world for its beautiful scenery, friendly stew, with wholesome brown rice and vegetables. Or, if you’d like to try some of São Paulo’s legendary vegan fusion food, you must head to Sushimar Vegano to try Japanese Brazilian sushi. Best of the rest Kingston, Jamaica Rastafarians believe humans are rai vegetarians, and some follow a vegan diet. You’ll find plenty of healthy and delicious options here check out the plantain and vegetable stews on offer. Singapore, Singapore Singapore’s melting pot of cultures - Tamil, Malay and Chinese - means its food is as diverse as its peoole. There’s vegetarian South Indian fare everywhere, and you must try the Loving Hut for a completely vegan Chinese experience Berlin, Germany You won’t struggle to find vegan food in Berlin. More or less every eatery will have at least one vegan option, and there’s no shortage of purely vegan cafes and restaurants, either. Amman, Jordan There’s so much more to Jordan than the classic hummus, but it’s a very good place to start. Many restaurants nowadays offer vegan options. such as grilled aubergine, and even delicious vegan burgers. Athens, Greece Though Greece wasn’t really known for vegan food the last five years have seen Athens transform into a vegan-friendly destination. Head over to Lime Bistro in Thiseio to enjoy vegan takes on traditional dishes. people, and liberal outlook. Tauranga, a small city on the Bay of Plenty, is a gorgeous place surrounded by the blue waters of the South Pacific. Not only that, it’s great for vegans - you’ll find plenty of plant-based restaurants, coffee shops and takeaways in the Harbourside part of town. Enjoy a vegan wrap as the sun sets over the water, or a healthy smoothie in the shade of Mount Maunganui. São Paulo, Brazil Brazil’s super-modern financial hub definitely keeps up to date with food trends. In such a cosmopolitan city, inhabited by people from as far away as Italy, Japan, and the Arab world, you’re bound to find something that tickles your tastebuds. Savour a plate of warm, classically Brazilian black bean The Best Vegan and Veggie Holiday Destinations March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
19 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Travel A sample of our exclusive & ESCORTED departures... 15 May 26 - Uzbekistan’s Highlights 11 nts £2995. Solo’s welcome + £495 02 July 26 Regent Seven Sea’s Grandeur Cruise ship experience - 2 days 05 July 26 - Exploring the Azores! Flying from Humberside A small group tour 10 days £3100 07 Sep 26 - Gardens of Kent - 5 days Chilston Park Hotel £855 DBB only 6 seats 22 Sep 26 - India - Amritsar & Shimla An itinerary with a twist £2995 - 4 places only 16 Oct 26 Llandudno Tynedale Fabulous hotel DBB - 5 days £655 25 or 26 Nov 26 - Lunch on the Rails Day outing with lunch East Lancs Rail £115 30 Dec 26 New Year in Southport 3 nts Mike James Gala night & more £549 24 Jan 27 - Luxury in the Lakes 4 Star Lakeside Hotel 4 day £420 01 May 27 - Isle of Man - 7 days Comprehensive sightseeing £1195 04 Oct 27 Hidden Japan 10 days £6390 An off the beaten track tour. See our website or telephone for more info. Jersey from your door sadly no longer available from Humberside airport but we can offer LEEDS. Please call for further detail. MARIONOWEN TRAVEL “WHERE A GOOD HOLIDAY STARTS” We are a full travel agency we book ALL tour Operators & Cruise Lines. You don’t pay extra, our advice & service is included allowing you to sit back relax and look forward to your holiday. To make your booking call today Tel : 01482 212525 Monday - Saturday TEL 9am - 5pm or call in person Mon-Fri 9am to 4pm to 23 Portland Street, HULL www.marionowentravel.com REMEMBER we are a FULL Travel agency & book Jet2 & all package holidays Plus we tailor any holiday of your choice worldwide to your requirements. E.g. Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Far East Escorted touring, self drive, trains etc. BOOK LOCAL & KNOW WHO YOU ARE BOOKING WITH ! Prices quoted are per person, subject to availability on booking. Solos welcome please ask for prices Cairo & Cruising the Nile Egypt Reawakens … There has never been a better time to rediscover Egypt. With the long�awaited opening of the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum, interest in this extraordinary country has surged once again — and rightly so.� A city stay in Cairo is the perfect introduction. Egyptology is endlessly intriguing; the stories of gods, kings and dynasties have captivated travellers for generations. Seeing the iconic Great Pyramids of Giza for the first time is a true “pinch�me” moment — a lifelong ambition fulfilled as you stand before the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.� The spectacular new museum, located close to the pyramids, now houses thousands of treasures discovered along the banks of the Nile River, displayed in carefully temperature�controlled galleries. To witness these artefacts — many shown together for the very first time — brings ancient history vividly to life. It is, quite simply, unmissable.� But to truly understand Egypt, one must follow the river.� A leisurely cruise along the legendary Nile allows you to discover the very tombs and temples where these treasures were found. Sailing between Luxor and Aswan, days unfold at a gentle pace. Visits to ancient temples are sensibly arranged early in the morning, avoiding both the heat and the crowds. By afternoon, you are free to relax on deck, watching daily life unfold along the riverbanks as your ship glides quietly south.� The scenery is unexpectedly beautiful. Lush green banks lined with date palms and fields of sugar cane contrast dramatically with golden desert mountains beyond. In places, it feels almost Caribbean in atmosphere — yet with a backdrop that is unmistakably ancient Egypt. As winter approaches in the UK, the warmth and light feel especially restorative.� Modern Egypt owes much to the engineering marvel of the Aswan High Dam, which tamed the once unpredictable flooding of the Nile and created the vast Lake Nasser. Its construction threatened several ancient monuments, yet thanks to an extraordinary international rescue effort, magnificent temples such as Abu Simbel Temples and Philae Temple were painstakingly relocated to higher ground. Visitors today are privileged to witness these monuments preserved for future generations.� Experiences along the way remain unforgettable: drifting in a traditional felucca at sunset, exploring the botanical gardens in Aswan, and perhaps attending the atmospheric sound and light show at the vast Karnak complex.� Life onboard a Nile cruise ship is wonderfully relaxed yet refined. Spacious cabins, panoramic windows and a welcoming sun deck create the perfect setting to absorb the ever�changing scenery. There is something quite mesmerising about watching local life unfold along the riverbanks — fishermen casting their nets at dawn, children waving enthusiastically from the shore and farmers tending their fertile fields much as their ancestors did thousands of years ago.� Upon returning home, many travellers speak of feeling enriched — not just by the sunshine, but by the knowledge gained. With expert Egyptologists bringing history alive at every turn, the civilisation of the pharaohs becomes far more than textbook legend.� Cairo and the Nile together create the perfect pairing: vibrant city energy and serene river tranquillity, iconic landmarks and hidden stories, ancient wonders and modern comfort. Egypt is timeless — yet right now, with its magnificent new museum welcoming the world, it feels wonderfully new once again.� If you are considering a winter escape or a journey filled with history, culture and sun- shine, Egypt offers an experience unlike any other. From the awe�inspiring pyramids to tranquil evenings drifting along the Nile, this is travel at its most enriching.� Now is the perfect moment to turn those dreams into reality. The world truly is your oyster — and Egypt is ready to welcome you.� If you would like to know more simply get in touch our pleasure is booking you on wonderful adventures.� Special escorted departure Treasures of Cairo & the Nile Flying from Humberside via Amsterdam 16th April 2027 - from £3670 44 4 nights in Cairo B&B + sightseeing & welcome dinner A 7 night cruise full board, wine & beer with lunch & dinner, sightseeing & gratuities. Please get in touch for full details.
