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On Thursday 14th September, Kelmarsh Hall opened its doors for a special one-off exhibition to celebrate the Heritage Open Day Festival taking place across the UK. The festival takes place every year throughout a week of September, made up of free events celebrating history and heritage. The special exhibition at Kelmarsh was curated by the volunteer Research and Archive team, who are highly dedicated to the maintenance and care of the archive in the Hall. The archive itself contains many exciting items, from paintings to books, from personal letters of previous owners to old table lamps once on display. For this special event, the focus of ‘Hidden Treasures of Kelmarsh’ was on items previously unseen by visitors which had all been retrieved from various areas of the archive, including the old safe. Once the team started planning the exhibition, four themes fell into place: The 'Mysterious Leg Bone in the..

With the end of the school year fast approaching, it's time to say thank you to the teachers who have made a difference to the children. Let's celebrate the incredible work teachers do and discover the perfect tokens of appreciation that will leave a lasting impression. Here are some top picks from local small businesses that are based in Northamptonshire... Bubba Bakes Bubba Bakes is a local business that sells delicious cakesicles, cakepops and more! These cakesicles not only look incredible, but they taste it too! There are different designs and personalisations to choose from. Pop them a message on Instagram to place your order.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Bubba bakes (@bubbabakes_) Pascolo Pascolo is a small business based in Northampton that specialises in grazing tables, platters and boxes. They are offering these gorgeous biscuits that are a great way to say thank..

Why not save a little bit of money this month and celebrate Valentine’s Day at home? If it’s your first or your fifty-first Valentine’s Day with your beau, February 14th is the perfect occasion to crack out that cocktail shaker hidden at the back of your cupboard. Whether it’s an intimate 3-course dinner or more of a casual occasion, swap out your usual Mojito or Passionfruit Martini for something a little bit more special this year. Local cocktail designer and enthusiast Sunday Cocktail Club has created 3 bespoke recipes for you to try out and enjoy this year. Despite looking particularly eye-catching, these three cocktails are pretty low-maintenance. They only take a few minutes to shake up and require just a handful of ingredients. However you choose to celebrate V Day, Pulse Magazine has got you! Grab your ‘on the rocks’ glassware and then let Cupid take care of the..

Christmas has come early for four Northampton shoppers who have each won £500 in a ‘Golden Ticket’ giveaway. The competition, organised by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) saw thousands of shoppers enter by collecting entry forms from retailers and posting them into dedicated post boxes around the town. A prize draw carried out at Royal & Derngate by Jack and the Beanstalk panto star Keala Settle then saw four lucky winners each receive £500 in vouchers to spend with national and independent retailers in Northampton town centre. Richard Langley, aged 51 from Rectory Farm said he will be buying his wife a watch from Michael Jones Jewellers and updating the family’s wardrobe in Primark while Duston-based Paul Shaw, aged 58 will also be buying jewellery for Christmas presents in Saint Gyles Jewellers and tucking into a festive cheeseboard from St Giles Cheese. Olivia Brookes, aged 26, only moved..

It’s certainly hard to believe, but the year will soon be coming to an end – yes, really! It seems to me like just yesterday we were saying hello to the summer sun but we’re now saying hello to 2023. Yes, there are the obvious ways to bring in the New Year – heading out to party until the early hours may be the choice for some but, if you’re anything like me, all of the celebrations surrounding Christmastime mean that NY seems like the perfect time for something a little different! Here are some unique ideas you could use to ring in the start of the next 12 months around the sun. Murder Mystery Night Whether you want to party Gatsby-style or throw a James Bond themed soirée, a classic ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery is a great alternative way to bring in the New Year with friends or family. I..

Seven companies from across Northamptonshire have joined forces to make Christmas food parcels for elderly people in Irthlingborough and the surrounding area. The campaign is spearheaded by JW Clark Ltd, a grab hire, aggregates and groundwork company based at Chowns Mill Business Park in Irthlingborough, and will see more than 60 food parcels delivered to local people in need. Kettering based Drummond Aggregates, Little Addington’s Marsh Industries, builders merchants Hevey Building Supplies, Earls Barton based Shellplant, Irthlingborough printing company DATS Print Services and Kettering’s Storefield Aggregates have joined together with JW Clark to raise £1,250 to make up the food parcels. The parcels will include essential food items, and a few festive treats, and will be distributed to people over the age of 65 who would benefit from receiving a free food parcel. JW Clark has received nominations of people to receive the food parcels through their social media pages..

NLive Radio the local radio station for Northampton has launched it’s Christmas present appeal and is calling on the public of Northampton to donate gifts suitable for all ages to ensure that everyone receives a present this Christmas. Drop off boxes are located at various business across the town, with full details at nliveradio.com/presentappeal locations include Sainsbury’s at Sixfields, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, and Kingsthorpe and Kettering Road Starbucks, as well as community spaces such as the Doddridge Centre. Martin Steers, NLive Radio Station Manager said “This year more than ever we have members of our community in need this Christmas, by working with community partners we want to make sure everyone has something to open on Christmas Day” “This campaign would not be possible without the support from Archways Real Estate, as well as all those businesses who are accepting presents for us, we really are appealing to..