Erkan Sahindal - business owner at the Olive Tree on Lincoln Way, Beverley - and accomplished chef shares his recipe for Porchetta Tonnata and Pink Grapefruit Cheesecake. SERVES 2 AS A STARTER | PREP 40 MINS PLUS 24 HRS BRINING | COOK 3 HRS PLUS COOLING | EASY | INGREDIENTS 500g chunk of pork belly, skin and bones removed (ask your butcher to do this) Crispy fried capers (fry a couple of spoonfuls of capers in a little oil until crisp) Extra-virgin olive oil, for dressing A handful of mustard cress TONNATA PASTE 80g tinned tuna, reserving any oil 10g capers, plus 2 tsp of brine from the jar 75g anchovies TONNATA SAUCE 2 egg yolks 100-200ml oil made up of any tuna oil from the can and olive oil A splash of chardonnay vinegar METHOD 1 Submerge the pork belly in a 10% brine (20g of salt dissolved into 200ml of water) for 24 hours – this helps to flavour the meat and keep Food & Drink it pink. This is not essential – if you are short on time, an overnight salting is fine (sprinkle with salt, put in a container and keep in the fridge). 2 Take the pork out of the brine (or salt), wash under cold water for 5 mins and dry well. Roll the belly and tie at intervals with butcher’s string. Vacuum-pack the meat or seal it tightly in a bag with as much air as possible squeezed out. Steam at 80C for 4 hrs. Alternatively, if you don’t have a steamer, you can also poach the pork for 2-3 hrs until tender, or cook, tightly wrapped in foil, on a very low setting in the oven for 2-3 hrs. Once cooked, cool quickly. Once cold, slice the porchetta as thinly as you can with a sharp knife – you will need 12 slices. 3 To make the paste for the sauce, blitz all the ingredients using a hand blender until smooth, then push through a fine sieve. 4 For the sauce, blitz the paste and egg yolk together on a medium speed, slowly adding 100ml of the oil until it is emulsified and thick. Add more oil if you need to. Adjust the seasoning with chardonnay vinegar to taste. If you chill the dressing it will thicken more. 5 To serve, put a generous amount of tonnata sauce in the bottom of two shallow bowls. Put six slices of pork on top of the sauce, adding some additional sauce on top. Finish with the crispy fried capers, olive oil and some peppery mustard cress. Erkans’ Porchetta Tonnata Pink Grapefruit Cheesecake SERVES 8 | PREP 30 MINS PLUS CHILLING | COOK 40 MINS | EASY INGREDIENTS PASTRY 150g plain flour 75g salted butter, cold, cubed 50g icing sugar 1 egg yolk CHEESECAKE FILLING 100g mascarpone 100g crème fraîche 2 tbsp freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice Zest of 1/2 a grapefruit 2 tbsp icing sugar 60ml double cream GRAPEFRUIT JELLY 2 gelatine leaves 130ml freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice 50g caster sugar METHOD 1 To make the pastry, put the flour, butter and icing sugar into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse very briefly until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk plus 2 tbsp of ice- cold water and pulse until it starts to form a rough ball of dough. If too dry, add another tbsp of ice- cold water. Transfer to a worksurface to bring together, handling as little as possible. Flatten it out into a disc, wrap in baking paper, then chill for at least 30 mins. 2 Remove the dough from the fridge and keep it on the baking paper. Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the pastry to about 2mm thickness. Use a rolling pin to gently roll up the pastry and lay into a 22cm-wide, 3cm deep, straight-sided, loose-bottomed tart tin. Press the pastry gently into the tin, letting any excess pastry overhang. Chill for 1 hr. 3 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Remove the tin from the fridge and prick the base with a fork several times. Fill with baking paper and cover the base with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, then remove the baking beans and baking paper. Bake for another 20 mins or until deeply golden brown all over. Leave to cool completely. 4 Whisk together the mascarpone, crème fraîche, grapefruit juice, zest and icing sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the cream until soft peaks form, being careful not to overwhip. Fold the cream into the mascarpone mixture until it forms a smooth, thick mixture. Transfer into the tart crust, using a small offset spatula or similar to evenly smooth the filling. Chill. 5 To make the jelly layer, put the gelatine leaves in a small bowl of cold water, making sure they are fully submerged. Put 50ml of the grapefruit juice into a small pan along with the sugar. Stir over a low heat for 1-2 mins or until the sugar has dissolved – the mixture should be hot but not boiling. 6 Squeeze the gelatine leaves to remove any excess water. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the gelatine along with the remaining grapefruit juice. Strain through a sieve and leave to cool slightly before pouring onto the surface of the tart and chilling for 2 hrs or until set. March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
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Food & Drink Bengal B R A S S E R I E T A K E AWAY M E N U Telephone: 01430 876767 e The Bengal Brasserie Market Weighton The Bengal Brasserie • 4 High Street, Market Weighton YO43 3AH The Finest Bengali Cuisine Booking Now for Easter Bank Holiday Opening Times: Tues/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat: 5pm to 10pm Sunday: 5pm to 9pm • Closed Mondays (Except Bank Hols) This is one of the easiest pasta sauces and is great as a fall-back family meal. Try to get fresh Italian sausages if you can – they’re made from coarse meat and fermented slightly so you get a nice tang. If you have to use British ones, add a little finely diced pancetta to the sausage when you fry it to get that important cured-meat flavour. If you can’t find malloreddus, you can use conchiglie or another shape that will hold the sauce nicely. Ingredients: • 2 tsp of fennel seeds • 1 dried red chilli, crushed • A small handful of rosemary leaves, chopped • Olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced • 400g of Italian sausages • 250ml of white wine • 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped • 500g of malloredus • A handful of grated parmesan • A couple of handfuls of fresh oregano leaves or 1 tsp of dried oregano Method: 1. Bash the fennel seeds, chilli and rosemary in a pestle and mortar until ground and nicely combined. Heat a splash of olive oil in a nice heavy casserole-style pan and add the garlic. When it begins to colour and becomes sticky, add the fennel mixture, stir for a moment, then squeeze the sausage meat out of the skins and into the pan. Fry until the meat colours, breaking it up a Sausage Malloreddus (SERVES 4/6) If time is on your side, you’ve got a pasta machine and you’re feeling adventurous, this one works best with homemade pasta... Ingredients: For the pasta dough: • 400g of ‘00’ pasta flour • ½ tsp of salt • 4 eggs • 1 tbsp of olive oil For the filling: • 400g of spinach • 150g of ricotta • A pinch of grated nutmeg • 50g of fresh breadcrumbs • 75g of parmesan, freshly grated Method: 1. For the pasta dough, mix the flour and salt together, then tip them onto a work surface and make a well in the middle. Mix together the eggs and olive oil, and pour two-thirds of this into the well, reserving the rest. 2. Starting from the outside, work the flour into the liquid until it forms a dough. Knead until the dough is smooth, firm and elastic (this will take 5-10 minutes). You may need to add more egg mixture if the dough doesn’t come together. Wrap the dough in cling- film and refrigerate for at least one hour. 3. Heat the spinach in a large saucepan with two tbsp of water until it wilts down (about three minutes), then set aside to cool. Once cold, squeeze out the excess moisture, then chop finely and place in a bowl. Add the ricotta to the spinach and mix together. Add the nutmeg, breadcrumbs and parmesan, and salt and black pepper to taste. Refrigerate until you are ready to fill the pasta parcels. 4. To make the tortelli, cut the dough into four pieces and use a rolling pin or the palm of your hand to flatten a piece to the width of your pasta machine. Starting at the widest setting, run the pasta dough through twice. Reduce the setting by one notch and run it through twice again. If the dough feels sticky, add a little flour, but not enough to dry it out. Run it through the machine twice on each notch until you get to the narrowest notch. Repeat with the remaining dough. 5. Using a serrated pastry wheel, cut the dough into 10cm-wide long strips. Put a heaped teaspoon of filling at 2.5cm intervals along the strip, and about a third of the way from the long side of the strip nearest to you. Brush in between each mound of filling with egg wash. Fold over the side of pasta nearest to you. Carefully press down around each mound to get the air out. Brush the top third of the strip with egg wash and fold it back down over the mounds, again pressing down with your cupped hand. 6. Using a serrated pastry wheel, cut out individual tortelli. Boil in salted water for three minutes. Drain and serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil and extra parmesan. Spinach & Ricotta Tortelli (SERVES 6) little with a spoon as you go. 2. Stir in the white wine and cook until it reduces. Add the tomatoes, then turn the heat down and cook very gently for a couple of hours. 3. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain, keeping back some of the cooking water. 4. Stir the pasta through the sausage sauce, then add the parmesan and a little cooking water if it needs loosening. Sprinkle with parmesan or toasted breadcrumbs and serve. March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
23 Food & Drink A WARM WELCOME TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS GOOD BEER GOOD COMPANY GOOD CONVERSATION Lagers C E L E B R A T I N G A N N I V E R S A R Y CELEBRATING OUR 10 ANNIVERSARY th Easter Weekend 3 - 5 April Join us for Music and Pizza 2016 2026 W W onks alk I nn Find us at: 19 Highgate, Beverley HU17 0DN Tel: 01482 880871 www.monkswalkinn.com Historic Public House Local Cask Ales Craft Beer Wines Spirits Hot Drinks +Extra Seating Area Upstairs & Outside Tuesday Quiz Wednesday Folk Night Music Events Everyday Drinks & Chatter Zinfandel also has a natural affinity for barbecued or sauce-slathered meats. Champagne: Perfect with anything salty: Many dry sparkling wines, such as brut Champagne and Spanish Cava, actually have a faint touch of fruity sweetness. This makes them extra-refreshing when served with salty foods. They also cut through the richness and oil of fried dishes. Great with fish and chips! Moscato d’Asti: Loves fruit desserts: Sweet sparkling wines such as Moscato d’Asti and demi- sec Champagne help emphasise the fruit in the dessert, rather than the sugar. It’s also delicious alongside a simple summer fruit salad, or even splashed into it. Malbec: Holds up to sweet- spicy barbecue sauces: Malbec, Shiraz, and Côtes-du-Rhône are bold enough to drink alongside foods brushed with heavily spiced barbecue sauces — just be careful that the sauce isn’t too sugary- sweet, which can throw off the wine’s fruit. Syrah: For highly spiced dishes: When a meat is heavily seasoned, look for a red wine with lots of spicy notes. Syrah or Cabernet Franc are good choices. But be careful with spice heat, however: For hot dishes like those, try to avoid high-alcohol wines, which will amplify the sizzle. Off-Dry Riesling: Pairs with sweet and spicy dishes: The slight sweetness of many Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Vouvrays helps tame the heat of spicy dishes and goes toe-to-toe with the lift of more aromatic ingredients. A spicy green salad is a delicious partner for any of those wines. Zinfandel: For Pâtés, mousses, and terrines: If you can apply the same adjectives to a wine and a dish, pairing them will often work. For instance, the words “rustic,” “savoury,” or “rich” are often used to describe Zinfandel, Italy’s Nero d’Avola, and Spain’s Monastrell, as well as a creamy liver mousse. Spice and fruit-driven the home of steak, certainly work well. Malbecs generally taste like lush dark fruits and have plenty of those handy tannins, making them a great match for meaty dishes. Cabernet Sauvignons, particularly those from California, are super powerful wines that go well with steak cuts like Ribeye or other bone-in types. They too have lots of nice dark fruits and tannins going on. If you’ve got a leaner cut, like a sirloin, you could try a Syrah from France, a South American Cinsault, Italian Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or Spanish Tempranillo. These wines are usually light to medium bodied (you don’t need as much body if your steak isn’t as meaty) and have nice acidity. Plus, they’re super versatile, so if you’ve got half a bottle leftover you could have it with a bowl of ragu or sausage casserole. And then, of course, there’s the Chardonnay option! And having said that, here’s a few more food and wine suggestions you might want to ignore . . . Pinot Noir: Pair with earthy flavours: Recipes made with earthy ingredients like mushrooms and lentils taste great with reds like Pinot Noir, which is light-bodied but full of savoury depth. Pinot is also often delicious alongside salmon, proving that red wine and fish can go together brilliantly. Sauvignon Blanc: Goes with tart dressings and sauces: Tangy foods - like scallops with a grapefruit- onion salad - won’t overwhelm zippy wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde from Portugal, and Verdejo from Spain. Sauvignon Blanc also works well alongside vinaigrette, roasted or sautéed fish, and goat’s cheese. Dry Rosé: For rich, cheesy dishes: Some cheeses go better with white wine and some sing alongside red. Almost all, however, pair well with dry rosé, which has the acidity of white wine and the fruit character of red. Rosé also works well with grilled fish, fresh salad, and even a big plate of charcuterie. Pinot Grigio: Pairs with light fish dishes: Light seafood dishes seem to take on more flavour when matched with equally delicate white wines, such as Pinot Grigio from Italy, Chablis from France, and Vinho Verde from Portugal. Some advice for pairing food and wine can be overly strict. The truth is, you can eat pretty much whatever you want while drinking whichever wine you choose. I enjoyed a rare steak with a couple of glasses of an oaked Chardonnay recently and it was, I have to say, something that worked really well.. Which proves the point - a red will be the go-to choice for most people, I guess, when it comes to pairing wine with steak, but at the end of the day it’s what works for you. Yes, red wines do work well with red meats (and more to come about that, with examples, below). It’s the tannins (the dry feeling you get in your mouth when you’re drinking red wine or even a cup of tea) that work well against the robust flavours and fattiness of a great cut of steak. But which red? If we really want to refine this particular steak/red wine “match” we need to consider about the cut of meat you’re going for. Sirloin, flank and bavette are examples of leaner steaks while ribeye and rump are more powerful ones. Sauce matters too. If you’re having something spicy, you’ll want to tone down the power in the wine so it’s not all too much in your mouth. If you’ve got some creamy peppercorn sauce going on, you might want a little more acid in your wine to cut through all that richness. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly Malbecs from Argentina, Pairing Wines & Food To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470