Park Ranger Mark Pomfrett has swapped his suit for wellies, taking on a new role as part time ranger of Northamptonshire’s Twywell Hills and Dales. The 55-year-old from Kettering, who travelled all around the world when he worked as a Land Surveyor in the Army (Royal Engineers) and more recently works in telecommunications, wanted a change in career and is now employed part time by Groundwork Northamptonshire to help manage this popular green space on the southern edge of Rockingham Forest. Mark, whose deputy ranger Otto, a Newfiepoo dog, joins him on the job, is responsible for opening and closing the site, for security and maintenance, looking after the cattle. He checks that the area is safe and ensures that user groups gain the best possible benefit from the environment and is the main contact for the public. Mark said: “I absolutely love Twywell and have been coming here for..

A new baby product showroom has opened in Wellingborough, following a ribbon cutting ceremony performed by Mayor of Wellingborough, Cllr Jon Ekins, and a launch party. Lilycuddles, which up until now has been an online only retailer, landed in Wellingborough over the weekend with lots of visitors coming to get a glimpse of the new showroom between Friday and Sunday. The 2,995 sq ft showroom, which is situated on the Park Farm Industrial Estate, stocks a wide range of baby products from brands including Egg, Oyster, Peg Perego, ABC Design, Britax, and Ickle Bubba. Lilycuddles was established by Solomon Soyinka and his partner Yetunde Adebayo in 2016 after the couple experienced difficulty in finding products when preparing for the birth of for their own baby. Solomon said: “We struggled to find the products we needed at the desired price and wondered how many other parents felt the same. We started..

With the Grand Union Canal meandering through its midst the village of Blisworth is a ‘must see’ for local historical enthusiasts and those looking for beautiful countryside writes Laura Malpas. It’s another of our wonderful Northamptonshire villages, with toffee coloured stone, thatched cottages, and a canal weaving its way throughout. Its story stretches far back into the distant past. This month I am visiting beautiful Blisworth. With such an appealing name, it’s not surprising that much research has gone into discovering how its name evolved. Very often, placenames refer to an early inhabitant, perhaps an Anglo-Saxon named something like Blida, for example. However, it seems the root of the name is most likely related to a state of ‘bliss’ suggesting a happy carefree place. All the more reason to visit and experience bliss today! Situated in a sheltered valley with inviting features, well drained fertile ground, plentiful water, trees, and..

The sight of the two malnourished, scared and overwhelmed new additions tugged at the heartstrings of Animals in Need (AIN) staff. Their arrival at the Little Irchester site from another trusted rescue centre must have been a difficult time for the animals. But it’s not so easy for the staff to deal with these sorts of cases either. “It breaks your heart when you have dogs coming to you in this state,” says Beki Kelly, who has spent the past three years working at the centre, “As animal lovers all we want to do is help, but it can be quite emotionally exhausting. “The first thing you feel is anger and disbelief. It can be difficult to understand how a dog can be left to get into this sort of state. “They were a bit confused and overwhelmed by the new environment but it didn’t take them long to settle..

Exhibitions reflect town’s rich and fascinating past One of the cultural highlights of my summer was the opportunity to visit the newly refurbished and extended Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on Guildhall Road and the Northamptonshire Natural History Society on Castilian Terrace.  The timing of the opening is apt. The beginning of the biggest public sector regeneration programme of the town in a generation is under way and the museum refurbishment could be looked upon as marking the first completion of this ambitious programme. It makes a bold statement about the town. I found the spacing and design of the building impressive and well thought out. There is a permanent exhibition of the shoe gallery which is a ‘must see’ and two further dedicated art galleries and a temporary exhibition space. Currently, there is..

Cynthia Spencer Hospice is challenging local businesses to take part in the £45 Accumulator Challenge sponsored by Franklins Solicitors LLP and raise as much money as possible from an initial investment of £45. Corporate partnerships fundraiser at the hospice, Nina Gandy said: “Our £45 Accumulator Challenge starts on 6th September and during its eight week run, gives businesses the opportunity to have fun and fundraise at the same time. Previous participants have raised money through team building and networking events and have come up with many creative ways to grow their start-up so we’re hoping to see some great ideas, particularly now businesses are able to network and their staff are able to return to the office.  “We’re hoping the teams who have signed up this year will come up with even more ingenious ways to fundraise for our patients and their families while maximising opportunities for their own businesses..

Local Milton Keynes based charity, The Parks Trust are currently recruiting for people to join their expanding team. If you are looking for your next venture, check out the vacancies with this exciting organisation. The Parks Trust are the self-financing charity that looks after 25% of Milton Keynes’ green space which includes parkland, woods, lakes, and river valleys. The Parks Trust employs over 70 people in a variety of roles including; Landscaping, Finance, Property, Environmental, Marketing, Outdoor Learning, Events as well as a dedicated team who run their watersports and activities at Willen Lake. Do you enjoy the outside and the green environment? Have you ever thought of a career in Landscape and Forestry? The Trust is now advertising for five different roles within their Landscaping and Operations team including; a Trainee Tractor Driver, a Landscape Maintenance and Forestry Trainee, Hard and Ground Works Trainee, Landscape Maintenance Supervisor and Hard..

Rescue centres are full of animals who deserve their fur-ever homes, and yet the public still insists on spending lots of money on fancy breeds. Lockdown hasn’t helped; incredibly, more than three million pets were bought in the UK in the last year. As people now return to work, it is a sad fact that a percentage of those animals will also be given up for rehoming, meaning that the pressure is on for rescue centres like Little Irchester’s Animals in Need (AIN). Sammy Jones found out more...   ‘Adopt, don’t shop.’ It’s a widely used mantra, and yet the British public still haven’t got the message and continue to splash silly amounts of money on ‘to order’ pedigrees, while rescue centres are filled with pooches and puddy-tats begging for a second chance at life. It is..