What’s On & Puzzles FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2026 SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2026 ABBA REUNION TRIBUTE SHOW LIVE IN BEVERLEY MINSTER All Tickets £27 • On Sale Now • Support Act • Licensed Bar www.daltonevents.co.uk or Click the QR Code PRESENTS ACROSS 1 Students’ living quarters (4,2,9) 11 At a continually increasing rate (4,3,4) 12 Eight-armed creature (7) 13 Six balls in cricket (4) 14 Warble a ditty (4) 15 Romantic fling (9) 17 Go to bed (4,2) 18 Be adventurous (4) 20 Take back (6) 23 Non-sensual (love) (8) 24 Common restaurant starter (4) 25 Fight with swords (5) 27 Arrange once more (5) 28 Butcher’s meat axe (7) 30 Sculler (5) 32 Gem surface (5) 34 Plant used as foliage in flower arranging (4) 35 Encroaching (8) 37 As new (6) 39 Fact used by a detective (4) 40 ___ Royale, Ian Fleming novel (6) 44 Use force against (6-3) 47 Told falsehoods (4) 48 Mellowed (4) 50 Resentful, begrudging (7) 51 Person who treats corns, for example (11) 52 Removal of knots (15) * Solution on page 34 DOWN 1 Equestrian eventing (5,6) 2 Burden carried (4) 3 Confer holy orders upon (6) 4 Kit for crowd controllers (4,4) 5 Spirited horse (5) 6 Slaver, dribble (5) 7 Trapping (7) 8 Growth (9) 9 Item purchased from abroad (6) 10 Michaelmas daisy (5) 16 Attack (3,3,2) 19 Mature gradually (6) 20 Hit something sharply (3) 21 Constituent of brass (4) 22 Proclamation (6) 23 Remove contaminants from (6) 25 Start asking questions (4,4) 26 Of the decimal system (6) 29 Finger-band (4) 31 Roster of those in line to obtain something (7,4) 33 Giving a sense of artificiality (9) 34 Passing craze (3) 36 Erecting (8) 38 Curvy, undulating (7) 41 Peculiar trait (6) 42 Major cricketing title (5) 43 Signify (6) 45 Crime of burning property (5) 46 Chocolate/coffee drink (5) 49 Jest or pun (4) WORD WHEEL Find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each word must be three letters or more and contain the central letter. Use each letter once, and no plurals, foreign words or proper nouns are allowed. There is at least one nine-letter word. AVERAGE: 8 words GOOD: 11 words EXCELLENT: 14+ words March Crossword Puzzle March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
25 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 What’s On
What’s On & Competition NORTHERN SOUL & MOTOWN Cruise Hull - Amsterdam - Hull 12th - 14th MARCH 2026 Two Nights of Northern Soul & Motown with the UK’s Premier Soul DJ’s (STRICTLY VINYL) Dave Rimmer • Colin Law Dean Anderson • Dave Scargill Arthur Hardy • Nigel Roberts Tickets from £139 per person www.p&oferries.com Scan QR Code for more info or to book To enter just send your Name, Address and Contact Telephone number via email to: ask@daltonspire.co.uk Postal entries with the same information should be sent on a postcard to: Dalton Events, 31 Elm Drive, Cherry Burton, HU17 7RJ Please state clearly which gig or event draw you wish to enter. Each draw will close seven days before the event. An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Wet Wet Wet’ will see founding member Graeme Clark, long- standing guitarist Graeme Duffin, and lead singer Kevin Simm, who joined the band in 2018, perform a full set of reworked Wet Wet Wet classics, with the odd story and anecdote from the band’s history thrown in for good measure. The idea for the album and for taking this new show on the road has developed from the band’s recent run of hugely successful full band tours, which have seen them perform to over 75,000 people at their headline shows alone during the last couple of years, plus countless more at festivals around the world. Every night, the trio perform a short set of 3 songs acoustically, in what has become a fan-favourite highlight of their live show. Lead singer Kevin Simm added “I’m really excited to be going out on this acoustic tour with Graeme and Graeme, performing these great songs in an intimate atmosphere which will be something different for us and also fans of the band. This special acoustic tour will offer fans a chance to see and hear the trio play Wet Wet Wet’s most iconic songs – including Sweet Little Mystery, Angel Eyes, Temptation, Sweet Surrender, and the legendary Love Is All Around – in an intimate setting, as they’ve never been performed before. Wet Wet Wet have sold over 15 million records worldwide, with 20× platinum certifications, and incredibly have achieved over 500 weeks spent on the UK Singles and Albums Charts. They continue to be WET WET WET announce new intimate Acoustic Gig at the King’s Hall, Ilkley on Tuesday 26th May WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE WET WET WET Love Is All Around which spent the entire summer of 1994 at No.1. Tickets: £39 -£123 • Age: 12+ Tickets are available from https://wetwetwet.co.uk/live/ one of the UK’s most successful and best-loved bands, with a catalogue of defining hits such as Sweet Little Mystery, Angel Eyes, Goodnight Girl, With a Little Help from My Friends, Sweet Surrender, Julia Says and of course, the ubiquitous March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
27 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Here To Help Advertise here for as little as £40p/mth Tel: 01964 552470 to book your advert. 5000 A5 LEAFLETS PRINTED FULL COLOUR SINGLE OR DOUBLE SIDED ONLY £149 From your print ready PDF artwork. No artwork? We can do that too! Email for a quote: ask@daltonspire.co.uk Optimising your wealth for 2026 and the years ahead. Guiding your financial journey with independent financial advice. 07586 928 379 Catherine@CMMWealth.co.uk cmmwealthmanagement.co.uk CMM Wealth Management Ltd (1032557) is an Appointed Representative of Julian Harris Financial Consultants (FCA No 153566), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered address: 4 The Poplars, Shiptonthorpe, YO43 3QZ. Companies House no. 16275954 l Chimneys Swept from £50 l Log Burner Sweep & Service £80 l Log Burner Servicing & Repairs l HETAS Approved Sweep l Open Fires l Chimney Surveys l Stove Fittings Arranged l Bird Nests Removed l Cowls Fitted l Safe Systems of Work Implemented on All Jobs Chimney Sweep Est. 2014 Paul Dobson Tel: 07961 708 669 Email: crosssolutions@yahoo.co.uk Cross Solutions 17 Springfield Avenue • Brough • HU15 1BU
Hull City - by Chris Warkup During February Hull City had four consecutive home games to cement their playoff position and in typical fashion struggled through the first three until the dramatic 4-2 victory over Derby. This has been followed by victory at Portsmouth and City are fifth in the league, reached 60 points and are seven points clear of sides outside of the play-offs. Potentially five wins in the remaining twelve games should be enough to reach the play-offs and battle it out for promotion against Millwall, Ipswich and Wrexham or possibly teams such as Southampton, Derby or Birmingham from the chasing pack. Will Hull City reach the play-offs? This is very achievable, but our biggest adversary is injuries. We have never managed to play our best eleven, whatever this may be, as so many players have been injured throughout this season. Matazo and Belloumi have been out most of the season, Millar has not reached his levels after a year- long ACL injury, Ajayi is potentially our best central defender and has missed half the season, McBurnie and Gelhardt have missed months and Lundstam has missed months and is not yet match fit. Every week there is yet another injury and just in this last week Yu and Giles have been ruled out the remainder of the season. By mid-March or April some players may return to the fold but as soon as some return someone else is lost or the comeback only lasts a couple of games till yet another hamstring injury. The loss of left back Ryan Giles is a massive issue. Back in the autumn he laid on at least half a dozen goals for McBurnie, we waited for both to return and restore this supply-line but this just lasted for a couple of games. This team has overcome injuries all season long but can we continue for the remaining games as it does look that we are the walking wounded some weeks. Gelhardt looks like he’s running through treacle at the moment as, he like many others try to regain their pre-Christmas fitness. All we can hope is that they keep grinding out results and by the final weeks everyone regains their early season sharpness for the final push. March will be a deciding month as City have games coming up with Ipswich, Millwall, Wrexham and West Brom. These all look difficult games on paper with the first three against play off rivals and a trip to A deciding month for Hull City? the Hawthorns as West Brom look to appoint another manager to avoid relegation. City have won five consecutive away games so they shouldn’t fear trips to Portman Road or the Racecourse. The chasing pack will on our tails if they struggle through these fixtures but you just never know with this City side. On our day we can defeat everyone and as the season has progressed, they can take one opportunity and keep opponents out for an hour or so. Thankfully some of the early season mistakes have been rectified though there is less all-out attack than back in the autumn. One goal on the counterattack and keeping opponents out seems to be the regular way day story but this is why we are in the playoffs. The Rosenior team almost made the playoffs, but they lacked the clinical edge of this team. We are winning with just one or two shots on target whereas the Rosenior team often relied on just a moment of brilliance from Philogene or Carvalho as no one seemed to take responsibility when we reached the penalty area. Pity we didn’t have McBurnie then though we did have Liam Delap but he was injured for nearly all of the second half of that season. Injuries are just an ongoing theme with City. There have been recent hints that they may finally look at upgrading the training facilities or even just the practice pitches in the future. If promoted then maybe they’ll actually look at improving these key facilities as the training ground is still based at the same location as the days of Peter Taylor, twenty years ago. This will depend on money though. With Premier League riches we will hopefully invest in the infrastructure, not least to attract players, but it may be a different ball game if still within the Championship. City will hopefully pay every bill between now and June so the transfer restrictions come to an end by the summer window but no doubt some players such as Charlie Hughes will move on to balance the books. City may not have spent any money this season but going by the quality of some of the loan signings the wage bill should still be considerable. The previous season this was 130% of our income and subsidised by Acun, similar to most other Championship owners. Money is not the priority at the moment. Getting points through March and reaching the Playoffs in May is the bigger issue and who knows where we will be by June. Late goals from John Egan and Lewis Koumas saw them beat Derby County 4-2. Joe Gelhardt Matt Crooks in goal scoring action as Hull City win away at Portsmouth. March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
29 Men’s Health To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER? Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with one in eight men being diagnosed in their lifetime. It usually progresses very slowly; men can sometimes live for decades without noticing any symptoms. Prostate cancer starts in the walnut-sized prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system located between the penis and the bladder, surrounding the urethra. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate becomes large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis, known as the urethra. When this happens, you might start to notice things such as an increased need to pee, straining while you pee or a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied. It’s important to understand that these symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer, but they also shouldn’t be ignored. As you get older, your chances of developing prostate cancer are higher, with most cases developing in men aged 50 or older WHAT CAUSES PROSTATE CANCER? While the exact cause is unknown, there are certain factors that can increase your risk. As you age, your chances of developing prostate cancer are higher, with most cases developing in men aged 50 or older. It can be more common in black men and less common among Asian men. A family history of prostate cancer can also increase the risk slightly, particularly for men whose father or brother have been affected. HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER TESTED? There is no single test to diagnose prostate cancer. The most-used tests are blood tests known as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a physical examination of your prostate, an MRI scan or a biopsy. A prostate-specific antigen blood test measures the level of PSA and may help detect early prostate cancer. If you do have a raised PSA level, you might be offered an MRI scan of the prostate to help decide if you need further tests and treatment, as results from a PSA test can be unreliable and raised PSA levels can be caused by non- cancerous conditions. WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? Not all prostate cancer cases will need treatment, especially if it’s at an early stage and not causing symptoms. Some cases of prostate cancer can be cured if treated in early stages. Treatment includes surgically removing the prostate, or radiotherapy, sometimes alongside hormone therapy. HOW TO GET SUPPORT If you or a loved one is affected by cancer and you would like further information or support, you can speak to a Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist (BMIPs) in most Boots pharmacies across the UK and online. The specially trained BMIPs can offer free information, support and advice to cancer patients, as well as to their friends and family. You can also contact Macmillan’s free helpline on 0808 808 0000, seven days a week from 8am–8pm. UNDERSTANDING PROSTATE CANCER KEEPING IT UP Regular sex is good for your heart, according to new research in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Most men typically burn around 100 calories during sex, with heart rates climbing to around 170 beats per minute at the more vigorous end. These heart-boosting benefits may explain why men who have sex at least twice a week have a 45% lower risk of heart attacks, according to the American Journal of Cardiology. TAKE A BREATHER Regular meditation can improve your gut health, according to new research in the journal General Psychiatry. A team of researchers found that meditating Tibetan monks have a much healthier gut microbiome – the friendly microbes in your gut which break down food – which is linked to a stronger immune system and a reduced risk of anxiety, depression and heart disease. This links to the so-called ‘gut-brain axis’ – the two-way connection that links the health of the brain with the health of the gut – and maintaining a stress-free mind through regular meditation appears to work wonders for it. 3 WAYS TO… IMPROVE YOUR POSTURE 1. AVOID STILLNESS Even if you sit in an upright position often viewed as ‘perfect’, you will develop aches and pains if you stay there long enough. Our bodies are designed to move, so change your posture regularly. Walk around your office or home regularly, and try hourly thoracic rotations, shoulder rolls and head turns. Setting yourself email or phone reminders can be useful. 2. STAY ACTIVE There is evidence that doing 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week can counteract the effects of a sedentary working day. Any sport or activity that takes your spine through a large range of movement is great for posture. 3. MAINTAIN STRENGTH Strength work can improve your bone health and make you more resilient to different postures. Aim for at least two resistance training sessions a week – and incorporate bent-over rows and reverse flyes, which strengthen the muscles between your shoulder blades. 2 YEARS Could be added to your lifespan if you’re married, according to the journal Population Health. Studies suggest married men tend to eat healthier, are less likely to drink or smoke, and less likely to suffer from inflammation and stress (some married men may disagree). FOODS TO GET YOU IN A SEXY MOOD Sex drive taken a nosedive? It’s only natural for libido to dwindle with age, as levels of testosterone – men’s main sex hormone – start to dip. Throw in hectic work schedules, kids, relationship problems and general day-to- day stress, and it’s little wonder between-the-sheets motivation takes a knock. Luckily, alongside plenty of exercise and less stress, the world of food can provide a libido lift. So take the following ingredients and get ready to cook up a storm… Chocolate It’s the theobromine found in chocolate that provides its libido- boosting benefits. This bitter- tasting alkaloid works in a similar way to caffeine, with mood-lifting qualities to boot. It also contains phenethylamine, which adds to the release of endorphins. Our bodies break down this molecule [phenethylamine] very quickly, meaning it doesn’t have a long- term effect. However, in the short- term it increases the release of serotonin and dopamine.” Pistachios According to one study,3 the ‘pistachio diet’ is effective at improving blood cholesterol and stimulating blood flow. Both of these benefits have been linked to potentially helping erectile dysfunction issues. Add pistachios to your Friday-night curry or snack on a handful mid-afternoon. Honey Add a spoon of the sweet stuff to your porridge. Research has found honey can ‘improve libido, erectile function, spermatogenesis, epididymal sperm count and normal sperm percentage’s – an impressive set of bedroom benefits. Hey Guys, Did You Know...
Motoring So, what’s the rub? At a fiver short of £30,000, it’s a lot of money for a warmed up supermini, and more costly than the quicker Mini Cooper S five-door. But with the Fiesta dead and so many rivals failing to offer hotted- up hatches of any sort, the Fabia 130 should be celebrated. Now, imagine what the same team could do with a vRS. A lot of small changes bring out the ‘Hot Hatch’ in Skoda’s supermini Yipee! I find myself on some roads that are much more interesting than many in this part of Spain, with some challenging bends and very little traffic. As long as I am wary of the hard-to-spot surface imperfections, and the alarmingly narrow bridges, I should be in for a good time in the Skoda Fabia 130. It’s a new car, but one very firmly in an old tradition. You need to get the turbocharged 1.5 TSI Evo2 four-cylinder beyond 3000rpm to appreciate the extra urge over the regular motor. Software changes have lifted peak power from 148bhp to a more serious 175bhp (and it’s been beefed up accordingly), and there are tweaks to the standard seven speed dual-clutch gearbox to make it keener and quicker to shift. Sadly, the twin tailpipes don’t provide a rousing hot-hatch soundtrack. In fact, the engine sounds rather pained in the upper reaches of the rev range. A 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds would be nothing to write home about in a family EV these days, but it’s good for a warm hatch – that often overlooked sub-category, one notch below full-on hot hatches, but often better suited to daily use. The Fabia 130 (named to mark Skoda’s 130th anniversary) is a warmed-up version of the sporty Monte Carlo trim, rather than a hot vRS in disguise. It gets the Monte Carlo’s 15mm lower sports suspension and racier bucket seats, 18-inch wheels, black detailing, Fiesta fans are you listening? some 130 badges, plus a bigger front splitter and rear spoiler that work together to actually reduce lift. Those small changes add appreciably more verve to the Fabia experience. Retuned electric power-assisted steering seems to have gained a little more road feel, and now has a well-judged responsiveness that makes the Fabia feel agile, not nervous. Stickier Continental rubber is fitted. In fact, it’s time to flick the stability control into Sport mode (not an option on any other Fabia) and poke it with a stick. Traction isn’t ever really an issue, with just a momentary flare if you gun it out of a junction, and the handling is pleasingly neutral. Tonk into a corner at speed and lift off the gas, and you can feel the chassis rotate a few degrees under you to help tuck the nose in. (And the handbrake is very effective on gravel, rally-style.) Pleasingly, the sports suspension still has enough compliance to round off imperfections, be they in town or on rural roads, and it has a grown-up, solid feel on the motorway. It’s a lot less spine- jarring than, say, a current Mini JCW. Being a Skoda, it remains exceptionally practical. Space in the back is impressive for a supermini, the boot is big, and you even get physical controls for the heating. March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
31 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Motoring Tune in now: 107.8FM or www.BeverleyFM.com PLAYING GREAT MUSIC WHERE EVER YOU LISTEN What do autonomous taxis have in common with those controlled by conventional meat-based algorithms? Both habitually claim to be just around the corner: one physically, the other metaphorically. So you might reasonably be cynical about the recent announcements that both Google’s Waymo and London- based Wayve will bring self-driving cabs to London this year. Regardless of when they actually show up, note that it’s two tech firms doing this, and not two car makers. Driverless cars are not about the car. You can design something free of the constraints of a steering wheel and pedals, as Mate Rimac has for his Verne project. But an adapted EV will do perfectly well, as Waymo’s many Jaguar iPaces prove. Nor is it about the sensors: more confident, reductionist systems like Wayve’s can find their way with just a few relatively cheap cameras. Instead, it’s all about the AI. Hybrid systems like Waymo’s combine artificial intelligence with conventional code and high- definition maps, and can demonstrate to law makers that they will stop at a stop sign because they have been told to. The autonomous American trucking firm Aurora takes a similar approach, and refers to it as ‘verifiable AI’. Wayve’s ‘end-to-end’ system is very different: a black box takes in all the sensor data and outputs driving instructions without reference to rules or maps. You can’t show regulators that you have told it to stop at stop signs, but you can prove in simulations and on the road that it will. Wayve argues that its single neural network is seamless and smarter and, like a human driver, can drive pretty much anywhere once it has learned the local rules. There’s beef between proponents of the two system types over safety, transparency and applicability, but the governments who control their fate don’t seem to care much about the difference, or to have figured out a driving test for them. Nor are they likely to. The big tech firms have found autonomous driving among the toughest of all the nuts they’ve tried to crack. These trials serve a double purpose. Like any other young driver, AI needs to learn on the road before it can be given a licence. Wayve already tests extensively in London, but with safety drivers aboard and ready to take over, and without paying passengers. It will learn more from operating commercially, wholly autonomously and with a much bigger fleet, while the government gets to test empirically the safety which it can’t or won’t assess in the lab. As in China and the US, it also gets to devolve the decision to permit driverless cabs to the local authority, in this case Transport for London. Central government can watch how it goes before formulating national policy, and can blame London mayor Sadiq Khan if it doesn’t go well. If this seems an incredibly lax way to regulate driverless cars – turn a few loose and see if they kill anyone – it is at least highly self- policing. One bad crash killed GM’s Cruise self-driving project, and firms like Wayve, which rely on investors’ cash and confidence, won’t go driverless in full public view until they’re sure they’re ready. Is the end of the road for taxi drivers here?
My quotation of an old saying in last month’s article - If Candlemas be cloud and rain Winter is gone and will not come again! proved to be wrong. Winter did return and for some days with a vengeance, keeping us gardeners wrapped up warm and dreaming of spring, mindful of another adage: Don’t say Spring has come until you can put your foot on nine daisies. We shall welcome it once it arrives as the American poet Celia Thaxter (1935-94) wrote: For glad Spring has begun, And to the ardent sun The earth, long time so bleak, Turns a frost-bitten check. So as the late Robin Williams, actor and comedian, said: Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!” Many plants and animals do venture out to party, but some get their timing wrong as we often see on the occasional sunny day that a bee will dance around in search of nectar only to beat a hasty retreat as the weather turns. This is beautifully put by John Clare in The Shepherd’s Calendar: The insect world now sunbeams higher climb Oft dream of spring and wake before their time Blue flyes from straw stacks crawling scarce alive And bees peak out on slabs before the hive Stroaking their little legs across their wings And venturing short flight where the sun drop hings Its silver bell... The vernal or spring equinox will come this year on Friday 20th March, marking the point at which day and night are of approximate equal length. In many cultures it is associated with festivals and rituals to celebrate the earth’s fertility. Wood anemones and primroses come to mind when thinking of spring. I looked them up in my grandmother’s much thumbed and battered copy of Flowers of The Field which I can recollect studying with her. Written by the Rev C A Johns (1811-74), it was first published in 1851; but my copy is the 1902 edition edited by Prof G S Boulger. It became a popular guide for amateur naturalists, beautifully illustrated with drawings by Emily Stackhouse and the author’s sisters. Many plants have connections with folklore. In Irish folklore primroses in the doorway were said to protect the home from fairies. The beautiful wood anemone, sometimes called Moon-flower (in Worcestershire), and Lady’s Petticoat (in Wiltshire) and many other attractive local names does not seem to deserve the name of Thunderbolt (recorded as used in Staffordshire), and was said to bring bad luck if picked. IN THE GARDEN As the garden begins to wake up from its hibernation and winter slumbers we can expect to see a riot of colour from a wide variety of spring bulbs and other plants. One of the first is the bright blue Chionodoxa, sometimes called the Glory of the Snow. It is native to the mountains in Turkey closely related to the daintier Scilla. Crocuses bring a range of vivid purples and oranges, Camellias reds and whites and pink and glossy dark green leaves, Hellebores whites, mauves and purples and Bergenias bring magenta. Early tulips tend to be the small wild species and are certainly some of the prettiest spring flowers, e.g.T.Tarda (yellow), T.humilis (pink and violet) and T.saxatalis (mauve and yellow). A word of warning about grape hyacinths, which are easy to grow and require little attention, but in a border with rich soil they will grow masses of narrow green leaves which can smother other plants and will look very untidy. It is best to put them in poor soil to slow their progress. If you pick a branch of the shrub Forsythia with tight buds and bring it indoors and put it in a vase you can watch it slowly open its flowers, bringing its vibrant yellow gold into the house. One of our favourite yellow spring flowers is the daffodil [Narcissus]. They date back to 3,00BC having spread here from north Africa and the Iberian peninsula. This year marks the centenary since the scientist James Kirkham All About Plants, Gardens & Vegetable Patches Gardening - with Sarah King E. SMITH TREE SERVICES EXPERT TREE PRUNING & FELLING We enjoy doing the small back garden trees, as well as the 100ft giants. Safety harnesses worn when needed. Taking dead wood out. Restricted area section felling. Trimming hedges, pruning all types of trees. All rubbish cleared. Special rates for trees over 60ft. All types of garden work & removal of all waste. We also offer Landscaping services. Specialising is stump grinding. For a free estimate, call ELY on 0800 474 8880 or 07747 324010 E: estrees@live.co.uk W: esmithtreeservices.uk We are on Facebook and Google Premium selection of quality kiln dried firewood. Free local delivery in the Beverley & Hornsea areas delivered to you in bags or bulk. Locally sourced for local people, delivered to your door! Woodsure registered "Ready to Burn", - the latest legal requirement. Crown Logs www.CrownLogs.co.uk info@crownlogs.co.uk 01964 543250 07802 855181 March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
33 To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 Gardening Set in a beautiful picturesque riverside setting where you can feed the ducks and swans Skerne Road, Driffield YO25 6XL Tel: 01377 254043 Open: Monday - Sunday 10.00 am - 4.00 pm Minimum spend of £20 qualifies for FREE delivery within 10 miles. £5 charge over 10 mile radius for delivery. Proud to be dog friendly! Everything you need for your garden and more GRANARY CAFÉ Take-away and outside seating available Serving home-cooked food Enquires Tel: 01377 250912 Great savings to be made on ornaments, pots, planters. Gorgeous range of gifts for every occasion. Gifts galore and introducing a range of products including foldable bags, scarves, caps, bottles etc from Eco Chic. Ramsbottom was honoured for his work in developing a hot water treatment against eelworms which has saved the daffodils. The worms cause the bulbs to lose their roots and the hot water treatment of 43 degrees centigrade kills the worms and not the bulbs. The worm is still a pest today, and this method is still used in the bulb industry. The RHS has asked the public to record where they find daffodils blooming and send the sightings to contribute to their Daffodil Diaries. There are in excess of 31,000 known varieties of daffodil, and the RHS is keen to preserve this diversity for the future. It needs our help in locating three particularly rare daffodils –Narcissus Mrs R O Backhouse, one of the first pink daffodils with a coral pink trumpet and ivory flowers; N. Mrs William Copeland, a white double-flower variety; and N. Sussex Bonfire, a double-flowered yellow and orange variety. Should you be lucky enough to own one of these daffodils you are asked to dig it up after flowering this year and send it to the RHS for them to grow at its research facility at Wisley. If your bulb is assessed to one of these rarities you will be invited to donate it to the daffodil breeder Scamps Daffodils with the hope that it can be bred and brought back into widespread cultivation. ON THE PLOT What we can achieve on the plot in March is always dictated by the weather, but getting going on a few things at home can ensure that you are well prepared to start planting out once the soil has warmed up. Seeds develop slowly and can rot in cold soils, and it makes them targets for hungry rodents. Seeds will respond in a warm atmosphere sown in a mix of 50.50 moist vermiculite and multi-purpose compost, using about half a teaspoonful of seed to 0.5 litres of the mix and placed in a box with a lid in a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees. Once they have germinated the compost/seed mix can be planted out at the usual depth, making sure not to damage the emerging delicate roots. In a cold March carrots can take three to four weeks to appear, but only two weeks if you are using this pre- germination method. Planting out a single germinated seed can be tricky if it is tiny, so a small cluster can be put in and thinned out later. Chitting seeds is just like chitting seed potatoes but on a smaller scale. It is particularly suitable for anything that may be precious or rare; but leeks, onions, parsnips and hardy annuals such as larkspur will do well. With moisture and warmth you can also get ahead in the same way by using a paper towel which has been dunked in warm water and gently rung out. Pull away two layers of the paper and place the seeds well spaced and then cover with the other two layers of paper, placing the whole thing in a clear plastic bag and leaving it open for some air circulation. Place the bag in a warm spot and gently spray it with warm water if it starts to dry out. Once the roots appear you can plant them up in the ground or in pots when the weather is warm enough. OUT & ABOUT If you wish to venture for a real treat you may fancy the Kew Gardens annual Orchid Festival which finishes on 8th March. Closer to home you will find a national collection of daffodils at Springfields Festival Gardens at Spalding, Lincolnshire. Happy Gardening, Sarah x
The Last Word FIONA’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT By Fiona Dwyer - Journalist, PR Consultant, DIY Your Biz PR Course Creator, Wife and Mum to two teenagers! Spring is finally here It’s always such a relief when March arrives, don’t you think? I, for one, am fed up of the grey skies and cold mornings. It’s finally Spring! Yay! The days are getting longer, the sun is showing its face a bit more often and the crocuses and daffodils are coming up. We’ll soon see lambs in the field which never fails to make me smile. Everything just feels that bit more possible. The brighter days and a bit of sunshine make such a difference to your mood and you can feel your energy and motivation coming back. I love it! Time for a good spring clean This is also the time of year when I get the urge to throw open every window in the house and let the fresh air sweep through. I love a good spring clean - clearing out cupboards, decluttering drawers, giving everything a bit of a reset. It’s amazing how much lighter you feel when you’ve had a good sort- out. And getting the washing back on the line instead of in the tumble dryer? Bliss. It smells fresher, it feels fresher and it just makes the whole house feel better. And let’s not forget that a tidy home does wonders for the mind too! It’s so much less stressful. A positive Lent And of course, we’re currently in the middle of Lent. People often think it’s all about giving things up, but it doesn’t have to be, unless you want it to. Lent can be a lovely chance to do something positive instead. Maybe it’s helping a neighbour, donating to a local charity or the local foodbank or simply taking the time to check in on someone who might need a friendly chat. Small acts of kindness can make such a difference - and this time of year is the perfect reminder to look outward as well as inward. Have a brilliant March everyone! Fiona x Twitter: @fionadwyer • Facebook: Fiona Dwyer PR Puzzle Page Solutions dignityfunerals.co.uk/local Proud to be a Dignity Funeral Director, providing exceptional services to families across the UK. SERVING FAMILES FOR 150 YEARS Attended Funerals Unattended Funerals Memorials FRANK STEPHENSON & SON 29 Minster Moorgate, Beverley East Yorkshire HU17 8HP 01482 881367 We’re here for you anytime Whatever your wishes or budget, we can provide a funeral to suit you TAKING THE GREATEST CARE In and around Beverley SERVING FAMILIES FOR 150 YEARS It’s a Fact... 1. Chainsaws were first invented for childbirth. It was developed in Scotland in the late 18th Century to help aid and speed up the process of symphysiotomy (widening the pubic cartilage) and removal of disease- laden bone during childbirth. It wasn’t until the start of the 20th Century that we started using chainsaws for woodchopping. 2. There’s a planet mostly made from diamond. Called 55 Cancri e, it’s around twice the size of Earth and some 40 light-years away from us within the Cancer constellation. March 2026 Get Your Business Noticed
Find It In East Riding Magazine To Advertise Please Telephone 01964 552 470 35 All Saints’ Parish Church Hall 19 Church Road North Ferriby, East Yorkshire HU14 3DA Wednesday 5:30pm and 7:00pm Call Fiona on 07515 631299 Slimming World I T S E R V I C E S CATALYST CORE LTD SUPPORT WHETHER THAT BE REMOTE OR ONSITE FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE DISASTER RECOVERY SOLUTIONS SAGE 50 TRAINING & CONSULTANCY IT CONSULTANCY EVEN IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN IT DEPARTMENT BUT WANT SOME OUTSIDE ADVICE, SOLUTIONS OR OPTIONS SECURITY SOLUTIONS FROM MALWARE, ANTI-VIRUS, VPN & FIREWALLS TELEPHONE: 01482 244701 EMAIL: SALES@CATALYSTCORE.CO.UK
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